Customer Reviews

gasstationthoughts and The Daily Journal Of Wheeler Antabanez

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

In Gasstationthoughts, "author" Matt Kent adopts the writing style of a self-obsessed, sexually repressed, 20-something year old pervert committed to arousing the interest, and hence fanatical praise, of pubescent teenagers and disgruntled "adults" who have neither the intelligence nor patience to read works by this century's most notable and accomplished transgressive social critics and philosophers such as Bataille, Nietszche, and deSade. What does set Kent apart from others who share his discursive opinions on the nature of the individual's participation within a larger social community, is that he actually took the time to carefully pen down all of his random thoughts and to even create a website to further continue his self-grandizing.

Ironically, Kent wrote Wheeler Antabanez's "memoirs" while pumping gas at a local service station. From a literary perspective, the metaphor of the gas-station suits the contradictory nature of Kent's preoccupations with capitalism, religion, and democracy incredibly well and is perhaps the only aspect of his text worthy of thoughtful analysis. Yet, it is Kent's premeditated effort to pass the uneventful hours at his job writing anti-social monologues that is also most disturbing, as these ramblings clearly reflect Kent's conscious recognition of how easy it is to try and financially monopolize upon a specific demographic of readers who will eat up his verbal diarrhea as if it were the full-course meal that middle-American families regularly feed to their overstuffed, over-comforted, and under-educated teenagers.

In an historical period where the value of a liberal education in the humanities is no longer emphasized or appreciated, Kent exists as a representative for a generation of self- educated "students" who are incapable of effectively interpreting what they see around them except from within the confines of their severely limited intellectual and real-life experiences. Lacking exposure to ideas that have shaped our Western epistemological foundations, these "students" of pop-culture go about analyzing and expounding their thoughts on a world they know little about, except from what they gather in abbreviated format from newspapers, television and on the internet.

They, unlike the social transgressors of old, prefer to sit safely behind the computers their parents have purchased for them and pretend as if they have the power to inspire and lead a revolt. Yet, they are an embarrassment to the idea of true revolution, for they do not possess the intellectual tools by which to conceive of an alternate reality that they would prefer to the one they lobby against. Instead, they collect their paychecks from the powers that be, while cursing under their breath how everyone should be annihilated (except for themselves of course). As a result, Kent's ramblings are indicative of everything that a democratic nation produces in its dung heap of excess.

However, despite Gasstationthoughts mediocrity as a literary work, Kent (who never graduated from high school) exhibits an uncanny love, and even an occasional ear, for the potential power and beauty of the written word that is commendable for someone from his background. Had or should Kent come to the realization that all of his cultural criticism has been a waste of good brain power, he could potentially produce something of quality. Perhaps this work will not celebrate the hallmark accomplishments of mankind, but it may help to raise social awareness as to our country's structural and cultural shortcomings. Until that time, be looking for Gasstationthoughts in your local library's recycling bin after someone has mistaken it for scrap paper.

If you like Matt Kent's work, see the Weird New Jersey special issue recently released called "Nightshade on the Passaic." It is written by this same author and gives insight into abndoned structures and other features found along the banks of the Passaic River in New Jersey. [...]

I read this book when it first came out, a long, long time ago- in fact, I read most of it on the site before I read it in its book form, being that the name of the site had been spraypainted on the walls of the sanitarium in which I'd spent a good portion of my time before I moved.

The book does, indeed, provide good insight into the mind of a teenager outside of the mainstream subcultures. Although I wouldn't suggest taking the book as a whole and turning it into your personal philosophy, Matt makes a few good points about life in his writings.

Regardless of your views, I suggest reading this book. If it doesn't change your way of thinking, it will at least help you to understand the thoughts that go through the minds of us teenagers from time to time. ^.^

Maybe i dont qualify for this review because i havent read the book. However, i have read the entire website and am led to believe that the website and the book are the same, if not similar. I also have read other reviews given to this book.
Personally, i am a prime example of an undereducated middle class teen who is writing this from my parents computer. I believe there should be a revolution, however, i dont thinka successful one can occur without humanity changing first. I agree with much of what the "reader from southern NJ" said. However, he(she) is wrong to pretend he knows what wheeler's readers are like. I know that i am wrong, and i also know the world around me is wrong too. I can think for myself and form my own opinions while i am fully aware that i dont have the whole story. I also believe that everyone *including myself* should be annihiliated. The critic should consider what he knows, first, then critisize.
Now to get to the actual review part. I really like what i've read of wheeler antabanez. I believe that what he has to say can't be ignored just because of his financial background or how self-obsessed he may be. If what he says speaks out to people in need of something to hear (troubled people, perhaps?) then no one can discredit what he has to say. That reviewer should have focussed more time on slamming his literary technique (although quite a bit of time was spent doing that) than his personality. One can pick out any well known figure and point out his personal short-comings. I believe Antabanez' writing is suprisingly good, and his opinions are worth listening to, even if one doesn't agree.
If nothing else, the reader will walk away having learned something--whether its about the government/relogion/terrorism, the mind of one person, a group of people, or oneself.
To end quickly: i won't discredit everything the critic has to say, but he must realize that he is no better than the people he critisizes if he acts sagacious while accusing people (middle-class anitsocial revolutionary teenagers)of thinking they know everything. I am the exact demographic he talks about, but i can think for myself while i still know i dont know everything (actually, i dont know much at all). Antabanez' work is worth the readers time (which is the highest praise a book can get).

I referred to kent as antabanez because i wanted to.

The book in question, "GasStation Thoughts" is the most contrived, wanna-be spiteful, indictment of suburban culture I have ever made the mistake of reading. What does a white kid from suburban Caldwell, New Jersey have to complain about, a long line at the Gap? I'm a white kid from Caldwell (though I moved away a couple years ago). And I'll let you in on a secret, I know Matt Kent. That is to say I've heard second hand stories, and seen him on the streets. Yes he can string "thoughts" together in sentence form, and like many his age he knows how to maintain a website. He also knows how to trick young teen kids his age into buying his contrived, Oh-Woe-is-Me bull, he even, sadly, tricked the publishers into buying it as well. On a personal note he has been arrested not only for terroristic threats but for abusing the misguided girls who fall for him, or fall for his sham image. Yes Matt Kent likes to hit women, in addition to "rocking the boat". So before you waste your money on this "book" know that the author doesnt believe in his words any more than Dr. Seuss lived by his.

This book is unreadable. The author's painfully limp and pre-teen prose is only eclipsed in awfulness by his seemingly infinite ignorance and lack of creativity. I found this book to be shocking and offensive, yet not in the way the author intended. A truly terrible example of middle class pretension

This book is a must-read for parents of angry teenagers. Matt Kent perfectly vocalizes the thoughts of suburban angst-ridden kids, lashing out against everything and anyone. At times insightful, at times self-indulgent, the book is a fantastic window into the mind of affluent, frustrated suburban youth.

Kent was arrested for what he wrote on his website. An unfortunate mistake on the behalf of the authorities, since the arrest only gave Kent more fuel for his hatred. The arrest made this book possible, so the police really only succeeded in spreading Matt Kent's words to an even wider audience.

I'm not going to say this book is well-written--Matt Kent is very much obsessed with himself and his own self-satisfied righteous anger--but it provides an important perspective on how spoiled, frustrated youth are dealing with their affluence and priviledge.

This book is written by a raving lunatic, it is no surprised that this Matt Kent obsesses over "abandoned asylums" in his websites. It's wackos like this that have caused such destruction in our country. Please do not support a nutcase, otherwise you're be fueling the hatred and ignorance.

When I frist started reading Matt Kent on his website... I was shocked to find someone who is truly in touch with the way I think and feel. As I followed his writing he sucked me firther and further inside of his mind and now after just finishing gasstationthoughts I am totally in love. Matt Kent more than just an author he is the next great artist and he will go down in history for his words because they truly are intellegint and beautiful.