Life is About Choices

'The Life O' Reilly'

By Brian Cohen

Format: Paperback

Published: iUniverse.com; 2009

Pages: 276

Synopsis: On the outside, Nick O'Reilly has it all: a high-flying legal career, as a partner of an elite Wall Street law firm, and financial security, with an apartment overlooking Central Park. Having grown up in a working-class family, as far back as Nick can remember this was his dream. But at the age of thirty-six, after several years of sacrificing his personal life for professional gain, Nick has started to ponder his future and consider the mark he wants to leave on society both professionally and personally--his legacy.

My Take: I think we all choose a career for one reason and the reason we stay in for the long haul may or may not be the same reason. For me, I kind of fell into my career of choice. I needed a job after I graduated from college, the economy wasn't doing so great, and the pickings were slim, so I kind of fell into what I was doing. I ended up being pretty good at it and I ended up really like it and so far the rest, as they say is history. The star of this novel, Nick O'Reilly is a lawyer and he went into his chosen career because he wanted financial security and the type of law he chose was that which the firm he got a job at needed him to do. Years later he is reflecting upon his life and wondering how he got where he is today and whether or not he is where he wanted to be.

This is not a new quandary. Lots of people grapple with this question every day. I am not sure everyone answers it for themselves. Nick ends up being offered a pro bono case which really helps him bring these issues to a head. He ends up having the choose a path with which he wants to go.

Here's the thing. This book could have been great. There was nothing wrong with it so to say, but there was nothing revolutionary either. It's an age old story and its been done time and time again. I knew where the story was going from the outset and well, there was nothing to keep me turning the page. I liked the characters but I needed some more drama. Also, unless you are maybe a lawyer yourself, you may find the tedium of the day to day work that Nick explains a little on the dull side. I think this book could ultimately use a little fine tuning.

(This book was given to me by the author. Thank you very much for giving me a copy for review!)