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Run of the Mill
Famous musician, 26 year old millionaire, and known playboy Tyler Clark finds himself launched into his repressed past after a chance encounter with an old friend during the after-party of one of his concerts. Under threat of blackmail, Tyler is forced to painfully reveal the truth behind a tragic summer of his youth... a summer that started with drugs, sex and good music, and ended in betrayal, hatred and suicide.
- GenresNew Adult
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2013
About the author
Dave Patten
1 book5 followersDave Patten is from Philadelphia, PA. His stories often take place on the pavement of his youth, where at an early age he submersed himself in the underground arts scene and explored life within the city limits; his trajectory and creative drive can all be connected to his love of music. "Run of the Mill" is Patten's first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 18, 2014
Book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Damn.
For a while, this reading experience was actually going well, and then it unfortunately went tumbling off the tracks like a train that decides to take a sharp curve at 80 MPH. So, I’m coming from a place of honest regret here. Run of the Mill was fun for me until it wasn’t.
Let’s talk, guys.
This is the story of a twenty-something millionaire rock star (yes, I just described your typical New Adult hero) named Tyler Clark. He is the narrator, so you better like him, because you never get out of his head. I didn’t care for Tyler much. In my notes, I called him a “whiny, Generation Me bitch with a chip on his shoulder,” and that opinion did not improve by the end of the story. But whatever, I’ve disliked characters before, and Tyler’s tale of angst is certainly compelling.
Spurred on by a pesky case of batshit crazy blackmail (by a woman named Rachel – REPRESENT!), Tyler has to reveal his dark past from before all the fame and fortune. Patten doesn’t bullshit you about the “dark past.” It really is dark and twisty.
Ladies, remember being a teenager and wondering what those mysterious boys were thinking all the time? And you’d ask a grown up, and he/she would say, “Sex. Mostly sex.” This book is pretty much a confirmation of that. Boys care about their friends, too, and they’re just as mystified by girls as we are of them. Tyler takes the reader throughout his adolescence, chronicling his friendship with a truly troubled kid named Kyle Hall.
Kyle really sucks as a human being. He’s that classic evil friend a hero has but doesn’t realize is dangerous until he does something truly unforgivable. I won’t spoil Kyle’s numerous crimes against common decency and civilization for you, but I will have you know that a lot of them occur in a treehouse.
Tyler and Kyle do lots of stupid adolescent things together – drugs, drinking, sex, a surprisingly successful weed-dealing operation – and share lots of feelz and bro-bonding. If either of them had been anything other than selfish little shits, I may have liked them a little more. Alas, I read the whole book with the fervent desire to see them both destroyed.
And you’re thinking, “Why so fucking vengeful, Rachel?” To that, I respond, “Because fucking RAPE, damn it.”
Yes, it turns out that Run of the Mill is about 100% more rapey than I anticipated. Whoops. -__-
The presence of rape isn’t the particular problem. It’s the treatment of the theme, the eagerness to use the rape of women as some pseudo-profound tool in the coming of age of the perpetrators that sends this story in a very offensive direction.
Warning: Anything in spoiler tags is a REAL spoiler. Don’t click on it if you don’t want to know. I wouldn’t include the spoilers at all if they didn’t help illustrate my point.
BASH and Mary share my dismay.
My main issue is that I didn’t sense a lot of growth in the main character. He pretty much gets what he wants, and the problems just fall away from him. If anyone’s begging for some poetic justice, it’s Tyler, and I don’t think he received any.
In short, I like a dark and moody ending, but I fucking loathe a dark and moody ending tied up in some inspirational HEA bow. After the mishandling of the rape issue, I was feeling a little less than inspired.
But let’s talk about the writing. I actually have some nice things to say about the writing. Patten has a knack for story-telling. Some of the stories are funny, especially the audacity of some of Tyler and Kyle’s schemes. The mechanics of the story are rough at times. As I mentioned, the character growth stops somewhere around puberty. There were some confusing transitions and a fair amount of telling instead of showing. And would I be BAVR if I didn’t mention some comma abuse? Overly ambitious sentences breed them, and Run of the Mill contains more than a handful of overly ambitious sentences. I liked the personable style of the writing, though, and I was never confused about what Patten wanted to convey. Some elements of the story are never explained, leaving some untidy plot threads dangling in my head even today.
All in all, I’d say this was a brave attempt at a first book. I think it may have pushed the boundaries a little too far, which caused both my consternation and the plot holes. Patten has some promise as a writer, but the themes in this story are definitely not my style.
Damn.
For a while, this reading experience was actually going well, and then it unfortunately went tumbling off the tracks like a train that decides to take a sharp curve at 80 MPH. So, I’m coming from a place of honest regret here. Run of the Mill was fun for me until it wasn’t.
Let’s talk, guys.
This is the story of a twenty-something millionaire rock star (yes, I just described your typical New Adult hero) named Tyler Clark. He is the narrator, so you better like him, because you never get out of his head. I didn’t care for Tyler much. In my notes, I called him a “whiny, Generation Me bitch with a chip on his shoulder,” and that opinion did not improve by the end of the story. But whatever, I’ve disliked characters before, and Tyler’s tale of angst is certainly compelling.
Spurred on by a pesky case of batshit crazy blackmail (by a woman named Rachel – REPRESENT!), Tyler has to reveal his dark past from before all the fame and fortune. Patten doesn’t bullshit you about the “dark past.” It really is dark and twisty.
Ladies, remember being a teenager and wondering what those mysterious boys were thinking all the time? And you’d ask a grown up, and he/she would say, “Sex. Mostly sex.” This book is pretty much a confirmation of that. Boys care about their friends, too, and they’re just as mystified by girls as we are of them. Tyler takes the reader throughout his adolescence, chronicling his friendship with a truly troubled kid named Kyle Hall.
Kyle really sucks as a human being. He’s that classic evil friend a hero has but doesn’t realize is dangerous until he does something truly unforgivable. I won’t spoil Kyle’s numerous crimes against common decency and civilization for you, but I will have you know that a lot of them occur in a treehouse.
Tyler and Kyle do lots of stupid adolescent things together – drugs, drinking, sex, a surprisingly successful weed-dealing operation – and share lots of feelz and bro-bonding. If either of them had been anything other than selfish little shits, I may have liked them a little more. Alas, I read the whole book with the fervent desire to see them both destroyed.
And you’re thinking, “Why so fucking vengeful, Rachel?” To that, I respond, “Because fucking RAPE, damn it.”
Yes, it turns out that Run of the Mill is about 100% more rapey than I anticipated. Whoops. -__-
The presence of rape isn’t the particular problem. It’s the treatment of the theme, the eagerness to use the rape of women as some pseudo-profound tool in the coming of age of the perpetrators that sends this story in a very offensive direction.
Warning: Anything in spoiler tags is a REAL spoiler. Don’t click on it if you don’t want to know. I wouldn’t include the spoilers at all if they didn’t help illustrate my point.
BASH and Mary share my dismay.
My main issue is that I didn’t sense a lot of growth in the main character. He pretty much gets what he wants, and the problems just fall away from him. If anyone’s begging for some poetic justice, it’s Tyler, and I don’t think he received any.
In short, I like a dark and moody ending, but I fucking loathe a dark and moody ending tied up in some inspirational HEA bow. After the mishandling of the rape issue, I was feeling a little less than inspired.
But let’s talk about the writing. I actually have some nice things to say about the writing. Patten has a knack for story-telling. Some of the stories are funny, especially the audacity of some of Tyler and Kyle’s schemes. The mechanics of the story are rough at times. As I mentioned, the character growth stops somewhere around puberty. There were some confusing transitions and a fair amount of telling instead of showing. And would I be BAVR if I didn’t mention some comma abuse? Overly ambitious sentences breed them, and Run of the Mill contains more than a handful of overly ambitious sentences. I liked the personable style of the writing, though, and I was never confused about what Patten wanted to convey. Some elements of the story are never explained, leaving some untidy plot threads dangling in my head even today.
All in all, I’d say this was a brave attempt at a first book. I think it may have pushed the boundaries a little too far, which caused both my consternation and the plot holes. Patten has some promise as a writer, but the themes in this story are definitely not my style.
December 26, 2013
**ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Run of the Mill is the story of Tyler Clark, cynical and witty musician, who takes us on a journey of self-discovery through his past to show his growth and worth of the present. It's a coming of age tale scripted by a realist. It's a also a story of growth as Tyler discovers the ways his past permanently shaped him. Dave Patten's writing is engaging. I've met some of these characters growing up. I've been different aspects of these characters growing up and this makes the book all the more intriguing. The story is based in Philadelphia, being from Pittsburgh I found a lot of similarities. The author also mentions the great sport of wrestling which I must comment on being as I've spent my life at wrestling matches. So Tyler being a wrestler endeared him to me even more. Tyler and his best friend Kyle are dreamers. A lot of the story revolves around this friendship and how the earliest of relationships will shape your life forever. Tyler and Kyle engages in some nefarious activities but understanding why and seeing them execute their plans is witty and laugh out loud funny. Kyle begins to unravel and we lose sight of him and see the affects that has on Tyler. Tyler moves on from tragedy to college, where his life takes another nose dive. His story is unexpected, heart breaking, and uplifting all at the same. Run of the Mill is definitely a modern day coming of age story. The author allows the protagonist to narrate his life in such a way that your hooked to the pages and makes you glad you signed up for the journey.
Run of the Mill is the story of Tyler Clark, cynical and witty musician, who takes us on a journey of self-discovery through his past to show his growth and worth of the present. It's a coming of age tale scripted by a realist. It's a also a story of growth as Tyler discovers the ways his past permanently shaped him. Dave Patten's writing is engaging. I've met some of these characters growing up. I've been different aspects of these characters growing up and this makes the book all the more intriguing. The story is based in Philadelphia, being from Pittsburgh I found a lot of similarities. The author also mentions the great sport of wrestling which I must comment on being as I've spent my life at wrestling matches. So Tyler being a wrestler endeared him to me even more. Tyler and his best friend Kyle are dreamers. A lot of the story revolves around this friendship and how the earliest of relationships will shape your life forever. Tyler and Kyle engages in some nefarious activities but understanding why and seeing them execute their plans is witty and laugh out loud funny. Kyle begins to unravel and we lose sight of him and see the affects that has on Tyler. Tyler moves on from tragedy to college, where his life takes another nose dive. His story is unexpected, heart breaking, and uplifting all at the same. Run of the Mill is definitely a modern day coming of age story. The author allows the protagonist to narrate his life in such a way that your hooked to the pages and makes you glad you signed up for the journey.
December 14, 2013
Run of the Mill is one of those rare finds. It's rare in many ways; it brings a new twist to its genre, it takes on a provocative topic with taste, it incorporates humor into cynicism without taking away from the overall objective, and it evokes real feelings up and down the happy-to-sad rating scale. Perhaps most rare, is the fact that this was achieved by a first time author.
It's hard to say what it was that really hooked me. I think it was J.D. Salinger's, Caulfield, voice I kept reading in. Maybe that's a cliche (and sometimes unwanted) reference for some authors, but I enjoyed that relation. The relation not so much in the overly (annoyingly) rebellious and angsty way, but in the truth of what is really going through an adolescent's mind at the time; the freely wielded thoughts and actions in a no-holds-barred kind of way. There were even a few points in the book where I swear a couple of events from my past were written in, which made the book all that more engrossing (nothing like reminiscing from another person's POV...).
While I found amusement traveling through a teenage boy's mind -- from general life revelations to hormonal revelations -- the book is very much a drama piece. The book starts out with 26-year-old Tyler Clark; musician/playboy extraordinaire. Just when he's living up to his fun-loving description, he is blindsided with some serious blackmail. The reader is then taken back to Tyler's childhood where a series of events unfolds that led him to where he is today. In a way it turns into a little bit of a mystery as you're immersed in his past, trying to figure out where things went wrong.
The set-up for this was well done, with the majority of the book taking place in young Tyler's POV. The thoughts and actions between the time periods are well laid out, and while you can see Tyler mentally grow through time, it does not feel like you are losing major identifiable characteristics (a.k.a. character whiplash).
I also loved all of the secondary characters - even the most atrocious ones. I think too many new authors (and established authors) are afraid to give their characters...character. I say new authors because it seems to happen most in those cases, where they just want to make a character completely likable throughout the whole story (or have some jerk of a character transform into the good guy). I attribute this more so for the establishment of their name with a happily-ever-after fan base rather than coming right from the starting gate with something provoking. Author Dave Patten certainly was not afraid to have his characters transform up-and-down all sides of the personality scale and it really gave meaning and life to the story.
I'll end by saying that I would recommend Run of the Mill to just about anyone looking for a page-turner. It does have some situations that are not suitable for all audiences (e.g., drugs, rape, suicide, and violence).
It's hard to say what it was that really hooked me. I think it was J.D. Salinger's, Caulfield, voice I kept reading in. Maybe that's a cliche (and sometimes unwanted) reference for some authors, but I enjoyed that relation. The relation not so much in the overly (annoyingly) rebellious and angsty way, but in the truth of what is really going through an adolescent's mind at the time; the freely wielded thoughts and actions in a no-holds-barred kind of way. There were even a few points in the book where I swear a couple of events from my past were written in, which made the book all that more engrossing (nothing like reminiscing from another person's POV...).
While I found amusement traveling through a teenage boy's mind -- from general life revelations to hormonal revelations -- the book is very much a drama piece. The book starts out with 26-year-old Tyler Clark; musician/playboy extraordinaire. Just when he's living up to his fun-loving description, he is blindsided with some serious blackmail. The reader is then taken back to Tyler's childhood where a series of events unfolds that led him to where he is today. In a way it turns into a little bit of a mystery as you're immersed in his past, trying to figure out where things went wrong.
The set-up for this was well done, with the majority of the book taking place in young Tyler's POV. The thoughts and actions between the time periods are well laid out, and while you can see Tyler mentally grow through time, it does not feel like you are losing major identifiable characteristics (a.k.a. character whiplash).
I also loved all of the secondary characters - even the most atrocious ones. I think too many new authors (and established authors) are afraid to give their characters...character. I say new authors because it seems to happen most in those cases, where they just want to make a character completely likable throughout the whole story (or have some jerk of a character transform into the good guy). I attribute this more so for the establishment of their name with a happily-ever-after fan base rather than coming right from the starting gate with something provoking. Author Dave Patten certainly was not afraid to have his characters transform up-and-down all sides of the personality scale and it really gave meaning and life to the story.
I'll end by saying that I would recommend Run of the Mill to just about anyone looking for a page-turner. It does have some situations that are not suitable for all audiences (e.g., drugs, rape, suicide, and violence).
January 28, 2014
This book is fantastic. It's emotive and intensely raw. As a reader I got to see inside the complex and tortured mind of a musician, the thoughts and emotions of a man who seemed to have it all together on the outside, but was somewhat hollow and coming apart at the seams layer by layer on the inside. I don’t mean that in a way to characterize our protagonist as shallow. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
The story is written from a male POV, which is a nice and refreshing change from the books I normally read. Confession: I often like it when the book is written from both the male and female characters, usually preferring the male POV to the females. There’s just something insanely captivating, interesting, and dare I say erotic when allowed into the mind of a man. Especially when the male POV is written as well as Tyler Clark’s character was.
I have to admit the angle of the book surprised me. I wasn't expecting to be taken back in time the way that I was. But it worked; it totally did, because instead of the character forcibly retelling his story as he remembered, I as the reader was able to relive the moments with him as they happened. The story had me hooked from Chapter One. The writing was exceptional; Tyler is dynamic and engaging although he harbors grim thoughts and painful secrets of a youth turned dirty and grim.
"I could feel my heart break in two the moment those words passed from his lips. He was right. I was alone, and I was empty."
Agh! That was my cue to grab the tissues and keep going. Why so sad, Tyler?
There was a point in the story where I was forced to put my own morals aside, challenged to swallow down the sour disbelief of what was happening, and either accept the path our character decided to take or throw my hands up in the air screaming, 'Oh helllllll noooo!'
You can probably guess what I did. The fact is life is raw, ugly, and unforgiving; this author made no move to sugarcoat that. But as self-discovery happens while life simultaneously tears us apart, we can also find that it can be tender, precious, and, if we allow it, beautifully exonerating.
This book stayed with me days after I’d finished it. I recommend it to everyone and look forward to more books from Dave Patten.
The story is written from a male POV, which is a nice and refreshing change from the books I normally read. Confession: I often like it when the book is written from both the male and female characters, usually preferring the male POV to the females. There’s just something insanely captivating, interesting, and dare I say erotic when allowed into the mind of a man. Especially when the male POV is written as well as Tyler Clark’s character was.
I have to admit the angle of the book surprised me. I wasn't expecting to be taken back in time the way that I was. But it worked; it totally did, because instead of the character forcibly retelling his story as he remembered, I as the reader was able to relive the moments with him as they happened. The story had me hooked from Chapter One. The writing was exceptional; Tyler is dynamic and engaging although he harbors grim thoughts and painful secrets of a youth turned dirty and grim.
"I could feel my heart break in two the moment those words passed from his lips. He was right. I was alone, and I was empty."
Agh! That was my cue to grab the tissues and keep going. Why so sad, Tyler?
There was a point in the story where I was forced to put my own morals aside, challenged to swallow down the sour disbelief of what was happening, and either accept the path our character decided to take or throw my hands up in the air screaming, 'Oh helllllll noooo!'
You can probably guess what I did. The fact is life is raw, ugly, and unforgiving; this author made no move to sugarcoat that. But as self-discovery happens while life simultaneously tears us apart, we can also find that it can be tender, precious, and, if we allow it, beautifully exonerating.
This book stayed with me days after I’d finished it. I recommend it to everyone and look forward to more books from Dave Patten.
December 26, 2013
My boyfriend let me kindly borrow this book. Now anyway, this book is one of the most jaw dropping books I have ever read, typically, people wouldn't believe that musicians can write books, many don't, so many probably have their doubts. After reading Run of the Mill, I would never doubt it again. This book, left me speechless with so many of the plot twists that I would've never expected, written in a rock star's point of view it does reflect some of the rock star's life, but it more so focuses on how he got to where he stands. This book is twisted, unreal, and amazing. I never would've expected something so raw, but Dave's music also reflects a raw side. So, please, check out this book because you honestly will never regret it.
Read
December 22, 2013Wow what an amazing book. This is so well written and if felt like I was reading a book from a seasoned author. Once you start reading you will not want to put it down. Great great story and I hope to see a lot more by this author. Definitely a must read.
December 10, 2013
See this review and more on my blog Lilybloombooks
I am kind of at a loss for how to even begin this review. I am SO conflicted. There were many things I enjoyed, yet at the same time, hated.
Have you ever read a book that has good, solid writing, but then those pesky emotions get evolved and separating the two becomes difficult and the lines get a little blurry? When a book takes you out of your comfort zone and throws reality in your face? Sometimes, the bad guy wins. Sometimes, we don't get a HEA. Sometimes, situations arise that make you uncomfortable, yet are realistic.
For me, Run of the Mill is that book.
This is a very, very well written book. It's very dark, full of angst and the very bluntness of the novel is to be appreciated. How we get into the story of Tyler's life was fascinating. We see all the events unfold over the course of his life that made him who he is today. There is no sunshine here. We get the uncut version of this guy's life. And there were plenty of times, it was VERY UGLY. Also, I'm not sure if this is how teenage boys are, but it was pretty hilarious to get an up close and personal look into their heads.
It's not just one "tragic" event that has molded Tyler into what he is. It's an array of things over the course of his life. Anger. First love, betrayal; to name a few. Not to mention, his stint has a drug dealer (marijuana, but still). That, I appreciated. But the lack of growth by Tyler was astounding.
First, let's talk about the "touchy subject" I keep bringing up. Rape. I know this comes out some kind of way, but I have read my fair share of books that focus on rape and rape victims. So the fact that it's here, in Run of the Mill, wasn't my issues. It was an issue because it was here THREE times. THREE. All different scenarios but there. Not only that, I didn't like, personally, how it was handled. Yet at the same time, I can't help but see it as a more realistic portrayal of how some people DO handle it. Not that I condone it, ever-at all, but there are quite a few things I felt, were very realistic.
Confusing huh. So, let's break it down into spoilers. Okay, so we have that. Then we have the rape of Jules. Then later, we have the situation with Tyler and Veronica. This one, pissed me off. Not only because of what he said/did to her, but because of everything surrounding the whole ordeal. There were some things thrown in there, and we got no explanation. You also have to think if rape was really a factor. It's pretty obvious it is but HE didn't. He freaked. Which, isn't a pass but again, REALISTIC. Then later, with Kyle. Yeah, his ass makes an appearance again.
So, based on all that, you can see where things would not sit right with me, personally.
Okay, moving on now.
As I said before, there was no growth to Tyler. If redemption is what he was looking for, he did NOTHING for it. As a teenager, I had a lot of compassion for him. He was head strong and smart. But as he got older, he become this bitter, angry person again; that was able to get away with pretty much everything. I really didn't like him at the end, to be honest. I can see the realism in the situation. Do I like it? Uh, NO. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
The ending. This, was wrapped up a little bit to nicely. I was angry that Kyle was there. I was angry that Tyler did NOTHING to redeem himself, or turn himself in. I was angry it seemed like Tyler was getting a happy ending. But again, does this NOT HAPPEN?
To conclude. Personally, there were a lot of things I felt were a bit much and I didn't handle very well. Emotions aside, I applaud Dave for stepping out of box, crossing that line and writing what he did. Other than a few plot holes, this was a pretty great debut.
Overall - I did like it. Dave has a way with his storytelling that snags you in. Dark, edgy and insanely intense, Run of the Mill is a quick yet emotional read full of raw honesty. Not for the light heart though, that's for sure.
*I received this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.*
I am kind of at a loss for how to even begin this review. I am SO conflicted. There were many things I enjoyed, yet at the same time, hated.
Have you ever read a book that has good, solid writing, but then those pesky emotions get evolved and separating the two becomes difficult and the lines get a little blurry? When a book takes you out of your comfort zone and throws reality in your face? Sometimes, the bad guy wins. Sometimes, we don't get a HEA. Sometimes, situations arise that make you uncomfortable, yet are realistic.
For me, Run of the Mill is that book.
This is a very, very well written book. It's very dark, full of angst and the very bluntness of the novel is to be appreciated. How we get into the story of Tyler's life was fascinating. We see all the events unfold over the course of his life that made him who he is today. There is no sunshine here. We get the uncut version of this guy's life. And there were plenty of times, it was VERY UGLY. Also, I'm not sure if this is how teenage boys are, but it was pretty hilarious to get an up close and personal look into their heads.
It's not just one "tragic" event that has molded Tyler into what he is. It's an array of things over the course of his life. Anger. First love, betrayal; to name a few. Not to mention, his stint has a drug dealer (marijuana, but still). That, I appreciated. But the lack of growth by Tyler was astounding.
First, let's talk about the "touchy subject" I keep bringing up. Rape. I know this comes out some kind of way, but I have read my fair share of books that focus on rape and rape victims. So the fact that it's here, in Run of the Mill, wasn't my issues. It was an issue because it was here THREE times. THREE. All different scenarios but there. Not only that, I didn't like, personally, how it was handled. Yet at the same time, I can't help but see it as a more realistic portrayal of how some people DO handle it. Not that I condone it, ever-at all, but there are quite a few things I felt, were very realistic.
Confusing huh. So, let's break it down into spoilers. Okay, so we have that. Then we have the rape of Jules. Then later, we have the situation with Tyler and Veronica. This one, pissed me off. Not only because of what he said/did to her, but because of everything surrounding the whole ordeal. There were some things thrown in there, and we got no explanation. You also have to think if rape was really a factor. It's pretty obvious it is but HE didn't. He freaked. Which, isn't a pass but again, REALISTIC. Then later, with Kyle. Yeah, his ass makes an appearance again.
So, based on all that, you can see where things would not sit right with me, personally.
Okay, moving on now.
As I said before, there was no growth to Tyler. If redemption is what he was looking for, he did NOTHING for it. As a teenager, I had a lot of compassion for him. He was head strong and smart. But as he got older, he become this bitter, angry person again; that was able to get away with pretty much everything. I really didn't like him at the end, to be honest. I can see the realism in the situation. Do I like it? Uh, NO. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
The ending. This, was wrapped up a little bit to nicely. I was angry that Kyle was there. I was angry that Tyler did NOTHING to redeem himself, or turn himself in. I was angry it seemed like Tyler was getting a happy ending. But again, does this NOT HAPPEN?
To conclude. Personally, there were a lot of things I felt were a bit much and I didn't handle very well. Emotions aside, I applaud Dave for stepping out of box, crossing that line and writing what he did. Other than a few plot holes, this was a pretty great debut.
Overall - I did like it. Dave has a way with his storytelling that snags you in. Dark, edgy and insanely intense, Run of the Mill is a quick yet emotional read full of raw honesty. Not for the light heart though, that's for sure.
*I received this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.*
December 11, 2013
So, I recently picked up Dave Patten's new EP, which I loved, and then got wind of this book - so naturally I had to check it out.
Actually, to give a little more context, I've been on a hunt for writers with interesting 'voices'. We all have our preferences, but mine seem to always be somewhere in the middle of the verbose slogs that are worth reading but more effortful to peruse than I'm often in the mood for and the super minimalist types that can't seem to write a sentence longer than six words and seem to have forgotten that adjectives (particularly multisyllabic ones) are their friends. I'll spare you the rant.
So with both goals in mind (finding a writer with a good voice, and wanting to check out the debut novel from a musician who I consider to be a master of striking a balance between powerful, emotive content and playful lightheartedness), I picked up a copy of this book.
*Drum roll*...It's eff-ing great!
It's a blast to read. It has this awesome, engaging conversational tone. It pulls you into the mind of a character with a witty (acerbic) outlook on life, who has hilarious and sometimes inadvertently poignant, it seems, insights into characters around him as his quest for friendship and camaraderie turns into a journey of self-discovery and then a journey of self-growth.
One of the more fascinating aspects of the book is that it manages to tell what at times seems like a larger-than-life story with remarkable realism. This is particularly true when the protagonist begins to recount his past, from the perspective of his younger self. The characters are the flawed, biased, and often crude personalities that some of us, myself in particular, grew up with.
And there is no attempt to write in moments of moral character simply to "save the cat" and endear you to the character (as they say in screenwriting circles). The author introduces you to characters and challenges you to accept, whether you like the characters or not or agree with them or not, that this is a certain slice of reality that you're traversing. Frankly, it's fascinating.
Anyone considering this book should be aware that it's not going to read like the material you've come to expect from contemporary writers. It's unforgivingly candid, the worldview of its endearing protagonist can at times come across as unabashedly parochial and borderline immoral (though there is a fascinating self-awareness there that makes it all the more captivating to read), and you get the sense that the narrative has less to do with an imposed narrative structure on the part of the author, and instead is more the organic product of the protagonist's own focus - In other words, the author steps back and gives his protagonist free reign.
And that's what makes it so original, and what attracts me to the book. It's an extremely original style, a captivating voice, and it makes no effort to cater to the reader's sensitivities. I can imagine this book may be polarizing for the reasons I've mentioned above, but for those same reasons I implore you to check it out.
Actually, to give a little more context, I've been on a hunt for writers with interesting 'voices'. We all have our preferences, but mine seem to always be somewhere in the middle of the verbose slogs that are worth reading but more effortful to peruse than I'm often in the mood for and the super minimalist types that can't seem to write a sentence longer than six words and seem to have forgotten that adjectives (particularly multisyllabic ones) are their friends. I'll spare you the rant.
So with both goals in mind (finding a writer with a good voice, and wanting to check out the debut novel from a musician who I consider to be a master of striking a balance between powerful, emotive content and playful lightheartedness), I picked up a copy of this book.
*Drum roll*...It's eff-ing great!
It's a blast to read. It has this awesome, engaging conversational tone. It pulls you into the mind of a character with a witty (acerbic) outlook on life, who has hilarious and sometimes inadvertently poignant, it seems, insights into characters around him as his quest for friendship and camaraderie turns into a journey of self-discovery and then a journey of self-growth.
One of the more fascinating aspects of the book is that it manages to tell what at times seems like a larger-than-life story with remarkable realism. This is particularly true when the protagonist begins to recount his past, from the perspective of his younger self. The characters are the flawed, biased, and often crude personalities that some of us, myself in particular, grew up with.
And there is no attempt to write in moments of moral character simply to "save the cat" and endear you to the character (as they say in screenwriting circles). The author introduces you to characters and challenges you to accept, whether you like the characters or not or agree with them or not, that this is a certain slice of reality that you're traversing. Frankly, it's fascinating.
Anyone considering this book should be aware that it's not going to read like the material you've come to expect from contemporary writers. It's unforgivingly candid, the worldview of its endearing protagonist can at times come across as unabashedly parochial and borderline immoral (though there is a fascinating self-awareness there that makes it all the more captivating to read), and you get the sense that the narrative has less to do with an imposed narrative structure on the part of the author, and instead is more the organic product of the protagonist's own focus - In other words, the author steps back and gives his protagonist free reign.
And that's what makes it so original, and what attracts me to the book. It's an extremely original style, a captivating voice, and it makes no effort to cater to the reader's sensitivities. I can imagine this book may be polarizing for the reasons I've mentioned above, but for those same reasons I implore you to check it out.
April 19, 2014
From The Page Walker
The Hard Truth
Dave Patten has a knack for storytelling. The book was very readable and the proses were all well-placed. The story wasn't hard to figure out, but there was no second guessing either. It was about forgiveness, forgiving your transgressors and your own transgressions. Along the way, Patten connected it true and hard - a person cannot fully forgive others without forgiving himself first. The lesson is a process, the same way the book characters went through.
The book tackled many issues, Rape being the most prominent. I’ll be very frank in stating that there were complicated issues that did not sit well with me, I felt them unresolved. Although, I will have to leave to the next reader his/her own assessment of those said issues. The next thing I have to point out is the length and ruminations leading to the heart of the matter. It took a really long while, from the moment Tyler started to tell Rachel the story between him and Kyle, before the true revelation. Along the way, I started losing interest and connection. Like I mentioned before, there is no second guessing, the reader can easily surmised what had happened, but somehow Patten chose the long way round.
In a nutshell, this is a promising start for Dave Patten. I am sure that time and a few more novels will hone his talent and place him among the best novelist of this new age.
The Hard Truth
Dave Patten has a knack for storytelling. The book was very readable and the proses were all well-placed. The story wasn't hard to figure out, but there was no second guessing either. It was about forgiveness, forgiving your transgressors and your own transgressions. Along the way, Patten connected it true and hard - a person cannot fully forgive others without forgiving himself first. The lesson is a process, the same way the book characters went through.
The book tackled many issues, Rape being the most prominent. I’ll be very frank in stating that there were complicated issues that did not sit well with me, I felt them unresolved. Although, I will have to leave to the next reader his/her own assessment of those said issues. The next thing I have to point out is the length and ruminations leading to the heart of the matter. It took a really long while, from the moment Tyler started to tell Rachel the story between him and Kyle, before the true revelation. Along the way, I started losing interest and connection. Like I mentioned before, there is no second guessing, the reader can easily surmised what had happened, but somehow Patten chose the long way round.
In a nutshell, this is a promising start for Dave Patten. I am sure that time and a few more novels will hone his talent and place him among the best novelist of this new age.
December 11, 2013
As soon as I heard Dave Patten was writing a book, I knew I had to own it.
Run of the Mill tells the story of Tyler Clark, a Dave Patten-esque character, who is forced to relive the story of his dark past. The book is a retelling of those events with shocking twists and turns throughout the way. I gasped more than once while reading.
Honestly, I could not put this book down once I started it. Patten's impeccable storytelling was enough to keep me hooked from beginning to end. His characters were deep and well developed and it was so interesting to be able to see into the mind of a tortured musician.
If you are a Philly native or know the areas around Philly, it makes the book even more entertaining. He writes about real places which makes it so much more relatable.
Dave's music and lyrics are incredible, so I had no doubt that his book would be equally as good. And it was.
Do yourself a favor and read his book... and search his music.
Run of the Mill tells the story of Tyler Clark, a Dave Patten-esque character, who is forced to relive the story of his dark past. The book is a retelling of those events with shocking twists and turns throughout the way. I gasped more than once while reading.
Honestly, I could not put this book down once I started it. Patten's impeccable storytelling was enough to keep me hooked from beginning to end. His characters were deep and well developed and it was so interesting to be able to see into the mind of a tortured musician.
If you are a Philly native or know the areas around Philly, it makes the book even more entertaining. He writes about real places which makes it so much more relatable.
Dave's music and lyrics are incredible, so I had no doubt that his book would be equally as good. And it was.
Do yourself a favor and read his book... and search his music.
December 13, 2013
Great book! Had me hooked from the beginning.
February 17, 2014
I liked the narration. It felt very real.
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