Customer Reviews

Pop Salvation: A Novel

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

 

 

In this unique coming of age tale set in the 1980s, young Caleb Watson finds himself a social outcast at his school in Washington, D.C. He knows he's different from the other boys in school but not exactly sure how or why. Bullied to no end, he finally finds the escape he needs through the world of Pop Art, specifically with Andy Warhol. Soon, he emulates his idol and drastically changes his appearance, giving the kids at school a more tangible reason to make fun of him.

When a new kid, Aaron, arrives at school, the two, both outcasts in their own way, slowly become best friends. Before long, Aaron becomes Caleb's muse, but their developing relationship raises questions neither boy seems ready to answer. As Caleb dives more into his world of art, he meets a cast of characters along the way, creating his own little Warhol scene.

As Caleb and his friends experiment sexually and with drugs, they sometimes confront grave consequences. They find solace in their art and through the institute that is the legendary midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but the freedom they discover leads each of them down a different path.

At times heartbreaking, I couldn't put this novel down. While it's a tragic tale in many ways, the end is more hopeful for Caleb. By the close of the story, we're left awestruck by how much he's grown from a confused boy emulating Andy Warhol to a grown man ready to be himself for a change.

Growing up off the beaten path, a young man finds his guiding lights in Andy Warhol, pop art, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show. This is a window into a world of people trying to find what they carry inside of them by comparing the edges of it with what they find outside of them, and not always getting it right.

Pop Salvation contains elements of queer theory, gender construction, pop art, 80s nostalgia, and, of course, the rise and rise of Andy Warhol. Reynald touches on his subjects with a deceptively deft touch, making it easy to forget just how easy it is to get caught up in the lives of his characters. Until, of course, the inevitable crunches come.

This novel was too seeped in rich kid angst and the associated privileged indulgences for my liking. Admittedly, the themes in the novel do not resonate with me; specifically gender identity struggles, gay exploration and prostitution of youth and the angst of growing up rich and privileged. For those who this has appeal, this will be an enjoyable read for sure. It is written utilizing a very simple style that does give it strong voice.

I felt that it lacked the grittiness and depth that would have strengthened the novel. At times the story propels so abruptly as though the writer was in a great hurry to get from one part to the other without navigating through the transition. At one point a very important side character is a naive shy kid, then in the space of a few days he drops acid, smokes pot, snorts cocaine, mainlines heroin, and becomes a junkie. Elsewhere in the story, the main character is asked "I can't believe you don't want to go to college" on the top of one page, and by the bottom of the next page he's enrolled in Georgetown under scholarship and four pages later is transferring to a university in Paris.

But I do have to give the author high praise for writing a difficult to tell story with perhaps a narrow appeal, but for an audience that does not have many similar novels to choose from.

The thing about Reynald's book that absolutely kills me, is its startling simplicity*. As a writer, he respects the reader enough to grant them access into the world he's created without spoon-feeding them any more than is absolutely necessary - which allows us to become active participants in the journey.

It's a bit like an extraordinary black and white photograph in that way: so vivid, that you can see every single color in the monochrome.


*Simplicity which cannot have been anything but unbelievably difficult to achieve.

the problem is that the author seemed too scared to put into words what his characters were too scared to put into words. moments that were huge in caleb's life felt like they were skimmed right over in the interest of momentum. it felt like we were just supposed to understand how he felt without it ever being described. the story was interesting but just not fleshed out enough.

I'm not very good at reviewing books, but I loved this book so much, that I had to put something in writing. I read this book in a little over 24 hours. I found it completely fascinating and just couldn't put it down. Caleb's story is so sad, but I also felt that it ended hopefully. This story is so haunting and achingly beautiful, I cried through the end of it. Please, please, please give this book a chance. I'm so glad I did. This is the kind of story that sticks with you. This book has earned a place in my top ten of all time.

I have so many things to say about this book that I don't even know where to begin. I guess I'll start by saying how much I loved it. Based on the back cover, I wasn't sure how interesting this book would be, so it really took me aback once I really got into it. The first few pages start off a little bit slow, but within about 15 pages, you can't help but fall in love with little Caleb Watson and then you won't be able to put the book down until it's finished.

Pop Salvation is a book about the self-discovery of Caleb Watson, who moves to a new town at age 11 and is never really accepted by the other children in his school. Throughout the book he struggles to find an identity that fits him, discovering the wonders of art, Andy Warhol and The Rocky Horror Picture Show along the way. The book is set in the early 80's at the height of Warhol's popularity and his work in The Factory. Caleb adopts Warhol's philosophy into his own life and even begins dressing like the famed artist.

But the most exciting parts of the book are the times Caleb spends with his friends, creating their own art and interacting in a world where everyone is accepted. Caleb and his few friends are all part of a group of outcasts who struggle throughout the book to come to terms with their sexual identity, having been labeled as "different" from very early on. I'm assuming the marketers who put together the blurb on the back of the book left out this part of the story in order to draw in a larger audience, as I'm sure there are people who would be put off by a book about teenagers struggling with whether they are gay or straight, but I found this to be the most extraordinary and wonderful part of the book.

The first half of the book reads almost like a love letter from Caleb to his friends, Aaron and Sonia. The tenderness he has for them radiates off the page in a way that makes you want to stop time and let it last forever. At a certain point I knew things were going to take a turn for the worst and I almost put the book down so I wouldn't have to break out of the lovely dreamworld I'd been living in, but, of course, I couldn't stop myself from seeing where author Lance Reynald would lead me. I don't want to give away too much of the book so I'll just say that I found this book to be one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful books I've ever read. You'll definitely cry, so bring some tissues with you when you read it.

This book is so trite. This is poor creative 101 writing typified. How did this book get published? Don't waste your time or money on this book.