A review by davygibbs
My Life in Heavy Metal: Stories by Steve Almond

4.0

By the time of his first story collection, Almond's trademark wit was already fully formed. The writing here is polished and clever, the stories often both hilarious and moving -- and the thing reads like lightning. It's fun! But the relentless horny machismo grates after a hundred pages and starts, embarrassingly, to feel like wish fulfillment. I love Steve Almond's writing practically without exception -- I always read what he has to say. But the all-consuming lust, the emotional brashness, and the casual misogyny of youth is on full display here, and ultimately -- for me -- it comes close to sinking the book.