Review of The Shametown Saga

[Ngozi Onyibor]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Shametown Saga" by Andrew Hobgood.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Rami, a reclusive tech company founder, shies away from public attention. Instead, he chose to focus on building his business. His dedication paid off, and his company, DoggyBag, grew to the point of IPO, so it became pertinent for the public to know the person behind the brand. The Tribune, a media agency, was privileged to be the first media house to interview Rami. The agency chose Brooke for the interview. The interview was scheduled to hold at a restaurant. Rami was nervous when they met, but Brooke made him comfortable, and the interview went well. However, during their conversation, Rami divulged that he plays the piano and promised to play a piece for Brooke if time allows. After they had both had a little too much to drink, they got set to go their separate ways, but Brooke reminded Rami of his promise, so they ended up at his home. Inebriated, Brooke made a tweet that changed their lives in irreparable ways. To deal with the situation, Rami bought a ranch in a quaint, obscure town in Montana and moved there with Brooke. At first, the town's residents were unbothered by their presence. However, when more people started moving to the ranch, the residents began to showcase their displeasure in interesting ways.

Contrary to what the summary might imply, The Shametown Saga is not a romance novel. It is a fictional and hilarious peek behind the scenes of what happens to people, especially people whose livelihood depends on public perception and interaction, when they get canceled.

Andrew Hobgood employed a unique narration style. A hilarious mystery narrator recounts the story, which gave it the feel of a YouTube vlog. Amidst the humor, the author writes candidly about the hypocrisy of humans and their tendency to hold others to unrealistic behavioral standards. In addition, the characters' lives and stories highlight the value of support in hard times and the beauty of having a community.

That being said, the conflict between Rami's religion and lifestyle baffled me. Although I got the impression that he wasn't a religious fanatic, still, it surprised me that the people he interacted with didn't consider the peculiarities of his religion in their dealings with him. The sort of drink Brooke ordered for them at the restaurant and a photographer suggesting a wine cabinet in his home as a photo prop is a little questionable.

Again, the story's non-chronological narration style posed another problem. The narration oscillates between the past and present. However, there were things mentioned in the present that I never quite got the event that led to them in the past. For instance, Jeff and Anya and the barn being turned into a community center could have used a little backstory.

Overall, the story is a harmonious medley of hilarity and somberness. But its greatest charm is its realistic portrayal of modern society. Although the book was a thrill to read, the inconsistencies previously mentioned were too bothersome to overlook. Hence, I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Shametown Saga will appeal to readers on the hunt for a fun, lighthearted read.

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The Shametown Saga
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[fareedaali9113]

"The Shametown Saga" looks absolutely amazing, I can't wait to dive into this thrilling adventure!

[Odichimma Okoye]

The Shametown Saga sounds like a thrilling tale. You did a good job reviewing and the author did a good job writing. But I feel as though too many backstories would affect the flow of my reading experience. The plot might enthrall me though, with the whole idea of a shy producer.