Salad Days [Paperback]

Charles Romalotti (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

A classic punk coming of age novel. A fast-paced, engrossing, and thoroughly enjoyable read. - AK Press

Editorial Reviews

Review

Salad Days keeps your heart pumping high-octane gasoline and your emotions running high. Romalotti's debut novel is quite an accomplishment. --Maximum RockNRoll

This is a solid read, and anybody with an ounce of passion for what [punk/hardcore] music is all about will have a hard time putting it down. The last few pages actually gave me goosebumps. --Askew Reviews

Salad Days is a beautifully told story. I don't think I can come close to doing this book justice in such a short review, but please, trust me, it's fantastic and I can't recommend it highly enough. --Electrocution Distribution, Australia

About the Author

Charles Romalotti is the author of Pariah, which was a Finalist for Best Horror in the 2002 Independent Publisher's Awards. Both Pariah and Salad Days have been on Powell's Small Press Best Seller list. A new novel, Bride of the Reaper is set to be released in the summer of 2010. Charles Romalotti lives in Austin, Texas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Layman Pr (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967923506
• ISBN-13: 978-0967923505
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #929,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Salad Days is King, March 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Salad Days (Paperback)

Salad Days, by Charles Romalotti, is the story of Frank, an teenage deviant living in the quaint farming town of Iola, Kansas, during the days when the 80s punk/hardcore was thriving. His appearance, political beliefs, and most of all music make him an outcast among the ignorant rednecks that infest Iola. Salad Days tells of his life and life stories as he faces prejudice, hatred and violence of the hands of people all over Kansas during his teen years, and of his struggle to make a living with his small-time punk band in his later years.
Overall this book is very well done, and the author is very good at conveying feeling in his words. By using colorful and descriptive language, he makes you feel like you're right there beside him the whole way. He is also great at grabbing your attention, and keeping it with action and excitement. I picked this book up because of its cover, and started reading a page or two out of curiosity. Suffice to say I was unable to put it down, and I ended up reading the book straight through. I can honestly say it is the best book I have ever read.
All in all, this book is a keeper for just about anyone. Its captivating story of life and growing up in the face of danger will entice just about anyone, not just fans of punk music. The story is grabbing, interesting, and exhilarating the whole way through. I would recommend this book to anybody who knows how to read.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So cool it gave me chills at times., April 26, 2001

By 

Marc (Oceanside, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Salad Days (Paperback)

I stumbled across this book in Lou's Records in Encinitas, California. The title and cover art made me pick it up, and Al Quint's blurb on the back convinced me I needed to read it. Salad Days is the book I've always wanted to write, but never had the time nor the talent. Romalotti takes the reader deep inside the mid-1980's hardcore punk underground as seen through the eyes of a young man struggling to make his mark on the world. The scene where Frank takes the stage for the very first time hit so close to home, it sent chills up my spine. I was extremely proud that my old band was mentioned, albeit briefly. Remarkable first novel! Looking forward to Rash...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Experience and Excellence Not the Same, June 9, 2009

By 

Son of Rimbaud (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Salad Days (Paperback)

This book is the work of a beginner in a lit sense and a veteran in the scenester sense. Unfortunately, the two don't come together as seamlessly as a reader might wish, but Charles Romalotti is sincere and obviously trying hard, so kudos in that department.