Grundish and Askew

Lance Carbuncle
Vicious Galoot Books (2009)
ISBN 9780982280003
Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (11/09)

 

This is probably one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. Unique is not a bad thing, simply something you have to adjust to and realize you are no longer reading “inside the box” material!

A book of friendship and how far two young men will go for each other’s friendship; you quickly form an opinion on both “Grundish” and “Askew.” Don’t worry; these opinions will change, many times. 

These punkish, bad-to-the-bone style young men seem to find what they need in each other to keep afloat. When one goes down, the other is there to toss the life jacket.  A vow of “kill me if I’m ever arrested and going to be put away” becomes a promise made by one friend with certainty that it will never happen…or will it?

A true story of friendship, one that most any of us will never truly find in a friend at any point of our life, tells a lot about those “bad kids” we all know. Perhaps it also tells a lot about those “goody two-shoes kid” we all think we would want our kids to be also. When your back is against the wall, do you want a friend that will take the hit for you or run? These two know the answer and live the life.

Hard hitting, sometimes raunchy, risqué, and gritty... you won’t find cookies and milk at the end of this storybook friendship or prince charming saving the day. You find reality, which sometimes bites, but is always very raw and real.

This book could easily be the sleeper of the year if given the chance... it will open your eyes, change your mind, change your outlook and bring you to question what true friendship is or if you could honestly be one.  “Grunge and Askew” by Lance Carbuncle is an excellent read and I’m seeing an audience of 20-somethings falling in love with this grunge style of writing.

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