Customer Reviews

Sex and Violence In Hollywood

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I read some of Garton's horror novels and they were good, but "Sex and Violence in Hollywood" tops them all, and its not a horror novel. Its the funniest, sexiest book I've read in a long time. He's left horror behind to invade Jackie Collins territory, and she's got some real competition in Garton now! The story follows Adam Julian whose dad is a Hollywood screenwriter -- a bad one but he's successful, and he's also a real jerk. Adam is convinced his dad killed his mom, and now he's decided to kill his dad. It sounds simple, but the plot is like a twisty turny rollercoaster that just keeps picking up speed as it goes along for a length of 506 jam-packed pages all the way to a shocking ending that made my jaw drop. There's plenty of sex and violence, especially sex, but its Garton's characters that make the book the great reading experience it is. From Adam and his best friend Carter to a hilarious celebrity attorney named Rona Horowitz and everyone in between, including a sexy devious vixen named Rain, this is a big cast of fascinating funny and naughty people. It goes from the story of a murder plot to a gripping trial that rivals the trial of O.J. Simpson. Even some real life celebrities make appearances in the book! Garton's mix of sex and violence tops the glitzy Hollywood novels of Jackie Collins, and with more meat on its bones than a few of hers all combined. This hardcover is a little pricey but its well worth the cost for all the entertainment you'll get out of it. If this doesn't make Garton's name a household word nothing will. If you want a book to get lost in that will make you laugh and keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the book for you! Don't miss it!

Hands down, this is Garton's greatest accomplishment to date. And judging by the thickness of the sucker, he's earned it!

The 500+ pages fly like the bullets within its pages, starting off as a suspense thriller and winding down as a bitter, satyrical legal drama. Garton's characters are quirky and unique, the kind of people Quentin Tarantino or Oliver Stone would have a field day with on screen. Sometimes they're serious, sometimes they're touching, sometimes they're humorous. But they're ALWAYS dangerous.

Garton paints a mean picture of the LA/Hollywood scene, with just enough spice to nail the pop culture phenomenon and America's enamoration with it as well. The book's labeled a horror novel, but it's not the events themselves that make it so.

No, it's the fact that these things could happen tomorrow is what scares the crap out of me.

Garton fans rejoice: Sex and Violence in Hollywood will not let you down. Never a dull moment in this book, it jumps from one scene to the next in a mix of action, sex, and fun. The Publishers Weekly review gave WAY too much information about the goings on, so I'll skip that bit. Suffice it to say that this is the best kind of read: it's fun, it's fast and just slightly sleazy.

A wiseass and a slacker, twenty-two year old Adam Julian is content to sponge off an abusive father (Hollywood screenwriter Michael Julian) he despises. Jaded, almost sociopathic, Adam drifts into an affair with his stepmother Gwen. Then, just to increase life's complications, he sleeps with his stepsister, Rain. Her suggestion that they kill their parents sets in motion a bizarre chain of events which leave Adam occupying center stage at this year's version of the O. J. Simpson trial, a media circus where his attorney's public relations skills, rather than guilt or innocence, will determine his fate.

Visceral, provocative, and graphic, Sex and Violence in Hollywood would make a perfect vehicle for the next Quentin Tarantino film. Equal parts crime novel, Hollywood expose and legal thriller--Garton alternately channels Jim Thompson, Joe Esztherhas, Dominick Dunne and John Grisham--it's a genuine pleasure to read, a trashy thrill ride with unexpected depth. Gleefully milking the dramatic potential of Adam's dysfunctional family, various Hollywood lowlifes and America's legal system for all they're worth, Garton also slips in some sly commentary on modern culture, the media, and the judicial system, celebrating and condemning their excesses.

On the down side, Garton occasionally tips his hand prematurely. As one example, he mentions the movie Double Indemnity shortly before a key plot twist, thus cueing in readers as to what's in the offing. He also seems to drag his feet in places--the first section of the book feels like it goes on forever. But fear not, Garton makes everything pay off in the end. Purists might ask, "Is it horror?" Well, not in the supernatural sense, but certainly in the utter emptiness of the main characters' lives. Rest assured, however--there are some genuinely horrific moments, not the least of which is the shocking denouement.

A final comment. In a novel crammed with child pornographers, "star-f**ker" judges, crazed starlets, teenage nymphomaniacs and other such colorful characters, one stands head and shoulders above the rest. Although she makes her debut late in the story, diminutive defense attorney Rona Horowitz steals the show, demanding and rewarding the reader's rapt attention. Garton should consider making this acerbic human dynamo a series character--the bizarre, intense world she inhabits would enable him to continue in this manner indefinitely, examining and satirizing other segments of American life. Plots can be ripped from today's headlines, a la Law and Order. The franchise could last forever.

Let me get two quick recommendations out ot the way: first, the Publisher's Weekly review above is accurate, but the second half contains some spoilers; if I read it, then read the book, I would probably be angry over at least one twist ruined. Second, I would advise you to not begin reading this book right before you have something important scheduled, such as performing surgery, or need to get anything constructive done, because you will NOT be able to put it down once you've started. I had planned to sort of dole it out to myself a little at a time, but by 20 pages in, I thought "(bad word rhyming with 'duck') everything else, it can wait till I finish this book". Took me about 3 days to catch up with everything I blew off reading this book, but man, was it worth it.

I've been reading Garton for over 10 years now; about 7 years ago I got to the point where I would simply pick up anything with his name and purchase it without even bothering to check the price or flip through it (there's a dozen or so authors in this category for me, which may explain my high credit card debt) After Shackled and Biofire blew me away, I didn't think Garton could top himself, but he does it here.

The plot-- which can get convoluted when I try to sum it up, but it works in the book-- centers on Adam, the son of a vulgar, successful producer/screenwriter Michael (the guy dubbed his yacht the Money Shot, so that should give you an idea). Adam's a cool kid, horror movie lover, embarrassed (to say the very least) by his obnoxious father, who keeps trying to get him into The Biz somehow. Adam writes, but sticks to poetry while Michael--who may or may not have killed Adam's mother-- is constantly pushing him into screenwriting. He lives with his father and stepmother Gwen ..who he also happens to be sleeping with. Then Gwen's daughter Rain comes to live with them; she's an unhinged, wild, thrill seeking skank barely into her teens, who wants to sleep with Adam. Throw her into the mix, and things *really* start getting wild and complicated from there. Calling the plot and the novel 'wild' is a ludicrous understatement, trust me. I don't want to say more about the plot and spoil the fun.

One of the things that I enjoy about Garton's writing is almost never being able to second-guess what happens next, and this book...well, I think the book holds the record for the amount of times I've laughed out loud in shock at some sick and/or vulgar line or action, or just muttered, "Jesus!" at how shocking or balls-y some development or dialogue was. Whether the book is describing a wild, dangerous party in Compton or some especially nasty new evidence coming up in Adam's trial, I had so much fun that I was just disappointed when I realized only a certain number of pages were in the book, and it was going to end. My favorite scenes were most of the first half, with Adam, his best friend, and all the sleazes they encounter along the way. I admit, when I realized a lengthy portion of the novel would be spent on the trial (and preparation for it) I winced- but Garton still made it surprising and a hell of a lot of fun to read. I especially liked the questioning of Adam's 8th grade English teacher... you'll know it when you get to it.

Which leads me to the usual disclaimers when I review Garton and others-- if you're easily offended, you'll last maybe 2 pages, tops. The book lives up to the title; a little more sex than violence, maybe, but it gets pretty extreme (so, I loved it). If you view Hollywood as a warm, glamourous magical place and don't want to be disillusioned (or snapped out of your delusion) you may want to skip it. If you are a Garton fan, and you haven't picked this up yet, do it fast; it may be a hardcover but trust me, you'll get more than your money's worth (cool cover and presentation, too). Fans of Jackie Collins would probably enjoy it, just be ready to have the sleaze and fun factor amped up about 70 times more than hers. If you want a fun, thrilling, shocking, funny read, pick it up. If you haven't read Garton before, this may be a good book to start on, Sex & Violence in Hollywood (the title alone sold me) is more of a 'mainstream' thriller than his straight horror fiction- he's got a great eye for visuals, writes some of the best and most realistic dialogue, and bottom line, is simply an excellent storyteller. You won't be let down.

Terrific book and amazingly surprising story line that kept me interested from the first page. I have found that any book by this writer is worth reading, and this one is one of his best. Very sexy, bloody, and original. Perfect to warm you up on a cold winter night ;)