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A review by brennanlafaro
Mojo Rising by Bob Pastorella
3.0
While they don’t do it with all their releases, I’m enjoying how Perpetual Motion Machine will sometimes package a novella with a somewhat related short story from the author. In the case of Bob Pastorella’s release, you can read a story entitled “Pork Chop” - a 16 page affair that led to the book you’ve just read, unless you go out of order, but you’re not a monster. Are you? The story introduces one of the most interesting characters in the book, a kind of Southern Americana version of a James Bond villain who’s grafted together with kevlar.
After reading and thoroughly enjoying They’re Watching, the book co-written with Pastorella’s This is Horror co-host, Michael David Wilson, I was eager to see what portions of that book germinated from Bob’s imagination, and therefore eager to dive into Mojo Rising. This one steers into more of a gritty crime noir that feels like it only could have been penned by a writer from Texas.
Don’t get me wrong with the crime noir comparison - we definitely steer into horror territory more than once or twice. During these instances, Pastorella embraces the grotesque with a mentality that says I’m looking, so guess what? So are you. Pastorella also perpetually embraces the bizarre. In a book that centers around drugs and references The Doors this often, wouldn’t you have to?
If I had one complaint, it’s one of personal preference. My favorite stories put character ahead of all else, and though our protagonist - Juney - is an interesting guy, most of the importance is placed on setpieces and surroundings. It works for what this novella struck me as trying to accomplish. I simply didn’t find myself as invested as I like to be in the people.
Mojo Rising is exactly the type of book one might expect to come out of Perpetual Motion Machine. It’s fast, fun, strange, and contains masturbation. Trigger warning? If that’s your fare, by all means, dive in. If you just want to see what This is Horror’s resident anecdote machine can do with a pen, or a laptop anyway, check out Mojo Rising.
Review/rating coming soon
After reading and thoroughly enjoying They’re Watching, the book co-written with Pastorella’s This is Horror co-host, Michael David Wilson, I was eager to see what portions of that book germinated from Bob’s imagination, and therefore eager to dive into Mojo Rising. This one steers into more of a gritty crime noir that feels like it only could have been penned by a writer from Texas.
Don’t get me wrong with the crime noir comparison - we definitely steer into horror territory more than once or twice. During these instances, Pastorella embraces the grotesque with a mentality that says I’m looking, so guess what? So are you. Pastorella also perpetually embraces the bizarre. In a book that centers around drugs and references The Doors this often, wouldn’t you have to?
If I had one complaint, it’s one of personal preference. My favorite stories put character ahead of all else, and though our protagonist - Juney - is an interesting guy, most of the importance is placed on setpieces and surroundings. It works for what this novella struck me as trying to accomplish. I simply didn’t find myself as invested as I like to be in the people.
Mojo Rising is exactly the type of book one might expect to come out of Perpetual Motion Machine. It’s fast, fun, strange, and contains masturbation. Trigger warning? If that’s your fare, by all means, dive in. If you just want to see what This is Horror’s resident anecdote machine can do with a pen, or a laptop anyway, check out Mojo Rising.
Review/rating coming soon