Elements

by Solomon Deep

Embarking on a road trip to meet a famous television evangelist, Alan Levy drops out of college and explores the multifaceted diversity of American culture, attempting to make sense of the world around him. Elements is a novel that spans a year in the life of the ignorant and perpetually confused young man who tries to bring about changes in his world, but manages to learn about the root causes of his alienation and loneliness. Elements explores the landscape of post-9/11 America through the eyes of a young man's experiential hopelessness and emptiness by pulling the audience along the escape Levy attempts to build for himself. Spanning one year and thousands of miles, the tenth anniversary edition of Solomon Deep's very first book was released as an ebook for the first time ever in January of 2013. This newly revised edition remains the most prolific text delving into the stress, ignorance, and helplessness of the post-9/11 Generation Y as they struggle to make sense of an America that seems to be teetering on the edge of senselessness. The Ten Year Anniversary Edition also includes a brand new introduction by the author himself.

361 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

Solomon Deep was born in 1969 in Memphis, and currently spends his time between New York and Northampton. He is best known as the creator, producer, and head writer for the weekly live radio program Fortnight. Elements was his first published novel followed by several novels and collections produced and released by independent publishers. His work has continued its underground popularity for over a decade. Deep is a dedicated writer, poet, beekeeper, gardener, actor, and traveler.

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Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I find it hard to find what to say about a book. I never go in with any expectations and I yield myself to the story. I can honestly say I mostly read this book because I won a copy of it in a giveaway. I probably wouldn't have sought it out, not that I often do such a thing. But I am glad that I read it. It's a tale of growing and changing, of love and life and loss. It's just a story about one year of one man's life. That sentence seems so simple, "just a story...", when is it that plain?

Alan wasn't the most relatable character for me. He and I have very little in common. Starting was hard because of the little commonality, that and the Alan we are given at the beginning is really a jerk. But not really intentionally, the sort of jerk that we all were once, before we learn to grow and develop as individuals.

His journey was believable and fantastical at the same time. The characters were real and flawed, some with depth and others with little. It made the story more real and genuine, not every person we meet in our life do we know in great depth, but that does not matter on the impact they have on our lives. I don't expect I could go on a journey as Alan did and have things turn out quite as well or interestingly as his did, but that is the fantastical part.

Regardless I leaned back and let Alan tell me his story, wherever it went and however unlikely it seemed. But none of it seemed all that removed from reality. I feel as though I myself have grown reading the story of Alan's development, even though it's only been a few hours.

I find it touches you in a way you can't really prepare for. I think it was lovely in that something could feel so human. I struggle to find the right words or ideas to explain this novel. I highly suggest that one read it and find their own.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elements by Solomon Deep is not the typical story I would read but it sounded interesting. The simple name, "elements" (How much more basic can you get?) with its simple cover complements the plot of this book. At one point or another I think everyone wonders some basic questions like, who am I? Where do I fit in? What is life about? In this book the main character does more than wonder, he takes us on his journey seeing through his eyes, what he has discovered.

This book is a novel of fiction but the plot of the book is realistic and many of the 'events' in the book can even be applied to what is going on today with a little imagination. An example is the 'sleep-ins' at ValuMart protest which isn't hard to visualize the 'die-ins' around the country currently in the news as well as ValuMart sounding a lot like Wal-Mart in many aspects. So with a little imagination I was even able to relate this to things going on today and how it would look to or confuse people growing up and trying to make it on their own in today's world. However, a lot of the book I found really strange (didn't seem to 'fit' in) and even hard to follow at times.

Since the author expressed that no part of the book can be quoted without his consent, I won't which puts me at a disadvantage for review purposes. Even so, there were many good parts of this book however it did not keep me engaged or interested to the degree I had hoped. To me it seemed to drag in many places and the interesting areas of the book seemed too few and to be rushed. As I said, some of it just made no sense to me to even why it was even included in the book since it only dragged it out instead of getting to the point. I understand what the author was trying to do (express the uncertainty, fears, concerns about life/the future) but for me, it didn't work.

* I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.

[Elizabeth Ehlen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of Elements intrigued me. Although fiction revolving around a journey to find oneself is certainly nothing new, Alan’s evolving from self-absorbed juvenile to world-battered optimist combines the qualities of introspection with life experiences in a very satisfying way. From the beginning when he dumps his girlfriend and just starts driving to the end when he has to pull himself back to reality in order to clean up his mother’s mess it is abundantly clear what is going on in his head and he processes it with his writing throughout. So while Alan is not exactly your knight-in-shining-armor sort of hero, he does sum up the irritation of adolescence and the discovery that the world does not revolve around you.

While the idea intrigued me and I loved the depth and diversity of the characters there were a few things that were a constant annoyance throughout. While seemingly trivial, I could not get used to the use of the metric measurements in the book. I realize this is an alternate reality sort of scene, but given that the US has never embraced the metric system, it jolted me out of the story every time. The other was the author’s prologue, where he felt the need to explain the reason it was ok to write his own prologue and not monumentally cocky, which of course made it come off as monumentally cocky. Which is too bad, because as I am the same age as the post-9/11 millennials who so inspired Alan with the their listless angst, and I enjoyed understanding his process in bringing the character to life, except that he had to explain that it was ok for him to explain that, which of course is a bit of a turn-off. In any case, for any angsty brat who has ever had to go on a self-reflecting journey in order to embrace love and reality - as many of us have had to do - this book and its characters will resonate, probably in a relatively embarrassing way.

[Lily King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone, at some point, questions the life they have built for themselves, as Alan does. We all wish we could leave everything behind and start over on a journey that will leave us transformed. It's part of the American dream - to start from nothing and build whatever life you dream of.

In a story that unfolds through seemingly bizarre yet relatable characters, and a series of unexpected though not unplausible events, this story takes the reader on a journey that many of us lack the courage and fortitude to take on in real life.

With a writing style that reveals intelligence although seeping with naivete, you are pulled into a world that really does transform Alan. And in doing so begs the questions: Who are we? Who do we really have the potential to be? What events really shape us? And what would we really be willing to risk to find out?

There are few books that really touch our sense of personal adventure, however mundane the adventure may seem. There is a thrill in the face of our own unknown, and this book digs down to discover the core of one's humanity, not simply through our strengths, but overcoming our weaknesses and persevering through whatever our lif throws at us, and having the will to not only face it, but freely seek it out.

[Julie Baswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan feels stagnated. He is tired of continuously arguing with his girlfriend, Jane, and putting up with his mother’s psychotic drug-induced ways. He decides to leave it all behind. He breaks up with Jane and heads out on a road trip to nowhere in particular. Never could he imagine the places he ends up at, or the people who enter his life.

This was an amazing journey of growth and spiritual enlightenment, and I felt like I was along for the ride. I liked the versatility of each character that Alan met. It was funny that he could see others as selfish brats, but not see himself as one. Although this had a one-year setting, to me it felt like so much longer. I enjoyed the way the story took full circle. I could tell that Alan was a totally different and wiser person after his experiences. I very much enjoyed the ride.