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Adam B

Adam B

has 16 followers and is following 11 people

I am a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, where I earned a Master of Arts degree in English (American Literature). I earned my Bachelor of Arts in English from Northern Illinois University in De Kalb, Illinois. My main interest is American fiction, especially ethnic and minority literature of the twentieth and twenty-first... more »
  • IL, USA
  • member since October 1, 2008

Reviews

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Displaying 1-10 of 45 reviews
  • How I Paid for College
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Acito's first novel, How I Paid for College is an hilarioius, honest in an "I don't believe this" sorta way re-telling of a coming-of-age story. Of particular praise is Acito's way of making a gay (technically bisexual) story-line important, without having it overshadow the true essence of the novel, which is that of self-realization, growth, separation, maturity/immaturity, and loss of innocence. That one of the main character's challenges is being unable to cry as an actor says much about the connection between stage and real-life; stage emotions come from true emotions, and if we cannot be honest with ourselves and learn how to reflect, to be introspective, then how can we ever project truth in emotion (not just on stage, but as an interacting adult). Though this novel takes place in 1984 and, thus, does not mention newer technologies, such as cell phones, internet networking (Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, etc.) I found an interesting connection between the disconnect of youth/adults and stage/reality - a parallel to the disconnect occuring amongst the general population today. How can we relate to one another, understand one another, help and learn from one another, if we cannot express ourselves and communicate? The book was just as hilarious, fast-paced, and jovial as I imagined, but it was also much more (deceptively) deep and inspiring. The author's note at the end, too, is touching. Four stars. ”

    Adam B wrote this review Friday, January 8, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
  • Look at the Birdie
    • Rated 4 stars

    “
    It's hard to believe that a person could be such a brilliant, en pointe writer for so very long. Many of the stories (if not all?) in Look at the Birdie seem to have been written later in Vonnegut's life. The illustrations are all from the few years before Vonnegut died in April, 2007. Somehow, incredibly, these works are as mesmerizing, as darkly humorous, and as meaningful as any of his previous works - including Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse-Five. I have more experience with Vonnegut the novelist than I do with Vonnegut the essayist or short story writer (though I did read A Man Without A Country - also brilliant!) but, I must say, I am so grateful to the publishers and family for allowing a posthumous printing of these incredible pieces. Particular favorites include Petrified Ants, Confido, and Hall of Mirrors. The Sci-Fi/Fantasy element is certainly still there, as well as Vonneguts interest in the super/paranormal; still, as always, Vonnegut manages to incorporate these elements so naturally, so realistically, that it's almost impossible to separate them as fiction from the fiction. This is an absolutely solid anthology of short fiction from one of the best and greatest American writers and satirists of all time - and a must for any Vonnegut fan. (If I could give half stars - this would be a 4.5/5).”

    Adam B wrote this review Saturday, January 2, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Satanic Verses
    • Rated 4 stars

    “
    Where to begin with this novel? First, the prose & style: While I find Rushdie to be a supreme story-teller and master of language, it is sometimes difficult for me to enjoy reading his particular Indian-dialect English. The mix of cultural Indian-English grammar and style with lofty English vocabulary is, at times, uncomfortable and discombobulating. Also, Rushdie’s obsession with the eminence of London, England (as, like his writing style, is present in other works) is sometimes a bit much to swallow. I appreciate the author’s love for the particular progressive, comfortable culture indicative of and represented by the English, but the bias is almost too blatant to be meaningful. In terms of story/plot: I found it very difficult to get involved in the story, because it was all over the place. Not just in terms of setting and time, but characters were one thing and then another. “Home” was one place and then someplace else. I understand the appeal and the necessity, but the overall effect was so distracting and generally confusing, that it became difficult to care about any of these people or places. This is unfortunate, because the story itself, as it turns out, is really quite meaningful – not just in terms of the religious revelation (or disillusionment) but in terms of the psychological issues being addressed. Part of me sunk into this novel at times, and really dug in – roaring through the pages; but the book took some time to really finish, as certain elements were truly displeasing. Overall, I think the performance is solid and the awards/recognition well-deserved, though perhaps I am in disagreement with the reasons why (I prefer the final pages, where mental illness is at root, rather than the majority of the story which focuses on the religious …especially because this focus on the religious is eventually revealed to be a delusion). All-in-all, interesting and meaningful with moments of distraction and frustration.
    ”

    Adam B wrote this review Tuesday, December 29, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Prince and the Pauper
    • Rated 4 stars

    “With each new encounter, Twain proves himself to me to be both brilliant and complicated. The Prince and the Pauper is a tale of cautious optimism; unlike later works (Huck Finn, The Mysterious Stranger), in The Prince and the Pauper, Twain seems to still believe in humanity and its potential for goodness - for greatness. Though this novel is set in England, Twain is particularly concerned with the state of affairs in America, during the time of the Civil War - The Prince and Pauper's search for identity - shouting to be heard, to be recognized and believed - mirrors what was happening in America, both in terms of politics and social justice. Writers were comic critics, and only the wealthy businessmen, politicians, and landowners had any real say. Still, in this novel, Twain seems to see a glimmer of hope. That he chose Edward VI, whose reign was short-lived (and whose demise was prophesied in retrospect) seems to imply that Twain believed America was at the cusp of a possible change for the better - the beacon on the hill. A final Eden, but that, in all likelihood, the greatness could not be sustained, and only memories would last. Brilliant, hilariously Twain-esque, and truly heart-breaking to one such as myself, who is more familiar with Twain's later, more cynical works. ”

    Adam B wrote this review Sunday, November 22, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Wasp Factory
    • Rated 3 stars

    “While I respect Banks's intent - to expose human cruelty and how one family member's pain can lead to the dysfunction and pain of all others, I must say - this novel, like it's characters, is just one hot mess. Though the book was relatively short - about 180 pages - it took forever to read, because the story lacked direction and, seemingly, purpose. The first one-hundred pages were self-indulgent and lacked a psychologically exacting purpose, though the novel attempts to set itself up as psychologically stimulating and purposeful. The dystopic family structure is well-received and the effects of a mother-less household is understood; still, the only truly meaningful sub-plot of this story was the tragic experience of the narrator's older brother, Eric. His downfall and the explination thereof seemed genuine and honest - the pain and terror in his experience was not pressured or over-done. Had this been a story about Eric, perhaps it could have worked. As it is, especially as one who has read Eugenides' "Middlesex" the subject matter and it's eventual revalation leaves much to be desired.”

    Adam B wrote this review Tuesday, November 17, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Waiting for Godot
    • Rated 4 stars

    “If bumbling, blithering, incomprehensible baloney is brilliance, then Waiting for Godot is a work of genius! Vladimir and Estragon (Didi and Gogo) are a pair of very close, homeless friends who have nothing better to do than wait around all day for someone or something named Godot. Who is Godot? What does he do? No one knows - the only clue is that he has a white beard. Is he Santa Claus? Beckett's masterpiece of a tragicomedy is the human condition in text. Mindless, meanlingless meandering. Constantly meeting new people who we mistake for old acquaintances - none of whom ever know, understand, or appreciate each other. When suicide begins to look like the "up-side" of things, you know it's about time to stop waiting for Godot. (Godot written To God?) . Liked it. Didn't realy understand it, but I congratulate myself for this because that's basically the point.”

    Adam B wrote this review Thursday, November 5, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Informers
    • Rated 4 stars

    “The Informers is like the sick love-child of Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio and Nathanael West's Day of the Locust. While this collection of interweaving short stories is not as shocking or subversive as, say, Glamorama, it is equally blunt in it's chastisement of Hollywood glitz & glam phoniness (like Holden Caufiled on crack). Ellis's dystopic vision of Hollywood is a contemporary re-imagining of what West did with Day of the Locust, and of what Bukowski did with Ham on Rye. It's as honest as John Fante's Ask the Dust in it's critique of "west coast envy." What Ellis does truly brilliantly, I think, is presenting believable (most of the time) characters who feel truly blessed and "happy" to be living in L.A., yet the reader gets a look at what's going on under the surface, and it is not pretty. The vampires were a stretch, and the child murder was terrifying, but combined and/or inter-mixed with the rest of the more believable shorts - a father trying to reconnect with his son, a mother lusting over young (young) men, a wannabe rockstar abusing his female fans - sexually and physically, well, you get the point that this is L.A. and that the fantasy is fresh, fun, beautiful, but the reality is dark, disturbing, and dangerous. I'm not sure there's been a more on-the-money satirist since Mark Twain or Jane Austen - if only they had been more free to express themselves! ”

    Adam B wrote this review Sunday, November 1, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Glamorama
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Glamorama is a twisted, disgusting, brilliant parody of all that was the early-1990's. This book is Valley of the Dolls meets Naked Lunch meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets James Bond. Don't think the combination is possible? Think again. Ellis demonstrates a superb understanding of cultural critique and is creative enough to satirize with seriousness and hilarity simultaneously. If you can get through the first two hundred or so pages of idiotic dialogue (another stroke of narrative brilliance, really, but still hard to wade through), you will be rewarded. Mid-way through the novel, the story takes an unexpected and inexplicable turn. Truly, the twist is never reconciled within the novel and the reader is left feeling literally mind-fucked. No one is who they appear to be, no one works for whom they appear to work (sometimes the characters themselves don't even realize it). Everyone gets blown up, drugged out, beaten, sodomized, and the smell of feces permeates the latter portion of the story (which takes place in France - coincidence or another cultural critique?). I don't understand the confetti, I don't understand the camera crews or the many, many scripts - but am I supposed to? "The better you look, the more you see.”

    Adam B wrote this review Friday, October 30, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Wild Boys
    • Rated 4 stars

    “There is no way to start a review for The Wild Boys other than to say, William S. Burroughs was a strange, strange man. Not since Naked Lunch have I been so morbidly entertained by a novel. I’m typically put off by writers who practice “automatic writing” but Burroughs is, once again, a proven master. As a reader of Dennis Cooper and other sub(counter)culture/subversive literature, I was not entirely shocked by the subject matter – especially considering the source; however, Burroughs has an odd, noble type of class or style to his writing, which makes even this most disturbing of material artful and intriguing. I did wonder, at times, about the point of the novel – what was Burroughs trying to say, other than young boys are sinfully delicious? Like Naked Lunch, though, the underlying theme is revolution and independence. Burroughs was obsessed with overthrowing oppressive, McCarthyistic mentality. It is obviously Burroughs’s intent to, almost counterproductively, given the violent, descriptive language and descriptions, to imply that a world without women and without law is more desirable than the world in which we live. Of course, Burroughs wasn’t being entirely literal, and it is often the modus operandi of radical authors and satirists to swing as far to the extreme as possible in order to demonstrate their point, still, Burroughs does have a point – and, ultimately, it comes across loud and queer; pardon me, make that loud and “clear.” This is only the second Burroughs novel I have experienced, but it will certainly not be the last. ”

    Adam B wrote this review Tuesday, October 20, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Culvert

    The Culvert

    by Clint Adams
    • Rated 3 stars

    “This book was obviously self-published, as made apparent by the many (nauseatingly so) typos, grammar errors, and editing problems; however, I do congratulate the author for getting the book into print and pushed out on the web. The story is moving and, though the author lacks a certain finesse at distinguishing himself from the story's narraotr, the plot itself is interesting and powerful. The things children do to one another, the horrors we suffer in silence, to save our pride and hide our shame, is a timeless, unchanging event - and the most perpetually abhorrent point of all is that we go on forgetting and ignoring that these things happen. When adults abuse children or each other, there are consequences, but what happens when the children are the abusers and the abused? How do we recognize the signs? How do we stop the abuse? How do we heal the victim? Adams makes many great observations and the story is worthy of being read and shared, despite the superhuman psychological strength and maturity of its main character (one of two major flaws in the book - the first being the aforementioned editorial oversights).”

    Adam B wrote this review Saturday, October 17, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
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Displaying 1-10 of 45 reviews

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