Biddy Debeau Rides for His Life: A Novel
By Gordon B. Hilton
Literary Fiction, 228 pages, Published Nov 2014
I read this through Story , a site that enables authors to give free reader's copies of their work, for a limited time, in exchange for unbiased reviews. I'm hoping to read and review from Story Cartel throughout the year. Cartel
Book Description from author's website:
Set on the roads and freeways, byways and back routes of the wicked west coast, "Biddy Debeau Rides for His Life" tells the story of Biddy Debeau who, after discovering his on-again, off-again girlfriend overdosed in a closet, decides it's probably a good time for a fresh start. But it doesn't go well, and he soon realizes there’s more to escaping yourself than escaping your life.
This is a story with some meat on its pork chop. I sped through pieces of it, greedy for the what-next. In other places I slowed down, reread, and even set the book aside to digest. For a while I was sure I hated everything about it, but couldn't resist the pull of the characters and the grace of its twisted prose.
Even after I reached the end (which I am a little ashamed to admit I sprint-skim-read to for about 6 pages because I couldn't bear to not know for 20 more seconds) I sat dazed and undecided. When I recovered, I knew I loved it.
A bonus? Reading Biddy helped me as a writer. The storytelling is wild and vivid, but always crisp. I often drift into "purple" and struggle to maintain clean lines with my need for sensory immersion. I might do a freewrite in Hilton's style this week to get a better feel for how he balances his imaginative description with clear wording.
There was a confusing entry to this novel (so if you notice that, don't let it deter you.) It may be specific to me as a reader, but I've noticed it with a few new novelists -- the hook gets in the way of the story-learning. It takes me a few paragraphs to get my bearings. I need clarity. Otherwise, my confusion overwhelms important details. Hilton's writing --his style, his voice-- is incredible. I've no doubt he'll nail this in future novels.
This is why reading improves writing, right? Now I'll try to remember this in my own stories. I want to grab the reader, but add only enough crazy to keep them interested while they orient themselves to my characters, the time, and the place.
My Amazon Review:
Biddy Debeau is a horrible, misogynistic alcoholic. We endure pages of painful decisions, watching the self-flagellation, and wondering when we'll get a reprieve-- but still we read, and gasp, and fall in love. The complex layering of thought coupled with sensory detail kept me committed even when Biddy was at his darkest. Hilton challenges us to see, feel, and taste the raw struggle of humanity... of our often lack of humanity... through a gritty, completely captivating character who will stay with me for some time.
By Gordon B. Hilton
Literary Fiction, 228 pages, Published Nov 2014
I read this through Story , a site that enables authors to give free reader's copies of their work, for a limited time, in exchange for unbiased reviews. I'm hoping to read and review from Story Cartel throughout the year. Cartel
Book Description from author's website:
Set on the roads and freeways, byways and back routes of the wicked west coast, "Biddy Debeau Rides for His Life" tells the story of Biddy Debeau who, after discovering his on-again, off-again girlfriend overdosed in a closet, decides it's probably a good time for a fresh start. But it doesn't go well, and he soon realizes there’s more to escaping yourself than escaping your life.
This is a story with some meat on its pork chop. I sped through pieces of it, greedy for the what-next. In other places I slowed down, reread, and even set the book aside to digest. For a while I was sure I hated everything about it, but couldn't resist the pull of the characters and the grace of its twisted prose.
Even after I reached the end (which I am a little ashamed to admit I sprint-skim-read to for about 6 pages because I couldn't bear to not know for 20 more seconds) I sat dazed and undecided. When I recovered, I knew I loved it.
A bonus? Reading Biddy helped me as a writer. The storytelling is wild and vivid, but always crisp. I often drift into "purple" and struggle to maintain clean lines with my need for sensory immersion. I might do a freewrite in Hilton's style this week to get a better feel for how he balances his imaginative description with clear wording.
There was a confusing entry to this novel (so if you notice that, don't let it deter you.) It may be specific to me as a reader, but I've noticed it with a few new novelists -- the hook gets in the way of the story-learning. It takes me a few paragraphs to get my bearings. I need clarity. Otherwise, my confusion overwhelms important details. Hilton's writing --his style, his voice-- is incredible. I've no doubt he'll nail this in future novels.
This is why reading improves writing, right? Now I'll try to remember this in my own stories. I want to grab the reader, but add only enough crazy to keep them interested while they orient themselves to my characters, the time, and the place.
My Amazon Review:
Biddy Debeau is a horrible, misogynistic alcoholic. We endure pages of painful decisions, watching the self-flagellation, and wondering when we'll get a reprieve-- but still we read, and gasp, and fall in love. The complex layering of thought coupled with sensory detail kept me committed even when Biddy was at his darkest. Hilton challenges us to see, feel, and taste the raw struggle of humanity... of our often lack of humanity... through a gritty, completely captivating character who will stay with me for some time.