Matilda Anastasia (Mat) Carvel is a struggling artist who shares a roach-infested Manhattan apartment with two wacky sisters, a couple of gay cross-dressers, a rich bag lady, and two-meatball mooching mutts. Seems like everyone is having sex except poor Mat.
Matilda "Mat" Anastasia Carvel is a very talented and ambitious portrait painter, but she's also young and naive. After ditching her dysfunctional Arkansas family and helping herself to a new wardrobe from a Salvation Army dumpster, she runs away to New York City.
Mat soon finds herself engulfed in the chaotic pace of Manhattan. Between sharing a roach-infested basement apartment with two ditzy sisters, a rich bag lady, and a cross-dressing gay couple, she winds up supporting the slackers by painting portraits of customers at Tony's Pizzeria, pampered poodles, and homeless vagabonds.
Mat doesn't mind helping out her new friends, but she's frustrated because she doesn't have time to find
"Mr.Right" and rid herself of her virginal status. With advice from a colorful homeless lady who claims to have sex with aliens in Central Park, Mat Finds her soulmate.
Manhattan Madness is a hilarious, fast-paced story of unique characters and action that will have you chuckling or even laughing out loud until the very last page.
Excerpt
Tuesday, I spent my lunch break at Dr. Kong A. Lewis's office, three blocks away from Carl's store. Why did I pick Dr. Kong A Lewis from a long list of shrinks in Manhattan? First he was close to Carl's store, and second, but more importantly, his first name was Kong. I felt an affinity for him the minute I spotted those four little letters advertised in the yellow pages, K.O.N.G. The name Kong jumped off the page, and beckoned to me.
"Come, I will save you. Both our mothers are idiots. You were named for a boxing kangaroo, and I was named for a horny ape who liked to climb tall buildings and squash cars and little people."
Professional Reviews
Mimi Paris-She's done it again
"A.R. Alan has done it again. “Manhattan Madness” is filled with slapstick humor. Only she can come up with those screwball characters. This madcap trip through the trials and tribulations of a struggling artist who’s looking to lose her virginity will have you in stitches."
Mimi Paris - One Man's Revenge
Elaine Sanford- I Didn't Want the Book to End.
“Manhattan Madness” is filled with unforgettable characters, who get themselves into hilarious situations. Everyone including the bag lady in Central Park is having sex except poor Matilda. This was such a fun read that I wanted more when the story ended."
Elaine Sanford - A Rose In Paris
Pat Carr - Madcap story Of A Struggling Artist
I think A. R. Alan's books are fast-paced and wonderful. "Manhattan Madness" is one of my favorites. I don't know where she comes up with those unique characters, but I didn't want the book to end. I hear A. R. is adapting the novel to a screenplay. Can't wait to see it on the big screen.
Pat Carr author of "If We Must Die"
