In its large outline the book falters, however

The L.A. Times reviews I'm Dying Laughing.

The reviewer writes:

This is wonderful material, wonderfully suited to Stead's great gifts, and much of the scene, extremely difficult to translate into fiction, is wonderfully done.

In its large outline the book falters, however, and since Stead has never failed before, it is reasonable to look for explanations in the book's curious history.