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A review by jang
Punkzilla by Adam Rapp
4.0
This book is mad good and has some mad themes I shit you not. That was me trying to bite Jamie's style. Jamie is a 14yr. old boy who was sent to Buckner military school after getting caught smoking pot, stealing, and doing more shit that most curious young teens do. After running away from military school, he journeyed to Portland where he met his comrade Branson and started doing more shit that teenage boys do like getting a hand job, more "thieving", doing meth and being christened as "Punkzilla."
The title of this book grabbed my attention because I thought I'd be treated to a 70s or 80s CBGB punk scene but instead, I got a wandering boy who travelled half the country just to get to his cancer-stricken brother after he went AWOL at the military school. The story line was actually reminiscent of beatnik, Kerouacian journeys. It's unexpected, raw, dangerous, genuine, and beat.
Punkzilla was about J's life on the streets. There were a lot of supporting characters that made a dent in his confused journey but the focus remained on Jamie wanting to discover what he really wanted in life and learning from chaos. I loved the format since I have always been fond of letters and journal entry types of narratives. I liked how the author depicted the different tones of the book. It really helped you know Jamie and his struggles and the way his young mind perceived things.
I enjoyed reading his thoughts and found myself lauging at some parts where his curious, unapologetic mind was legit hustling. I liked reading about his demons and the things he was capable of doing. I liked the perversion and at the same time, his innocence. Those things are evident in the streets and in a way it becomes a warning about how you need to choose who you trust, who you judge, and who you journey with.
The title of this book grabbed my attention because I thought I'd be treated to a 70s or 80s CBGB punk scene but instead, I got a wandering boy who travelled half the country just to get to his cancer-stricken brother after he went AWOL at the military school. The story line was actually reminiscent of beatnik, Kerouacian journeys. It's unexpected, raw, dangerous, genuine, and beat.
Punkzilla was about J's life on the streets. There were a lot of supporting characters that made a dent in his confused journey but the focus remained on Jamie wanting to discover what he really wanted in life and learning from chaos. I loved the format since I have always been fond of letters and journal entry types of narratives. I liked how the author depicted the different tones of the book. It really helped you know Jamie and his struggles and the way his young mind perceived things.
I enjoyed reading his thoughts and found myself lauging at some parts where his curious, unapologetic mind was legit hustling. I liked reading about his demons and the things he was capable of doing. I liked the perversion and at the same time, his innocence. Those things are evident in the streets and in a way it becomes a warning about how you need to choose who you trust, who you judge, and who you journey with.