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2951 ratings | 2158 reviews | avg rating:3.22

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Peter’s Bookshelves

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2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Peter Derk has read 123 books of his goal of 42!

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Peter Derk

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

https://www.helpfulsnowman.com

Twitter

helpfulsnowman

Member Since

February 2009

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Peter Derk doesn't understand why they've never sold a Twix called "Twick" that's just one long bar made of the two bars mashed together. ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

From Yahoo Answers: I keep getting rejected from women, should i just become a homosexual? I know its a sin and ill burn in hell forever. Im just tired of it. So should i become gay and be happy, or deal with fustration from constant rejection from women? I dont think the fustration is worth it.

Peter Derk Can I tell you a story about this?

The first time I was in a gay bar was because of an incident where a friend's car got towed. We walked a ways to mee…moreCan I tell you a story about this?

The first time I was in a gay bar was because of an incident where a friend's car got towed. We walked a ways to meet another friend, a gay guy and his partner, who were going to help us out. They were in a gay bar, and they insisted we have a drink with them first before we got down to business. By which I mean "get a ride home." By which I mean get in a vehicle and drive it...let's just keep going with the story.

I walked in, we had a drink, and I left. And you know what? Nobody hit on me. Nobody talked to me. It was almost like -gasp- pretty much a normal bar.

Now, I fully expected that guys would love me. Because ladies were kind of ho-hum about me, so I figured that meant dudes would be all about it. Because a gay guy is the opposite of a girl, right?

Nope. Turns out, nope, not at all. In fact, a gay gentleman's proclivities really don't have much to do with a woman's. It's kind of like it's own whole thing. Actually, I'll revise that. It's exactly like it's own whole thing.

This was a lesson learned when I was maybe 21. So a little old, but what can I say, I grew up podunk.

So while turning to gay men might seem like an alternative, flipping the switch from OFF to ON, it doesn't really work that way.

Here's my advice to you and really the advice I would give to any young person who is having this sort of problem: Pursue an interest that's NOT having a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Get interested in something. Get a hobby. Seriously. This is the best thing you can do for yourself, and it's going to make your future relationships much richer.

For one thing, you'll become a better, deeper, more interesting person.

For another, if your hobby is pursuing romance, then once you have romance, what then? What do you have left at that point?

Get a hobby. I would possibly suggest some sort of queer studies classes in your particular case. Or model rocketry. (less)

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Pete, why didn't you push "Like" on my 5-star review of your book?

Peter Derk Oh, please. A 5-star review? I wasn't born yesterday.

In all seriousness, or as much seriousness as I can muster for Goodreads, I really do appreciate …moreOh, please. A 5-star review? I wasn't born yesterday.

In all seriousness, or as much seriousness as I can muster for Goodreads, I really do appreciate the nice reviews and things people say about my books. And I get steamed about the bad ones. Because I'm a human man and it doesn't feel good when people say bad things.

I don't hit Like anymore these days because, well, I really do appreciate the nice reviews, but I also know that book reviewers don't necessarily want to have a dialog with me, and...it feels a little creepy.

I do my fair share of reviewing, and I have been contacted by authors a couple times. Both for books I gave middling reviews. And...I didn't love it. It was weird.

I also think it can be a little creepy. I've worked/volunteered a few jobs working with youth. If you're a single, adult man working with youth, you learn to stay as far away from creepsville as is humanly possible. Your creepification monitor is very sensitive. Trust me, this might sound weird to you, but any others who've walked a mile in those shoes know what I'm talking about. So, I am super averse to doing anything remotely creepy, which probably hurts me sometimes because it's good to develop relationships with readers, but I'm going better safe than sorry on this one.

There was another event that made me think this way.

When I put out the first book I put out, a book of poems, someone gave it a 1-star review. I knew this person as a friend of friend of friend kind of thing, and I did think it was extremely uncool to give it a 1-star. I went to this person's profile and was looking at other ratings, and was like, "Wait, if you were this charitable all along, what the hell?"

I was seriously considering clicking "Like" on this review. So the person would know I'd seen it. And maybe think, "Oh, yeah. Real person. Not cool."

But then I took a breath and was like, "Whoa." Not like a Matrix whoa, like a cowboy stopping a spooked horse kind of whoa.

I'm not a professional author, but I can still act like one. And a pro can take it when someone dislikes their book. I learned an important lesson from Rocky Balboa: "It's not how hard you can hit. It's how hard you can GET hit and keep moving forward." Rocky was right. Punch drunk, but right. Being a pro is about getting hit and moving forward, not about hitting back.

I didn't hit that Like button. And I decided not to hit the positive ones either. I'm just not like some big time guy, like a Stephen King. If Stephen King liked my 5-star review, I'd be pretty happy. But Peter Derk? Who gives a shit?

I think reviews are for readers. They help readers make good choices on how to spend their time and money. Sure, I look at 'em. And I'm heartwarmed when I see a glowing one. But I have to assume that even the nice reviews were not written to make me feel good, they were written to tell people about a good book. Unless they're by friends and family. Then I figure they're at least kinda meant to make me feel good, and I'm 100% fine with that.

I'm very grateful to anyone who reads my books, whether they end up liking them or not. There are a lot of choices for people out there, lots of ways you all can spend your time, and I'm honored when you choose to spend your time with my books. If you want to be chummy with me, tag me in your review on Twitter or Instagram, or email me. I'm helpfulsnowman on Twitter, Instagram, and gmail. Pretty much everywhere. Also, feel free to chat me up on reviews I do of other books, books I didn't write.

As for reviews of my books, I'll be there, but not in a creepy way. Maybe just looking down like Mufasa from the clouds. Except not dead. And not a lion. And none of you are my kids. I do suspect that some of you have tried to strike up a relationship with a fun meerkat/warthog duo, but that's because you're weird. (less)

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Peter Derk’s books

Average rating: 3.96 · 212 ratings · 90 reviews · 32 distinct works • Similar authors

	Pete's Exhaustive Review of Modelland 4.22 avg rating — 51 ratings — published 2016 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ghost Dick: Private Eye 3.64 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Harold's Coming 3.10 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Heist-est Heist Ever Heisted: A Heist Story of a Heist: Special Editor’s Edition really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2021 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Barehanded: poems really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dear Runaway: a novel in letters 4.70 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2019 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ninja Sons 4.09 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Skeleton Army: a novel of an army of darkness of skeletons really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My Mother's Silver Bowl 4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tough Shoot: a short essay 3.83 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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31 posts
Peter Derk's Blog

A Post so Jason Can Have a Link

Apparently Goodreads will not allow non-Goodreads links in comments. I guess this is because they would probably be almost entirely links for things that nobody wants.

Which isn't to say that people are rushing to read what I offer, but ONE PERSON has indeed requested this link.

Jason, here you go:
https://helpfulsnowman.substack.com/p...

I promise I'm very pleasant in real life and not normally this Read more of this blog post »

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Published on January 08, 2025 15:22

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Series by Peter Derk

Digitally Stimulated (4 books)
by

Peter Derk (Goodreads Author)

4.20 avg rating — 10 ratings

The LitReactor Years (4 books)
by

Peter Derk (Goodreads Author)

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 5 ratings

Peter is Currently Reading

Peter Derk is currently reading

The Complete Stories

by Flannery O'Connor

bookshelves: currently-reading, 2018

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Feb 20, 2018 06:33PM

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Peter’s Recent Updates

Peter Derk made a comment on his review of The Endurance Artist: Lazarus Lake, the Barkley & a Race with No End " Matthew wrote: "Everybody who's so much as watched the documentary calls him Laz. I think you're good." Thank you, validation from a distance guy eases ...more "
Jul 25, 2026 10:31AM · see review
Peter Derk rated a book it was amazing The Endurance Artist: Lazarus Lake, the Barkley & a Race with No End by Jared Beasley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I fucking love Lazarus Lake and identify with the man SO HARD. I'll give you a basic, quick version: Laz (can I call him "Laz"? I feel like I can because who is going to stop me! Don't call this parasocial, it's not, it's laziness in typing) was a dis ...more
Jul 24, 2026 04:30PM · 7 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Endurance Artist by Jared Beasley. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Endurance Artist by Jared Beasley <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Peter Derk rated a book it was amazing Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Awesome, so goddamn good. The critique I see sometimes of this one is that the character doesn't have much character. Guys, that's the whole goddamn idea. She is a gear in the machinery of the world. She functions as a part of a whole, and having tha ...more
Jul 16, 2026 03:18PM · 4 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Peter Derk rated a book liked it Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell by Charles Soule (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Artwork A+, very reminiscent of Frank Miller's best in an homage-y way, not a ripoff-y way. I'm still waiting for Old Man Logan, Old Man Hawkeye, this Daredevil, various iterations of Captain America, Spider-Man: Life Story Spiderman—when are we gett ...more
Jul 16, 2026 03:14PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Daredevil by Charles Soule. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Daredevil by Charles Soule <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Peter Derk rated a book liked it Free for All by Patrick Horvath	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this more than Beneath The Trees. Mostly because I felt like there was more going on, like a deeper world that I was more interested in. I'm not typically a fan of gladiatorial combat. Not just because there's an "a" hidden in that world tha ...more
Jul 16, 2026 03:11PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Free for All by Patrick Horvath. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Free for All by Patrick Horvath <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Peter Derk rated a book liked it Skating Wilder by Brandon Dumais	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Great art, good overview of skating from the last 50 years? Is that possible? I still want to know more about the hostility between rollerbladers and skateboarders. I'll never really understand it. I mean, I've done both, badly, and I understand the d ...more
Jul 16, 2026 03:06PM · 1 like · like · see review
Peter Derk is now following Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) and Lia's Haunted Library
Jul 12, 2026 07:07PM
Peter Derk and 1 other person liked Joshua’s status update Joshua Chaplinsky wants to read Cain's Jawbone
Jul 09, 2026 06:43PM
Peter Derk rated a book did not like it Everything and Less: The Novel in the Age of Amazon by Mark McGurl	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Had to DNF this one, but I'll share the most interesting idea in it: The culture that has created the ability for us to have books delivered to our doorstep overnight is also the culture that deprives us the time to read. I know, right? Good stuff. Tha ...more
Jul 08, 2026 07:06PM · 8 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Everything and Less by Mark McGurl. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Everything and Less by Mark McGurl <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Peter Derk (?)

“You might have to hurt yourself if you want to really be alone for a little while.”
― Peter Derk, Dear Runaway: a novel in letters

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“All I did one summer was lay down on a shitty 70's couch and listen to bands I won't even talk about because they're too embarrassing. A whole summer like that. Okay, fine. It was Staind.”
― Peter Derk, Dear Runaway: a novel in letters

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“I try really hard not to live how people think I live.”
― Peter Derk, Dear Runaway: a novel in letters

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Turn of a Page: March Weekly Readathon 11th-17th (Closed)	55	81	Mar 18, 2022 07:24AM
Turn of a Page: March Monthly Readathon	91	116	Apr 01, 2022 10:25AM
Turn of a Page: Shandra's Thread	60	28	Dec 29, 2022 08:16AM

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Peter’s Quotes

“Game shows are designed to make us feel better about the random, useless facts that are all we have left of our education.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters

tags: education, game-shows, trivia

645 likes

“Remember; no matter how desperate the situation seems, time spent
thinking clearly is never time wasted.”
― Max Brooks, Zombie Survival Guide, The: Complete Protection From The Living Dead

124 likes

“Why do people have to be this lonely? What's the point of it all? Millions of people in this world, all of them yearning, looking to others to satisfy them, yet isolating themselves. Why? Was the earth put here just to nourish human loneliness?”
― Haruki Murakami, Sputnik Sweetheart

tags: isolation, loneliness, sadness

5889 likes

“Fuck concepts. Don't be afraid to be confused. Try to remain permanently confused. Anything is possible. Stay open, forever, so open it hurts, and then open up some more, until the day you die, world without end, amen.”
― George Saunders

190 likes

“All these weirdos, and me getting a little better every day right in the midst of them. I had never known, never even imagined for a heartbeat, that there might be a place for people like us.”
― Denis Johnson, Jesus' Son

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