The toy collector
by Francine Thomas Howard, Gunn
2000
About
A tragicomic novel about nostalgia, addiction, and 1970s action figures.
The Toy Collector is a wickedly funny portrait of a young man who sells stolen pharmaceuticals to finance his growing addiction to memorabilia. An orderly at a Times Square hospital, he buys his toys at exorbitant prices, searching the familiar tacky plastic in a perverse effort to avoid adulthood. As the story switches from the make-believe world he creates with his childhood friends-populated by Scrunch-Em, Grow-Em Dinosaurs and toy robots-to the grown-up pleasures of sex, drugs and alcohol, James falls in and out of love, and stumbles through New York City in search of dubious redemption.
Discuss The toy collector with other readers
Join or start a book club for The toy collector on Readfeed. Live chat, shared reading progress, and AI discussion questions — free to get started.
Frequently asked questions
How do I join a book club for The toy collector?
Sign up free on Readfeed, then browse public clubs or start your own club with The toy collector as the current read. Invite friends with a share link and discuss together with live chat and AI discussion questions.
Can I discuss The toy collector with other readers online?
Yes. Readfeed book clubs let you chat live, share progress, and join discussions about The toy collector with readers worldwide — whether your club is virtual, in-person, or hybrid.
Is Readfeed free?
Yes. Creating an account and joining book clubs is free. Sign up to find readers who love the same books and start discussing today.