New Book Alert: Is That Your Final Answer? By Phillip D. Gibbons; Witty Satire About Corporate Culture, Modern Romances, and Millionaire Game Shows

 

New Book Alert: Is That Your Final Answer? By Phillip D. Gibbons; Witty Satire About Corporate Culture, Modern Romances, and Millionaire Game Shows

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: Phillip D. Gibbons' Is That Your Final Answer? Could be best described as "SoCal Millionaire" in reference to Slumdog Millionaire, the 2008 Academy Award winning film, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto. Both are about struggling young men who try their luck on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, but that is where the similarities end. The Boyle film is a magical realism story in which Jamal, the protagonist is destined to win the game as the answers to the questions that he is asked on the show appear throughout different points in his lifetime. The magical realism is also matched with realistic depictions of poverty in Mumbai, India and the decisions that each character makes as Jamal's brother, Salim, enters a life of crime and drugs and his girlfriend, Latika is forced to work as a courtesan while Jamal strives to rescue her.

Gibbons' novel is nowhere near as magical, romantic, or sentimental. Instead it goes for laughs or nods of understanding in the circumstances that surround Greg Rafferty. Is That Your Final Answer? is a clever satire about corporate culture, disposable relationships, the lengths that people will go through to get their 15 minutes of fame, and what they do with themselves during the 16th minute.

The novel is set in the early 2000's when Who Wants To Be A Millionaire was the most popular show on American television. Gibbons describes this time in almost idyllic terms such as the NASDAQ is at an all-time high, the Internet providing infinite opportunities, and no wars. It is almost a fairy tale in the way Gibbons describes this long ago and far away time of 22 years ago.

In this seemingly distant time, Greg is an anxious man in his mid-30's who is hanging by a thread at his corporate job because of a deal that is in the process of falling apart. To top it off his girlfriend, Courtney might be pregnant and he is uncertain if he's ready or mature enough to be a father. 

Greg is just coasting along on his life, not really enjoying it. He lives in Southern California but doesn't have time to enjoy the beautiful weather when he is taking a long commute to and from a job he hates. He suspects that his boss and coworker are against him. He also feels choked by his social circle that consists mostly of Courtney's sorority sisters and their hanger on boyfriends. Even when he is removed from his job and he and Courtney break up, there is little relief. He simply goes from one soul sucking job to another and has various short lived flings, but never anything serious. It's enough to make one depressed and suicidal which Greg does.

The only thing that Greg has going for him is an encyclopedia knowledge of trivia. Many co-workers, friends, family, and neighbors stop to ask him questions, hoping to stump him but he outsmarts them all. Since it's 2000, any time he shows such an aptitude for trivia he is inevitably asked if he has ever or wants to be a contestant on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Well, Greg eschews popular culture and doesn't watch much television. However, he happens to catch the Regis Philbin hosted game show and decides that he could go on it.

Greg is not always likeable. He can be whiny, self centered, and pretentious. He's incredibly insecure, and anxious. Even though his life is filled by a fairly decent living, he is aware that he is settling. It frightens him that even his settling prospects are disappearing. He feels suffocated in a world of sameness and in which he is unable to stand out from all of the other faceless people who commute every day, drink too much, and hook up at the local bar. His knowledge of trivia is what makes him stand out and be unique.

Greg's participation in Millionaire and in an earlier chapter, Jeopardy are the highlights of the book. There are great details about the process of getting on the shows such as the telephone interviews and the tedious wait for a return answer from the show's representative. Then there is the experience of being on the show itself where the hot lights and the presence of cameras are enough to make one so anxious that the contestant forgets their name let alone the answers to any trivia questions. The process is very revealing as the book shows that the smartest person is not always the one selected. In fact, the one selected usually is the fastest at answering, the one with the most engaging and sparkling personality, and the one who can engage in witty repartee with the host and laugh at their jokes. It's less about intelligence than it is about appearance.

Unlike Slumdog Millionaire which ends on a triumphant note with Jamal winning the game and getting the girl (all to the memorable Bollywood beat of the Academy Award winning Best Original Song, "Jai Ho."), Is That Your Final Answer shows us life after the game show appearance. After the nervousness and excitement has passed, life returns to normal. 

Greg goes back to his boring job and his short lived affairs. His time in Millionaire is reduced to an interesting anecdote. It is only after dating a single mother that Greg realizes that he now has the money, he just needs to make the time to change his life.

Is That Your Final Answer is not only about achieving a goal no matter how miniscule that goal may seem to others. It's about living on another level and changing the life that you have been given instead of settling.