Customer Reviews

Loosely Based: A Novel

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

 

 

Overall, an excellent read. The following features warrant special praise:
1) Expertly drawn, intelligent characters. I have often had the experience of reading books with very introspective characters and thinking, "Wow, I'm just a whole lot deeper and more thoughtful than these people. Why am I reading this?" By contrast, the characters in Loosely Based -- especially Matt Norton -- struck me as very deep and searching.
2) Wonderful, dark humor. While this book features lots of "American" motifs -- highways, telemarketing, etc. -- its gallows humor demonstrated what I view as a very British sensibility; think of Martin Amis. This is to the book's credit.
3) An ironic, quirky, and very unforced plot. Rather than relying on very obvious ways of advancing the plot, Clayton lets the attributes of his very fully-developed characters drive the action, and leaves the rest to chance, accident, and rather brutal irony.

This is one of the better books I've read in recent years; those looking for new fiction by (heretofore) undiscovered talent would be wise to try Loosely Based.

I couldn't stop laughing at the author's great sense of humor that shines through each page of this book. Biting sarcasm, witty commentary and a keen eye for detail are all evident in this truly enjoyable book. I can't wait to read what he comes up with next.

This book is simply amazing. Its surreal atmosphere belies a very grounded and relevent set of characters. I recommend it for everyone who has an interest in contemporary American writing.

Loosely Based is excellently written. Storey Clayton is an exciting new voice for the millennial generation.

This book is simply amazing. Its surreal atmosphere belies a very grounded and relevent set of characters. I recommend it for everyone who has an interest in contemporary American writing.

So I'm an adventurous type.. I like to read material by new authors all of the time. I came across this book and thought it might be worth a read... boy, was I wrong. This book is yet another obnoxiously idealistic story about coming of age during young adulthood, except this one comes in a book rather than as an abc family special. Don't waste your time.