Double Duce [Paperback]

Aaron Cometbus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2003

What Kerouac was to the Beat generation, Aaron Cometbus is to the punk scene in Berkeley, California. In this first novel, his slacker kids ponder life's mundane questions with the seriousness of ancient philosophers: how to get by on no money, where to scam free photocopies, and the finer points of food filching. Through a haze of beer and Top Ramen, they engage in endless debates about the nature of punk rock rage.

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Last Gasp (December 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 086719586X
• ISBN-13: 978-0867195866
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #503,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars squatting and drinking, April 12, 2006

By 

John J. Magee IV (colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Double Duce (Paperback)

If your not ready to take on the price of "Despite everything" this is a good Cometbus book to get into. This book is a little different from Cometbus's regular zines. Pretty much no travel is documented in this book. "Double Duce" covers a few squats that the author lived in and his relations to his roomates as wells as what seems like the fall of the Berkley/Oakland scene. Many of the experiances covered in this collection are more of the typical punk rock/smash everything/piss in bottles variety and may not seem as fulfilling as Aaron's travel journals. This is a great read though- I would not suggest it as a first Cometbus book for someone unless they are just in love with being a crusty punk.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, May 22, 2006

By 

Sue Pickering - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Double Duce (Paperback)

This book was fantastic. It completely captured the imporant aspects of punk and expressed them in a way thats relatable to the reader. Inspiring, funny, and overall a great read. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in zines or punk culture.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, May 1, 2005

By 

Eleanor "Slamdancing Rude Girl" (Bangor, ME) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Double Duce (Paperback)

Have you ever lived in a squat or a crash pad? Maybe just wondered or fanitisized about what that would be like? If so, this is your story. The images of my old trashy crash pad home came back as vivid as day when I read about Cometbus's days at Double Duce in Berkley. The bottles of piss because there's no workign toilet, the heaps of trash, and becomming so close with your scumbag roommates that you think idenitical thoughts.

Not only does Cometbus weave an enthralling tale though, the way he writes is smooth and enjoyable. All of the characters become like personal friends, because you feel so intouch with their personalities. Cometbus is a master at reading people, and a total "fly on the wall" kinda guy like a good writer should be. I was a little pissed at the text at first, the "handwritten" look of it is a bit harder to read than your average novel, but once I got a few pages in and my eyes adjusted, I was lost in the drumps of Berkley. I ordered "Despite Everything" the day I got this book because I wanted to read more Cometbus ASAP. I was really glad be included the WDH stories after the initial story is over... the one where the Christmas tree burns down the Watertower that Aaron and Willy live in was my favroite.