Official Review: The Reptile: One Man's Story of Drug Use...

[Timea]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Reptile: One Man's Story of Drug Use, Crime, Friendship, and Revenge" by Ryan Vanderford.]

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The Reptile: One Man’s Story of Drug Use, Crime, Friendship, and Revenge is about all it says in the title and a lot more. Ryan Vanderford succeeded in writing a gripping adventure novel. Written in the first person, it is an intimate account of one’s journey to discover the meaning of his life. The story is told in a pessimistic and sarcastic tone, and is set in a dark, humid world.

The book tells the story of a man, Roy, a car thief who constantly tries to silence his hyperactive mind with drugs. From the very beginning we dive into his gloomy world: his mother died at a young age from cancer and his father grew old and got Alzheimer; he lost one of his best friends to drugs after he came out of prison. Roy is somewhat used to his life and accepts it, but when he and his best friend, Aiden, meet The Reptile, everything changes. They get sucked into a series of events, which will change all of their lives in different ways. The two best friends participate in a series of trials in order to save their estranged friend, John. After many twists and turns, after suffering another traumatic event, Roy finally discovers the meaning of his life.

The beginning of the book has a cathartic quality to it, dominated by critiques of the modern system, by people's take on life and is filled with anger and pain. So, the reader is presented with questions about modern society. Questions to which, he himself must find an answer, or perhaps just add some more questions. Either way it echoes in the reader’s mind. However, once The Reptile is introduced, everything speeds up, it all becomes more dynamic and action filled.

The Old Elephant is one of my favorite aspects of the book. This is the name of the pub these guys frequently go to. Besides having a really catchy name, it brings side stories into the narrative; stories about the people who enter the bar and spill their sorrow at a glass of alcohol. The ancestral fireplace, around which stories have been told, is modernized and is replaced by alcohol. The bartender takes on the role of the narrator for these short little stories which take on the form of anecdotes.

I give The Reptile: One Man’s Story of Drug Use, Crime, Friendship, and Revenge 3 out of 4 stars, because it was quite captivating, it resonated emotionally with me, the characters seemed well-rounded and the dialogue realistic, but there were some clichés throughout the book (like being drugged by a woman, who also takes all the money). There is some strong language and images in the book, so it is not really a book for everybody, but if you enjoyed movies like 25th Hour, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas or The Rum Diary, you will enjoy this book too. I compared it to movies, because it has a film-like quality to it, there is a lot of action, and it is very visual. Also, there seems to be a soundtrack to the book as bands and songs are mentioned very frequently.

This is a book about broken people living in a broken society, spending their days desperately looking for glue.

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Buy "The Reptile: One Man's Story of Drug Use, Crime, Friendship, and Revenge" on Amazon

[Nathrad Sheare]

Nicely done, Barabas_T. You made the novel seem very interesting. I think anybody's interest would be instantly piqued upon their finishing the last sentence, which I particularly liked, by the way.

Are you a writer? Well, obviously you know how to write reviews... But do you have a particular genre you like to work your fingertips at most, or a certain style you dabble in more often than others? Hey, if you're exclusively a reader, that's fine, too. The world needs more readers. Life is way too dull without them! What's that line? "A man who reads lives a thousand lives before he dies. A man who doesn't read lives only one." I think that's right. I enjoy hearing and reading the experiences of people who've visited different worlds and embraced new or unusual ideas. How many lives have you lived so far?

Again, great review.

[Timea]

Thank you so much, your comment really made my day

I wrote a few short stories a while back and last year I started working on a novel, which is still far from being finished. I'm still discovering myself as a writer, I'm experimenting different things and I'm also stalling I feel like I need to develop more as a reader and a writer to do justice to my ideas. And I am waiting for things to settle a bit in my life, before I make another attempt at it. So I wouldn't call myself a writer yet, I just made attempts at becoming one.

I've lived a few hundred lives so far, although I don't remember some of them... but then again I don't remember everything from my life either... it seems that my memory is just not that great. I mostly enjoy psychological novels, mysteries, sci-fi but I pick up a book from any genre, if I find it interesting. But I always look for emotions in a book, if it makes me feel it's good, if it makes me cry it's even better. Sadness, for me, at least, is a much more powerful and memorable feeling than happiness. Also, I like the psychological insights and some good twists. I think that as a writer you are quite influenced by what you like as a reader. Are you a writer (too)?

-- 17 Jun 2014, 15:10 --

P.S. glad to hear that about the last sentence

[Nathrad Sheare]

I'm attempting to become a writer... I love to write. I've been writing poetry since I was around twelve years old and I've always wanted to be the next best thing I'VE read. Writing is definitely a lot of work... But I'm willing to do it. I have a forum on this site, "I Have a Few Poems of My Own," that showcases some of my work... not that the poems there have yet been refined to more than a really smooth kind of coal yet... I've been concentrating on upping my short fiction to diamond quality, so... You can read them if you'd like... You could post a little of your work on this site, too. I'll read it, I promise.

I have this to write about your "I wouldn't call myself a writer" statement: If you have a story to tell, an imagination that functions on pictures and words, and a love for stories and written expression, then you have the writer's mind. If you've attempted at all to put your ideas to paper (or screen) then you are a writer. Never let even your opinion of yourself or your work get in the way of your success. I certainly have faith that you could be a bestseller. Whatever you do, just don't be down on yourself about your first draft or even first five drafts. Writing is about 10% talent and 90% mind altering hard work. Keep it up.

You are SO right when you write that any author is affected by what he (or she) reads. I really love Poe's work... it shows a little too much sometimes...

I hope I don't read like some writer- preacher... Some people tell me I'm not the best when it comes to building people up with words... Just hang in there with your writing... That's all I mean... Hm... This is a long message... So, hang in there with me, too!

-- 18 Jun 2014, 08:05 --

And you're right about the sadness thing, too. I love far more to cry than to laugh. Movies, books, operas, plays, watching my Frappuccino drop on the floor... Okay, maybe I wouldn't do THAT on purpose...

[Timea]

I will seriously consider posting something on your forum, but until then, I will check out your stuff, I'm quite curious )

It's really sooo lovely to hear such kind words from you and you don't sound like a "writer-preacher" at all... if some people said that you are not good at building people up with words, then it looks like you've made a lot of progress, because you're quite good at it now . Your words touched me and your enthusiasm about writing is contagious... I know what you mean about the work that goes into it, I kind of grew up with the idea that writing is almost all about talent and little about work. I find that some people still don't really comprehend how much work goes into writing and how many hours go into just thinking about writing, how to do it and about what. But then again, maybe you only realize it when you try it yourself.

Sometimes Poe finds his way into my work too, and I welcome him as long as he isn't too intrusive When I was in the 5th grade or so, I practically rewrote "The Oval Portrait" without being aware of it. My dad told me that it sounds a lot like "The Oval Portrait" and I was in denial for a while, but it was pretty obvious. Poe was a master at setting the atmosphere, and he looked deep into the human nature, also his use of the language was exquisite, so there are quite a few things one can learn from him.

Maybe you'r not dropping your frappuccino on the floor on purpose consciously, but you do so unconsciously... (Freud, at least might say that)

[Nathrad Sheare]

Freud tends to point his finger at me too often... He and I have a... complicated relationship...

You are SO right when you say most people just don't understand how hard of work it is to write something decent. I always thought writing was almost ALL about talent, too. Oh, how adorable my ignorance was... Now, when someone asks me what I'm doing when they catch me staring off into space, I tell them, "Writing." Then they look at me as if they're about to say something, and I say, "Just go with it. Trust me on this..."

Poe was a freakin' genius A few years ago I would have given anything, tried anything to somehow force some of his talent into my head...Alas, I'm still just me... But I think that's okay. If I were him, somebody would write an obituary about me in a spirit of the evil I'd delineated in my work... Then my name would go down the toilet for more than a century...

I certainly hope you're as hyped about a career in writing as I am! There's a lot of lousy stuff out there, so let's make the literary world better together! I would SO like to read some of your work. Do post it whenever you can; do, do, DO!

[Timea]

I tend to stare a lot off into space too )

Poe was a genius and it is so frustrating when people like him do not get the appreciation they deserve during their life time...

P.S. your quote from Poe is one of my favorites

[Nathrad Sheare]

What I don't understand is all the hyperbole about some insanity he allegedly suffered. If any of the modern analysts of his work read his essays and critical articles, there's no way they'd believe he was JUST crazy... depressive, maybe, but not crazy. My favorite story of his is "William Wilson." It's my favorite study of multiple personality disorder. In my opinion, the best poems he wrote were "Ulalume," "The Raven," "The City in the Sea," "Israfel," and "Anabelle Lee." I also liked his two- liner, "Deep in Earth." Cuts right to the core in the fewest possible words. Hemmingway, eat your typewriter! Oh, too much? I'll never forget it: "Deep in Earth my love is lying, And I must weep alone." Mmmm.... MMMM!!!

-- 19 Jun 2014, 05:57 --

I'm glad you like the quote, too. It didn't take me long to think of it. I also like the opening of, what was it, "The Imp of the Perverse?" It goes, "Misery is manifold." Great alliteration, and so TRUE!

[Timea]

They might be using this as a tactic for marketing purposes, in the last few years they have based quite a few movies and books on his life or work. I also enjoyed ”The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket” and ”Eldorado” is one of my favorite poems from him