Customer Reviews

Driving with Ace

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Author Dennis Latham creates a wacky bizarro world that is so textured and lifelike, that you can't help recognizing your own friends and family members in the life of John "Ace" Elvin. In his unending quest to lose his virginity before he loses his mind (and there's some question of how that's not already happened), John embarks on a wildly irreverent, psychotic journey involving his eager girlfriend, off-center parents, his brain-damaged Viet Nam vet brother Rock, a dangerous family of nut cases who own a garage and store, rampaging homosexuals, angry feminists, moribund bus riders, flying vaginas and talking penises (the sarcastic bestower of John's nickname `Ace'). Latham's style is lean and mean, tying all these divergent elements into a slam-bang, satisfying conclusion. As wild and improbable as these characters seemed, I hated to let them go at book's end, like a bunch of quirky favorite uncles or aunts whom your family never talks about. A somewhat twisted -- and very funny -- read. Highly recommended.

Just out of mere curiousity, I got this to see just what it was. I was so not ready for what I was about to read. From page one I knew this was going to be something wild and bizarre. As I read on I was appalled at some of the stuff that went on, and found myself putting the book down, and flipping through it a few days later. I knew that if made into a movie, Gregg Araki would be the ideal guy to film it. He's the mind behind the "Teen Apocalypse" trilogy, known for their herky jerky scenes and shots, as well as weird goings-on among teens today. Anyway, the basic plot involves some guy trying desperately to lose his virginity or else go insane, being he isn't already what with having talks with his "manhood" and carnal thoughts. When he meets another virgin, he tries his best to deflower her but something always goes wrong, and it usually involves a certain part of the male anatomy messing things up for him. There is a page in the book that asks you, the reader, what you think of the author. I have yet to tear it out and send it in, for I am trying to keep myself back from saying what I want to say. I have written two novels and one novelette, with two more novels due out this year. While I am not saying that my books are any better or worse than this, I must say that this book belongs in a class by itself.

I can't really rate my own work, so the four stars doesn't count, but I can say that reactions to the novel have been great. Readers have called it the 'laugh all night' novel and the 'most bizarre laugh outloud comedy ever written.' It is my first novel outside the horror genre, and I had fun with it. I can guarantee you've never read anything like it. I wrote it because I like to read stories that either scare me or make me laugh, and if it makes you laugh I'm happy. (A true story about this novel) A friend of mine had a nervous breakdown while I was writing this novel. I sent him a few chapters while he was in the hospital. On the day he was to be released, the doctor came into his room while my friend was at breakfast, read the chapters, thought my friend wrote them, and gave him another week on the psych ward. When the doctor found out he didn't write the chapters, he told my friend that I should come and see him because he had an 'open bed' for me. My friend laughed about the entire episode, which was kind considering he got another week, and I guess my bed is still waiting for me.

Where do I even begin? This book has it all. Talking penises, flying vaginas, wacky family members, gangsters, men in dresses wearing makup, and it even has a car chase scene! The basic premise of the book is, a guy just like you and me is trying desperately to lose his virginity. Every time he tries, something bad happens to mess it up. He has a crazy brother who thinks he's still fighting the Vietnam war in his back yard and a mother who thinks she has friends living on Jupiter. His father is just a run-of-the-mill kook who obsesses over the quality of the poo he uses to make fertilizer.
The book was a very quick read. Once I started, I really didn't want to put it down. By the end of the book, you feel like you've gotten to know each of the characters pretty well. As I was nearing the end of the book, I began wondering who would be the best person to play each of the characters in the movie. I seriously believe it could be turned into a very funny, but strange, movie. You don't have to have a twisted sense of humor to enjoy it, but it helps.