Ray in Reverse

Ray in Reverse - Daniel Wallace
Having enjoyed Big Fish so much, I read Wallace's follow-up book. It begins with Ray in heaven at a "Last Words Group." After lying about his last words - making them out to be much more meaningful, poignant, and loving than they really were - Ray admits that his last words were, "I wish..." The novel then proceeds to tell Ray's story from death to childhood. Though there were some very funny parts (the chapter, "The Dog He Ran Over" is hilarious) and some very awkward parts (a number of times Ray flirts with homosexuality, but we are never quite sure why), overall the book falls flat. I guess that the point is that Ray's "I wish" is tragically true. Ray never really lived a heroic life. Ray never really loved others as he should have. Ray's life is one of regrets. It serves as a warning.