7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
What? WHAT?!?, December 6, 2008
This review is from: Piecemeal June (Paperback)
Jordan Krall, Piecemeal June (Eraserhead, 2008)
If you're unfamiliar with the relatively new subgenre of literature known as bizarro...well, you're probably not reading this review. But just in case, bizarro is a kind of bastard child of splatterpunk and the subgenre of psychedelic rock known as blanga, wherein weird mysticism combines with hard-rock guitar to create a kind of commercial version of outsider art (think of Hawkwind or Blue Oyster Cult here). Bizarro revels in the grotesque, the mystic, and the mystical grotesque, oftentimes to the point of sacrificing such traditional artistic values as plot, character, and theme. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make bizarro pretty hard to get right. I've read some bizarro work that would make your hair stand on end (not because it's gruesome, but because it's just awful). Piecemeal June, from premier bizarro imprint Eraserhead Press, is thankfully not one of those books. It's not going to go down in history as timeless, granted, but for a seventy-two page book, it delivers the goods quite nicely.
The book concerns Kevin, a loser who lives above his small town's sole porn shop. One day his cat, Mithra, comes home with a piece of a love doll in its mouth. This become a regular occurrence, and pretty soon Kevin can assemble his very own lifelike pal. However, once the last piece falls into place, the doll comes to life, introduces herself as June, and tells Kevin she's on the run from a psychotic pornographer who's equipped with otherworldly enforcers. But really, how much do Kevin and June have to fear from what may be the most inept criminal enterprise ever committed to paper?
Above all, Piecemeal June is a fun book. It's the kind of thing that will have you alternately laughing and retching (and doing both simultaneously on occasion). As with all the bizarro work I've read, Krall not only never shies away from an opportunity to gross the reader out, but instead goes for the gusto. If it's offensive, he's found a way to work it in here somehow. Because of this, it does require a certain sensibility to really enjoy this (if a quick trip through the collected book titles of bizarro godfather Carlton Mellick III doesn't faze you, then you should be able to stomach anything found in these pages). But hey, if that sort of thing is up your alley, then get yourself acquainted with Jordan Krall right quick. ***
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A lovely work of Art...., November 5, 2008
This review is from: Piecemeal June (Paperback)
A lovely work of art, bundled with body parts and glued together with secretive secretings. Taking place between two worlds, this debut novella from noir freakmunster Jordan Krall takes the reader to places, perhaps they should not want to go. Fast-paced and in your face, "June" has got it goin on and on and on until all her parts are in one place. Everybody wants June, but whom will she choose when all is said and dead and bludgeoned? Read this tasy bit of crumpet and see if you can keep it down. Try Krall's "Squid Pulp Blues" available now and "Fistful of Feet" coming soon!
Squid Pulp Blues
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brain worms, June 4, 2008
This review is from: Piecemeal June (Paperback)
Have you ever wanted to visit a place where human flesh is converted into a series of sweaty tinker toys existing for the sole purpose of soaking up disease and satisfying the perverse desires of strangers? Are you curious about the masturbatory habits of inter-dimensional crab mutants? Are you interested in building yourself a lover, but don't know what to expect? If the answers to any of these questions are yes, Piecemeal June is the answer to all your prayers.
In this deranged and darkly comic adventure, Jordan Krall will wriggle deep inside your brain like a horny slug and have his way with your subconscious. If that sounds pleasant to you, I highly recommend jumping into the next swirling poop vortex that you come across and ride the wave of masticated flesh, feces and bodily fluids all the way to Om-Am. Krall paints pictures in viscera and sputum as he tells this story of unrequited love, fortune tellers, sleazy pornographers, mutants, piecemeal sex slaves, and foot fetishism. Amidst the swirling torrents of debauchery stands a sad, profoundly average yet thoughtful foot fetishist named Kevin who works at a pet store, lives above a porn shop, and loves his tarot reading feline. Piecemeal June is kind of a cross between "The Pearl" (John Steinbeck) and the end of "Society" (Brian Yuzna).
Fans of Carlton Mellick III and the Bizarro genre in general will not be disappointed in this lovingly crafted and deeply personal first novel. Eraserhead Press has found another budding visionary to forward their plans to warp the minds of the world. I understand that there will be several additional works taking place in the world of Om-Am. I can't wait to see what Mr. Krall has in store.
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