Immobility is about an amnesiac man named Horkai, and in typical amnesic style Horkai begins this novel having no idea who he is, where he is, or who those around him are. So, he must trust the word of those around him, namely a man named Rasmus. Rasmus tells Horkai that he has been brought out of a cryogenic state after 30 or so years and must go on a mission to retrieve something for Rasmus. So, Horkai does. Now the first half of the novel plays around with Horkai's alternating discovery of and hesitation to accept his surrounds. It's a typical blank memory novel for a while. But then, the novel quickly becomes so much more. It becomes, what I interpret, as a commentary on organized religion, specifically the aggressive, and perhaps selfish, nature of religions missionaries. See, during Horkai's journey, he finds people who seem very willing, eager…
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Wow, that blog post title has not one, but two extraneous periods. Last night I sat with Robb Olson and Livius Nedin of the Booked. Podcast to chat a bit about the new book S., masterminded by J.J Abrams and written by Doug Dorst. The novel is incredible unique, so rather than rehash the entire discussion I''ll rehash my final thoughts and encourage you to listen to the entire podcast episode. An extremely unique book, both in form and execution, which forces the reader to re-imagine the very act of reading not just once, but on every page. This brilliance carries with it the potential for mental exhaustion which might deter many readers looking for something more accessible and casual. It’s not an easy book, especially if you’re a completionist who would feel obligated to follow every narrative thread, to investigate every reference, to explore the book the way an…
Flushboy by Stephen Graham Jones is my kind of book. Family dysfunction with a power element of the grotesque, in this case, the father's entrepreneurial drive toward starting a drive-thru urinal franchise. Buy Flushboy Mentioned: Stephen Graham Jones: http://www.demontheory.net/ Adam Johnson: http://creativewriting.stanford.edu/people/adam-johnson
I was incredibly happy to see this wonderful video book review posted today by YouTuber/BookTuber MartheBozart. Not only did she enjoy the book, she also noted a couple of specific parts of the book that I myself am particularly proud of. Very little in this world feels as nice as the rush of pride that comes over an author when a book works as intended. Thank you MartheBozart for reading and for the wonderful review (and for liking Stranger Will enough to pass along the book to a friend!). Watch the review below. Also, be sure to check out MartheBozart's channel and other social profiles via the links below. After all that, you'll probably want to buy Stranger Will, right? I've made it easy for you. Just click over to Amazon (or your online book site of choice) now. MartheBozart Twitter MartheBozart YouTube MartheBozart Goodreads And just when I thought…
The Cost of Living will easily make my top 10 of 2013 list. I've read all of Roberge’s work, all that I’m aware of (Drive [novel], More than they Could Chew [novel], Working Backwards from the Worst Moment of My Life [stories]) and I’d read anything else in the future. He’s one of my favorite writers, so you know, having the history I do, you can trust my words. To read The Cost of Living is to read the rock and roll story that everyone’s always wanted, but could never find; there’s too much glitter and groupies, too much ego in other rock and roll stories. With The Cost of Living, you’re forced to deal with, and ultimately fall in love with, a life that’s been destroyed by the stage. Every rock and roll story you've read before will seem cliche compared to The Cost of Living. Buy the book:…
Craig Wallwork's The Sound of Loneliness (Perfect Edge Books) takes the concept of a tired, alcoholic, depressed writer and recesses it a generation or so, using a 22 year old protagonist with 52 year old problems. Much of the story’s tension lies between this 22 year old Daniel Crabtree and his teenage infatuation Emma, a tension that similar to Lolita, is meant to rouse conflict, but unlike Lolita, the age and maturity difference between the two characters is such that the reader can imagine the two characters actually working out, given another decade. Also, I manage to work in a Roseanne reference which makes me happier than you can even imagine. Buy The Sound of Loneliness by clicking here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Sound-Loneliness-Craig-Wallwork/dp/1780996012
A few days ago someone suggested I do more Wordless Book Review videos. I hesitated, mainly because it seems I've beaten that dead horse too much. But then I realized that I have access to a huge library of sound effects. Hence, Wordless Book Reviews: Sound Effects Edition. Books Reviewed/Sound Effected-ed: Save Your Own Life by Amy Sage Webb Swallowing a Donkey's Eye by Paul Tremblay Mafia Summit: J. Edgar Hoover, the Kennedy Brothers, and the Meeting That Unmasked the Mob by Gil Reavill