I found this book on a list of addiction-themed novels, but it is not what I would categorize as “addiction fiction,” since the main character isn’t an addict or alcoholic, and addiction is not a central theme. Chappie (later Bone) smokes a lot of weed, has a birth father and friends who are drug addicts and a stepfather who is an alcoholic, commits tons of crimes, was abused as a child, yet he never develops anything resembling an addiction. I kept waiting for it to happen, and was my primary motivation at times to keep reading, but instead this turned out to be just a garden variety coming-of-age novel.
For the first hundred-plus pages, Chappie lives on the edges of society and ends up going on the run with his best friend. I felt like I had read this book before, as they went from town to town finding places to hide out, and then remembered S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders.
Bone, a damaged teenager, is the narrator, so the book also invites comparisons to The Catcher in the Rye. And with him spending the second half of the book traveling with an older, wiser black man, it brings The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to mind too, but all these connections are unfair. It would be a little bit like saying that I remind you of Kelly Slater because I am bald and I surf.
If I had been fifteen when I read this, Bone’s observations may have resonated with me. At fifty, I found him boring and often annoying. His narrative is ponderous and self-indulgent…like most teenagers. Banks spends pages on internal dialogue that could be boiled down to a well-written paragraph.
Even though the book is littered with drugs and addicts, addiction actually plays a very minor role and recovery is nowhere to be found. For that reason, I give this a low rating as addiction fiction. I’m sure that Russell Banks would be okay with that assessment, since it was pretty clearly not his intent. As a bildungsroman I’d rate it as solid, but I disagree with people who have called it “an American classic.”
The Sobees Addiction Fiction Score: 2 out of 5
ADDICTION FICTION: This is a newer genre of literature that explores the theme of addiction and recovery. These works of fiction often revolve around characters struggling with substance abuse and the emotional, physical, and psychological toll it takes on their lives. They may also delve into the complex dynamics of addiction within relationships and families. Addiction fiction typically focuses on themes of redemption, personal growth, and the journey toward recovery. By exploring these themes, addiction fiction can provide a powerful and relatable message.
ABOUT WILL THATCHER:
Will Thatcher is a sober man. He is also a proud dad, a sometimes-successful entrepreneur, and he is doing his best as a husband. After he finishes with AA, family stuff, work, the gym, surfing, and mountain biking he writes addiction fiction thrillers that feature clean and sober characters. Addiction recovery themes provide endless opportunities for dramatic conflict and resolution.
Will’s stories are exciting, intense, character-driven explorations of these themes. Will is also an Addiction Fiction enthusiast. While working on his own books, he steadily consumes and reviews the work of notable authors in the space. His reviews can be found on The Sober Curator, his social media accounts and on Goodreads.
Debut Novel: Killing Hurt
Coming Soon: The Sponsor
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A Disco Ball is Hundreds of Pieces of Broken Glass, Put Together to Make a Magical Ball of Light. You are NOT Broken, Friend. You are a DISCO BALL!
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