What do you think?
Spiral Bound Brother
Craft, 47, has always craved the comfort of his role as the eccentric English teacher at Earhart High in the suburbs of St. Louis. But now he finds himself in the school s library, suffering a mysterious mental paralysis that won t allow him to stop reading The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. Lila, 21, has a holiday-break rendezvous planned with her old mentor, Craft. Actually, Lila has many plans and they re not all nice. She s feeling more than a little betrayed and bewildered after discovering that her father is not the man her mother always said. In fact, he kills people. Duke, 17, is a high-school dropout working in the bowels of Disney World. In his room before dawn, he stuffs essentials into a backpack, preparing to leave home for the first time. It s news to him, but he has this (disturbed?) sister, Lila, and she wants him to come to L.A. to meet her. The altered reality Craft and these lost-and-found siblings inhabit propels them on separate journeys across America. In a landscape of angels and mirrors, allies and adversaries, Craft, Lila, and Duke converge to expose the man whose life of violence connects them. Will they find wholeness, justice, and love? Or is it all an invitation to unleash demons best left asleep?
270 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2013
About the author
Ryan Elliot Wilson
3 books17 followersLike his characters in the novel, Ryan Elliot Wilson shunned the ambivalent hospitality of the Midwest and the bizarre mix of Hell on Earth meets Happiest Place on Earth of Florida for the great, continually unfolding spectacle of humanity that is Los Angeles. There he found his tribe of the maimed in the form of East Side poets and musicians, Hollywood agents gone mad, and socially inept high school teachers. Wilson has found this mix to be ideal for his pH. His writing can be found in the L.A. anthology, IN SEARCH OF A CITY: Los Angeles in 1000 Words, Thunderdome, Drift, and The Painted Bride Quarterly. He teaches Creative Writing, works in high school counseling, and lives in Los Feliz with his family. SPIRAL BOUND BROTHER is Wilson's first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 18, 2013
Either it's a very big world, and I'm a very small person or I'm standing at the edge of an event horizon.
Spiral Bound Brother was that kind of book.
Sometimes it feels like every book gets read at the perfect moment in life. There are paths we follow and lead ourselves down without ever knowing why. There are paths we end up on with every intention in our heart, but are impossible to follow through on.
It's a book about choices, finding a home, family, and the things that bind and draw us together as humans.
The choices we make now affect the rest of our lives.
Daunting isn't it?
At the same time, it can be humorous, fun and full of unforgettable moments.
Think I'm talking about life?
Well, I'll admit it's a little gray, but I'm really talking about the book, Spiral Bound Brother.
If you're looking for depth and insight with a decidedly funny and tragic twist, this is it folks. Look no further.
Meetmy life I mean:
Spiral Bound Brother
There's an old saying, we are no more significant than a grain of sand on the bank of the ocean. Yet together, we make up a whole ecosystem.
I'll add more to this review as the day goes on, but today, more than most, I'll be forging a new path, and while I'm not sure where it will end up, I do know it's either the best or worst mistake I've ever made, and usually, that makes the ride pretty interesting.
I have to add something in here. For a short time, the rest of the review was up here, and then, probably because I'm in the process from switching to a pro account and doing some re-designing, the last edit of this review reverted. So, now it's back, and I apologize, thanks to the author for pointing it out. He missed the 8 or so hours it was up, and for that I'm very sorry.
It wasn't a long bit, but here it is, and I promise it will stick around this time. :)
Book Highlights and Insights:
This book had everything I wanted, it had a fantasy element with angels, and an altered landscape that I wouldn't exactly call dystopic, but it was disturbingly real and propelled me to read further.
I loved Lila and craft's character's equally, and almost wished there were a separate book on each, but maybe there will be...
Pretty please? :D
My new path, new job and the need for a story that helped me through that was satiated with Spiral Bound Brother. The common themes of justice and love, were human and basic, and something that any reader can relate to.
Did they find justice, and love? Or were all the deamons and angels unleashed in a storm of fury?
You'll just have to check out the book to find out.
About the Book - About the Author - Prizes!!!
Welcome to another exciting publishing house spotlight tour from Novel Publicity. Join us as thee new titles from Perfect Edge–we’re calling them the Perfect Edge Triumvirate–tour the blogosphere in a way that just can’t be ignored. And, hey, we’ve got prizes!
About the book: "Diabolically delightful and perversely moving, Ryan Elliot Wilson takes us on a chaotic, engaging and excruciating journey with his train-wreck team of protagonists whom we hate to love." ~ Moira Walley-Beckett, Writer/Co-Executive Producer, BREAKING BAD
Craft, 47, has always craved the comfort of his role as the eccentric English teacher at Earhart High in the suburbs of St. Louis. But now he finds himself in the school’s library, suffering a mysterious mental paralysis that won’t allow him to stop reading “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.”
Lila, 21, has a holiday-break rendezvous planned with her old mentor, Craft. Actually, Lila has many plans—and they’re not all nice. She’s feeling more than a little betrayed and bewildered after discovering that her father is not the man her mother always said. In fact, he kills people.
Duke, 17, is a high-school dropout working in the bowels of Disney World. In his room before dawn, he stuffs essentials into a backpack, preparing to leave home for the first time. It’s news to him, but he has this (disturbed?) sister, Lila, and she wants him to come to L.A. to meet her.
The altered reality Craft and these lost-and-found siblings inhabit propels them on separate journeys across America. In a landscape of angels and mirrors, allies and adversaries, Craft, Lila, and Duke converge to expose the man whose life of violence connects them. Will they find wholeness, justice, and love? Or is it all an invitation to unleash demons best left asleep?
Pick up your copy of this Literary Fiction/Coming-of-Age/Tragicomic through Amazon US, Amazon UK, or Barnes & Noble.
About the author: Like his characters in the novel, Ryan Elliot Wilson shunned the ambivalent hospitality of the Midwest and the bizarre mix of Hell on Earth meets Happiest Place on Earth of Florida for the great, continually unfolding spectacle of humanity that is Los Angeles. There he found his tribe of the maimed in the form of East Side poets and musicians, Hollywood agents gone mad, and socially inept high school teachers. Wilson has found this mix to be ideal for his pH. His writing can be found in the L.A. anthology, IN SEARCH OF A CITY: Los Angeles in 1000 Words, Thunderdome, Drift, and The Painted Bride Quarterly. He teaches Creative Writing, works in high school counseling, and lives in Los Feliz with his family. SPIRAL BOUND BROTHER is Wilson's first novel. Connect with Ryan on his website, Facebook, or GoodReads.
About the prizes: Who doesn't love prizes? You could win either of two $25 Amazon gift cards, an autographed copy of Spiral Bound Brother, or an autographed copy of one of its tour mates, Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa? by Andrez Bergen or Gripped by Jason Donnelly. Here's what you need to do...
Enter the Rafflecopter contest
Leave a comment on my blog.
That's it! One random commenter during this tour will win a $25 gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win--the full list of participating bloggers can be found here. The other $25 gift card and the 3 autographed books will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on the official Perfect Edge Trifecta tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!
Perfect Edge Books was founded in late 2011 to unite authors whose books weren't "obviously" commercial. Our books tend to sit in various genres all at once: literary fiction, satire, neo-noir, sci-fi, experimental prose. We believe that literary doesn't have to mean difficult, and that difficult doesn't just mean pointless. We prefer to cultivate a word-of-mouth approach to marketing, and keep production as simple as we can. Learn more at www.PerfectEdgeBooks.com.
Learn more about Spiral Bound Brother's tour mates HERE.
Spiral Bound Brother was that kind of book.
Sometimes it feels like every book gets read at the perfect moment in life. There are paths we follow and lead ourselves down without ever knowing why. There are paths we end up on with every intention in our heart, but are impossible to follow through on.
It's a book about choices, finding a home, family, and the things that bind and draw us together as humans.
The choices we make now affect the rest of our lives.
Daunting isn't it?
At the same time, it can be humorous, fun and full of unforgettable moments.
Think I'm talking about life?
Well, I'll admit it's a little gray, but I'm really talking about the book, Spiral Bound Brother.
If you're looking for depth and insight with a decidedly funny and tragic twist, this is it folks. Look no further.
Meet
Spiral Bound Brother
There's an old saying, we are no more significant than a grain of sand on the bank of the ocean. Yet together, we make up a whole ecosystem.
I'll add more to this review as the day goes on, but today, more than most, I'll be forging a new path, and while I'm not sure where it will end up, I do know it's either the best or worst mistake I've ever made, and usually, that makes the ride pretty interesting.
I have to add something in here. For a short time, the rest of the review was up here, and then, probably because I'm in the process from switching to a pro account and doing some re-designing, the last edit of this review reverted. So, now it's back, and I apologize, thanks to the author for pointing it out. He missed the 8 or so hours it was up, and for that I'm very sorry.
It wasn't a long bit, but here it is, and I promise it will stick around this time. :)
Book Highlights and Insights:
This book had everything I wanted, it had a fantasy element with angels, and an altered landscape that I wouldn't exactly call dystopic, but it was disturbingly real and propelled me to read further.
I loved Lila and craft's character's equally, and almost wished there were a separate book on each, but maybe there will be...
Pretty please? :D
My new path, new job and the need for a story that helped me through that was satiated with Spiral Bound Brother. The common themes of justice and love, were human and basic, and something that any reader can relate to.
Did they find justice, and love? Or were all the deamons and angels unleashed in a storm of fury?
You'll just have to check out the book to find out.
About the Book - About the Author - Prizes!!!
Welcome to another exciting publishing house spotlight tour from Novel Publicity. Join us as thee new titles from Perfect Edge–we’re calling them the Perfect Edge Triumvirate–tour the blogosphere in a way that just can’t be ignored. And, hey, we’ve got prizes!
About the book: "Diabolically delightful and perversely moving, Ryan Elliot Wilson takes us on a chaotic, engaging and excruciating journey with his train-wreck team of protagonists whom we hate to love." ~ Moira Walley-Beckett, Writer/Co-Executive Producer, BREAKING BAD
Craft, 47, has always craved the comfort of his role as the eccentric English teacher at Earhart High in the suburbs of St. Louis. But now he finds himself in the school’s library, suffering a mysterious mental paralysis that won’t allow him to stop reading “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.”
Lila, 21, has a holiday-break rendezvous planned with her old mentor, Craft. Actually, Lila has many plans—and they’re not all nice. She’s feeling more than a little betrayed and bewildered after discovering that her father is not the man her mother always said. In fact, he kills people.
Duke, 17, is a high-school dropout working in the bowels of Disney World. In his room before dawn, he stuffs essentials into a backpack, preparing to leave home for the first time. It’s news to him, but he has this (disturbed?) sister, Lila, and she wants him to come to L.A. to meet her.
The altered reality Craft and these lost-and-found siblings inhabit propels them on separate journeys across America. In a landscape of angels and mirrors, allies and adversaries, Craft, Lila, and Duke converge to expose the man whose life of violence connects them. Will they find wholeness, justice, and love? Or is it all an invitation to unleash demons best left asleep?
Pick up your copy of this Literary Fiction/Coming-of-Age/Tragicomic through Amazon US, Amazon UK, or Barnes & Noble.
About the author: Like his characters in the novel, Ryan Elliot Wilson shunned the ambivalent hospitality of the Midwest and the bizarre mix of Hell on Earth meets Happiest Place on Earth of Florida for the great, continually unfolding spectacle of humanity that is Los Angeles. There he found his tribe of the maimed in the form of East Side poets and musicians, Hollywood agents gone mad, and socially inept high school teachers. Wilson has found this mix to be ideal for his pH. His writing can be found in the L.A. anthology, IN SEARCH OF A CITY: Los Angeles in 1000 Words, Thunderdome, Drift, and The Painted Bride Quarterly. He teaches Creative Writing, works in high school counseling, and lives in Los Feliz with his family. SPIRAL BOUND BROTHER is Wilson's first novel. Connect with Ryan on his website, Facebook, or GoodReads.
About the prizes: Who doesn't love prizes? You could win either of two $25 Amazon gift cards, an autographed copy of Spiral Bound Brother, or an autographed copy of one of its tour mates, Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa? by Andrez Bergen or Gripped by Jason Donnelly. Here's what you need to do...
Enter the Rafflecopter contest
Leave a comment on my blog.
That's it! One random commenter during this tour will win a $25 gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win--the full list of participating bloggers can be found here. The other $25 gift card and the 3 autographed books will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on the official Perfect Edge Trifecta tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!
Perfect Edge Books was founded in late 2011 to unite authors whose books weren't "obviously" commercial. Our books tend to sit in various genres all at once: literary fiction, satire, neo-noir, sci-fi, experimental prose. We believe that literary doesn't have to mean difficult, and that difficult doesn't just mean pointless. We prefer to cultivate a word-of-mouth approach to marketing, and keep production as simple as we can. Learn more at www.PerfectEdgeBooks.com.
Learn more about Spiral Bound Brother's tour mates HERE.
October 7, 2013
I am usually more of a YA/NA reader, but every now and then an adult book or series will pique my interest. When I first read the description, Spiral Bound Brother reminded me of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. A friend recommended that book to me last year and I really enjoyed it, so I decided to give this book a try.
Anyone who enjoyed Staggering Genius, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, will most likely enjoy this book as well. It contains a similar sense of humor, but without the depressing subject matter.
The characters are quirky, but they definitely held my attention. The use of three different narrators was essential to the success of this book. I enjoyed hearing Craft's side of the story, but I don't think I could have read an entire book from his POV.
The writing was brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I never would have guessed this was the work of a debut author. If this is any indication of the quality and originality of Wilson's work to come, he will have a very successful career.
I am extremely happy I read this before Christmas. I now know what I am getting for the friend who needs absolutely nothing, but recommended A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. The fact that there are even E.E. Cummings quotes and references is an added bonus. He is a huge fan of Cummings and I think he will enjoy this immensely.
Anyone who enjoyed Staggering Genius, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, will most likely enjoy this book as well. It contains a similar sense of humor, but without the depressing subject matter.
The characters are quirky, but they definitely held my attention. The use of three different narrators was essential to the success of this book. I enjoyed hearing Craft's side of the story, but I don't think I could have read an entire book from his POV.
The writing was brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I never would have guessed this was the work of a debut author. If this is any indication of the quality and originality of Wilson's work to come, he will have a very successful career.
I am extremely happy I read this before Christmas. I now know what I am getting for the friend who needs absolutely nothing, but recommended A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. The fact that there are even E.E. Cummings quotes and references is an added bonus. He is a huge fan of Cummings and I think he will enjoy this immensely.
April 5, 2013
This book weaves a multiverse of characters whirling around each other in shared space (i.e. "spiral-bound") like stars gravitating towards a black hole. It's diverse. It's rich. It stays fresh and has much to offer. Almost like a buffet. But I don't mean like a cheap one where everybody shuffles around steaming tins of tasteless foodstuffs glowing pink under buzzing heat lamps. I'm thinking more like a lu'au; loud, festive, and a protagonist roasting away (dare I say pleasantly so) on a spit in the middle of all the bacchinalia. Zany, twisted, visceral, and boldly spoken, Wilson is a fresh new voice on today's literary scene. Simmering on (hovering above?) the surface of this boiling pot of intensity is an omnipresent and quirky sense of humor that wins the day. I cracked up at so many lines in this book--understated little dynamos star-studding every scene. I think the phrase "foot orienteer" will stick with me forever. Also, I love that there's a play woven into this novel. Beyond the sheer panache of the material, it's a slick move. It works. And it keeps us guessing as to what's "real" and isn't "real". Which is not only a fun tease that keeps the reader on its toes, but taken at face value is a commentary on the nature of life/time/the-universe/perception/"reality".
April 2, 2016
Fans of Joseph Heller and Douglas Adams will enjoy this book. The first third and last third were fantastic, although it started to drag in the middle a bit; I wasn't a fan of the screenplay within the book initially, and I had to push through those chapters, but it was worth it, as the book culminated into something really beautiful towards the end.
I look forward to whatever Ryan Elliot Wilson writes next.
I look forward to whatever Ryan Elliot Wilson writes next.
April 2, 2013
This is an often hilarious and consistently quirky book with a good dose of mysticism throughout. It reminds me of a Shakespearean comedy with plot twists and turns, well-timed action, and a tragic love-story. Very creatively written, with unique narration structures. I truly liked this weird little book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews