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Tinseltown
24th Annual Lambda Literary Awards Finalist
Film student Micah Malone learns the hard way that when life sucks, you can't just yell, "Cut! Let's do another take!" His grades are a box-office bomb. His friends create more drama than a soap opera. And his love life needs a laughtrack.
While there's no script to dictate what happens next, can Micah find the direction he needs? Life, after all, is no film school project. But it is great source material. The only source material. Let the cameras roll. Micah's quirky story has begun filming.
Film student Micah Malone learns the hard way that when life sucks, you can't just yell, "Cut! Let's do another take!" His grades are a box-office bomb. His friends create more drama than a soap opera. And his love life needs a laughtrack.
While there's no script to dictate what happens next, can Micah find the direction he needs? Life, after all, is no film school project. But it is great source material. The only source material. Let the cameras roll. Micah's quirky story has begun filming.
312 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
300 people want to read
About the author
Barry Brennessel
32 books42 followersWhen Barry’s first collection of stories was read aloud by his second grade teacher, the author hid. As the years flew by, he wrote more, hid less (not really), and branched out to Super 8 films and cassette tape recorders. Barry’s audience—consisting solely of friends and family—were both amused and bemused.
Since those childhood days, Barry has earned degrees in English and French from the State University of New York College at Brockport, and a Master of Arts in Writing from the Johns Hopkins University.
Tinseltown, a Finalist in the 24th Annual Lambda Literary Awards, is Barry’s first novel. His novel The Celestial won the Gold Medal in the 2012 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards and was a Finalist in the 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards. Reunion, a collection of linked stories, was a Finalist in the 2012 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards.
His work has appeared in SNReview, Perspectives, Time Pilot, Liquid Ohio, Nocturnal Lyric, Midnight Times, Gival Press’s ArLiJo, and Polari Journal. His stories, novels and teleplays have won awards, including a 2008 Pushcart Prize nomination; 3rd Place in the 2010 Pacific Northwest Writers Association (PNWA) literary contest and finalist status in the 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013 PNWA contests; 3rd Place in the 79th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition and a winning entry in the 2013 WILDSound Screenplay competition.
When not embroiled in his own writing, Barry sips wine, nibbles on chocolate, and watches films and TV—both the classic and the cheesy. (Mmm…cheese!)
http://barrybrennessel.com/
Since those childhood days, Barry has earned degrees in English and French from the State University of New York College at Brockport, and a Master of Arts in Writing from the Johns Hopkins University.
Tinseltown, a Finalist in the 24th Annual Lambda Literary Awards, is Barry’s first novel. His novel The Celestial won the Gold Medal in the 2012 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards and was a Finalist in the 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards. Reunion, a collection of linked stories, was a Finalist in the 2012 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards.
His work has appeared in SNReview, Perspectives, Time Pilot, Liquid Ohio, Nocturnal Lyric, Midnight Times, Gival Press’s ArLiJo, and Polari Journal. His stories, novels and teleplays have won awards, including a 2008 Pushcart Prize nomination; 3rd Place in the 2010 Pacific Northwest Writers Association (PNWA) literary contest and finalist status in the 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013 PNWA contests; 3rd Place in the 79th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition and a winning entry in the 2013 WILDSound Screenplay competition.
When not embroiled in his own writing, Barry sips wine, nibbles on chocolate, and watches films and TV—both the classic and the cheesy. (Mmm…cheese!)
http://barrybrennessel.com/
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 13, 2014
Whoa! *insert dazed, exhilarated laugh here*
This was SO. AWESOME.
I suggest you skip the fangirling review and read the book instead.
Let's start with Micah: I don't think I've ever loved a narrator so much. He's hilarious, conceited (in that cute, actually self-conscious way, if that makes any sense) and so horny.
I think I spent half the book laughing to tears – I don't know if it will work for you, but his is definitely my kind of humour.
I can't tell you much about Micah, because I want you – yes, you, exactly – to get to know him yourself, gradually, the same way I did, because you need to live the real Micah experience. What I can tell you is that he's the kind of guy that always shows his happy, snarky face, and this made me feel for him even more when bad stuff happened. (btw, I can totally relate to that.)
The friends. The friends! Paul R. and Paul B. (The Paulies), Trisha, Stan , Danny (I'd say “die, asshole” if it weren't for the fact that he's too much of an asshole for me to even want to talk about him) and Jasper (I actually feel kind of sorry for him. All these comments in brackets are making you curious, aren't they? Go read the book!) are reason #2 why I liked this book so much. They are fully fleshed out, each with a different personality and a distinctive way of speaking and interacting, among themselves and with Micah. Being a very important part of Micah's life, they are obviously also a very important part of the story. Which is why, if you're looking for a traditional romance novel where the couple is at the centre of attention, this is probably not what you're looking for. (But it probably is, because I'm telling you, you're looking exactly for this.)
Micah and his love interest meet... gah, I'm not even telling you when they meet, because I would spoil the surprise. I'm not even telling you his name. Ha!
And here goes reason #3 for reading this book: the writing and general structure of the novel. It reads a bit like a script, a bit like a diary, a bit like a guy with ADD speaking, and I love it like whoa!
It's full of seemingly random snippets of information about Micah, his life, his family or his friends that, for me, were the perfect way to interrupt the flow of events and help me form a clearer picture.
I didn't even know I was capable of gushing so much. Oh, well. You learn something new (about yourself) everyday, don't you?
This was SO. AWESOME.
I suggest you skip the fangirling review and read the book instead.
Let's start with Micah: I don't think I've ever loved a narrator so much. He's hilarious, conceited (in that cute, actually self-conscious way, if that makes any sense) and so horny.
I think I spent half the book laughing to tears – I don't know if it will work for you, but his is definitely my kind of humour.
I can't tell you much about Micah, because I want you – yes, you, exactly – to get to know him yourself, gradually, the same way I did, because you need to live the real Micah experience. What I can tell you is that he's the kind of guy that always shows his happy, snarky face, and this made me feel for him even more when bad stuff happened. (btw, I can totally relate to that.)
The friends. The friends! Paul R. and Paul B. (The Paulies), Trisha, Stan , Danny (I'd say “die, asshole” if it weren't for the fact that he's too much of an asshole for me to even want to talk about him) and Jasper (I actually feel kind of sorry for him. All these comments in brackets are making you curious, aren't they? Go read the book!) are reason #2 why I liked this book so much. They are fully fleshed out, each with a different personality and a distinctive way of speaking and interacting, among themselves and with Micah. Being a very important part of Micah's life, they are obviously also a very important part of the story. Which is why, if you're looking for a traditional romance novel where the couple is at the centre of attention, this is probably not what you're looking for. (But it probably is, because I'm telling you, you're looking exactly for this.)
Micah and his love interest meet... gah, I'm not even telling you when they meet, because I would spoil the surprise. I'm not even telling you his name. Ha!
And here goes reason #3 for reading this book: the writing and general structure of the novel. It reads a bit like a script, a bit like a diary, a bit like a guy with ADD speaking, and I love it like whoa!
It's full of seemingly random snippets of information about Micah, his life, his family or his friends that, for me, were the perfect way to interrupt the flow of events and help me form a clearer picture.
I didn't even know I was capable of gushing so much. Oh, well. You learn something new (about yourself) everyday, don't you?
March 9, 2012
First time through this was a DNF for me. Perhaps it was my mood. Perhaps I felt the narrator was trying too hard? Humor is difficult and if the reader is not in the right mood...
Anyway, second time through I read the entire book in an evening and found myself laughing outloud many, many times.
An unexpected delight.
Anyway, second time through I read the entire book in an evening and found myself laughing outloud many, many times.
An unexpected delight.
June 6, 2013
“I don’t think anyone’s ever fully prepared for a Micah.”
Meet Micah Etienne Malone who’s got - to put it nicely - a very intense, very busy inner life.
Imagine a mind that is one big movie quiz, that doesn’t categorize, doesn’t prioritize information, a mind full of voices, images and words that rush from all directions in an overcrowded Broadway show stage: that’s where you’ll spend the span of 312 pages, if you decide to read this book.
At 2%, I asked myself: what is that?!
At 5%, I was dazed and perplexed.
At 10%, I thought that the author overdid it and thus, it was a good try but a mishit.
At 15%, I thought that he was doing it on purpose. Or he was high on something.
At 20%, I was perplexed again and looking for a clue.
At 27%, I realized that there was actually a story told in there, that I liked the imperfect Micah and that I had laughed out loud many times already.
I stopped trying to get each movie nerd joke, embraced the lunacy and I went on with the flow.
I swallowed the remaining 73% in one go.
The story is simple really, it’s about Micah going through life - its joys and ordeals; it is about friendship like you live it in your early twenties, when you can not decide anything, love, laugh, cry, commit, go to the bathroom without the gang you’re attached to the hip with. It’s about people and relationships entering adulthood.
Contrary to all appearances, Micah is very single minded, self-centered and childish as he is, reading the world and his interactions through his insecurities and his protective filters.
The narrative matches the paradox. It is very well structured and I’m now marveling at the author’s focus in giving voice in a mess that progressively makes sense in characterizing and telling the story of not only one character but of a whole casting.
Sex and love are at the core of Micah’s pre-occupations but the story doesn’t focus on a growing romance. Tinseltown is very much an encounter with a character and very special.
You will hate it or love it and I can only encourage you to give it a try and see which buttons it pushes for you.
For my part, it was a puzzling, lively, funny, sweet, sad, cute (Micah’s favorite word) whirlwind that I loved being sucked in.
Meet Micah Etienne Malone who’s got - to put it nicely - a very intense, very busy inner life.
Imagine a mind that is one big movie quiz, that doesn’t categorize, doesn’t prioritize information, a mind full of voices, images and words that rush from all directions in an overcrowded Broadway show stage: that’s where you’ll spend the span of 312 pages, if you decide to read this book.
At 2%, I asked myself: what is that?!
At 5%, I was dazed and perplexed.
At 10%, I thought that the author overdid it and thus, it was a good try but a mishit.
At 15%, I thought that he was doing it on purpose. Or he was high on something.
At 20%, I was perplexed again and looking for a clue.
At 27%, I realized that there was actually a story told in there, that I liked the imperfect Micah and that I had laughed out loud many times already.
I stopped trying to get each movie nerd joke, embraced the lunacy and I went on with the flow.
I swallowed the remaining 73% in one go.
The story is simple really, it’s about Micah going through life - its joys and ordeals; it is about friendship like you live it in your early twenties, when you can not decide anything, love, laugh, cry, commit, go to the bathroom without the gang you’re attached to the hip with. It’s about people and relationships entering adulthood.
Contrary to all appearances, Micah is very single minded, self-centered and childish as he is, reading the world and his interactions through his insecurities and his protective filters.
The narrative matches the paradox. It is very well structured and I’m now marveling at the author’s focus in giving voice in a mess that progressively makes sense in characterizing and telling the story of not only one character but of a whole casting.
Sex and love are at the core of Micah’s pre-occupations but the story doesn’t focus on a growing romance. Tinseltown is very much an encounter with a character and very special.
You will hate it or love it and I can only encourage you to give it a try and see which buttons it pushes for you.
For my part, it was a puzzling, lively, funny, sweet, sad, cute (Micah’s favorite word) whirlwind that I loved being sucked in.
September 10, 2011
4.5 stars. It's important going in to realize that this is really not a m/m romance novel, despite the cover and publisher. (Although actually MLR maybe offers more range than some of the other romance lines.)
This is more of a coming-of-age novel. There is romance, eventually, and even a HFN shading to HEA ending, but the book is about one main character not two. As the story opens, film student Micah is twenty-two and trying to figure out how adult life is supposed to work. In fact, he's one of the most realistic very-young adults I have come across in a while. That means he is idealistic, enthusiastic, emotional, and very funny, but also insecure and very self-absorbed.
Micah is surrounded by a coterie of friends, who are well portrayed with their own quirks and personalities, although they are seen only in interaction with Micah and are therefore sometimes a little sketchy. Micah narrates his story with theatrical verve, including many asides, chiming in from his internal Greek chorus, and imagined conversations. The style was quirky, amusing and fit the character although this type of narrative won't appeal to everyone. Through the course of the book Micah grows and develops as he interacts with people and events around him. The thing that made me take off a half star was that I felt there was some unevenness to his development. For a long time he needs a good shaking for his shallow self-absorbed moments, but when he meets his eventual boyfriend the change to increased maturity happens fast and largely off the page. That boyfriend has some major challenges, and I wish there had been more between chapters 30 and 31 (which is effectively an epilogue) to show the issues that surely arose and Micah learning to step up to the challenge.
Micah is not a romance hero with whom you quickly fall in love, but he is one whom you can enjoy, empathize with and eventually come to like and cheer for. And the book as a whole is a refreshing change from the standard styles and tropes. Recommended for readers who want to try something a little different.
This is more of a coming-of-age novel. There is romance, eventually, and even a HFN shading to HEA ending, but the book is about one main character not two. As the story opens, film student Micah is twenty-two and trying to figure out how adult life is supposed to work. In fact, he's one of the most realistic very-young adults I have come across in a while. That means he is idealistic, enthusiastic, emotional, and very funny, but also insecure and very self-absorbed.
Micah is surrounded by a coterie of friends, who are well portrayed with their own quirks and personalities, although they are seen only in interaction with Micah and are therefore sometimes a little sketchy. Micah narrates his story with theatrical verve, including many asides, chiming in from his internal Greek chorus, and imagined conversations. The style was quirky, amusing and fit the character although this type of narrative won't appeal to everyone. Through the course of the book Micah grows and develops as he interacts with people and events around him. The thing that made me take off a half star was that I felt there was some unevenness to his development. For a long time he needs a good shaking for his shallow self-absorbed moments, but when he meets his eventual boyfriend the change to increased maturity happens fast and largely off the page. That boyfriend has some major challenges, and I wish there had been more between chapters 30 and 31 (which is effectively an epilogue) to show the issues that surely arose and Micah learning to step up to the challenge.
Micah is not a romance hero with whom you quickly fall in love, but he is one whom you can enjoy, empathize with and eventually come to like and cheer for. And the book as a whole is a refreshing change from the standard styles and tropes. Recommended for readers who want to try something a little different.
November 2, 2012
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
I have meant to read this story since its release in the summer of 2011. In fact, I had told Barry in New Orleans that I'd read it and review it for it and I just never got around to it. Well, it must have been the universe telling me to get on with it, because I won the book in paperback along with some other books and prizes at the Comedy Hour event at GRL. And I knew that now that I had it in paperback, I really wanted to read it as soon as possible. So as I went through my massive bag of paperbacks I brought home, I picked it out first and started to read it. I was enthralled, immediately, into the story and voice of Micah, who things just never seem to go right for.
This is a difficult story to summarize. At it's heart, it is the story of Micah Malone -- in many ways typical gay young man, but also with a (somewhat/at times) atypical storyline. Micah tends to be quite melodramatic and campy, but that's what you gotta love about him. He has a very original voice and his film and TV obsession is shown through obscure references throughout the story. The book is very voice and narrative focused, which in Micah's life is all screenplay based, so we're first introduced to him and his circle of friends with a Dramatis Personae. The story follows Micah has he trudges through life at a young age -- college, friendships, sex and relationships. The focus isn't romance, though some does come into the story in the last half, but instead Micah himself, that that is what made the novel so successful for me. Not only does the format of the writing echo his personality so perfectly (untraditional, and often like a screenplay), but it isn't tied to the typical romance "rules". It threw me a curveball or two, and I loved that.
This book made me a fan of Barry Brennessel for life, even though I've read a few of this other things. No matter if the next three things I read of his I don't like, I'll always take a chance and read something he's written, because he proved to me with Tinseltown that he is a phenomenal author. Also, quite a funny one. This book had me doubled over laughing. I'd recommend this to anyone, as long as you know not to expect romance right away.
I have meant to read this story since its release in the summer of 2011. In fact, I had told Barry in New Orleans that I'd read it and review it for it and I just never got around to it. Well, it must have been the universe telling me to get on with it, because I won the book in paperback along with some other books and prizes at the Comedy Hour event at GRL. And I knew that now that I had it in paperback, I really wanted to read it as soon as possible. So as I went through my massive bag of paperbacks I brought home, I picked it out first and started to read it. I was enthralled, immediately, into the story and voice of Micah, who things just never seem to go right for.
This is a difficult story to summarize. At it's heart, it is the story of Micah Malone -- in many ways typical gay young man, but also with a (somewhat/at times) atypical storyline. Micah tends to be quite melodramatic and campy, but that's what you gotta love about him. He has a very original voice and his film and TV obsession is shown through obscure references throughout the story. The book is very voice and narrative focused, which in Micah's life is all screenplay based, so we're first introduced to him and his circle of friends with a Dramatis Personae. The story follows Micah has he trudges through life at a young age -- college, friendships, sex and relationships. The focus isn't romance, though some does come into the story in the last half, but instead Micah himself, that that is what made the novel so successful for me. Not only does the format of the writing echo his personality so perfectly (untraditional, and often like a screenplay), but it isn't tied to the typical romance "rules". It threw me a curveball or two, and I loved that.
This book made me a fan of Barry Brennessel for life, even though I've read a few of this other things. No matter if the next three things I read of his I don't like, I'll always take a chance and read something he's written, because he proved to me with Tinseltown that he is a phenomenal author. Also, quite a funny one. This book had me doubled over laughing. I'd recommend this to anyone, as long as you know not to expect romance right away.
June 6, 2012
And now for something different... This is not your typical romance, and is not explicit, but it's one heck of an example of fine storytelling.
OMG! I love Barry Brennesel's voice, and Tinseltown is one incredible read. Micah is an adorable character who makes me feel downright sane! My quirks are nothing compared to his. He is an average guy, deliciously flawed, looking for love, and totally captivating.
The first time I saw the title for this book, I assumed it would be about Hollywood. It's not, although the protagonist is studying film. Loved finding out about "Tinseltown" though, and Micah's advertures there.
I found it really clever how the author used film and television devices to gently push the story along. Micah's life definitely has it's ups and downs, aided and abetted by his own personal Greek chorus and other narrative voices, which I absolutely adored.
The story tells of Micah's journey, how he matures (as much as he can), until he finally reaches a place in his life that is right, though far removed where he'd once thought he'd be. Lot's of TV and movie trivia here, and some references brought back memories. All the characters, no matter how small a role they played, were fully realized--some you may even think you know. All in all, Tinseltown is a delightful, if occasionally sad tale about those who enter Micah's life for a reason, a season, or forever.
I cannot recommend this novel highly enough, and it's very easy to see why it won a Lambda Literary nomination and a Rainbow Award.
And yeah, there really was a Fritz the Cat.
OMG! I love Barry Brennesel's voice, and Tinseltown is one incredible read. Micah is an adorable character who makes me feel downright sane! My quirks are nothing compared to his. He is an average guy, deliciously flawed, looking for love, and totally captivating.
The first time I saw the title for this book, I assumed it would be about Hollywood. It's not, although the protagonist is studying film. Loved finding out about "Tinseltown" though, and Micah's advertures there.
I found it really clever how the author used film and television devices to gently push the story along. Micah's life definitely has it's ups and downs, aided and abetted by his own personal Greek chorus and other narrative voices, which I absolutely adored.
The story tells of Micah's journey, how he matures (as much as he can), until he finally reaches a place in his life that is right, though far removed where he'd once thought he'd be. Lot's of TV and movie trivia here, and some references brought back memories. All the characters, no matter how small a role they played, were fully realized--some you may even think you know. All in all, Tinseltown is a delightful, if occasionally sad tale about those who enter Micah's life for a reason, a season, or forever.
I cannot recommend this novel highly enough, and it's very easy to see why it won a Lambda Literary nomination and a Rainbow Award.
And yeah, there really was a Fritz the Cat.
October 1, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. I though Micah was hilarious and vulnerable and touching and neurotic and just darn cute.
The style of this book is different from anything that I've read before. At first I couldn't really tell where the story was going, but Micah's antics kept me reading along.
There is a bit of a jarring tragedy midway through the book that was completely unexpected that changes the tenor of the story for a bit. That section of the book was really engaging and well written though.
The "greek chorus" in Micah's head, the screenplay-like directions and "scene" descriptions throughout the book really added to the story in my opinion. There was a lot of humor in this story.
I don't want to say too much in this review because I want the reader to experience it without preconceptions. I have to say that I liked it a lot and I'll be looking for more work from this author.
The style of this book is different from anything that I've read before. At first I couldn't really tell where the story was going, but Micah's antics kept me reading along.
There is a bit of a jarring tragedy midway through the book that was completely unexpected that changes the tenor of the story for a bit. That section of the book was really engaging and well written though.
The "greek chorus" in Micah's head, the screenplay-like directions and "scene" descriptions throughout the book really added to the story in my opinion. There was a lot of humor in this story.
I don't want to say too much in this review because I want the reader to experience it without preconceptions. I have to say that I liked it a lot and I'll be looking for more work from this author.
October 28, 2011
3.5 stars
Like other readers, I am conflicted with how to accurately reflect how I felt reading this book. It does read like a script, I mean there are headings!! hee At first I thought I would need to get up and pace as I read and maybe take some ADHD meds. It was too fast and Micah has a head like Sybil. Add on top of that, I am not a big inner monologue girl.
With all of that said, I really liked this story. It was clean, well thought out, funny with a side of heartbreak. In the end taking this journey with Micah, his real friends and the cast of characters in his head was a real treat.
Like other readers, I am conflicted with how to accurately reflect how I felt reading this book. It does read like a script, I mean there are headings!! hee At first I thought I would need to get up and pace as I read and maybe take some ADHD meds. It was too fast and Micah has a head like Sybil. Add on top of that, I am not a big inner monologue girl.
With all of that said, I really liked this story. It was clean, well thought out, funny with a side of heartbreak. In the end taking this journey with Micah, his real friends and the cast of characters in his head was a real treat.
March 9, 2016
This book was not for me. The writing style annoyed the hell out of me. It's too bad because there was a story buried beneath the erratic structure. It was told from the first person narrative and arranged in the format of a play or screenplay. I could not get used to Micah's internal dialogue or his "Greek Chorus" as he liked to call it. All the different side voices distracted me from the story. It made me not like Micah. Plus, It didn't flow well and there was a lot of backtracking and telling of events.
This seemed to have worked for most people, but for those of you who are on the fence, I would highly recommend downloading a sample first.
This seemed to have worked for most people, but for those of you who are on the fence, I would highly recommend downloading a sample first.
Read
November 18, 2011This novel was a delightful experience, like a cup of chocolate with whipped cream above in a winter afternoon, and I will add also, in front of a fireplace. In the youth of the main characters, all college students of 21 years old I probably felt a lot the real life experience of the author; moreover, the writing style, that recreates almost a screenplay, with the main character, Micah, who is a Communications Major at the University of Washington with a visceral passion for movies and television, is almost a double of the same author, who was among the 100 finalists with this same novel in a Screenplay competition.
The novel reads a lot like one of my every time favourite, Almost like Being in Love by Steve Kluger; the narrative voice breaks the plot in “scenes” and he introduces the characters as “roles”; sometime the same characters directly speak to the reader, giving their own account of the same scene. There is even a Greek Chorus, advising Micah for the best, and 2 different therapists who will sometime bring back Micah on track when he needs to tell the reader is own story. And what story is it? That of a 21 years old college student, not enough nerd to be a genius, not enough preppy to be fashionable, an average guy with an ordinary life and big dreams. By the way Micah is not even the classical good boy next door, he is even sometime a little shallow, and due to that, he is at the same time hurt and to one who hurts back. To give you an example, Lanh, the Vietnamese guy he falls in love (lust?) with, maybe is a gold diggers or maybe he is only a boy who needs help, but Micah, self-pitying and with low self-esteem, will treat him in a very bad way, so much that, while until that point I was cheering for Micah, then my support went to Lanh.
This is not really a love story, if for love story you mean boy meets boy, it’s more Micah self-journey towards being an adult; he is a romantic at heart but he doesn’t disdain a little fun, and so while he is waiting for Mr Right, he is not against the idea to go to Tinseltown, an X-rated movie theatre where the movies are not exactly the main attraction. But it’s not a dirty story of sex, it’s more the state of art account of a 21 years old gay boy whose life has not yet routed on the right track. Micah had a more than advantage starting point, a supporting family, a circle of friends who are always there, ready to help and advice, and a set of assets (good looks, creativeness and positive attitude) that will give him the chance to a more than positive future… if he is able to understand what is really important in life and who is the right man for him.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1608203565/?...
The novel reads a lot like one of my every time favourite, Almost like Being in Love by Steve Kluger; the narrative voice breaks the plot in “scenes” and he introduces the characters as “roles”; sometime the same characters directly speak to the reader, giving their own account of the same scene. There is even a Greek Chorus, advising Micah for the best, and 2 different therapists who will sometime bring back Micah on track when he needs to tell the reader is own story. And what story is it? That of a 21 years old college student, not enough nerd to be a genius, not enough preppy to be fashionable, an average guy with an ordinary life and big dreams. By the way Micah is not even the classical good boy next door, he is even sometime a little shallow, and due to that, he is at the same time hurt and to one who hurts back. To give you an example, Lanh, the Vietnamese guy he falls in love (lust?) with, maybe is a gold diggers or maybe he is only a boy who needs help, but Micah, self-pitying and with low self-esteem, will treat him in a very bad way, so much that, while until that point I was cheering for Micah, then my support went to Lanh.
This is not really a love story, if for love story you mean boy meets boy, it’s more Micah self-journey towards being an adult; he is a romantic at heart but he doesn’t disdain a little fun, and so while he is waiting for Mr Right, he is not against the idea to go to Tinseltown, an X-rated movie theatre where the movies are not exactly the main attraction. But it’s not a dirty story of sex, it’s more the state of art account of a 21 years old gay boy whose life has not yet routed on the right track. Micah had a more than advantage starting point, a supporting family, a circle of friends who are always there, ready to help and advice, and a set of assets (good looks, creativeness and positive attitude) that will give him the chance to a more than positive future… if he is able to understand what is really important in life and who is the right man for him.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1608203565/?...
October 25, 2012
Despite the title of Barry Brennessel’s excellent debut novel, its setting isn’t Hollywood but Seattle. “Tinseltown” is the name of an adult video store with rooms for sex downstairs. Additionally, the main character, Micah, and his best friend, Stan, are film students at the University of Washington hoping for careers making television series and/or movies.
Micah and Stan enjoy encyclopedic knowledge of the best known films and television programs (as does, I assume, the author). Micah, the narrator, most enjoyably sprinkles witty references to them at appropriate points throughout his story. This sort of thing can often interrupt a story and irritate the reader. In Tinseltown, on the other hand, they add to the story and advance the plot. And they often made me laugh out loud—literally.
Did I mention that the novel sometimes takes the form of a tongue-in-cheek script? With a “Greek chorus” constantly watching Micah, often stepping forward to acidly question what our hero has just said or done?
The story is all about Micah, who describes himself as a “lapsed Catholic boy,” and his circle of young friends searching for sex and love. One of them, Danny, has nothing stopping him from obtaining the former. Another friend says, “Danny’s like this walking fucking God and Micah’s like this skinny little boy.” Micah asks, “Why can’t I, for once, be Mr. Gay America and be applauded and worshipped whenever I walk into a room?” Have I said I felt as one with Micah throughout his story?
So this amusing story goes in its first half. In the second, though, Brennessel suddenly drops a bomb. I never saw it coming, and I doubt any other reader will. And yet it’s appropriate and meaningful—and through an “amazing,” as they say, number of subsequent pages on my Kindle left me in tears.
And it brings front and center two additional heavy loads (pun not intended, honestly) for Micah to bear. What was a highly entertaining novel becomes profound. Can Micah learn that searching for perfection in a partner, himself, or the world he lives in isn’t the way to go?
I highly recommend Tinseltown to any reader who wishes to savor entertainment and thought in the same delectable dish.
(As originally reviewed on Rainbow Book Reviews. Please visit http://www.rainbowbookreviews.com for other reviews that may be of interest.)
Micah and Stan enjoy encyclopedic knowledge of the best known films and television programs (as does, I assume, the author). Micah, the narrator, most enjoyably sprinkles witty references to them at appropriate points throughout his story. This sort of thing can often interrupt a story and irritate the reader. In Tinseltown, on the other hand, they add to the story and advance the plot. And they often made me laugh out loud—literally.
Did I mention that the novel sometimes takes the form of a tongue-in-cheek script? With a “Greek chorus” constantly watching Micah, often stepping forward to acidly question what our hero has just said or done?
The story is all about Micah, who describes himself as a “lapsed Catholic boy,” and his circle of young friends searching for sex and love. One of them, Danny, has nothing stopping him from obtaining the former. Another friend says, “Danny’s like this walking fucking God and Micah’s like this skinny little boy.” Micah asks, “Why can’t I, for once, be Mr. Gay America and be applauded and worshipped whenever I walk into a room?” Have I said I felt as one with Micah throughout his story?
So this amusing story goes in its first half. In the second, though, Brennessel suddenly drops a bomb. I never saw it coming, and I doubt any other reader will. And yet it’s appropriate and meaningful—and through an “amazing,” as they say, number of subsequent pages on my Kindle left me in tears.
And it brings front and center two additional heavy loads (pun not intended, honestly) for Micah to bear. What was a highly entertaining novel becomes profound. Can Micah learn that searching for perfection in a partner, himself, or the world he lives in isn’t the way to go?
I highly recommend Tinseltown to any reader who wishes to savor entertainment and thought in the same delectable dish.
(As originally reviewed on Rainbow Book Reviews. Please visit http://www.rainbowbookreviews.com for other reviews that may be of interest.)
March 23, 2013
Alright, it's late and I'm going to make this easy on me (long live the laziness!!).
This was a fantastic book. It was funny, sometimes positively hilarious, sometimes sad, and an organized, but thorough chaos. I had to get used to the book structure and the writing style (the voice of an overly enthusiastic 22 year old with self-esteem issues and the attention span of a primary school kid is...uh...a lot to take in at first), but once I was used to it I simply loved it. Loved it to the last page and was so very sorry that it was over.
Besides that (and now comes the going-easy-on-me part), if you want to know what I thought, read Nina's Review, 'cause it's like Nina copied it out of my mind. In pre-spection, so to speak.
If you have this book already lying around on your digital or tangible bookshelf, go read it as soon as possible. As in NOW. If not, go and buy it. If you're in the mood for a bit of humour and if you don't mind craziness, then this is exactly what you need!
This was a fantastic book. It was funny, sometimes positively hilarious, sometimes sad, and an organized, but thorough chaos. I had to get used to the book structure and the writing style (the voice of an overly enthusiastic 22 year old with self-esteem issues and the attention span of a primary school kid is...uh...a lot to take in at first), but once I was used to it I simply loved it. Loved it to the last page and was so very sorry that it was over.
Besides that (and now comes the going-easy-on-me part), if you want to know what I thought, read Nina's Review, 'cause it's like Nina copied it out of my mind. In pre-spection, so to speak.
If you have this book already lying around on your digital or tangible bookshelf, go read it as soon as possible. As in NOW. If not, go and buy it. If you're in the mood for a bit of humour and if you don't mind craziness, then this is exactly what you need!
August 2, 2013
Something like 2.6*
The fact that among all the movie/TV show references I got only two was annoying, but I braved throught it. Add to that:
- sporadic romance and his "thoughts" on it thoughout most of the book made not believe in his finall "the one"
- absence of any time references (like how much time have past since the last chapter - at best you get "weeks" or "months", but mostly you have to guess)
- skipping timeline back and forth (in my opinion confusingly done, not artistically)
- and most of all - all the internal dialogue with the Greek chorus and others with all the sideline thoughts only provided that I was lost many-a-time as to what he was trying to say
and I was just frustrated by the end of it.
It was described by many as a humorous story and I guess it should have been but most of the humour was in movie/show references, so it was lost on me.
The blurb and cover were very promising, but on the whole this book left me frustrated and annoyed. Although it wasn't all a bomb (some parts were well written and the sad parts made me cry), I couldn't finish it fast enough.
The fact that among all the movie/TV show references I got only two was annoying, but I braved throught it. Add to that:
- sporadic romance and his "thoughts" on it thoughout most of the book made not believe in his finall "the one"
- absence of any time references (like how much time have past since the last chapter - at best you get "weeks" or "months", but mostly you have to guess)
- skipping timeline back and forth (in my opinion confusingly done, not artistically)
- and most of all - all the internal dialogue with the Greek chorus and others with all the sideline thoughts only provided that I was lost many-a-time as to what he was trying to say
and I was just frustrated by the end of it.
It was described by many as a humorous story and I guess it should have been but most of the humour was in movie/show references, so it was lost on me.
The blurb and cover were very promising, but on the whole this book left me frustrated and annoyed. Although it wasn't all a bomb (some parts were well written and the sad parts made me cry), I couldn't finish it fast enough.
December 26, 2011
I found the creativity and technique of this author to be at first somewhat distracting. However, by the start of the second quarter or so I began to appreciate the depth and humor that the frequent asides added. Constant namedropping was done in such a way that kept me sufficiently informed {I would have otherwise been lost.} A few twists in the plot kept the story interesting. And direct dialogue with the reader--something that usually puts me off--added to the personals connection with the character as his comments were not presumptuous. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Read
March 12, 2025Despite the title of Barry Brennessel’s excellent debut novel, its setting isn’t Hollywood but Seattle. 'Tinseltown' is the name of an adult video store with rooms for sex downstairs. Additionally, the main character, Micah, and his best friend, Stan, are film students at the University of Washington hoping for careers making television series and/or movies.
Micah and Stan enjoy encyclopedic knowledge of the best known films and television programs (as does, I assume, the author). Micah, the narrator, most enjoyably sprinkles witty references to them at appropriate points throughout his story. This sort of thing can often interrupt a story and irritate the reader. In Tinseltown, on the other hand, they add to the story and advance the plot. And they often made me laugh out loud—literally.
Did I mention that the novel sometimes takes the form of a tongue-in-cheek script? With a “Greek chorus” constantly watching Micah, often stepping forward to acidly question what our hero has just said or done?
The story is all about Micah, who describes himself as a “lapsed Catholic boy,” and his circle of young friends searching for sex and love. One of them, Danny, has nothing stopping him from obtaining the former. Another friend says, “Danny’s like this walking fucking God and Micah’s like this skinny little boy.” Micah asks, “Why can’t I, for once, be Mr. Gay America and be applauded and worshipped whenever I walk into a room?” Have I said I felt as one with Micah throughout his story?
So this amusing story goes in its first half. In the second, though, Brennessel suddenly drops a bomb. I never saw it coming, and I doubt any other reader will. And yet it’s appropriate and meaningful—and through an “amazing,” as they say, number of subsequent pages on my Kindle left me in tears.
And it brings front and center two additional heavy loads (pun not intended, honestly) for Micah to bear. What was a highly entertaining novel becomes profound. Can Micah learn that searching for perfection in a partner, himself, or the world he lives in isn’t the way to go?
I highly recommend Tinseltown to any reader who wishes to savor entertainment and thought in the same delectable dish.
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. The first edition of this book was purchased by the reviewer.
Micah and Stan enjoy encyclopedic knowledge of the best known films and television programs (as does, I assume, the author). Micah, the narrator, most enjoyably sprinkles witty references to them at appropriate points throughout his story. This sort of thing can often interrupt a story and irritate the reader. In Tinseltown, on the other hand, they add to the story and advance the plot. And they often made me laugh out loud—literally.
Did I mention that the novel sometimes takes the form of a tongue-in-cheek script? With a “Greek chorus” constantly watching Micah, often stepping forward to acidly question what our hero has just said or done?
The story is all about Micah, who describes himself as a “lapsed Catholic boy,” and his circle of young friends searching for sex and love. One of them, Danny, has nothing stopping him from obtaining the former. Another friend says, “Danny’s like this walking fucking God and Micah’s like this skinny little boy.” Micah asks, “Why can’t I, for once, be Mr. Gay America and be applauded and worshipped whenever I walk into a room?” Have I said I felt as one with Micah throughout his story?
So this amusing story goes in its first half. In the second, though, Brennessel suddenly drops a bomb. I never saw it coming, and I doubt any other reader will. And yet it’s appropriate and meaningful—and through an “amazing,” as they say, number of subsequent pages on my Kindle left me in tears.
And it brings front and center two additional heavy loads (pun not intended, honestly) for Micah to bear. What was a highly entertaining novel becomes profound. Can Micah learn that searching for perfection in a partner, himself, or the world he lives in isn’t the way to go?
I highly recommend Tinseltown to any reader who wishes to savor entertainment and thought in the same delectable dish.
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. The first edition of this book was purchased by the reviewer.
April 25, 2020
I loved this one! It's the best "coming-of-age/ young love" book that I've read in a while.
February 14, 2012
This review was originally written for Hearts on Fire Reviews and can also be found there.
To give all readers a fair warning – This review will be very conflicting. You may ask why, but there is no clear answer to that question, other than saying my opinions were many and they just loved to clash.
Now about the book. It is a story about Micah, a film student who has issues with his friends but still loves them, can’t get a break with love and has a bunch of voices in his head, both talking to him and provoking him. I could say more about it, but even the plot is not very clear and it wouldn’t really be fair to disclose more than the blurb says.
Now to sing praises about this book. It is really well thought through, with so many details and facts that I truly admire the author for keeping it all straight in his head. I certainly would have needed a whole scrip on the side to write something this elaborate. Honestly, hats down. The characters are real and very unique, their sense of humor bursting from each page, but even with all the teasing it was clear that they care. The sad parts of this book made me cry which is not an easy thing to do and I have to say it was done beautifully. This book is very special and I am certain it will find a lot of fans among the readers.
The conflicting part - I didn’t like it. The main character talked way too much for my taste, side voices drove me insane and I couldn’t possibly understand all the movie references. That is something which distanced me from Micah almost at the very beginning. His love life was strange and I would have liked for the main romance to have happened much earlier in the story. All the side characters, while somewhat amusing, didn’t do it for me, and maybe because Micah's feelings were a cross between love and annoyance, my feelings couldn’t be any clearer than his were. It is true that I got interested by the end of the book in what might happen next, but overall it just wasn’t to my taste.
That said, my rating is just as my review, neither here nor there. I still think the book is brilliant and deserves at least four or five stars, but when it comes to my taste and opinion it would be much lower around two stars. So I’m settling on the middle, allowing you to form your own opinion and give this author a chance.
To give all readers a fair warning – This review will be very conflicting. You may ask why, but there is no clear answer to that question, other than saying my opinions were many and they just loved to clash.
Now about the book. It is a story about Micah, a film student who has issues with his friends but still loves them, can’t get a break with love and has a bunch of voices in his head, both talking to him and provoking him. I could say more about it, but even the plot is not very clear and it wouldn’t really be fair to disclose more than the blurb says.
Now to sing praises about this book. It is really well thought through, with so many details and facts that I truly admire the author for keeping it all straight in his head. I certainly would have needed a whole scrip on the side to write something this elaborate. Honestly, hats down. The characters are real and very unique, their sense of humor bursting from each page, but even with all the teasing it was clear that they care. The sad parts of this book made me cry which is not an easy thing to do and I have to say it was done beautifully. This book is very special and I am certain it will find a lot of fans among the readers.
The conflicting part - I didn’t like it. The main character talked way too much for my taste, side voices drove me insane and I couldn’t possibly understand all the movie references. That is something which distanced me from Micah almost at the very beginning. His love life was strange and I would have liked for the main romance to have happened much earlier in the story. All the side characters, while somewhat amusing, didn’t do it for me, and maybe because Micah's feelings were a cross between love and annoyance, my feelings couldn’t be any clearer than his were. It is true that I got interested by the end of the book in what might happen next, but overall it just wasn’t to my taste.
That said, my rating is just as my review, neither here nor there. I still think the book is brilliant and deserves at least four or five stars, but when it comes to my taste and opinion it would be much lower around two stars. So I’m settling on the middle, allowing you to form your own opinion and give this author a chance.
September 5, 2015
As much as I liked the beginning, the first half of book I was sure I'll DNF it. As it turned out I was just not ready for Micah :) He's hilarious and cute, BUT sometimes (if You're not ready) he is too much.
The story is well written and I absolutely LOVED to know how this 22yo boy (who sometimes sounds and acts younger, but that's just how I see it) see the world. The only thing I couldn't get used to was Micah's Greek chorus (sometimes I had to skip it because it annoyed me too much).
It is not a love story as I expected. It is a book about looking for real love, fighting obstacles, following Your dreams and about friendship. Friends seems to be the most important element in Micah's life (both the real one and his rich inner life), right after finding a true love.
As much as I wasn't sure if I liked Micah at the beginning, I kinda fell for him at the end. He is easy to love - as soon as You get used to his insecurities, moods and spacing out. He's a good guy.
* I got this book from it's author as a prize in MM Romance Group's celebration *
The story is well written and I absolutely LOVED to know how this 22yo boy (who sometimes sounds and acts younger, but that's just how I see it) see the world. The only thing I couldn't get used to was Micah's Greek chorus (sometimes I had to skip it because it annoyed me too much).
It is not a love story as I expected. It is a book about looking for real love, fighting obstacles, following Your dreams and about friendship. Friends seems to be the most important element in Micah's life (both the real one and his rich inner life), right after finding a true love.
As much as I wasn't sure if I liked Micah at the beginning, I kinda fell for him at the end. He is easy to love - as soon as You get used to his insecurities, moods and spacing out. He's a good guy.
* I got this book from it's author as a prize in MM Romance Group's celebration *
June 6, 2011
I don't normally finish a book in two days but I had to keep turning the pages. This novel is hysterical. I laughed out loud A LOT. It choked me up a few times too. Micah is sassy but you real feel for him too.
His friends are just like my friends. The Greek Chorus is a hilarious and fun device and adds a theatrical element to the story.
It took me places I didn't expect it to. Really surprising plot turns. I can't say more cause I'll spoil it.
His friends are just like my friends. The Greek Chorus is a hilarious and fun device and adds a theatrical element to the story.
It took me places I didn't expect it to. Really surprising plot turns. I can't say more cause I'll spoil it.
June 24, 2011
Not my usual genre. I'm big on mysteries. Was turned on to this author by his mystery novella which I liked for its freshness, dialogue and unusual plot twists. Read the short story in Polari and the writing is strong.
Gave this book a try and found the same snappy dialouge and fresh approach. The plot surprises, too, which is a huge plus for me. I get weary of formulaic approaches and this author avoids that.
Gave this book a try and found the same snappy dialouge and fresh approach. The plot surprises, too, which is a huge plus for me. I get weary of formulaic approaches and this author avoids that.
August 1, 2011
Hilarious and witty and engaging. Structure of the narrative really worked for this novel.
Read
June 10, 20134 Stars
Please read review at The Blog of Sid Love
Please read review at The Blog of Sid Love
October 9, 2014
I just could not stand this author's style of writing! it was very irritating and I just couldn't get through the book.
August 22, 2014
This book was so awesome! Love, love, love Micah!
Want to read
August 20, 2015Won as part of the MM Romance Group 2015 Celebration!
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