It is very hyped on the cover - author is Pullitzer prize finalist, rave reviews about how well she writes etc.
I am into the third chapter, and it is very slow-moving, boring and nasty. We have learned several things about the main character - he is arrogant, he is jealous of a more charismatic colleague, he went around with a friend just because it was better than being by himself, and then he had an affair with said friend's wife, which is described in tedious detail (adultery, yawn how daring and bohemian, not).
Does the book improve, because I really dont feel like spending the next 300 odd pages in the company of this uninteresting idiot?