My Name Is Russell Fink

Welcome to the zany life of Russell Fink---a 26-year-old copier salesman who hates his job and strives to solve the murder of his allegedly clairvoyant basset hound, Sonny. His amateur sleuthing causes Russell to confront several distressing issues, including his family's dysfunction and his own long-buried feelings. Will his neurosis derail God's redemption? 368 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

Russell Fink is an artist trapped in the body of a copier salesman. His fiancée is nearly as psychotic as his family. And someone has murdered Sonny, his allegedly clairvoyant basset hound. His mission is simple … salvage a job he hates, convince his flaky fiancée that their engagement really is over, and find Sonny’s killer.

Michael Snyder’s My Name Is Russell Fink draws back the curtain to let readers behold the not-so-ordinary, yet relatable, life that belongs to Russell Fink. The title character is an insecure, bordering-on-hypochondriacal young man dealing with a painful past, a family run-amuck, a controlling and fame-hungry ex-fiancé, and a job that he hates. Eventually, Russell becomes the unlikely hero of his own life story, and comes to grips with who he really is, what he believes, and how he fits in with the other people in his life.

Arranged in chapters by days of the week, the story is told from Russell’s first-person, present perspective. Sentences and paragraphs have an easily readable rhythm that adds to the witty, whimsical texture of the novel. Russell’s relationships with almost all the other characters are packed with baggage (and some blessings) from the past. Throughout the novel, some relationships are severed, others grow, and new ones are created. Russell learns a lot about people and how to interact with them.

Russell Fink’s problems begin with a questionable mole that his doctor wants to remove. Soon, he is investigating his dog’s murder and the threatening calls being made to his family. New twists and troublesome circumstances keep the mystery snowballing until it becomes a giant mess. With the help of his friends, Russell is eventually able to find the truth and sort out the chaos in his life. In the meantime, he gets kicked out of his parents’ house and starts to room with a heat-loving inventor, where he works diligently to keep from getting fired. He also deals with his past, faces his angry ex-fiancé, and realizes he is really in love with someone else.

Russell Fink has a quirky, witty sense of humor, and likes to make people laugh, which adds much to his storytelling ability. He is a likable, realistic character, but is often insecure, because he tends to blame and pity himself much more than necessary. Throughout the story, Russell becomes more insightful about himself and those around him, which causes a positive transformation. By the end of the novel, Russell is a much more confident man. The members of Russell’s dysfunctional family add a lot of drama to his life, but they are a part of who he is, and their broken relationships are able to be restored. Apart from his family, Russell has other, unique acquaintances who add to the humor and disaster in his life. Russell’s friend from college, Geri, and her cousin, Dan, are Russell’s most reliable and helpful friends, but even they have quirks and secrets.

My Name Is Russell Fink is hilarious, entertaining, inspiring and even heart-warming. Snyder brings to the table a bold, intriguing, yet mostly light-hearted, page-turner that readers won’t be able to put down. Readers, young and old, male and female, will greatly enjoy this wacky tale. Once they get a taste, they won’t be able to get enough of Russell Fink. -- Laura A. Coulter, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

In his debut novel, Snyder offers a hearty dose of lad lit. Russell Fink sells copiers—a job he hates—and is engaged to a controlling wannabe actress he doesn't love. He still lives at home, has lost faith in his televangelist, miracle-working father and occasionally doses the family dog with alcohol from his mother's stash. Russell's twin sister, Katie, died of leukemia when they were young, and he's blamed himself ever since. The story is a bit helter-skelter: Russell's brother, Peter, has disappeared and may have been kidnapped. Russell believes his dog was poisoned and is intent on tracking down the animal's killer. He breaks things off with his fiancée, but will he finally admit that he loves his longtime friend Geri? His dad has applied for a new ministry position and needs Russell's help to get the job, but will they make amends? Throw in a number of secrets, some questions of religious faith, a move out of his mom's house and a move in with a perpetually cold new roommate who may or may not be a scientist for NASA, and you have a fairly nutty story. Snyder's writing is inventive and fun, but there are too many crazy characters and rampant story lines, and it may be a bit too edgy and complex for the Christian chick lit crowd. (Mar.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Average Rating:

8 of 9 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)

Reviewed by Krysti Greenfield (Orlando, FL), August 28, 2009

This was a very entertaining story. It does have surprises and is laugh out loud funny at times.

Reviewed by Tim George (Pensacola, FL), July 27, 2009

Russell Fink has led a mediocre life and is proud of it. His father is a fallen faith healer bent on making it back to the big time. His mother is a not-so-closet alcoholic still putting on the front of a doting minister’s wife. Peter, his occasionally con-man brother, is an aspiring novelist intent on jotting down every one of his family’s sorry secrets for a future Pulitzer Prize winning memoir. In short Russell’s family is what by any definition is normally labeled, dysfunctional. Russell’s problems are compounded by a job he hates yet can’t seem to get fired from, a camera hound fiancée he can’t manage to dump, and the fact the only level headed member of the family is his grandfather (in prison for killing Russell’s grandmother). It’s little surprise that faith and God have faded into the annoying fringes of our hero’s life. That is until, Sonny his psychic Bassett Hound, appears to have been murdered. That event leads Russell on a search for his best friend’s killer in which he finds more than he bargained for, including the girl he always really loved and should have married. His greatest discovery is the meaning of forgiveness and reconciliation. This is one of the books that is, I think intentionally, hard to classify. Is it Chick Lit? Is it comedy? Is it a mystery? It’s the kind of book that a guy like me wouldn’t normally crack the front cover if paid to. And, it’s one of those books that reach a point of critical mass and you know there’s something good out there you can’t afford to miss by putting it down. If you are part of the 10 percent of the population that has lived a perfect life, My Name is Russell Fink will totally mystify you. And, if you are one of the unfortunates in life with no sense of humor this story might even offend you. But for those of us who have experienced disappointment, frustration, disillusionment, and even failure we say, “Thank you Russell Fink!”

Reviewed by Nora St. Laurent (Mall of GA), November 06, 2008

Russell Fink seems to be going through the motions of life but not really living it. He's got everything anyone could want - a good job, a really beautiful fiancé, good family and lots of friends, but he feels empty. What is his mission? Russell wakes up one day to find his trust-worthy companion, Sonny, is dead. Yes, he was very old, but foul play is suspected. Russell is now on a mission to find Sonny's killer...even if it's the last thing he does. Do they have anything in common? Russell goes to the doctors so much that he and his doctor know each other by their first names. His doctor asks him "Why don't you get a job you really like so you can see me less?" Russell didn't think his doctor was paying attention to how many times he was seeing him a week. After all, he was in there this time because he thought a mole he had was changing color. Wouldn't his doctor be glad that he was taking care of his body? Russell wakes up and starts living his life instead of watching it go by. No one is ready for that – not even Russell. This book is funny, unpredictable and entertaining, while at the same time,about Russell looking at the serious things of life. You will never look at life the same after reading this book. You will start looking for guys like Russell in your own life and try not to laugh!! There is a fun interview in the back of the book with author Michael Snyder that will crack you up! He explains that he really isn't Russell and other important questions you want to know about the author. Discussion questions follow the interview and you get a sneak peek into the next book that will be out by Michael entitled 'Return Policy" due out in December 2008. You'll want to check that out for more laugh-out-loud fun!! Nora St. Laurent – Book Club Servant Leader www.psalm516.blogspot.com

Reviewed by Stacey (Las Vegas, NV), September 27, 2008

Michael Snyder’s novel “My Name Is Russell Fink” is an eclectic mix of humor, mystery, pop-culture, suspense and God – not necessarily in that order. Russell Fink is a rather inept, but incredibly artistic, salesman and practiced hypochondriac with a really obnoxious girlfriend who refuses to let Russell break up with her, a crazy family and a completely wonderful, and supposedly clairvoyant, dog! When Sonny, his dog, is murdered, Russell must find Sonny’s killer. This incredibly witty novel is “The Office” meets Rene Gutteridge. I love the details put into this publication: from the rave reviews for the novel on the back cover written by several of the characters, to the page flip cartoon in the lower right corner of the text. The sense of humor of those responsible for putting this book together is evident – literally – from cover to cover. I am also a sucker for discussion questions, and these are incredibly fun. They almost make me want to start a discussion group!

Reviewed by K Harris (USA), June 13, 2008

Unique writing voice. Wonderful characterization. Great story. You will love Russell Fink (and new author Mike Snyder).

Reviewed by Karen Eve (Nolensville, TN), March 31, 2008

I have to admit, it was the clairvoyant basset hound, Sonny, who got my attention and prompted me to read Russell Fink, but it was Russell’s story that kept me reading. Michael’s premier novel is a cleverly woven tale of Russell’s experiences as he investigates a murder that the police won’t touch, the murder of Sonny. And Russell, is well, Russell – undoubtedly one of the most unlikely heroes that you’ll ever meet. I promise, you’ll learn to love him before you get to the end of the book and you’ll laugh yourself silly all the way there.

Reviewed by Grateful Gramma (Southwest Virginia), March 06, 2008

Poor Russell! Yeah, he's probably a little neurotic, but who wouldn't be? He still lives at home with his mom, a secret drinker, and his dad, an ex-con former faith healer. He works, sometimes, selling office supplies, at least when he's not seeing a doctor to confirm his latest dire self-diagnosis. He's still beating himself up over his sister's death from cancer. His fiancee' refuses to break up with him. And his brother may or may not have been kidnapped. Then there's Sonny. If Russell feeds his basset hound liquor-soaked dog biscuits, Sonny seems to answer questions....until Russell finds him dead under the kitchen table. Who murdered Sonny? Was it the same person who's sending threats to Russell's family? And will Russell ever realize how he really feels about Geri, his friend since college? Snyder's book is chock-full of oddball characters and unexpected plot turns. He's woven issues of faith and second chances throughout. The book was a delightful read. It seemed to end a little hastily but maybe Snyder is setting us up for a second Russell story. That would be fun!

Reviewed by Brittanie (Madison MS), February 24, 2008

I loved this book. I loved the unique interesting characters. I loved the sometimes wacky zany plotline. I laughed so hard in some spots. I did not want to put it down. I read it in one night almost in one sitting. My big fluffy cat likes to sit on my bed and bother me while I am reading (I call him my reading buddy) and I think I saw them looking at me crazy when I laughed and kept bursting out laughing. For all that there were some deeper issues including family dysfunction/relationships that were dealt with too. I highly recommend this book. This is going on my favorites of 2008 list. :)

View all 9 Reviews

Write a review of My Name Is Russell Fink

• Books >> Fiction >> Contemporary >> General Contemporary
• Fiction >> Contemporary >> General Contemporary
• Start A New Christianbook.com Search

I'm the author/artist and I want to review My Name Is Russell Fink.