Up in the Air (2008)

Kirn, an astute book critic and a promising novelist (Thumbsucker), begins his new novel with a four-page, six-day, 10-city itinerary. He's got his main character, corporate consultant Ryan Bingham, racing -- through cities, airport lounges, and hotel suites -- in pursuit of the one-millionth air mile in his frequent-flier account. If the author's sole accomplishment was to skewer modern-day notions of physical and mental distance, he'd have written a clever little book. But he too has gone the extra mile, patiently revealing the roots of desperation behind Bingham's senseless quest. And despite his glum themes, Kirn has terrific fun with language: ''Sealed in a tube again, but going nowhere. The rain strikes the windows like handfuls of dry rice...'' Have faith in your pilot.