Tracing the genealogy of Sam Lipsyte's 'Homeland' would lead you back eventually to Frederick Exley's 'A Fan's Notes.'The prototypical book concerning middle-aged substance abuse addicts too well-read for their own good; their literateness serving as a kind of gauntlet as they stumble through a world governed by their illiterate, successful, yet somehow more brutish, less sympathetic peerage. ..
I hear Lipsyte getting compared to a lot of other cynical contamporaries: Chuck Paulinuk, David Sedaris and others. The difference being that unlike many of these writers Lipyte loves, and is a master of, language. This is some of the most skillful, hilarious, and impressive writing to have come along since 'A Fan's Notes.' those of you that can't appreciate Lipsyte's dark wit, and his epic failure of a protagonist Lewis 'Teabag' Minor, well you can just go order yourself a copy of "Tuesdays with Morrie," or sit down with some Tony Robbins motivational tapes and some decaf coffee. Leave Lipsyte to the big boys. A more accurate comparison would be to Barry Hannah; the only other contemporary writer that comes to mind as possesing an equally masterful, hyperbolic and dark humor. -az: :J. Mayhew (real name) - See all my reviews

yes in The Accidental, first chapter in voice of Alhambra "Believe me. Everything is meant." ~ which sounds like me, and Ali Smith is more in my vein, writing style. but - as one tob judge said, every page I skipped sentences, paragraphs. I skipped whole pages, almost whole chapters. so ~ I don't exactly not believe that all the words are intended - but I was happy to disregard many of them.
whereas in Home Land, every time I paused over a word I found myself taking satisfaction with how it proved itself, always intelligently deployed, every word apt.
so I am more impressed with his writing.
pretty for sure, more honest. AS writing - so that, yes, everything is meant (not ~just ~loosely ~evocative).
and awfully funny and I enjoyed reading it. a lot.
I did not much have any fun reading The Accidental. I didn't mind. and I liked some of it distinctly. I rather liked Eve at the end taking an Amber role. as noted below I'd like to see a movie version.
anyway if I could choose to have read only one of these and never encountered the other, I would choose Home Land, and twice on Sunday. and you know, boo hiss to that librarian judge.