Scan barcode
graceless's review against another edition
4.0
Funny story about some pretty gross individuals. Sort of seemed very much like this was something that happens in trailer parks in the US every day which is kind of depressing. Overall a pretty enjoyable story & recommended for fans of transgressive fiction.
Listened to lots of this on Audible (as well as reading on Kindle) and thought the narrator (Brandon Paul Eells) was exceptional!
Listened to lots of this on Audible (as well as reading on Kindle) and thought the narrator (Brandon Paul Eells) was exceptional!
ruthenator's review against another edition
4.0
Another raunchy, raw, rollicking rollercoaster ride from the good Reverend Carbuncle, replete with pop culture references, random footnotes, oddball characters who inadvertently quote rock song lyrics and dream of talking animals, a poop-vomiting burro named Alf, tonsilloliths, sock garters, and a Dead Milkmen quote. Not for the fainthearted, but good fun for the rest of us.
For a nominal fee, Carbuncle will send you a copy of his book with a marker squiggle that serves as an autograph.
For a nominal fee, Carbuncle will send you a copy of his book with a marker squiggle that serves as an autograph.
shane_tiernan's review against another edition
4.0
Mr. Carbuncle's reviews of his own books read like something a brilliant adolescent boy raised on Beavis and Butthead and Quinten Tarantino might have written. The humble, multi-layered, self-praise really caught my attention in a kindred spirit kind of way.
So I made the leap of faith and bought one of his books. I don't regret it and actually plan on buying another copy to send to a friend.
If you haven't read [b:Of Mice and Men|890|Of Mice and Men|John Steinbeck|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1367951092s/890.jpg|40283] then I would suggest you do or at least see the movie before reading this. If not it will still be fun but the ending won't be as "touching".
Just a couple comments. This is bizarre, scatological, meta writing. Not something you pick up at an airport before you hop on a jet. It's not deep, you don't need to intensely concentrate or even be all the way sober or awake to read it but it is not your average summer blockbuster.
It's a modern day retelling of Mice and Men, that includes ghostly talking dogs, white trash main characters, and some great informational footnotes. I LOL'd many times and often found myself reading out of the book to gross those around me out or just blow their minds.
As with most "experimental" stuff I read I thought it could have been a little shorter but really I took forever to read it (because I've been writing a lot myself) so it may have been affect of reading it over 2 months.
So I made the leap of faith and bought one of his books. I don't regret it and actually plan on buying another copy to send to a friend.
If you haven't read [b:Of Mice and Men|890|Of Mice and Men|John Steinbeck|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1367951092s/890.jpg|40283] then I would suggest you do or at least see the movie before reading this. If not it will still be fun but the ending won't be as "touching".
Just a couple comments. This is bizarre, scatological, meta writing. Not something you pick up at an airport before you hop on a jet. It's not deep, you don't need to intensely concentrate or even be all the way sober or awake to read it but it is not your average summer blockbuster.
It's a modern day retelling of Mice and Men, that includes ghostly talking dogs, white trash main characters, and some great informational footnotes. I LOL'd many times and often found myself reading out of the book to gross those around me out or just blow their minds.
As with most "experimental" stuff I read I thought it could have been a little shorter but really I took forever to read it (because I've been writing a lot myself) so it may have been affect of reading it over 2 months.
twerkingtobeethoven's review against another edition
4.0
Lance Carbuncle (sweet surname, there), you sick bastard! Mind you, given I'm even sicker than the author of this steaming pile of filth, I laughed my lungs out at almost every single page of this book. "Grundish and Askew" reminds me of Joe Lansdale, only high as a kyte. Loved it. I won't go into detail because, being the laziest yobbo in town, I can't be bothered; just know "Grundish and Askew" is nothing short of HYSTERICAL.
Four stars, because... present tense.
Four stars, because... present tense.
bundy23's review against another edition
DNF. I gave it an hour to win me over but it was just too juvenile, too many unfunny jokes about piss, shit, cocks, granny fanny, etc.
jessloveslit's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes, you need a book that sucker-punches through the fourth wall and shakes you out of the safety and complacency of your nightstand companions.
This is that book.
There are so many traits about this book that make it worth the read, which also makes it difficult to write a coherent, compelling review. On the surface, this story is about two best friends on the run after some impulsive, horrific bad decisions are made. This book is funny, imaginative, and shockingly heart-warming. I'll do my best to give the highlights of what I think are the best features in this book.
Plot: This book tip-toes a fine line between fantasy and reality. Carbuncle creates characters that are realistically flawed (and could only exist in Florida). While Grundish, Askew, and the rest of the gang work to get themselves out of the mess they've made, they get the assistance from some other worldly beings. One of my very favorite scenes in the book is when Carbuncle halts the action to have a (harsh) literary review of the very story that is occurring, reminding readers that these are, indeed, not real people but fictional. Through Carbuncle's story telling, I find this story structure refreshing, not forced, gimmicky, or unpleasant. I definitely do not agree with [the author's] criticism that this book is being sold on shock value alone.
Characters: The men and women in this book are some of the most crass, self-destructive, and socially unacceptable characters in any book I've read in my recent memory. And Goddamnit if I didn't love the shit out of them. Grundish is an alcoholic parolee who is impatient with the injustices of the world; he is strong, burly, and covered in tattoos. Askew comes from a long line of redneck bumpkins who find themselves life-time prisoners. For lack of a better term, Askew is an idiot. He is constantly misusing common terms phrases, and yet he wields them with the confidence and seriousness as someone with a P.H.D. These are truly despicable men who do despicable things and collect other delinquents as they go along their way, including Askew's sassy old Aunt Turleene and Dora, the eighteen year old snaggle-toothed prostitute.
But, despite every odd against them in this book, Grundish and Askew have a deep, true, legitimate brotherly love for each other. The strength of their friendship and their habits of comforting each other make them, in my opinion, not only likable, but lovable. Grundish's mantra that he and Askew are "not like them other guys" absolutely ring true: they can do anything (including win over an audience) because they have each other.
Writing/Voice: Carbuncle's descriptions are anything but ordinary. He paints vivid, visceral pictures with his words. I would love to see a police sketch artist take a crack at illustrating Grundish, Askew, and Turleene simply based on Carbuncle's descriptions. There is not a tired cliche to be found in the book. Again, I have read many novels that use language as a gimmick and a selling point. Carbuncle's narration doesn't feel forced, faked, or stylized based on someone else. Grundish and Askew is unique storytelling, and I am anxious to read more from this author.
I haven't scratched the surface of why this book is great, but I honestly don't feel like I can do it justice. It's just something that has to be experienced. On a side note, I listened to the audio version of this book, which added a whole other layer of humor and drama that I really enjoyed. This is a book that I feel that I can revisit and get more out of with another reading.
This is that book.
There are so many traits about this book that make it worth the read, which also makes it difficult to write a coherent, compelling review. On the surface, this story is about two best friends on the run after some impulsive, horrific bad decisions are made. This book is funny, imaginative, and shockingly heart-warming. I'll do my best to give the highlights of what I think are the best features in this book.
Plot: This book tip-toes a fine line between fantasy and reality. Carbuncle creates characters that are realistically flawed (and could only exist in Florida). While Grundish, Askew, and the rest of the gang work to get themselves out of the mess they've made, they get the assistance from some other worldly beings. One of my very favorite scenes in the book is when Carbuncle halts the action to have a (harsh) literary review of the very story that is occurring, reminding readers that these are, indeed, not real people but fictional. Through Carbuncle's story telling, I find this story structure refreshing, not forced, gimmicky, or unpleasant. I definitely do not agree with [the author's] criticism that this book is being sold on shock value alone.
Characters: The men and women in this book are some of the most crass, self-destructive, and socially unacceptable characters in any book I've read in my recent memory. And Goddamnit if I didn't love the shit out of them. Grundish is an alcoholic parolee who is impatient with the injustices of the world; he is strong, burly, and covered in tattoos. Askew comes from a long line of redneck bumpkins who find themselves life-time prisoners. For lack of a better term, Askew is an idiot. He is constantly misusing common terms phrases, and yet he wields them with the confidence and seriousness as someone with a P.H.D. These are truly despicable men who do despicable things and collect other delinquents as they go along their way, including Askew's sassy old Aunt Turleene and Dora, the eighteen year old snaggle-toothed prostitute.
But, despite every odd against them in this book, Grundish and Askew have a deep, true, legitimate brotherly love for each other. The strength of their friendship and their habits of comforting each other make them, in my opinion, not only likable, but lovable. Grundish's mantra that he and Askew are "not like them other guys" absolutely ring true: they can do anything (including win over an audience) because they have each other.
Writing/Voice: Carbuncle's descriptions are anything but ordinary. He paints vivid, visceral pictures with his words. I would love to see a police sketch artist take a crack at illustrating Grundish, Askew, and Turleene simply based on Carbuncle's descriptions. There is not a tired cliche to be found in the book. Again, I have read many novels that use language as a gimmick and a selling point. Carbuncle's narration doesn't feel forced, faked, or stylized based on someone else. Grundish and Askew is unique storytelling, and I am anxious to read more from this author.
I haven't scratched the surface of why this book is great, but I honestly don't feel like I can do it justice. It's just something that has to be experienced. On a side note, I listened to the audio version of this book, which added a whole other layer of humor and drama that I really enjoyed. This is a book that I feel that I can revisit and get more out of with another reading.
js_warren's review against another edition
2.0
Not bad, not great. There are times when it feels like the Carbuncle is trying just a little too hard to be shocking or clever, and the constant use of music lyrics, movie quotes, etc. is a little distracting. That said, I finished this book, and the same cannot be said of Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire. Make of that what you will.
uncle_duke's review against another edition
4.0
Upon finishing GRUNDISH and ASKEW, Dr. Reverend Carbuncle leaves us only one choice - unless we have already - go get SMASHED ...
An amazing - and fastidiously annotated - mash-up of Butch+Sundance, American-Psycho, Pretty-Woman, Good+Bad+Ugly, Helter-Skelter, Animal-House ... the characters all could be former schoolmates - yikes!
An amazing - and fastidiously annotated - mash-up of Butch+Sundance, American-Psycho, Pretty-Woman, Good+Bad+Ugly, Helter-Skelter, Animal-House ... the characters all could be former schoolmates - yikes!
daviddavidkatzman's review against another edition
5.0
I sing the body poop-centric.
What is Grundish & Askew? Well, the human body is quite grundish at times and definitely askew. After all, we all get sick, we all eventually get old and die (unless we’re crushed by a large object before it’s really time for us to go…and such events are, perhaps, uber-grundish). This book purports to be a buddy story, about two downtrodden fools, but I think it’s more of a meditation on all the fucked up shit that makes us physically tick. It’s reminding us that we are animals, human animals, yes, but animals with body parts that go bad, organs that spring leaks, and even minds that can’t be controlled with will-power. In many ways, we are helplessly at the mercy of Mother Nature. Alzheimer’s might be in our genes. Or perhaps a grapefruit-sized tumor is preparing to burst from our neck. Grundish & Askew slaps us around a bit and says, hey motherfucker, you ain’t some kind of flying spaghetti-monster angel, you’re made out of dirt. It’s a reminder well deserved given all the self-help pabulum that people turn to when the going gets tough.
Carbuncle’s bodily theme is communicated through the quite amusing story of two white trash lowlifes committing semi-accidental murder (repeatedly) while on the run from the pigs. Is it well told?...absolutely. Very funny and with sincere, solid characters. It’s a great adventure story. In fact, I felt the story was so well written, that the occasional footnotes that were “from the author,” giving a slight post-modern spin on the book, were unnecessary and detracted from the narrative itself, which rocked like Molly Hatchet. Yes, you need a bit of a stomach to appreciate this, but any reader willing to step out of her ivory tower and get down in the muck will love it. Highly recommended.
What is Grundish & Askew? Well, the human body is quite grundish at times and definitely askew. After all, we all get sick, we all eventually get old and die (unless we’re crushed by a large object before it’s really time for us to go…and such events are, perhaps, uber-grundish). This book purports to be a buddy story, about two downtrodden fools, but I think it’s more of a meditation on all the fucked up shit that makes us physically tick. It’s reminding us that we are animals, human animals, yes, but animals with body parts that go bad, organs that spring leaks, and even minds that can’t be controlled with will-power. In many ways, we are helplessly at the mercy of Mother Nature. Alzheimer’s might be in our genes. Or perhaps a grapefruit-sized tumor is preparing to burst from our neck. Grundish & Askew slaps us around a bit and says, hey motherfucker, you ain’t some kind of flying spaghetti-monster angel, you’re made out of dirt. It’s a reminder well deserved given all the self-help pabulum that people turn to when the going gets tough.
Carbuncle’s bodily theme is communicated through the quite amusing story of two white trash lowlifes committing semi-accidental murder (repeatedly) while on the run from the pigs. Is it well told?...absolutely. Very funny and with sincere, solid characters. It’s a great adventure story. In fact, I felt the story was so well written, that the occasional footnotes that were “from the author,” giving a slight post-modern spin on the book, were unnecessary and detracted from the narrative itself, which rocked like Molly Hatchet. Yes, you need a bit of a stomach to appreciate this, but any reader willing to step out of her ivory tower and get down in the muck will love it. Highly recommended.
kriziaannacastro's review
2.0
You know what's good about the book? The ending. For the rest? Meh. The author is trying to be too clever or I just missed the point. FYI, I got this for free back in 2011 in return for a review.