Plot Summary

Ed King

David Guterson
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Ed King

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998

Book Brief

David Guterson

Ed King

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Seattle, Washington • Contemporary

Publication Year

1998

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

A re-telling of Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex, American author David Guterson’s novel Ed King (2011) follows adopted Ed King as he becomes a wealthy internet entrepreneur, accidentally killing his father and marrying his mother along the way. Sensitive topics in this book include adultery, substance misuse, sexual predation, and incest.

Mysterious

Dark

Contemplative

Emotional

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

3.4

2,161 ratings

43%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

23%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

David Guterson's Ed King is a modern reimagining of the Oedipus tale. Reviewers praised its inventive narrative and dark humor. However, some criticized the pacing and felt the characters lacked depth. Despite mixed reviews, Guterson's writing exhibits his trademark eloquence and thought-provoking themes, appealing to both literary fans and newcomers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Ed King?

Readers who relish contemporary adaptations of classic literature and moral dilemmas will enjoy David Guterson's Ed King. Fans of Tom Wolfe's The Bonfire of the Vanities and Jeffrey Eugenides's Middlemarch will appreciate the blend of modern-day satire and deep character exploration.

3.4

2,161 ratings

43%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

23%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Seattle, Washington • Contemporary

Publication Year

1998

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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