Customer Reviews

Salad Days

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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...

In the autobio-novel Salad Days, Charles Romalotti (a pen name) recounts his time growing up as a punk in rural Kansas during the late 80's. It begins with his traumatic high school days, continuing with a coming-of-age-while-on-tour theme in the latter half, all set in the backdrop of the fledgling hardcore scene. A lot of years, energy, and passion went into this book, but unfortunately, the book itself is a hard lesson in poor writing. Overly long descriptions and clichés galore, Charles Romalotti has a metaphor for everything, like a punk version of an unrestrained 40's pulp novel. (It's a 100-page story stretched into 300.) That's not so bad in itself, but the mechanics are clunky. The book is written in first person, but the descriptions have a third person perspective, making the intelligent reader wonder how the main character could be privy to some of the information. The dialogue is the same way; the characters seem to have the insight only made possible by the hindsight and wishful thinking of the author. The main character Frank doesn't seem real, but more of an idealized, perfect straightedge intellectual pacifist punk, unshaken in his beliefs and self-confidence, and always with the snappy, clichéd comebacks that no one ever actually says. For instance: "Why are you straightedge?" "Because I can be." Another problem is that, at times, Salad Days seems more like a collection of personal recounts and amusing memories, that are more there for the author's catharsis or reflection than to move the story along. This, along with the extremely long descriptions, really hurts the flow of the book. Another annoyance are the tons of punk references and in-jokes. Unnecessary statements like "The Descendents gave it their ALL" and "The Offspring? Never heard of them" pepper the narrative every chance it gets. It might give some punks a chuckle, but it's eye-rolling in its excessiveness. Salad Days is interesting in that it offers the perspective of a young Kansas punk and his participation in the younger hardcore scene. Unfortunately, the perspective tends to come out of the hindsight of the 30-something author instead of from the teenage characters.

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.

I had a hard time believing in a character who stood steadfastly to his beliefs through his teenage-early twenty-something years. I also had a hard time in believing in a teacher who was so upfront with his dislike for a student. I was also bothered that there was so much talk about parents in the first half of the book, and yet the parents are NEVER in the scenes.

Those are the problems I have with the book. Other than that, it's a surprisingly accurate glimpse at the lives of me and quite a few people I know, despite growing up on the east coast in the 80s. If you were in the sccene, or had a band... well, you'll probably feel similarly.

Its not that bad a book, but it does have its weaker moments. Its a quick read and not an unenjoyable book.

I've never reviewed a book before, so I guess there's a first time for everything! Let me just start by saying that this book is amazing. This book is a must read for any fan of the punk/hardcore genre. It's the story of sXe, vegetarian punk named Frank and basically just tells the story of his later teenage years. From his troubles growing up in a small Midwest town where he's so different from everyone else to his journeys with his various bands. What hit home the most for me is how detailed the story was, especially the way that I can relate to the main character. It's one of those books that you read and you can just put yourself right in the same situations. I think all of us have friends exactly like Frank's friends in this book. From the super smart friend to the friend that cares about nothing but getting women, I think we all know people just like the characters in this book. Romalotti is excellent at developing characters that we can all relate to.

Another thing that I love is all the musical references in this book. It's obvious that Romalotti knows alot about punk and hardcore (not metalcore!) from his time period. The book has references to Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Black Flag, Descendants, NOFX, and tons others. If you are into music as much as I am, you will LOVE reading this book. From references to great bands to tour stories that make you feel like the other has actually been out on tour (maybe he has!), this story is one that will make any music lover want to keep reading.

So, all that I can say is that you should buy this book. Just by coming to this page, it's obvious you like music. If you like music, you'll like this book. Anything else I can say won't do the book justice, just go out and buy it!

After having read some of the other reviews on this page, I was very excited to read "Salad Days". It sounded as if it might be as enjoyable a book as "SLC Punk" was a movie. While they both share many strengths, unfortunately I could never recommend "Salad Days" to a literate reader.

Charles Romalotti has apparently never met an adjective he didn't like. Compounding this stylistic no-no, he is evidently unaware of the actual MEANING of many of the words chosen, often creating some unintentionally funny sentences. Many of the descriptive passages become so convoluted & confused that it is difficult to follow the story.

Time & again, when dialogue is used, it doesn't ring true. The discussions simply don't SOUND like high-school freshman/sophomores. Punks tend to be among the most intelligent teens, yet I never knew any 15/16 year olds who spoke the way Romalotti writes. Sarcasm/cynicism: yes. Junior grade Jean-Paul Sartre: NO.

There is nothing wrong with "Salad Days" that a good editor couldn't have fixed in the early manuscripts. Even though an editor is thanked in the acknowledgements,it is difficult to believe this one ever heard of a red pencil. Too bad for Romalotti (a good editor can be the best writing teacher an author will ever have) & too bad for us, the readers.

So: if you are an angst-filled teen who is out of step with all but a few individuals, you'll probably love "Salad Days" & identify strongly with the characters. If you have survived until 30 or so, & read more than 1 book a year, you will probably end by being quite frustrated with this book. I know I am!

Salad Days is such an incredible book. I felt it was great just for the simple referances it made to bands like bad brains and minor threat. the author is truly amazing at writing, so much though thaty i bought Rash, the next book in this series for 55 bucks, ( get copies while you can if you want to keep with the series!!) i am waiting for my copy in the mail now, but i simply cant wait just for the face that Frank, the main character makes another appareance. this book makes you feel as if these people are alive. Also reccomends: Coloring outside the lines: a punk rock memoir

Salad Days is, in a word, amazing. I can't describe how much of an effect this book has had on me. Nothing else I've ever read has so clearly interpreted the life of a punk, and told it so entertainingly. It's written in a way that makes you dread the thought of putting it down. I can't say enough good things, but, to sum things up, read this book. It will change your views on what it really means to succeed...and what it really means to believe.

This is the memoir of a young man from Kansas who becomes a singer in a punk band. The author delves far beneath the shallow surface of hair and clothes, and presents a portrait of a guy searching for his place in the world. He learns a lot of lessons along the way, and his readers are the better for it. Salad Days is honest, poignant, romantic, and a fast read. I highly recommend it.