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My Life as a Sperm
When Hollywood agent, Buddy Price, dies in a car accident, he ascends to Heaven and finds out God's ready to pull the plug if we can’t learn to get along – a ‘Love thy neighbor or else’ sort of message. Recognizing an opportunity, Buddy negotiates a second chance to help make things right back on Earth. Initially unconvinced of his experience, he soon spots a mysterious box on a late-night televangelist show that changes his mind.
However, the path to saving mankind is not so straightforward. After the preacher lands in jail, Buddy ends up with the Box, but lost and disillusioned. He ignores God’s repeated warnings that time is running out and, instead, tries to refocus on work and his client list. Others, though, recognize the Box's potential, and they’ll do anything to control it and the secret held within. The fate of the world rests in Buddy’s hands... or, who knows, maybe he’s just crazy and needs lithium or something
However, the path to saving mankind is not so straightforward. After the preacher lands in jail, Buddy ends up with the Box, but lost and disillusioned. He ignores God’s repeated warnings that time is running out and, instead, tries to refocus on work and his client list. Others, though, recognize the Box's potential, and they’ll do anything to control it and the secret held within. The fate of the world rests in Buddy’s hands... or, who knows, maybe he’s just crazy and needs lithium or something
264 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2015
About the author
William Darrah Whitaker
4 books4 followersDarrah Whitaker has written five screenplays, one which was produced and another optioned. His short stories have been published in the Writers Bloc III, IV, and V anthologies. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers as well as the Henderson Writers Group in Las Vegas, Nevada serving on its Board of Directors. His first novel, My Life as a Sperm, takes on notions of God and destiny in a most unusual way. He lives in Las Vegas where, despite the myriad temptations, he still finds time to write.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 5, 2015
Buddy Price is a world-class jerk and smart-ass, sent by God on a mission to save the world from heavenly destruction.
In trying to do so, he encounters many obstacles, including a band of hard-core survivalists bent on taking his Jeremiah Box (given to him by God) and using it for their own nefarious purposes.
Therein lies the entire plot of this satire on God's interactions with Price -- and mankind as a whole.
And, just for the record, the book has nothing to do with anyone's "life as a sperm." Not sure why the author chose that title, but hey -- it captures the reader's attention. After all, what did The Catcher In the Rye have to do with any of its content? Same tactic.
The book is well-written, full of snappy, sarcastic dialogue, and characters that are truly larger than life. The plotline is fast-paced, and full of biting commentary on how mankind is not living up to God's expectations.
There's a love story as well, interwoven into the fabric of this neo-science fiction tale. And we find ourselves rooting for Price to get the girl, despite his occasionally abrasive personality and actions. (I won't disclose whether he actually succeeds in this endeavor.)
Eventually, there's a satisfying ending that ties up the loose ends (with a surprising twist) and we're left wondering what's next for this unlikely hero and savior of the world. A sequel is, no doubt, in the works even as we speak.
Here are a few memorable lines from the book:
"That light, it turns out, it's God, and he's holding this little egg in his hand. Well, it was big compared to me, but in God's hand it was small. God's got some height."
"Mr. Zimmerman had two settings: silent and grumble."
"She was sitting in the moral nosebleed section and I wanted to bring her a little closer to Mother Earth."
My Life as a Sperm will tickle your funny bone and may even make you laugh out loud in places as the protagonist suffers through multiple indignities in his quest to save mankind. I personally like my humor to be a little above the "drop-your-pants" variety favored by the author, but that's just me. I predict that many will find it hilarious.
I give it four stars. The book was given to me in exchange for my honest opinion.
In trying to do so, he encounters many obstacles, including a band of hard-core survivalists bent on taking his Jeremiah Box (given to him by God) and using it for their own nefarious purposes.
Therein lies the entire plot of this satire on God's interactions with Price -- and mankind as a whole.
And, just for the record, the book has nothing to do with anyone's "life as a sperm." Not sure why the author chose that title, but hey -- it captures the reader's attention. After all, what did The Catcher In the Rye have to do with any of its content? Same tactic.
The book is well-written, full of snappy, sarcastic dialogue, and characters that are truly larger than life. The plotline is fast-paced, and full of biting commentary on how mankind is not living up to God's expectations.
There's a love story as well, interwoven into the fabric of this neo-science fiction tale. And we find ourselves rooting for Price to get the girl, despite his occasionally abrasive personality and actions. (I won't disclose whether he actually succeeds in this endeavor.)
Eventually, there's a satisfying ending that ties up the loose ends (with a surprising twist) and we're left wondering what's next for this unlikely hero and savior of the world. A sequel is, no doubt, in the works even as we speak.
Here are a few memorable lines from the book:
"That light, it turns out, it's God, and he's holding this little egg in his hand. Well, it was big compared to me, but in God's hand it was small. God's got some height."
"Mr. Zimmerman had two settings: silent and grumble."
"She was sitting in the moral nosebleed section and I wanted to bring her a little closer to Mother Earth."
My Life as a Sperm will tickle your funny bone and may even make you laugh out loud in places as the protagonist suffers through multiple indignities in his quest to save mankind. I personally like my humor to be a little above the "drop-your-pants" variety favored by the author, but that's just me. I predict that many will find it hilarious.
I give it four stars. The book was given to me in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 6, 2015
One of the most obvious joys of being an independent book reviewer is coming across books such as William Darrah Whitaker's My Life as a Sperm. Do you think you'd ever see that prominently displayed in a bookstore beside the newest humdrum romance novel that may be sweeping the nation? And that is exactly why I love what I do.
Whitaker's tale has Buddy Price, a dead and slimy Hollywood agent, front and center as he meets the big G-O-D at the pearly gates of heaven. If you're expecting Mel Brook's Defending Your Life to unfold, think again. Nope - this heaven had a God who's reached his max with the depravity of humanity and the clear inability for people to just get along. But, being the seedy, shifty agent he once was, Buddy manages to convince God to give him a chance to literally save the world. And God agrees. Let the fun begin.
Despite initially thinking redeeming humanity will be a slam dunk, Buddy soon discovers that he may not be able to be successful in his assignment after all. Buddy comes in possession of The Box, a mysterious entity that has enormous powers and that, obviously, everyone wants their hands on. And so Whitaker delves into a tale where illusions are broken, truths are exposed, and the underlying relationships amongst all human beings are analyzed and commented upon.
Like this review? Read more like it at www.readingotherpeople.com
Whitaker's tale has Buddy Price, a dead and slimy Hollywood agent, front and center as he meets the big G-O-D at the pearly gates of heaven. If you're expecting Mel Brook's Defending Your Life to unfold, think again. Nope - this heaven had a God who's reached his max with the depravity of humanity and the clear inability for people to just get along. But, being the seedy, shifty agent he once was, Buddy manages to convince God to give him a chance to literally save the world. And God agrees. Let the fun begin.
Despite initially thinking redeeming humanity will be a slam dunk, Buddy soon discovers that he may not be able to be successful in his assignment after all. Buddy comes in possession of The Box, a mysterious entity that has enormous powers and that, obviously, everyone wants their hands on. And so Whitaker delves into a tale where illusions are broken, truths are exposed, and the underlying relationships amongst all human beings are analyzed and commented upon.
Like this review? Read more like it at www.readingotherpeople.com
June 24, 2015
First things first, let me clear up for anybody panicking as to the content of this book, the title doesn't really reflect the narrative and storyline generally. It's a quote from the main character Buddy Price, who has a near death experience and envisages himself as a sperm heading towards a bright light.
The general storyline is supposed to be one of redemption, of being given a second, or perhaps third chance at life. Buddy is a talent agent in Los Angeles, working with the great and the good of Hollywood, and he often regales the reader with stories of his reubbing shoulders with celebrities. He's divorced and a bit of a cad, but no more than one imagines most agents to be. Which makes his great need for salvation somewhat questionable. He's certainly not the most evil character in the world and perhaps the story would work better if he was a bit more depraved...
Read the full review on www.MJMeads.com
The general storyline is supposed to be one of redemption, of being given a second, or perhaps third chance at life. Buddy is a talent agent in Los Angeles, working with the great and the good of Hollywood, and he often regales the reader with stories of his reubbing shoulders with celebrities. He's divorced and a bit of a cad, but no more than one imagines most agents to be. Which makes his great need for salvation somewhat questionable. He's certainly not the most evil character in the world and perhaps the story would work better if he was a bit more depraved...
Read the full review on www.MJMeads.com
July 31, 2015
Buddy Price's journey starts off with a bang as this Hollywood agent finds himself in all sorts of trouble with God at the helm. Written with a dry wit reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard, Whitaker takes jabs at religion, survivalists, Hollywood, and God without apology.
What's the premise? Buddy needs to save the world. Why? God's request. Why Buddy? No one can figure that one out including Buddy himself.
What do we need saving from? Is it the Devil? Religious zealots? Wacky survivalists? Ourselves? Whitaker is at his best when his characters are at their zaniest. My personal favorites are the cameo appearances by a ten-year-old Ferrari driving brat and her sage, blind father.
Whitaker includes the right amount of satire without being heavy handed. _Sperm_ had me smirking, figuring out movie references, thinking about faith, and turning pages (especially toward the end). A terrific first novel by a Las Vegas writer.
What's the premise? Buddy needs to save the world. Why? God's request. Why Buddy? No one can figure that one out including Buddy himself.
What do we need saving from? Is it the Devil? Religious zealots? Wacky survivalists? Ourselves? Whitaker is at his best when his characters are at their zaniest. My personal favorites are the cameo appearances by a ten-year-old Ferrari driving brat and her sage, blind father.
Whitaker includes the right amount of satire without being heavy handed. _Sperm_ had me smirking, figuring out movie references, thinking about faith, and turning pages (especially toward the end). A terrific first novel by a Las Vegas writer.
February 28, 2015
William Darrah Whitaker threw out a line and caught an enormous silly plot to write a book about. In My Life as a Sperm, Buddy Price dies, meets God and is charged with changing the world. He says he came back as a sperm and that was the last I heard of that line.
Whitaker has presented us with a book that encompasses wit that is nonetheless thought-provoking. After being chosen to open the Jeremiah Box, which supposedly will change the world, he encounters one mystery after another. The bottom line is Buddy is a nice guy, but rather self-absorbed. After a few trips to God, he still doesn't seem to get it.
I liked Whitaker's book and enjoyed the lightheartedness of it. I do think he is going to be under fire from the more biblical establishment who do not take God and heaven with such levity.
Whitaker has presented us with a book that encompasses wit that is nonetheless thought-provoking. After being chosen to open the Jeremiah Box, which supposedly will change the world, he encounters one mystery after another. The bottom line is Buddy is a nice guy, but rather self-absorbed. After a few trips to God, he still doesn't seem to get it.
I liked Whitaker's book and enjoyed the lightheartedness of it. I do think he is going to be under fire from the more biblical establishment who do not take God and heaven with such levity.
May 12, 2016
TOP PICK!
This is a great read for anyone, and especially those who enjoy a great send up of pretty much everything. If you’re serious about your religion, or get offended by cartoon-like characterizations of your deity, you might want to steer clear of this since believers, get the same dose of skepticism and satire as the nonbelievers, and God wanders through the kitchen in a plaid bathrobe.
...read the complete review at UndergroundBookReviews(dot)org!
This is a great read for anyone, and especially those who enjoy a great send up of pretty much everything. If you’re serious about your religion, or get offended by cartoon-like characterizations of your deity, you might want to steer clear of this since believers, get the same dose of skepticism and satire as the nonbelievers, and God wanders through the kitchen in a plaid bathrobe.
...read the complete review at UndergroundBookReviews(dot)org!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews