Official Review: High'd Up by Dennis James Bartel

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 29 Jun 2020, 17:27

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "High'd Up" by Dennis James Bartel.]

3 out of 4 stars

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High'd Up, written by Dennis James Bartel, revolves around the existential struggles of James Meier. In the first part of the book, readers meet the protagonist during a tumultuous time of his life. He had left his family in Pittsburgh to study in Los Angeles. When his mother got hospitalized after a stroke, James went back home, where he tragically found his father's corpse. Samuel Meier, a rather prominent Pittsburgh businessman, had died of a heart attack.

Back in LA, James had no job, and his only friend was Stace, a drug dealer. Most of the time, James was "high'd up and trolling for solace through the lives of the Great Composers." He had taught music history at Cal State and was particularly fond of Robert Schumann. The German composer plays a big part in the novel; he makes several appearances and speaks directly to the protagonist. This relationship is central, for James projects aspects of his life on Schumann, and so are his relationships with three women: Juny, Emily, and Susan.

I found several positive aspects in this intense story. I appreciated the vigor of the author's writing and the breadth of James's existential conflicts. Bartel's style is straightforward and punchy, and readers get invited to contemplate the turbulent inner world of a conflicted young man. The complexities of romantic relations, especially sex, is the fundamental theme.

What I enjoyed the most about the novel was how Bartel used classical music as background to his fiction. James works out certain aspects of his karma by establishing parallels with Schumann. For instance, they both have nightmares about their fathers. The protagonist also thought of the composer's teaching experiences at the Leipzig Conservatory, which he believed were as unsatisfactory as his at Cal State.

Speaking of negatives, I felt that the depiction of sexual encounters was gratuitously graphic and excessively vulgar. This aspect was what I disliked the most. The disaffected protagonist was notoriously obsessed with sex, and his libido gets depicted as a problem to be overcome. His view of women was not only dualistic but also borderline misogynistic; they were either devils or saints, with no middle ground. For instance, James observes that Juny has a "kind of female arrogance," and it bothers him. On the other hand, he worships Emily, whom he sees a saint.

In closing, I rate High'd Up 3 out of 4 stars. Due to the vulgar depictions of sexual encounters and the dualistic female characters, I am taking a star away from the rating. Still, it is a good book that I recommend to readers who enjoy classical music. If you are bothered by graphic and rather crass depictions of sex, you should skip it.

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High'd Up
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Mohammed_Sameer2 · Post by **Mohammed_Sameer2** » 02 Jul 2020, 04:08

Hi my dear friend mmm17, you choose a good book, and your review was so nice, and useful, that you discover the relations between the main character, and women, and music. I confirm also that those works are so effective, because of their rich artistic impressions, and I remembered the great novel "In Search of Lost Time" which was written by Marcel Proust, that the narrator reproduced a lot of music, and other arts in his search of his special time and life. Have a great day.

Usma Khann · Post by **Usma Khann** » 02 Jul 2020, 06:04

Why do authors have to go graphic and narrow the audience range. Not the book for me. Hope it appeals to the recommended readers.

Elvis Best · Post by **Elvis Best** » 02 Jul 2020, 07:00

It seems this is a really good book without the sex scenes and misogyny aspects. Thanks for your honest review.

Kingzmen2 · Post by **Kingzmen2** » 02 Jul 2020, 08:26

I feel that the book is great because most people can either relate. Because they have either went through the same thing or they have had family members. That they have seen be great then next minute they know that person is now in a very bad position.

Dayodiola · Post by **Dayodiola** » 02 Jul 2020, 12:17

Intertwining music with fiction, great but I won't find it interesting. Nice review

Post by **Gift Nwagu** » 02 Jul 2020, 13:33

First of all, lovely and impactful review! I initially fell in love with the idea that the author was able to spin a unique plot from the classical music scene. Sadly, I do not know if I am willing to overlook the unspoken misogyny in the novel. It seems like a great novel to try out.

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 02 Jul 2020, 13:54

Mohammed_Sameer2 wrote: ↑02 Jul 2020, 04:08 Hi my dear friend mmm17, you choose a good book, and your review was so nice, and useful, that you discover the relations between the main character, and women, and music. I confirm also that those works are so effective, because of their rich artistic impressions, and I remembered the great novel "In Search of Lost Time" which was written by Marcel Proust, that the narrator reproduced a lot of music, and other arts in his search of his special time and life. Have a great day.

I absolutely love Proust. He's one of my favorite authors. Thank you so much for your kind words!

Miss_chiege · Post by **Miss_chiege** » 02 Jul 2020, 14:20

This book must be very interesting from your review. Bartel has truly written a book worth reading.

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 02 Jul 2020, 14:30

Usma Khann wrote: ↑02 Jul 2020, 06:04 Why do authors have to go graphic and narrow the audience range. Not the book for me. Hope it appeals to the recommended readers.

I appreciate your comments. Thanks!

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 02 Jul 2020, 14:31

Elvis Best wrote: ↑02 Jul 2020, 07:00 It seems this is a really good book without the sex scenes and misogyny aspects. Thanks for your honest review.

It is a good book, indeed. Thanks for commenting!

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 02 Jul 2020, 14:32

Kingzmen2 wrote: ↑02 Jul 2020, 08:26 I feel that the book is great because most people can either relate. Because they have either went through the same thing or they have had family members. That they have seen be great then next minute they know that person is now in a very bad position.

I agree. Most of us go through difficult times in life. Thank you for your comments!

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 02 Jul 2020, 14:33

Dayodiola wrote: ↑02 Jul 2020, 12:17 Intertwining music with fiction, great but I won't find it interesting. Nice review

It is a good mix; I also think so. Thank you for reading!

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 02 Jul 2020, 14:34

Gift Nwagu wrote: ↑02 Jul 2020, 13:33 First of all, lovely and impactful review! I initially fell in love with the idea that the author was able to spin a unique plot from the classical music scene. Sadly, I do not know if I am willing to overlook the unspoken misogyny in the novel. It seems like a great novel to try out.

Thanks a lot for your compliments on the review. That's very kind of you.