Review of Gone Bodfishin’
Posted: 28 Feb 2025, 11:04
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Gone Bodfishin'" by David Clark Done.]
Gone Bodfishin’ by David Clark Done is an adventurous comedy novel with a satirical touch, set in the late 1960s in Bodfish, California, nestled near the hot deserts and majestic mountains. The story begins with Luke, a bored college student in Los Angeles who works the night shift checking tax returns—a job he finds tedious. Craving excitement and challenges, he is fed up with his monotonous life and yearns for change. When he meets Al Johnson, he believes his life is about to take a turn for the better. Al introduces himself as the proprietor of 'The Silver City Movie Ranch.' He is also a cab driver and a stuntman. Amazed by Al, Luke makes a big decision to join the ranch, train to become a stuntman, and break into the movie industry. He cuts ties with his current life and heads to Bodfish, California, for a fresh start. What happens next is a whirlwind of quirky, sarcastic, and comical events. We are introduced to Al's crew, who are just as eccentric as he is. The narrative includes intriguing elements and amusing incidents such as a movie ranch featuring antique buildings from the 1850s, a gigantic waterslide, a nearly funny wild west show complete with guns and a horse, a treasure map that leads to an abandoned gold mine, accidental shooting, a group of bikers, and lots of whiskey. Having left his studies and dull lifestyle behind, Luke wishes to enter the world of stunt work and movies. Al and his crew have worked tirelessly to create their wild west movie ranch, hoping to rent it out to Hollywood producers to realize their American dream. Will they achieve their goals and finally live their dreams? Grab the book and read on!
The opening of the story grabbed my attention immediately, and I was drawn into the plot right away. The pacing was excellent; at no point did I feel bored. All the characters were intriguing and delightfully quirky. The author did an impressive job with characterization, ensuring that each character was unique and memorable, including the donkey named Andy, who had his own distinct personality. The author's writing style was engaging, and the descriptions were vivid. While reading, I could feel the heat of the desert, hear the howling wind, and visualize the dilapidated buildings. The author made me feel as though I were right there on the silver ranch, witnessing all the events unfold. The enthusiasm and innocence of the characters made me part of their journey and I wished along with them that they would achieve their dreams of establishing a movie ranch.
I searched the internet to learn more about Bodfish and was astonished to discover Silver City Ghost Town, which is quite similar to The Silver City Movie Ranch mentioned in the story. Silver City Ghost Town features nearly 20 antique buildings that were relocated from nearby areas, echoing the themes of the book. I believe the author may have drawn inspiration from that place. After reading the book, I find myself eager to visit such a location.
The book's title is very catchy, and it was the first thing that attracted my attention. However, I was not impressed by the book cover; I felt it did not do justice to the story and didn’t reflect its quirkiness. This book would greatly benefit from a better cover design that represents its unique character.
Readers should be aware that the book contains a significant amount of profanity and some explicit sexual content, which I did not expect. The characters also engage in a lot of drinking, and whiskey flows freely throughout the narrative.
While reading, I noticed numerous errors, particularly with punctuation in dialogues. At some places, I had to reread sections to fully understand the text. I believe the book is not professionally edited and would benefit from another round of editing. For these reasons, I would rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. Readers who enjoy satirical literature with a Wild West theme and quirky misfit characters will appreciate this book.
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Gone Bodfishin'
View: on Bookshelves
Gone Bodfishin’ by David Clark Done is an adventurous comedy novel with a satirical touch, set in the late 1960s in Bodfish, California, nestled near the hot deserts and majestic mountains. The story begins with Luke, a bored college student in Los Angeles who works the night shift checking tax returns—a job he finds tedious. Craving excitement and challenges, he is fed up with his monotonous life and yearns for change. When he meets Al Johnson, he believes his life is about to take a turn for the better. Al introduces himself as the proprietor of 'The Silver City Movie Ranch.' He is also a cab driver and a stuntman. Amazed by Al, Luke makes a big decision to join the ranch, train to become a stuntman, and break into the movie industry. He cuts ties with his current life and heads to Bodfish, California, for a fresh start. What happens next is a whirlwind of quirky, sarcastic, and comical events. We are introduced to Al's crew, who are just as eccentric as he is. The narrative includes intriguing elements and amusing incidents such as a movie ranch featuring antique buildings from the 1850s, a gigantic waterslide, a nearly funny wild west show complete with guns and a horse, a treasure map that leads to an abandoned gold mine, accidental shooting, a group of bikers, and lots of whiskey. Having left his studies and dull lifestyle behind, Luke wishes to enter the world of stunt work and movies. Al and his crew have worked tirelessly to create their wild west movie ranch, hoping to rent it out to Hollywood producers to realize their American dream. Will they achieve their goals and finally live their dreams? Grab the book and read on!
The opening of the story grabbed my attention immediately, and I was drawn into the plot right away. The pacing was excellent; at no point did I feel bored. All the characters were intriguing and delightfully quirky. The author did an impressive job with characterization, ensuring that each character was unique and memorable, including the donkey named Andy, who had his own distinct personality. The author's writing style was engaging, and the descriptions were vivid. While reading, I could feel the heat of the desert, hear the howling wind, and visualize the dilapidated buildings. The author made me feel as though I were right there on the silver ranch, witnessing all the events unfold. The enthusiasm and innocence of the characters made me part of their journey and I wished along with them that they would achieve their dreams of establishing a movie ranch.
I searched the internet to learn more about Bodfish and was astonished to discover Silver City Ghost Town, which is quite similar to The Silver City Movie Ranch mentioned in the story. Silver City Ghost Town features nearly 20 antique buildings that were relocated from nearby areas, echoing the themes of the book. I believe the author may have drawn inspiration from that place. After reading the book, I find myself eager to visit such a location.
The book's title is very catchy, and it was the first thing that attracted my attention. However, I was not impressed by the book cover; I felt it did not do justice to the story and didn’t reflect its quirkiness. This book would greatly benefit from a better cover design that represents its unique character.
Readers should be aware that the book contains a significant amount of profanity and some explicit sexual content, which I did not expect. The characters also engage in a lot of drinking, and whiskey flows freely throughout the narrative.
While reading, I noticed numerous errors, particularly with punctuation in dialogues. At some places, I had to reread sections to fully understand the text. I believe the book is not professionally edited and would benefit from another round of editing. For these reasons, I would rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. Readers who enjoy satirical literature with a Wild West theme and quirky misfit characters will appreciate this book.
******
Gone Bodfishin'
View: on Bookshelves