I have a confession.
I’ve been holding out on you. Big time holding out. Like if you only knew the kind of holding out I’ve been doing, you would have the most serious case of blue balls ever possible. (That’s if “blue balls” were actually possible. Cosmo magazine informed me many years ago they weren’t. Thus, any guy who ever tried to use that term to get laid promptly got scoffed at. It would appear Cosmo did serve some sort of purpose during my formative years).
Anyway.
In December, Peter sent me a copy of his novella that he had finished. He asked if I would do a review of his work. Of course I said yes. And then devoured the story. And then I read it again. And again. And then um, five more times in the last two months. Then I got really self conscious. I realized that my facebook Scrabble partner (that would be Peter) was far more clever than I could possibly be. And sure, I could throw down words like “QAT” in Scrabble and gain 48 points, but Peter, oh Peter, could write lines like this that made me feel like I was living the story he told:
“It was one of those days. The cloudless and seemed impossibly big. The sun was stunningly bright but appeared almost small in relation. The air was the kind of warm that made you wonder why you’d ever want to go back inside. Everything moved just a step slower than usual.”
So I read this brilliant novella, titled: #$@&ing Read Me! and didn’t tell you about it because you know, I’m greedy. I’ve thought of a thousand ways to explain this and yet I always come up short. I think Peter has described it best:
Not only is the story well written, both heartbreakingly honest and laugh out loud funny- it manages to be a love story told from a mans point of view, in a way that both men and women can relate to. I read this novella at first wishing that I knew people like the characters and then realizing that I did- Peter has just brushed off the people we all know in our daily lives, made them a bit funnier, a bit more honest and put them in a love story unlike any I’ve ever read. And I’m a book whore, I read a lot.
The first time I read it, my goal was to ration the pages, so I could savor each word, each joke, each clever line that left the want-to-be-writer in me full of envy. Of course I failed miserably and read the whole thing in one gigantic, satisfied swoop. I urge you to buy this book, read it, read it again, read it one more time and then tell those who you love- that you love them. And then brush up on your Scrabble skills because if Peter challenges you on facebook, there is a chance you will lose. Besides writing a story that clings to your insides, his Scrabble playing is getting better with every game.
In short? You should #$@%ing read it.
Rawr. I JUST made a commitment to not shop and buy ANYTHING till thesis is over. I’ll add this to the list of things to buy as “Thesis madness is over!” presents. (I’ve only got about two bathing suits, three dresses, a bunch of books, and other random items. I believe in positive reinforcement.)
i have been meaning to check this one out- sounds like a huge hit from many a peep. glad you enjoyed!
let me just ditto everything you wrote! i wanted to hate this little book. i really did. but i LOVED LOVED LOVED it! everyone should click and buy. now.
I just read the preview and I’m hooked already. And I’ve already laughed out loud. Thanks for the recommendation!
Sounds great, I’ll definitely check it out.
See, that’s what’s intimidating about every writing class I’ve ever taken. You read other people’s stuff, and it seems so much better than anything you could ever do. The metaphors! The alliteration! The flow! And then you get the comments back on your own stuff, and you realize that someone in the class feels the same way about your stuff.
i’m such of fan of this! literally i’m a facebook fan : )
Best book review ever.
I’m going to buy it as soon as I get paid later this week. thanks for the recommendation!
I really really want to read that. I am putting it on my birthday list.
Hey, B – There’s an awards ceremony happening at my place. Pls. visit and pick up. Acceptance speeches aren’t mandatory, but… :-)
sounds awesome. thanks for the recommendation!! i’m going to put it on my list! :-)
Seeing how I like to pick on the little points sometimes, Badass Geek had blue balls [http://badassgeek.blogspot.com/2009/01/in-which-i-get-felt-up.html] and Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_balls] seems to think it exists too.
And Cosmo [http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/advice/questions/blue-balls] seems to have changed their mind:
“Blue balls are not just a figment of a male’s imagination or a lame excuse to try and get you in the sack.”
Anyway… back to the book review…
And my heart, it shatters. I have a huge crush on PDW and have adored his work always. But I’m just finding out about this now. The fuh? My love remains unrequited. Le sigh. Thanks for posting this.
Thank you so much for the awesome review and pointing me toward such a terrific-lol-happy-love-sigh-yay-for-guys-like-him-sad-tear-up-story (bought it as soon as i read your review and the first five pages @ lulu)!!!!!!!!!!!! Wanted to savor but had to devour and am now rereading to make permanent—- have spread the word and bits and pieces of story so now a bunch of friends and cousins are heading online… again, thank you thank you =)
A love story from a man’s point of view? It’s called porn.
[...] #$@%ing Read Me mixes humour with heart and has received glowing feedback: “Not only is the story well written, both heartbreakingly honest and laugh out loud funny- it manages to be a love story told from a mans point of view, in a way that both men and women can relate to. I read this novella at first wishing that I knew people like the characters and then realizing that I did- Peter has just brushed off the people we all know in our daily lives, made them a bit funnier, a bit more honest and put them in a love story unlike any I’ve ever read.” – brandy [...]