PanChicago Review of Books[The narrator\'s] unreliability is so plain and biased that by even the quarter point of the novel, the reader must question what is real and what is not ... The novel’s indecision about its characters can come across as frustrating and unpleasant.
RaveChicago Review of BooksA brilliant debut ... The novel is incredibly rich in observations on all aspects of life ... Stunning.
PositiveChicago Review of BooksWhile Cannonball is exaggerated in comedy, character behavior, and a style not perfectly suited to the 1860s (at one point the narrator discusses Anders’s id, ego, and superego), it is especially in this last quarter of the novel that the story becomes marked historical fiction. There are some suggestions of an alternate history earlier—Anders seems to reference George III of England being killed during the American Revolution—but it’s only in this final quarter that a strange opportunity enters the narrative, like one of Gleason’s theatrical pieces come to life.
RaveChicago Review of BooksA burst of authentic energy, a rush of life from start to finish ... It is a unique adventure, unafraid to display the grittiness and brutal ecstasy of a life of fast liaisons. At the time of its original release Fish Tales was dismissed as smut by some readers. This is not accurate. The novel is about far more than the enjoyment of sex—it is about a sadness and pain that cannot be erased by bright city lights. It is a story of trauma, confusion, lost souls, and a wrathful love that may never know peace.
Orlando Reade
RaveChicago Review of BooksThis fresh retrospective and exploration of such a foundational text is a pleasure to read.
Bill Zehme
PositiveChicago Review of BooksZehme opens the first chapters of his Carson biography in the style of comedic monologue, every sentence carrying some connotation of wink ... Ultimately best as an introduction to the generations that never knew Carson, and are looking to get a feel for the glamor and impact of the most influential late show host of all time.
