From the time he was able to body slam a pillow, Michael dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler, vanquishing imaginary enemies and nagging self-doubt with every drop kick he landed. As his buddies hit the books, Michael got hit. When they left for college, he enrolled in Shane Stratford's Wrestling Academy, where cash - and a particularly punishing \"audition\" - afforded him a first look into a world part circus, part sport, and all spectacle. From penny-ante matches to national notoriety, Michael rises through the ranks of professional wrestling. Hopped up on speed, pumped up on steroids, and fueled by a frustration he can't quite name, he adopts and discards identities in a bid to find the \"gimmick\" that will make him complete. His search will bring him in contact with people weird and wonderful: athletes and actors, crazy fans and crooked managers, the full rich range of folks who revel in the ring. Combining elements of sports narrative a la \"North Dallas 40, \" the behind-the-scenes authenticity of \"Pumping Iron, \" and a flair for the bizarre that recalls John Irving, \"Living the Gimmick\" is a novel not soon forgotten. | Living the Gimmick by Ben Peller, Paperback | Indigo Chapters