Lance CarbuncleReseñas

Of Carbuncle's books this is probably my least favorite, but still a whole helluvalota fun. If you're into the absurd, if you find characters quoting song lyrics as if they're mystical wisdom hilarious, and if you're not easily made queasy, you need to hop on the icky train, just remember to bring a towel.

This was a crazy, almost fantasy story, some of the jokes got a little repetitious, but for some reason I laughed every time. I was a little confused by the ending, but not enough to ruin the story. Also very curious where the name Android Lovethorn came from.½

This book was ok. There were some really funny things like flumpkins, nitsiks, and cheliveks. There were also some memorable characters, the whole three tooth group, jod, and alf. None of those were named John the lead character.

Could be some spoilers below.

I just didn't buy the John character. Do-gooder in this life and terrible person in another. I didn't see any bad in the character and was hoping for a link to the other John. I feel the book could've benefited from the link.

I will say that I listened to the audiobook version and the narration of John fell way flat. Also the deliver of the narrative was a bit choppy. That shouldn't discount the fantastic character acting by the narrator, which really made the book fun and easy to listen to.

All and all it was a silly, queasy, fun book to listen to.

I wouldn't say that Mr (Rev?) Lance Carbuncle and I are soulmates or anything, but I believe we share certain twists in personality. Really other than his fascination with all things scatological and his not liking Ronnie James Dio in Black Sabbath (or was that just his character?) I think we would get along just fine.

This is the second book of his that I've read and I think I actually liked it better than [book:Grundish and Askew|6774979] which was a more serious novel about scat (and maybe Ronnie James Dio too, I can't remember). This was just really freaking funny.

I wanted to call it "white trash noir" but it's not really that (maybe because that's not a thing? Is that a thing?) There's a bunch of metaphysical stuff going on so maybe "Trailer Supernatural"? I mean it's definitely in the "absurd", "gonzo" thing but I feel like it could be further categorized, maybe for no other reason than to create a category that Mr. Carbuncle can be made famous for.

So what I'm saying is read it, it's probably not like anything you've read before.

Was extremely gross at times. It did, however, have some laughs.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book at first but after reading it and finally getting into the story, I had some difficulties getting into the novel as it seemed a bit confusing at first. But I think the novel is good with lots of good twists and turn and kept me reading well past I should have.

It's been a long time since I listened to a book in one sitting, but I could not set "Grundish and Askew" aside. Without a doubt, it is one of the funniest books I have ever read.

Grundish and Askew are two friends who are outlandish, socially inappropriate, and irreverent. I loved them, and knew them well by the ending of the novel.

Askew, whose family lineage has graced prisons for a couple of centuries, has simply bought one too many tickets to ride the crazy train, and just never got off. And Grundish,....well, I believe there is a whole lot more to Grundish. I'll let you decide for yourself.

Lance Carbuncle (now that's funny) has a writing style that reminds me a lot of Hunter S. Thompson. Carbuncle has more wit than Thompson, but also has that same gift of being able to create those flamboyant, unorthodox, flawed characters that draw you in without effort or thought.

The narrator was an exact match for this novel, and was character consistent. Impressive.

This book is graphic and the swearing is endless.. but somehow appropriate. It accurately reflects the characters and their way of life.

Reader, don't be overwhelmed by the reviews. It's ok. Just jump on the crazy train. Hunter S. Thompson would be the first to say, "Buy the ticket. Take the ride."

Mr. Carbuncle's reviews of his own books read like something a brilliant adolescent boy raised on Beavis and Butthead and Quinten Tarantino might have written. The humble, multi-layered, self-praise really caught my attention in a kindred spirit kind of way.

So I made the leap of faith and bought one of his books. I don't regret it and actually plan on buying another copy to send to a friend.

If you haven't read Of Mice and Men then I would suggest you do or at least see the movie before reading this. If not it will still be fun but the ending won't be as "touching".

Just a couple comments. This is bizarre, scatological, meta writing. Not something you pick up at an airport before you hop on a jet. It's not deep, you don't need to intensely concentrate or even be all the way sober or awake to read it but it is not your average summer blockbuster.

It's a modern day retelling of Mice and Men, that includes ghostly talking dogs, white trash main characters, and some great informational footnotes. I LOL'd many times and often found myself reading out of the book to gross those around me out or just blow their minds.

As with most "experimental" stuff I read I thought it could have been a little shorter but really I took forever to read it (because I've been writing a lot myself) so it may have been affect of reading it over 2 months.

This book was described as humourous, which it had funny moments, but I found the book to be deeply depressing.
I wasn't turned off so much by the toilet humour [but why have a note for 'cutting the cheese'?] but the socio-aspects of the "loser" protagonist, homeless characters, knocking physical appearances of other characters, etc. was very shallow without exploring what made these people "losers". The drug use and depression issue being waived away by sterotypes when this archetype is your narrator is a cop-out.
If he truly thought of himself as a loser we'd get it by his actions other than "Hey so I'm a 35 year old who lives in his mom basement" as way of explanation.
This book is not Catcher in the Rye or The Bell-Jar and really I was asking too much of it.
The attitude irked me and I wasn't feeling the "Soo hilarious" reviews.
You can laugh with a character or laugh at a character and I wasn't in the mood to laugh at cliches of homeless people and aging bar sluts.
The TV show Arrested Development managed both tasks but this book didn't do it for me.

I can't stand these cliches of basing people's attributes on their jobs. My mistake for reading the kindle store description that the book was about a dog's roadtrip to Florida.
This story had some funny discussions between the characters but viewing women as strictly vaginas was too much of a turn-off for me. I'm not the target audience for this book.

I sing the body poop-centric.

What is Grundish & Askew? Well, the human body is quite grundish at times and definitely askew. After all, we all get sick, we all eventually get old and die (unless we’re crushed by a large object before it’s really time for us to go…and such events are, perhaps, uber-grundish). This book purports to be a buddy story, about two downtrodden fools, but I think it’s more of a meditation on all the fucked up shit that makes us physically tick. It’s reminding us that we are animals, human animals, yes, but animals with body parts that go bad, organs that spring leaks, and even minds that can’t be controlled with will-power. In many ways, we are helplessly at the mercy of Mother Nature. Alzheimer’s might be in our genes. Or perhaps a grapefruit-sized tumor is preparing to burst from our neck. Grundish & Askew slaps us around a bit and says, hey motherfucker, you ain’t some kind of flying spaghetti-monster angel, you’re made out of dirt. It’s a reminder well deserved given all the self-help pabulum that people turn to when the going gets tough.

Carbuncle’s bodily theme is communicated through the quite amusing story of two white trash lowlifes committing semi-accidental murder (repeatedly) while on the run from the pigs. Is it well told?...absolutely. Very funny and with sincere, solid characters. It’s a great adventure story. In fact, I felt the story was so well written, that the occasional footnotes that were “from the author,” giving a slight post-modern spin on the book, were unnecessary and detracted from the narrative itself, which rocked like Molly Hatchet. Yes, you need a bit of a stomach to appreciate this, but any reader willing to step out of her ivory tower and get down in the muck will love it. Highly recommended.

I read Lance's pre-release manuscript. He writes what he wants and doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks. I stand by my blurb, as follows:

Carbuncle is a writer who gets you in the gut. He writes with a raw energy that tells it like it is, warts and all. In Sloughing Off the Rot, Carbuncle has conjured a fascinating vision, an epic, Biblical quest for identity and meaning. His books are obsessed with our physical, bodily nature, but here he’s managed to fuse the physical with the spiritual, seeking out answers to the big questions. His journey is worth taking.

I won this ebook in the Member Giveaways. I really tried to like this book, but I just couldn't do it. I love horror, and some sci-fi and fantasy, and was hoping this would be something like Christopher Moore or Terry Pratchett, but it seems to me like he's trying too hard to be quirky and weird and totally disgusting. I have no problem with sexual references or a little gore, but this takes it beyond my limits. I couldn't read more than 20% of this ebook before I finally gave up. As one reviewer put it, it must be an acquired taste. I gave it one star for creativity, and because I felt bad giving it only half a star.

Sloughing Off the Rot
By Lance Carbuncle
Vicious Galoot Books Co.
Reviewed by Karl Wolff

A guy named John awakens in a cave with no memory of his former life. He is harassed by Santiago, a foul-mouthed wiry old guy who acts like the personification of the male id. The quest narrative of Sloughing Off the Rot involves John following a red brick road called El Camino de la Muerta and confronting his nemesis, the Man in Black, Android Lovethorn. What the Dr. Reverend Lance Carbuncle brings to the party involves turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Imagine John Bunyan's allegory The Pilgrim's Progress re-imagined by Joe Coleman or The Wizard of Oz turned into joyous Cronenbergian body horror with abundant references to pop culture. Sloughing Off the Rot is something like that. The bizarro fiction genre, while fitting, lacks the lowbrow mysticism that infuses this novel.

John becomes John the Revelator when he frees Santiago from imprisonment during their quest. Santiago had become covered with plague-ridden boils. John cured him of his ailment, absorbing the sickness, albeit with an embarrassing side effect: abundant flatulence. Joining him on his quest is Joad, a gentle giant imprisoned with Santiago, and a rag-tag crew of oddballs and derelicts. Some of their names can not be reprinted here, but there is Three Tooth and Alf the Sacred Burro. Alf horks up bezoars, undigested petrified material that Santiago cracks open and smokes. On one level, the story is an ultraviolent re-telling of the Christ story, while on another level, it is a gleeful celebration of everything foul, messy, and viscous that the human body excretes. In the opening scene, John, overcome by sexual feelings, deposits his seed upon the ground. In this case, his semen transform into horrifying creatures. Santiago kills one and eats it, horrifying John in the process. Suffice to say, Sloughing Off the Rot is an acquired taste, like balut or organ meat. (Reading this was akin to chomping down on duck lung or pig liver. I've had both. They are a rare bloody treat for foodies of a certain persuasion.)

What's impressive is that Reverend Carbuncle's transformation of John from morally derelict lost soul to Christ figure is both believable and narratively compelling. It's so easy to paint by numbers with quest narratives and Christian allegory. The respect for John the Revelator's sacred status as healer and savior gets enmeshed in the narrative involving brutal violence, squishy fleshapoids, and obscene outbursts. The sacred and the profane co-exist, bespeaking something pre-Christian and pagan, while at the same time the narrative drives ahead, since we know the confrontation between John and Android Lovethorn will be both inevitable and predictable. (Guess who wins?)

One final aspect worth noting (and John noticed this too), is the complete lack of women in this environment. Santiago tutors John in the ways of the blumpkins, ovoid fleshapoids covered with vaginas and lactating breasts. Whereas this could have become some rote pornographic sidetrip for the male characters, Reverend Carbuncle gives the blumpkins emotions and agency. Despite their utterly non-human appearance, John, Joad, and Santiago become attached to their respective blumpkin. Granted, the misogynistic undertones should be understood for what they are, since everything is happening inside of John's head and John was a very bad person. In reality, John sits paralyzed in a coma on a hospital bed while suffering from bedsores. The biggest challenge for John is whether or not he wants to return to that world. But the quest distracts him from this immediate concern, including the ever-present threat of Android Lovethorn. Part psychogeography, part hallucination, part body horror, and part vision quest, Sloughing Off the Rot is not for the squeamish, easily disgusted, or overly serious. This is bizarro literature as fine art.

Out of 10/9.5; as good as it is, this isn't for everyone.

http://www.cclapcenter.com/2013/10/book_review_sloughing_off_the_.html

or

http://driftlessareareview.com/2013/10/11/cclap-fridays-sloughing-off-the-rot-by...

If you like strange, bizarre, fantastical tales involving various creatures of combined animal types that arise from jism (jizz-critters), sex creatures that are basically round balls containing several female orifices for your pleasure and various other absurdities this is your book. I admit that I found this bawdy romp quite entertaining and it kept my interest wondering what was next. It is basically a weird battle of good versus evil waged in a strange other world that our protagonist finds himself in. A lot of it seemed to be contrived mainly for shock value although that is part of the appeal. I'm sure that there are many rabid fans of this book but it is not for everybody.

I got my copy from netgalley.com

Much like Orbit Beach by Jane Etarie, this is definitely not a book for everybody. Sloughing Off The Rot begins with our lead character, John, waking up in a cave with no memory of his prior life, and follows him along a journey on the road called El Camino de la Muerte as he sheds the rot that has overtaken his soul in his mortal life. His body, laying in a hospital bed in the corporeal world, wastes away while John discovers what it is to be a good person on this different plane that he now inhabits. He’s accompanied by a crazy madman named Santiago, a gentle giant named Joad, and a few other interesting (and sometimes despicable) characters along the way.

The book is a mixture of self-journey, dark humour, horror, and some parts that are just so grotesque that it makes your stomach turn. While you know where this book is eventually going to take you, you sure as hell can’t predict what side-journeys it’ll take you on along the way, or what kind of people you will meet. The world and characters are all extremely inventive, and Carbuncle’s adept writing of the two are what really make this an enjoyable story. I can honestly I’ve rarely encountered a book littered with so many unique characters, and Carbuncle has absolutely no fear when it comes to creating something that is both touching and disgusting (and that is meant in the best possible way).

See full review here: http://populuxe.ca/blog/?p=462½

This book was extremely difficult for me to read. I wanted to give up on this book several times. It has zero appeal for a 30 something female reader. It is a bit of a testosterone laden novel that includes masturbation, self-infliction, bugs-rats-and other creepy crawlies, cannibalism, and so many other topics that is not enticing to a female. The imagery while reading this book is similar to an LSD trip. It's not appropriate for youth or females. I do believe the male readers will get a kick out of this book, and the language is quite eloquent... at times. I was disappointed. I do not believe I am the target audience. It is possible that the correct audience will appreciate this book more.

great book

Sloughing Off the Rot by Lance Carbuncle is a story with an odd mix of genres.

First Paragraph:

"And that night John went to bed without eating his dinner. Zonked on zolpidem and single malt scotch, wrapped tightly in his super-special 1,000 thread counts sheets and nestled comfortably on his newfangled memory foam-reclining- adjustable king-sized bed, John blacked out just after lying down. Peaceful nothingness swirled around him, tossing off flecks of gold and strands of cool blue. The ten thousand things fled and left in their place a cozy void."

PLOT

John wakes up one morning to discover himself no longer in any recognisable place. His comfy bed replaced by hard ground and his soft pillow by a rock. He is pondering how he woke up in a cave, and the strange, dark hole a few feet away when a voice comes to him. The voice tells him he is "John the Revelator", followed by some Proclaimers' lyrics and some very ambiguous, unhelpful comments.

The voice tells John he needs redemption. To reach it, he must follow the path, never straying lest he lose the path and become lost to it forever.

The moment John exits the cave, he is met by a strange 'prophet-like' being, in the form of an almost naked hippie, who calls himself Santiago. Santiago is there to guide John, to walk beside him on the journey. However, Santiago is not the most stable of people, and John is now thoroughly confused. He can remember nothing of himself or his past, and he certainly wants nothing to do with this crazy, little man or his plans.

Lost in a desert, John just wants to find his way home. A burning bush tells him that he must follow the path to do so. This is John's second chance. He must follow the red-brick road of El Camino de la Muerte (The Way of Death) and never stray, if he wants to return. What happens on it and where it takes him is up to John.

With little choice, John sets off with the 'wise' Santiago at his side. Along the way they meet a vast assortment of characters. They are hunted by the zombie-like 'lunkheads'- who are men stripped down to nothing but their base desires. They are not the only wants hunting him.

REVIEW

A very weird, sometimes off-putting story. The best way to get through it is to not question it and follows John's example- just go with the flow. There's an odd mix of humour, fantasy and disturbing, adult horror. There are graphic scenes that may not be for the weak of heart, but there is also plenty of warmth to offset it. Though there are horror aspects, the character' reactions makes them seem less threatening and sickening. In fact, the characters just brush them off like nothing. They're almost horror without the horror.

Reading this book is like entering one of Salvador Dali's paintings- it's bleak, beautifully grotesque and utterly beyond description. Freud would have a field day. It's a bizarre mesh of adult versions of Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. Especially the latter. It can be hard to know what's going on, and there's a confusion to match John's own.

There are also a lot of Christian undertones (even John's name), all added in in a playful, semi-mocking manner. Not in a offensive way (though I'm sure some would disagree), more in a misplaced, I-think-there's-some-relevance-to-this-but-I-can't-find-it kind of way. Pop culture references are also blended into the mix, adding to the complete acid trip that is this book.

The characters themselves are synonymous with the many different sides of people. The ego, the superego and the id. I'll leave it at that, so as not to spoil, but suffice to say they are a look into the human psyche. Though I will add that Santiago reminds me a little of a more explicit Zaphod Beeblebrox, minus the snazzy outfits, spaceship and extra head. He's quite charming in his own psychotic way.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. If this review got you interested, why not check it out? Though one tip? Don't overthink it too much, just let it be. Let it wash you through the pages, and only once you've finished the book should you think back and wonder what on Earth you just read.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Where to begin...

The blurb about this book sounded unique and intriguing, and sweet baby jesus it certainly is unique. For the purposes of this review the rating will be based on creativity, originality and writing quality.

The story is that of the road to redemption - a man wakes up in a strange place and has to cross a strange land filled with strange things in order to absolve himself of past deeds whilst overcoming present adversity.

If you've ever felt your books lacked homosexual gang rape, anal fisting, beach ball like organisms covered in supple breasts & vaginas which characters copulate with whilst drinking milk from the lactating breasts, or just all over general weirdness then you're in luck this book will solve that issue for you!

The author certainly has spun a creative and unique image of the fictitious realm, however I found myself wondering if he kept burning the envelope of good taste out of a need to be edgy, artistic or just because he could.

It's well written, certainly original, but personally not my cup of tea.

Imagine if Kurt Vonnegut found an unpublished John Steinbeck novel and gave it a rewrite. Then imagine in a drugged out haze Hunter S Thompson found it and rewrote it again, this book is what you would get. Losers Grundish and friend since childhood Leroy Askew can't seem to catch a break. Askew who has never raised his voice as long as Grundish has known him, goes into a killing rampage. Hiding from the law with Askew's Aunt, they get deeper and deeper into trouble. WOW. Greta way to spend an afternoon in the sun.

This book is amazing and not for the faint of heart.

This is the first time I have ever read a dark comedy fiction. I didn't think this book would be able to pull off something like this and boy was I wrong.

This book is balls to the wall, gritty, straight forward, full speed, dark comedy fiction. I am now in love with a new genre. I never thought i would care so much about two characters in my life. They were so in depth and you followed them so closely that you were actually hoping they achieved this simple dream of hookers, weed, and yacht on international seas.

I also loved the part when the book knows its a book. It takes big BIG balls to critique your own novel during your own novel. This author knows what he is doing and does it well. when I have the time and the money I am getting the previous book before this.

Normally for a good book I would give a 4.5 but i give this a full 5. If i could... I would give it a 9. This book keep me intrigued, laughing, and several times my mouth dropped.

I recommend this book to everyone.... except those who are sensitive. No way on earth you are going to make it through this book.

It's a dark, disgusting comedy. And I liked it. It makes an impact, which is rare. I found myself pondering over it throughout the day. Read the book. You may love it, you may hate it. It might make you throw up a little. But it will make you think. Mostly, 'What the Hell?' But that's a good thing.

Also, there are footnotes. I love footnotes and these are awesome.

I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Member giveaway.

The book came with a warning that it is not for faint of heart. I was a little skeptical about reading such a book as I usually don't read such genre but I guess i am a little glad that I did.

There is some serious graphic description of stuff that is better left undescribed. I guess the entire story was kind of worth it but I am not sure I have the stomach for another one of these.

In any case, people who subscribe to such a genre will find it a good read.

Disturbing, wild and random. Im still not sure if I like this book or not. Very nice ending and the story kind of sticks to a person. I almost always find a few lessons in the books I read and this one is no different. Thank you for writing this book, hopefully it will change a few wayward people out there.

I appreciated the warning about the appropriateness that came with this book. It definitely needed it. The characters are disgusting, their actions are appalling, but I just couldn't put the book down. It's repulsing, but impossible to look away from. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's notes in the back of the book. I'll definitely be on the lookout for other books by this author.
Although this book was disturbing, the ending was beautiful. The love between the characters is almost tangible. It was a disgusting, but beautiful story. This definitely makes it on the list of my favorite books.

I won this book from the Member Giveaways on Library Thing.

When entering to win this book on Library Thing, there was a warning that this book was not for the faint of heart. That was absolutely correct! While this book bordered on the disgusting, it strangely made me want to read more. It is a fast paced read and was certainly anything but boring. While it was very strange in many parts of the book, it all came together very nicely and the flow of the book made sense. The ending was well thought out and made sense with the rest of the book. I do not recommend this to anyone who gets squeamish or offended easily, but for those who can handle it the book might be an interesting read!