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Bourbon Kid #1
The Book With No Name
Volume one in a fast-paced, cinematic trilogy shot through with supernatural black humor
In Santa Mondega, an unnamed book brings violent death to anyone who reads it, a mysterious blue stone—the Eye of the Moon—has vanished, a total eclipse is about to cast the city into utter darkness, and in the shadowed streets lurks the serial killer known only as the Bourbon Kid. Detective Miles Jensen must race to uncover the link between the book, the murders, and the Kid. But as the mystery unravels, he discovers that there's more to Santa Mondega than meets the eye. Not only is the place full of gangsters, martial-arts monks, lowlifes, bounty hunters, and an Elvis-impersonating hitman, there is a whole bunch of vampires, too.
In Santa Mondega, an unnamed book brings violent death to anyone who reads it, a mysterious blue stone—the Eye of the Moon—has vanished, a total eclipse is about to cast the city into utter darkness, and in the shadowed streets lurks the serial killer known only as the Bourbon Kid. Detective Miles Jensen must race to uncover the link between the book, the murders, and the Kid. But as the mystery unravels, he discovers that there's more to Santa Mondega than meets the eye. Not only is the place full of gangsters, martial-arts monks, lowlifes, bounty hunters, and an Elvis-impersonating hitman, there is a whole bunch of vampires, too.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
217 people are currently reading
4874 people want to read
About the author
Anonymous
791k books3,347 followersBooks can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:
* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 670 reviews
July 8, 2020
Carnage
The Book with No Name is best described as a Quintin Tarantino styled tongue-in-cheek, all-action horror onslaught, with vampires, hitmen, monks, cops, local gangs, and a serial killer called the Bourdon Kid. It should be chaos, it should be unmanageable, it shouldn’t work, but it does. Total escapism with a charged atmosphere.
The novel is mostly set in the fictional town of Santa Mondega, and in particular, the Tapioca bar owned by Sanchez. Very like a Tarantino film, the characters are unnatural and outlandish, just like the Elvis impersonating hitman, the vampires and the surprising woman who just came out of a 5-year coma with amnesia. The stylisation is eccentric and the ridiculous non-stop pace through the book is breath-taking.
The Bourbon Kid, while considered a serial killer with an arcade-game kill ratio, is somehow considered the good guy, and he is when you consider the other characters. Everyone who reads an ancient book titled “The Book with No Name” from an anonymous author, is murdered soon afterwards. Don't check the cover at this point!
The dialogue is on point with the style, it is witty, pacey and gritty. This feels like a guilty pleasure, a book that just stimulates the senses and leaves you wondering - what just happened?
The Bourbon Kid is also the alias that the real-life anonymous author gave himself. He was an Indie author that remains anonymous but tells in an interview how he found it difficult to secure publisher contracts but battled through to becoming a best-selling author today. In total there are 4 books in the Bourbon Kid series.
A quick re-read and review update to get ready for the next book, and I would highly recommend this one.
The Book with No Name is best described as a Quintin Tarantino styled tongue-in-cheek, all-action horror onslaught, with vampires, hitmen, monks, cops, local gangs, and a serial killer called the Bourdon Kid. It should be chaos, it should be unmanageable, it shouldn’t work, but it does. Total escapism with a charged atmosphere.
The novel is mostly set in the fictional town of Santa Mondega, and in particular, the Tapioca bar owned by Sanchez. Very like a Tarantino film, the characters are unnatural and outlandish, just like the Elvis impersonating hitman, the vampires and the surprising woman who just came out of a 5-year coma with amnesia. The stylisation is eccentric and the ridiculous non-stop pace through the book is breath-taking.
The Bourbon Kid, while considered a serial killer with an arcade-game kill ratio, is somehow considered the good guy, and he is when you consider the other characters. Everyone who reads an ancient book titled “The Book with No Name” from an anonymous author, is murdered soon afterwards. Don't check the cover at this point!
The dialogue is on point with the style, it is witty, pacey and gritty. This feels like a guilty pleasure, a book that just stimulates the senses and leaves you wondering - what just happened?
The Bourbon Kid is also the alias that the real-life anonymous author gave himself. He was an Indie author that remains anonymous but tells in an interview how he found it difficult to secure publisher contracts but battled through to becoming a best-selling author today. In total there are 4 books in the Bourbon Kid series.
A quick re-read and review update to get ready for the next book, and I would highly recommend this one.
December 27, 2023
"Darkness will come, and with it great evil.
And those who have read the book may never see the light again."
Initial Thoughts
When a good friend gave me 'A Book With No Name,' that featured a synopsis stating that it would bring death to those who read it, I started questioning my life choices. Certainly my choice of friends! I really didn't see the funny side.
But with the end of the year approaching I had a reading schedule to stick to. So how was I going to fit in a book that promised to kill me? Sometimes it really bugs me when people give you books you don't really want to read when there's so many you're trying to cram in. Anyone else feel like that? But then I think I need to stop being so up tight and go with the flow. That's enough about my numerous personal problems anyway, on with the review.
I knew absolutely nothing about this book other that it had a bonkers plot and was written by an anonymous author. Intriguing no doubt. And with a blurb on the back saying it was 'Tarantino meets the Da Vinci Code' there's a good chance it might be my cup of tea. Show me a guy who doesn't love Pulp Fiction!
With a bit of digging I found out that this book originally appeared on the internet in self-published format, causing a bit of a stir, before being published. I'm not the biggest fan of self-published stuff, so I'm not holding my breath. Wish me luck!
The Story
The book starts in brilliant fashion, in the lawless town of Santa Mondega, with a scene straight out of a spaghetti western. There's a mass shootout in a local bar, with almost everyone murdered in cold blood. The culprit, The Bourbon Kid, then disappears without a trace. I was instantly hooked.
Fast forward five years, and we have Detective Miles Jensen arriving in town to investigate a spate of murders. Things haven't changed and it's still as violent as ever, with an air of something supernatural going on. And that's exactly why Miles has been given this assignment, with him working for the paranormal division of the government.
It looks like the murders may be related to a mysterious blue stone, called The Eye of the Moon, that everyone is trying to get their hands on. And it's reported to have mystical properties that can be utilised during a solar eclipse and with one swiftly approaching the race is on to find the damn thing. There's also a boatload of murderous bastards in town, including an alcoholic hitman, an assassin that looks like Elvis and the elusive Bourbon Kid. Something big is about to go down in Santa Mondega.
"Listen, my son's, if that stone is in the wrong hands at the wrong time, then we shall all know of it. The oceans will rise up, and mankind will be washed away like tears in rain."
The Writing
Put it this way, the writing in this book is certainly not going to win any literary awards. It's fun and action packed but also a little bit immature. It's certainly not meant to be taken too seriously, and if you can get past that you should be able to have a fairly good time with it.
It's pretty fast paced with plenty of rapid fire plot twists. It reads very much like a screenplay and was clearly influenced by movies like From Dusk Till Dawn and Desperado. The author, whoever it may be, is clearly a fan of directors like Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez and constantly pays homage. Although I enjoyed it on the whole, it did get on my nerves at times.
The story is told from multiple points of view and gives us a broad view of life in Santa Mondega. It's a particularly violent and dark place where you wouldn't want to spend too much of your time. It would make for one hell of a night out that would make the Hangover seem fairly tame in comparison.
"Sanchez had seen some strange things in his time behind the bar in the Tapioca, but he had never seen someone survive thirty-six bullet wounds, except for maybe Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon 2."
But you can't get away from the fact that overall quality is a bit lacking and there's a reason this was originally self published. It's like I always say, when things are action packed and intense you can kind of get away with sub par writing. But when things slow down it really starts to standout and become an issue and the novel did drag in parts and started to get a little bit repetitive.
The Characters
On the face of it there's some highly entertaining characters in this Book With No Name. You've got a pair of bad ass monks and a hitman who looks like Elvis for starts. But scratch beneath the surface and there is zero depth and development with these characters.
It's also difficult at times working out who the main character is in this one and if you asked me with a gun to my head I'd probably end up with my brains splattered all over the floor. I'm still not sure. You have the greasy bartender, Sanchez, who was quite a decent character. Then Detective Miles, before the story jumps to the monks, Kyle and Pete, who are busy chasing the Eye of the Moon while succumbing to the many vices in Santa Mondega. It is a bit of a mess sometimes.
The majority of side characters are fairly cardboard and this anonymous author has no problem in despatching them without a moments hesitation. So if I was describing this bunch as a woman I'd probably go for Amber Herd. Nice to look at, but you wouldn't want to spend too long hanging around with them.
Final Thoughts
I've very mixed thoughts on this book. On one hand, it's a very fun and entertaining read. But on the other it fails a bit in the execution due to overall standard of writing. I'm not saying it's absolutely terrible but it's certainly not good. Maybe I set my standards too high? Story of my life.
I think this is the kind of book I'd have loved when I was a teenager, but unfortunately I've grown up and expect a little bit more. It did start off pretty well, particularly with that opening chapter. But it almost fell off a cliff in the second half.
On the plus side, it did have a 'From Dusk Till Dawn' feel, a movie I absolutely love. And I think it would make a very entertaining grind house style movie. But in this case, due to the authors ability, this is probably one exception where the movie would be better than the book. No wonder the author wanted to stay anonymous lol
I don't feel totally down after finishing though and did have fun. But is it a book I could happily have lived without reading?...most definitely.
Thanks for reading and...cheers!
April 10, 2008
I thought this was great! I had spotted it on the shelf at the bookstore and thought it was intriguing how there was no title and no author's name. I read the synopsis in the back and though: "Go for it!" So I did, and I loved it. Kind of like a Dean Koontz meets John Carpenter. Terrific weirdness, gore and action kept me glued until the end. Twists and turns gallor, with it's only little mysteries and intrigues. Excellent!
November 12, 2016
Um was gehts?
Ein Fremder kommt in eine Bar und bestellt einen Bourbon.
Zwei Mönche machen sich auf die Suche nach einem Stein.
Ein Detective wird zu übernatürlichen Ermittlungen wegen 5 brutalen Morden gerufen.
Eine Lady erwacht aus einem Albtraum, der sie schon seit Jahren verfolgt.
Und ein Barmann engagiert einen Killer namens Elvis.
Das alles spielt sich in dem Städtchen Santa Mondega ab - dem Schauplatz, dessen namenlose Ereignisse noch in die Geschichte eingehen werden ...
Meine Meinung
Haha! Manchmal sollte man Büchern eben doch eine zweite Chance geben! Vor einigen Jahren hab ich es zur Hälfte gelesen und war nicht so recht dafür zu begeistern - ganz im Gegensatz zu heute!
Was für eine abgefahrene Geschichte, die mich von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite super unterhalten hat!
Man muss den Stil mögen und sich auf eine extrem durchgeknallte, brutale und mit schwarzem Humor gespickte Story einlassen können, dann hat man unendlich viel Spaß dabei :D
Es spielt hauptsächlich in einer angesagten Bar in Santa Mondega, in der vor fünf Jahren der berüchtigte Bourbon Kid ein Massaker angerichtet hat. In einigen Tagen scheint es wieder soweit zu sein, denn die nächste Mondfinsternis steht an und das "Auge des Mondes" wurde wieder gestohlen, ein sagenumwobener Stein, der viel Macht zu besitzen scheint.
Es gibt einige Figuren, die eine wichtige Rolle spielen, hauptsächlich Schlägertypen, Mönche, zwei hübsche Ladys und zwei obsessive Cops die alle in die Geschehnisse involviert sind. Die Perspektiven wechseln hier immer wieder und so kann man sehr gut verfolgen, wie die Jagd nach dem Stein mit Leichen gepflastert wird; mit vielen Leichen. Brutal zugerichteten Leichen. Doch die Art, wie die Geschichte erzählt wird, lässt die grausamen Details eher als Nebeneffekt erscheinen und der schwarze Humor behält immer wieder die Oberhand.
Witzig fand ich auch die erwähnten Figuren oder Szenen zu Filmen bzw. Serien, die immer wieder in den Dialogen aufgetaucht sind.
Es geht rau zu und die ganze Kulisse erweckt unmerklich den Anschein eines alten Westernklischees, das in unsere Zeit versetzt wurde und das ist dem Autor - oder der Autorin - wer auch immer hinter dem "Anonymus" steckt, wahrlich gut gelungen! Ein "typischer" Saloon mit einem gewieften Barmann, rauchende Colts und Schlägereien sind nur ein Teil davon, denn im Hintergrund lauert noch eine viel größere Gefahr: die Untoten, die Santa Mondega bevölkern. Vampire, die zum größten Teil im Hintergrund bleiben und erst gegen Ende ihre Deckung fallen lassen. Also erwartet ja keinen typischen Blutsauger .... "Vampirroman". Überhaupt ist hier alles so untypisch und erfrischend verkorkst anders, dass ich total geplättet war. Vor allem auch, wie sehr sich mein Eindruck verändert hat gegenüber dem ersten Lesen vor einigen Jahren.
Auch wurde gekonnt das Rätsel um Bourbon Kid bis zum Ende geheimgehalten und es gab einige Überraschungen bei dem großen Show Down am Ende - natürlich um 12 Uhr mittags, wie es sich für einen Western Verschnitt gehört. Alle Details wurden passend aufgelöst und auch wenn ich einige Vermutungen hatte - und auch teilweise richtiglag - gab es doch noch unverhoffte Wendungen.
Fazit
Die ganze Geschichte ist ein in sich stimmiges Spektakel mit viel Pistolengeballer, Machogehabe, Situationskomik an den unmöglichsten Stellen und einem großartigen Mix aus den unterschiedlichsten Genres, die so obskur zusammen gewürfelt wurden, dass sie mich beim Lesen total überrascht und begeistert haben!
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
The Bourbon Kid
1 ~ Das Buch ohne Namen
2 ~ Das Buch ohne Staben
3 ~ Das Buch ohne Gnade
4 ~ Das Buch des Todes
Ein Fremder kommt in eine Bar und bestellt einen Bourbon.
Zwei Mönche machen sich auf die Suche nach einem Stein.
Ein Detective wird zu übernatürlichen Ermittlungen wegen 5 brutalen Morden gerufen.
Eine Lady erwacht aus einem Albtraum, der sie schon seit Jahren verfolgt.
Und ein Barmann engagiert einen Killer namens Elvis.
Das alles spielt sich in dem Städtchen Santa Mondega ab - dem Schauplatz, dessen namenlose Ereignisse noch in die Geschichte eingehen werden ...
Meine Meinung
Haha! Manchmal sollte man Büchern eben doch eine zweite Chance geben! Vor einigen Jahren hab ich es zur Hälfte gelesen und war nicht so recht dafür zu begeistern - ganz im Gegensatz zu heute!
Was für eine abgefahrene Geschichte, die mich von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite super unterhalten hat!
Man muss den Stil mögen und sich auf eine extrem durchgeknallte, brutale und mit schwarzem Humor gespickte Story einlassen können, dann hat man unendlich viel Spaß dabei :D
Es spielt hauptsächlich in einer angesagten Bar in Santa Mondega, in der vor fünf Jahren der berüchtigte Bourbon Kid ein Massaker angerichtet hat. In einigen Tagen scheint es wieder soweit zu sein, denn die nächste Mondfinsternis steht an und das "Auge des Mondes" wurde wieder gestohlen, ein sagenumwobener Stein, der viel Macht zu besitzen scheint.
Es gibt einige Figuren, die eine wichtige Rolle spielen, hauptsächlich Schlägertypen, Mönche, zwei hübsche Ladys und zwei obsessive Cops die alle in die Geschehnisse involviert sind. Die Perspektiven wechseln hier immer wieder und so kann man sehr gut verfolgen, wie die Jagd nach dem Stein mit Leichen gepflastert wird; mit vielen Leichen. Brutal zugerichteten Leichen. Doch die Art, wie die Geschichte erzählt wird, lässt die grausamen Details eher als Nebeneffekt erscheinen und der schwarze Humor behält immer wieder die Oberhand.
Witzig fand ich auch die erwähnten Figuren oder Szenen zu Filmen bzw. Serien, die immer wieder in den Dialogen aufgetaucht sind.
Es geht rau zu und die ganze Kulisse erweckt unmerklich den Anschein eines alten Westernklischees, das in unsere Zeit versetzt wurde und das ist dem Autor - oder der Autorin - wer auch immer hinter dem "Anonymus" steckt, wahrlich gut gelungen! Ein "typischer" Saloon mit einem gewieften Barmann, rauchende Colts und Schlägereien sind nur ein Teil davon, denn im Hintergrund lauert noch eine viel größere Gefahr: die Untoten, die Santa Mondega bevölkern. Vampire, die zum größten Teil im Hintergrund bleiben und erst gegen Ende ihre Deckung fallen lassen. Also erwartet ja keinen typischen Blutsauger .... "Vampirroman". Überhaupt ist hier alles so untypisch und erfrischend verkorkst anders, dass ich total geplättet war. Vor allem auch, wie sehr sich mein Eindruck verändert hat gegenüber dem ersten Lesen vor einigen Jahren.
Auch wurde gekonnt das Rätsel um Bourbon Kid bis zum Ende geheimgehalten und es gab einige Überraschungen bei dem großen Show Down am Ende - natürlich um 12 Uhr mittags, wie es sich für einen Western Verschnitt gehört. Alle Details wurden passend aufgelöst und auch wenn ich einige Vermutungen hatte - und auch teilweise richtiglag - gab es doch noch unverhoffte Wendungen.
Fazit
Die ganze Geschichte ist ein in sich stimmiges Spektakel mit viel Pistolengeballer, Machogehabe, Situationskomik an den unmöglichsten Stellen und einem großartigen Mix aus den unterschiedlichsten Genres, die so obskur zusammen gewürfelt wurden, dass sie mich beim Lesen total überrascht und begeistert haben!
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
The Bourbon Kid
1 ~ Das Buch ohne Namen
2 ~ Das Buch ohne Staben
3 ~ Das Buch ohne Gnade
4 ~ Das Buch des Todes
September 5, 2009
When someone tells you not to do something, your rebellious side always makes you want to do it... right? So when I read the blurb on this book, which starts with "Whatever you do, don't read The Book With No Name", I had to read it.
The plot is a little out there... the author certainly has a vivid imagination. I'm not going to try to explain it, because it's too complicated, however I'll just say that it's a story of a stone called the 'Eye of the Moon' that is wanted by many of the characters in this book, due to the rumour that it has magical properties. The story follows their fight to be the one in possession of this stone. Specifically, to be the one in possession of the stone when the total eclipse falls over Santa Mondega.
It's one helluva ride, and it's certainly not for the faint-hearted. There are blood and guts galore and it's all explained in graphic detail. If that doesn't put you off though, then this is a great book. I found it a little slow to start, however once it got going I couldn't put it down. There are a lot of characters and it was difficult to keep track at the beginning, however they're pretty well established and so after a while it got easier.
The book is a hybrid of the horror/fantasy/thriller genres and the pace doesn't let up once it gets started. There are plenty of twists in the plot and the story keeps you guessing til the end.
If you can suspend belief for a while, this book is a must-read for thriller fans.
The plot is a little out there... the author certainly has a vivid imagination. I'm not going to try to explain it, because it's too complicated, however I'll just say that it's a story of a stone called the 'Eye of the Moon' that is wanted by many of the characters in this book, due to the rumour that it has magical properties. The story follows their fight to be the one in possession of this stone. Specifically, to be the one in possession of the stone when the total eclipse falls over Santa Mondega.
It's one helluva ride, and it's certainly not for the faint-hearted. There are blood and guts galore and it's all explained in graphic detail. If that doesn't put you off though, then this is a great book. I found it a little slow to start, however once it got going I couldn't put it down. There are a lot of characters and it was difficult to keep track at the beginning, however they're pretty well established and so after a while it got easier.
The book is a hybrid of the horror/fantasy/thriller genres and the pace doesn't let up once it gets started. There are plenty of twists in the plot and the story keeps you guessing til the end.
If you can suspend belief for a while, this book is a must-read for thriller fans.
April 10, 2018
Jedna kombinacija Tarantina, Rodrigeza, vampira, hektolitara krvi, pucnjave, maskiranja, gadnih neobrijanih tipova, barmena i alkohola u gadnim lokalima, grada bez zakona, ...
Ako vam se jedna od nabrojanih stavki nije svidjela, preskočite knjigu. Ali ako vam ovakva kombinacija paše, onda moja preporuka!
Palac gore za rasplet! :) Baš me zabavilo!
Ako vam se jedna od nabrojanih stavki nije svidjela, preskočite knjigu. Ali ako vam ovakva kombinacija paše, onda moja preporuka!
Palac gore za rasplet! :) Baš me zabavilo!
January 1, 2008
Very good, if strange and not-what-I-expected, book. Starts out in the style of a Western (a genre I despise), but for some reason kept me hooked until it morphed into a entertaining, complex crime/horror/mystery type tale.
Easy to read and very entertaining.
Easy to read and very entertaining.
May 11, 2013
just read it, there is nothing more to say...
June 7, 2013
Imagine a story about gangsters, Kung-Fu Monks, an Elvis-impersonating bounty hunter, and swarms of vampires all living in a world that is a cross between The Lost Boys and From Dusk Til Dawn (and not a Twilight reference in sight)! Do I really need to say anything else to get you excited?! Ok, I suppose I better had otherwise it would be a pretty pointless review...!
For the full review please check out my blog:
http://stevenscaffardi.blogspot.co.uk...
For the full review please check out my blog:
http://stevenscaffardi.blogspot.co.uk...
August 28, 2012
I love Tarantino, Carpenter and Rodriguez' works of unconditionnal love! This book seemed like it could take over in the litterature area. Like everybody else, i was really intrigued by this anonymous author and thought it fitted perfectly for this kind of atmosphere.
After reading only 3 pages, i understood that this author wasn't inspired by these great movies and directors... worse! He (she?) only fished some items here and there, he recasted some characters (taking away what was really good), even worse (again!) he simply re-(badly)wrote entire scenes from these works!! To me, this book is some kind of mud soup of all that i love... What a huge huge disappointement!
I'm not even a bookworm and i could tell how badly it's written! At first i hoped it was only the french translation that wasn't good, but no... it really is the author's bad work. The plot leaks in all directions, nothing holds your breath, sentences are thrown here and there with no purpose...
I just don't get it! What's the fuss around this book? The author should have gone to an editor, it would have helped him re-work his book in a good way and it could have been splendid! But not like this, it's still a big draft from a newbie.
I know i won't read the next books...
After reading only 3 pages, i understood that this author wasn't inspired by these great movies and directors... worse! He (she?) only fished some items here and there, he recasted some characters (taking away what was really good), even worse (again!) he simply re-(badly)wrote entire scenes from these works!! To me, this book is some kind of mud soup of all that i love... What a huge huge disappointement!
I'm not even a bookworm and i could tell how badly it's written! At first i hoped it was only the french translation that wasn't good, but no... it really is the author's bad work. The plot leaks in all directions, nothing holds your breath, sentences are thrown here and there with no purpose...
I just don't get it! What's the fuss around this book? The author should have gone to an editor, it would have helped him re-work his book in a good way and it could have been splendid! But not like this, it's still a big draft from a newbie.
I know i won't read the next books...
February 19, 2025
Nameless review
Soundtrack: My Sharona - The Knack
A nameless novel, written by an anonymous author, found by chance in a public bookcase. A promising start indeed!
The original concept? A nameless novel, set in the most evil place in the world, filled to the brim with unlikely characters — a Bourbon-drinking berserker, a jaded bartender handing out a special vintage right from his precious bottle of piss to newcomers, a self-regenerating abbot, a righteous biker aka "God's own prime hunter", a duo of fighting monks, a murderous Elvis Presley lookalike, a detective of the supernatural to list a few — and the sheer Tarantino-like playfulness it promises off the bat. Also, a cornucopia of easter eggs to film and horror novels. All major selling points undoubtedly.
Yet, the downside appears sooner or later: throughout the story, nearly all characters are little more than walking clichés. They do not breathe as much as they stand (more or less stiffly) for another well-known character or trope. Not to mention the Moon Festival, an event that is meant as the climax of the story, when everyone wears a disguise, to shuffle our deck of cards one last time...
There is some merit and even joy to be had juggling with well-known stereotypes, and have them face a jumble of a situation. And let's be fair, The Book With No Name had me smiling, chuckling and snorting at times, especially in its first 150 pages, but that wears thin really quick in a 500-page novel. In short, a slightly funny, immoderately derivative novel, and that's the point!
See also:
City - Alessandro Baricco
The Gunslinger - Stephen King
Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind
Remina - Junji Ito
Soundtrack: My Sharona - The Knack
A nameless novel, written by an anonymous author, found by chance in a public bookcase. A promising start indeed!
The original concept? A nameless novel, set in the most evil place in the world, filled to the brim with unlikely characters — a Bourbon-drinking berserker, a jaded bartender handing out a special vintage right from his precious bottle of piss to newcomers, a self-regenerating abbot, a righteous biker aka "God's own prime hunter", a duo of fighting monks, a murderous Elvis Presley lookalike, a detective of the supernatural to list a few — and the sheer Tarantino-like playfulness it promises off the bat. Also, a cornucopia of easter eggs to film and horror novels. All major selling points undoubtedly.
Yet, the downside appears sooner or later: throughout the story, nearly all characters are little more than walking clichés. They do not breathe as much as they stand (more or less stiffly) for another well-known character or trope. Not to mention the Moon Festival, an event that is meant as the climax of the story, when everyone wears a disguise, to shuffle our deck of cards one last time...
There is some merit and even joy to be had juggling with well-known stereotypes, and have them face a jumble of a situation. And let's be fair, The Book With No Name had me smiling, chuckling and snorting at times, especially in its first 150 pages, but that wears thin really quick in a 500-page novel. In short, a slightly funny, immoderately derivative novel, and that's the point!
See also:
City - Alessandro Baricco
The Gunslinger - Stephen King
Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind
Remina - Junji Ito
January 5, 2010
I saw this book on Amazon during a random browsing, and was so completely intrigued by the premise that I just had to read it. Thankfully the library had it, so I didn't have to wait too long :)
I've heard it described as a Quentin Tarantino style book, and I would have to agree. There are a lot of similarities to "From Dusk Till Dawn", both in plot and in style which makes for a very fascinating page-turner. And don't be mislead - it's just as bloody (in less graphic detail, thankfully), so don't assume anybody is safe, just because they seem a major character.
The story is told from several different POV, which works quite well in providing the reader with the full pictures... well, as full as we're allowed to get anyway. There are some questions left unanswered, that I assume will be picked up in the sequel.
I've heard it described as a Quentin Tarantino style book, and I would have to agree. There are a lot of similarities to "From Dusk Till Dawn", both in plot and in style which makes for a very fascinating page-turner. And don't be mislead - it's just as bloody (in less graphic detail, thankfully), so don't assume anybody is safe, just because they seem a major character.
The story is told from several different POV, which works quite well in providing the reader with the full pictures... well, as full as we're allowed to get anyway. There are some questions left unanswered, that I assume will be picked up in the sequel.
August 2, 2011
Excellent book. I stumbled on it after buying The Book of Lost Things on Amazon and this cropped up as recommended if I liked the other, so I bought it. If you read the reviews on Amazon you'll see repeated that it is about a book, and everyone who reads the book ends up dead. I have to say this isn't strictly true, that makes it sound like a Ring rip off and while yes that is part of it there is also a heck of a lot more going on. With every single chapter ending on a cliffhanger you'll find it hard to put down. And while none of the characters have many, or indeed any redeeming qualities you'll find yourself liking some of them anyway, its hard not to. The book plays out very like a movie which was fun for someone like me who loves her movies and is very like something from the likes of Tarantino, so expect a lot of bloodshed. But also expect some really funny and witty moments when you'll possibly find yourself laughing at something you maybe shouldn't!! I loved it, I'd love to know who wrote it, and I can't wait for the sequel, which I believe is expected out soon enough and will be called either 'The Book of Death' or 'The Eye of the Moon'.
March 11, 2013
My dear god... I am so sorry if you actually like this book and find my review offensive. This was presented in an utterly gorgeous manner. I mean, come on. The Book With No Name by Anonymous? Must buy, right?
I tried. I really tried to like this. But in the end the only reason I have not thrown it into an open flame (I am in love with literature and can think of no greater sin than to deface a book) was that I found it useful as an example of how NOT to write.
The story is okay. Not brilliant, not imaginative, more like a B rated movie. It's easy to get into and want to like it.
The characters... two dimensional. At best.
The execution? Ugh. I read it years ago and still remember it well. And not a good thing - although you could say the book is memorable.
To this day, the most awful book I have read. And I've read 50 Shades.
I tried. I really tried to like this. But in the end the only reason I have not thrown it into an open flame (I am in love with literature and can think of no greater sin than to deface a book) was that I found it useful as an example of how NOT to write.
The story is okay. Not brilliant, not imaginative, more like a B rated movie. It's easy to get into and want to like it.
The characters... two dimensional. At best.
The execution? Ugh. I read it years ago and still remember it well. And not a good thing - although you could say the book is memorable.
To this day, the most awful book I have read. And I've read 50 Shades.
October 17, 2011
The Book with no Name fails to live up to it's dubious hype. No wonder the author wants to remain anonymous - the writing is very poor, the plot is juvenile and half-baked and the characters are unconvincing. I like both plot-driven and character-driven books but this is neither it just stumbles around and disappoints at every turn. If only the minimal sex references and maybe some of the strong language had been removed TBWNN would have been an acceptable book for young teens (actually, it might well have been written by a teenager). While trying to be zany and stylised it's just hackneyed and awkward. There's nothing new here and it's all been done better before. Only out of morbid curiosity did I keep reading to the stupid end. Not even gratuitous violence and swearing manages to redeem this book, it's just really really bad. I'm not surprised that this book divides readers, I'm just surprised the positive reviews outweigh the bad!
May 30, 2020
3.4/5 - From Tarantino with Love. Jedemenge Gemetzel, Blut, dumme Sprüche, Macho Gehabe und ordentlich Bourbon. Also alles, was es zu einer guten und kurzweiligen Unterhaltung braucht 👍
October 24, 2012
"Caro leitor, apenas os puros de coração podem ler as páginas deste livro. Cada página que virar, cada capítulo que ler, levá-lo-á para mais perto do fim. Nem todos conseguirão terminar. A variedade de intrigas e de estilos poderá intrigar e confundir. E, enquanto procura a verdade, ela estará diante dos seus olhos. a escuridão virá, e com ela um grande mal. E aqueles que lerem o livro poderão não voltar a ver a luz. Anónimo"
Foi este o texto na contra-capa do livro que me levou a adquiri-lo. Simplesmente isto. Ah e também o facto do livro se chamar "O Livro Sem Nome" e ser do autor - Anónimo.
Tudo o que diz na contra-capa resume o livro. É uma história que mete seres sobrenaturais ao barulho mas que estão tão bem ligadas entre si que me espantou tudo o que fui descobrindo. Ao início são muitas as personagens e parece que não têm ligação entre si, à medida que se vai virando as páginas TUDO se liga entre si.
A história é uma caça a uma pedra azul preciosa chamada "Olho da lua" que tem poderes que fazem com que o mais simples mortal a queira obter para si. . .
Assim, tudo se inicia com o seu roubo. . .
E vem aí um eclipse lunar. . .
Com este acontecimento, aparecem as mais diversas personagens, entre as quais, Bourbon Kid, que é o assassino mais temido na cidade perdida no mapa onde se passa a história. . .
Muitas mortes (quase parecia uma referência a "Kill Bill"), algumas bem violentas, muitos ladrões, muito ambiente de bar.
As referências a filmes e séries deram um toque especial que eu gostei de ler.
Em suma, um livro que me divertiu e que a partir da página 150/200 está escrito duma maneira que não consegui parar de ler para descobrir todo o mistério criado.
Um livro. . . sem nome. . . de um autor anónimo. . . é a personagem principal. . . e a verdade. . . essa está mesmo à nossa frente o TEMPO TODOOOO. . .
Recomendo a quem gosta do género fantástico.
Foi este o texto na contra-capa do livro que me levou a adquiri-lo. Simplesmente isto. Ah e também o facto do livro se chamar "O Livro Sem Nome" e ser do autor - Anónimo.
Tudo o que diz na contra-capa resume o livro. É uma história que mete seres sobrenaturais ao barulho mas que estão tão bem ligadas entre si que me espantou tudo o que fui descobrindo. Ao início são muitas as personagens e parece que não têm ligação entre si, à medida que se vai virando as páginas TUDO se liga entre si.
A história é uma caça a uma pedra azul preciosa chamada "Olho da lua" que tem poderes que fazem com que o mais simples mortal a queira obter para si. . .
Assim, tudo se inicia com o seu roubo. . .
E vem aí um eclipse lunar. . .
Com este acontecimento, aparecem as mais diversas personagens, entre as quais, Bourbon Kid, que é o assassino mais temido na cidade perdida no mapa onde se passa a história. . .
Muitas mortes (quase parecia uma referência a "Kill Bill"), algumas bem violentas, muitos ladrões, muito ambiente de bar.
As referências a filmes e séries deram um toque especial que eu gostei de ler.
Em suma, um livro que me divertiu e que a partir da página 150/200 está escrito duma maneira que não consegui parar de ler para descobrir todo o mistério criado.
Um livro. . . sem nome. . . de um autor anónimo. . . é a personagem principal. . . e a verdade. . . essa está mesmo à nossa frente o TEMPO TODOOOO. . .
Recomendo a quem gosta do género fantástico.
August 12, 2009
"Whatever you do, don`t read the book with no name. An untitled book by an anonymous author brings death to anyone who reads it."- An interesting quote from the back cover that automatically captures your attention, leaving you wondering what the books about. It`s like when you are kids & your told not to do/touch something. You promise you won`t, but the next thing you know, you breaking your promise. THE BOOK WITH NO NAME is set in a city called San Mondega, which for all the world is like `Sin City`for those that have seen the movie. The story centers around an object of great importance; `The Eye of the Moon`, which is supposed to have magical powers. Like anything of great importance, there is countless people trying to get their hands on this stone.
For me this story had everything one would want to see in a book. It had a lot of contrasting, but interesting characters, & by contrasting I mean it had monks, bounty hunters, Elvis impersonators, not to mention Vampires & Werewolves. It`s a book I would recommend to a lot of people, because there is many genres contained within it. It could be classified as a mystery/thriller, horror, supernatural, even to some extent as a romance.
For me this was one of the best reads so far this year. I liked everything about it. Mind you, it does have it`s fair share of violence, but that`s to be expected. Something that`s as valuable as `The Eye of the Moon`is bound to leave a trail of bloodshed behind. There was a lot of interesting characters in this story, as well as humor, & twists as well. 5 stars... I will be looking forward to it`s sequel which is called `The Eye of the Moon`.
For me this story had everything one would want to see in a book. It had a lot of contrasting, but interesting characters, & by contrasting I mean it had monks, bounty hunters, Elvis impersonators, not to mention Vampires & Werewolves. It`s a book I would recommend to a lot of people, because there is many genres contained within it. It could be classified as a mystery/thriller, horror, supernatural, even to some extent as a romance.
For me this was one of the best reads so far this year. I liked everything about it. Mind you, it does have it`s fair share of violence, but that`s to be expected. Something that`s as valuable as `The Eye of the Moon`is bound to leave a trail of bloodshed behind. There was a lot of interesting characters in this story, as well as humor, & twists as well. 5 stars... I will be looking forward to it`s sequel which is called `The Eye of the Moon`.
February 13, 2018
Puno krvi, pištolja, mišićavih likova, plaćenih ubojica, krađe i gdje koji vampir. Ovo je jedna od onih knjiga za opuštanje, baš za dane dok želiš pustiti mozak na pašu i malo odmoriti. Pomalo radnja u Tarantino stilu, nabrijana i brza, tako da se i knjiga brzo čita.
October 21, 2013
"Whatever you do, don’t read the book with no name.” This is the first sentence of the back cover. This book is the perfect mix between a Tarantino’s movie and a Supernatural’s episode. If you wanted me to sum-up the story of “The Book with no name”, you will be disappointed. Nobody can sum-up a story like this one. Just imagine something with vampires, a precious stone called “The Moon-eye” that everyone searched, monks specialized in kung-fu, werewolves, a mysterious man who killed everybody after drinking Bourbon and a hitman disguised as Elvis. You got it?
When I started to read this book, after listened to my friend’s sound advice, I was a little bit lost to be honest. The beginning transports you in a western scene, in a town called Santa Mondega, which for all the world is a ghost town who doesn’t really exist. The first scene is a massacre perpetuated by the Bourbon Kid, who killed everyone in a bar after a goddam glass of Bourbon (get the nickname?). After those pages, you are addicted or disgusted. This book is my heroin now, so I kept reading. Pages after pages I was more stressed, more attached to some characters (who are absolutely hateful) and definitely in want of an answer. An answer to what? To the omnipresent questions: who is the Bourbon Kid and what is the Book with no name? I won’t tell you anything about that, even if you’ll torture me. By the way, this book is not recommended for the squeamish, there are some scene that could shock the youngest. I found sometimes my stomach in difficult positions during my reading, and I am used to that kind of literature. However, this book was the best I have ever read. After the last word of the last page, I felt lost, just as the beginning. But how lucky I am, the book with no name has a following! I am particularly fond of thrillers and especially those who can make you feel uncomfortable. Those are the best, and this is the best of those.
If you are a movie addict, a thriller addict, or just a psycho, this book-with-no-name has been written for you, obviously. This book isn’t just the perfect mix of genre by combining thriller, humour and fantastic, it is also well written and full of film references, like “Seven”. It is the kind of book that you aren’t reading, but living. Every sound come to your hear and every smell come to your nose. You are not anymore in “real life”; your real life is now in Santa Mondega. And what a life! To wholly enjoy this book, I would recommend its lecture with a glass of Bourbon (alcohol abuse is dangerous for health), a comfortable leather armchair and a vinyl with all the best rock songs ever.
Enjoy your reading, after the last page, you’ll be dead.
When I started to read this book, after listened to my friend’s sound advice, I was a little bit lost to be honest. The beginning transports you in a western scene, in a town called Santa Mondega, which for all the world is a ghost town who doesn’t really exist. The first scene is a massacre perpetuated by the Bourbon Kid, who killed everyone in a bar after a goddam glass of Bourbon (get the nickname?). After those pages, you are addicted or disgusted. This book is my heroin now, so I kept reading. Pages after pages I was more stressed, more attached to some characters (who are absolutely hateful) and definitely in want of an answer. An answer to what? To the omnipresent questions: who is the Bourbon Kid and what is the Book with no name? I won’t tell you anything about that, even if you’ll torture me. By the way, this book is not recommended for the squeamish, there are some scene that could shock the youngest. I found sometimes my stomach in difficult positions during my reading, and I am used to that kind of literature. However, this book was the best I have ever read. After the last word of the last page, I felt lost, just as the beginning. But how lucky I am, the book with no name has a following! I am particularly fond of thrillers and especially those who can make you feel uncomfortable. Those are the best, and this is the best of those.
If you are a movie addict, a thriller addict, or just a psycho, this book-with-no-name has been written for you, obviously. This book isn’t just the perfect mix of genre by combining thriller, humour and fantastic, it is also well written and full of film references, like “Seven”. It is the kind of book that you aren’t reading, but living. Every sound come to your hear and every smell come to your nose. You are not anymore in “real life”; your real life is now in Santa Mondega. And what a life! To wholly enjoy this book, I would recommend its lecture with a glass of Bourbon (alcohol abuse is dangerous for health), a comfortable leather armchair and a vinyl with all the best rock songs ever.
Enjoy your reading, after the last page, you’ll be dead.
April 27, 2015
Finalement, la question qu'il faut se poser, c'est : "Est-il possible et/ou pertinent d'adapter en livre les classiques de la série B télé ?"
Nous retrouvons de plus en plus, sur les étagères de nos librairies, des livres de littérature qui jouent avec les stéréotypes de la littérature de genre - et ça marche, regardez Jean Echenoz. Mais à ma connaissance, c'est tout de même le premier livre qui se propose de jouer avec les clichés de la série B télé, et d'inclure par conséquent : des vampires, des hommes à capuche, qui ont de très très gros fusils, des femmes intelligentes et rusées et guerrières, et super sexy, en costumes moulants, des prêtres qui se baladent à deux, des sosies d'Elvis Presley, des grosses voitures américaines, des massacres avec du sang sur les murs et sur les visages, des voyantes et des boules de cristal...
- ...mais aussi d'autres clichés, un peu plus littéraires ceux-là : des bibliothécaires, des livres qui n'ont pas de nom, des histoires de Graal et d'obscures légendes religieuses...
- .... mais aussi des références cinématographiques précises : Star Wars, De Palma, toute l’œuvre de Tarantino et de Rodriguez, François Truffaut (non, je déconne, faut pas pousser quand même).
L'intrigue et ses sources d'inspiration forment un tel mélange qu'il est parfois difficile de s'y retrouver.
The Book with no name a donc un aspect ludique vraiment intéressant. Il manipule les stéréotypes tout en leur donnant vie : jamais un gangster-ninja n'a aussi bien traversé les pages d'un livre.
L'écriture se propose de suivre le même aspect ludique : style simple et vif, chapitres courts ; mais la narration s'adapte également aux classiques cinématographiques, par exemple en réécrivant, vers la fin du roman, la scène de l'éclipse sous différents points de vue, à différents rythmes.
Alors : "Est-il possible et/ou pertinent d'adapter en livre les classiques de la série B ?"
A la lecture des cent premières pages, j'aurais probablement pensé que c'était une erreur ; mais peu à peu, la mayonnaise prend, et j'ai lu la fin d'une traite, avec le cœur battant. Je pense qu'on a affaire à un style de littérature de genre novateur, c'est peu commun. Maintenant que le livre est fini, alors que j'ai mis si longtemps à le lire, je pense que je vais de ce pas chercher le deuxième tome de la série.
Nous retrouvons de plus en plus, sur les étagères de nos librairies, des livres de littérature qui jouent avec les stéréotypes de la littérature de genre - et ça marche, regardez Jean Echenoz. Mais à ma connaissance, c'est tout de même le premier livre qui se propose de jouer avec les clichés de la série B télé, et d'inclure par conséquent : des vampires, des hommes à capuche, qui ont de très très gros fusils, des femmes intelligentes et rusées et guerrières, et super sexy, en costumes moulants, des prêtres qui se baladent à deux, des sosies d'Elvis Presley, des grosses voitures américaines, des massacres avec du sang sur les murs et sur les visages, des voyantes et des boules de cristal...
- ...mais aussi d'autres clichés, un peu plus littéraires ceux-là : des bibliothécaires, des livres qui n'ont pas de nom, des histoires de Graal et d'obscures légendes religieuses...
- .... mais aussi des références cinématographiques précises : Star Wars, De Palma, toute l’œuvre de Tarantino et de Rodriguez, François Truffaut (non, je déconne, faut pas pousser quand même).
L'intrigue et ses sources d'inspiration forment un tel mélange qu'il est parfois difficile de s'y retrouver.
The Book with no name a donc un aspect ludique vraiment intéressant. Il manipule les stéréotypes tout en leur donnant vie : jamais un gangster-ninja n'a aussi bien traversé les pages d'un livre.
L'écriture se propose de suivre le même aspect ludique : style simple et vif, chapitres courts ; mais la narration s'adapte également aux classiques cinématographiques, par exemple en réécrivant, vers la fin du roman, la scène de l'éclipse sous différents points de vue, à différents rythmes.
Alors : "Est-il possible et/ou pertinent d'adapter en livre les classiques de la série B ?"
A la lecture des cent premières pages, j'aurais probablement pensé que c'était une erreur ; mais peu à peu, la mayonnaise prend, et j'ai lu la fin d'une traite, avec le cœur battant. Je pense qu'on a affaire à un style de littérature de genre novateur, c'est peu commun. Maintenant que le livre est fini, alors que j'ai mis si longtemps à le lire, je pense que je vais de ce pas chercher le deuxième tome de la série.
October 3, 2013
Premise: The Eye of the Moon has been stolen again and is rumoured to be on its way to Santa Mondega. The last time this happened, Santa Mondega was visited by the 'Bourbon Kid' who came to claim the stone, leaving an impressive body count in his wake. The Bourbon kid is a mass murderer with a drinking problem; to wit that when he drinks bourbon he kills everyone in the bar (except the bartender). The prospect of another visit is enough to worry even this villainous population.
Blacker than black humor.
I originally purchased this book when I ran across it in a book store.
Because:
1) The Book with no name
2) Anonymous author
3) Copy-right holder is stated as 'The Bourbon Kid.'
How could I resist? (Re-read for this review)
The plot is so twisty, Hitchcock would be impressed. The sneaky jokes had me giggling and the cast of (varying degrees of degenerate) characters had me charmed. Unless you really dislike dark humor, I don't think it is possible to fail to enjoy this book.
Blacker than black humor.
I originally purchased this book when I ran across it in a book store.
Because:
1) The Book with no name
2) Anonymous author
3) Copy-right holder is stated as 'The Bourbon Kid.'
How could I resist? (Re-read for this review)
The plot is so twisty, Hitchcock would be impressed. The sneaky jokes had me giggling and the cast of (varying degrees of degenerate) characters had me charmed. Unless you really dislike dark humor, I don't think it is possible to fail to enjoy this book.
February 19, 2016
La historia tiene muchos personajes, pero en general todos convergen en un punto que es la busqueda de una piedra preciosa llamada "el ojo de la luna" que se presume posee poderes sobrenaturales.
luego de 3 libros consecutivos que estuvieron bien pero que no fueron la gran cosa me llego este libro que logro mantenerme enganchada desde el principio.La historia tiene un buen ritmo ni muy lento ni muy rapido,tiene varios personajes pero en general son todos faciles de identificar y recordar.Solo me queda decir que esperare emocionada leerme el segundo.
luego de 3 libros consecutivos que estuvieron bien pero que no fueron la gran cosa me llego este libro que logro mantenerme enganchada desde el principio.La historia tiene un buen ritmo ni muy lento ni muy rapido,tiene varios personajes pero en general son todos faciles de identificar y recordar.Solo me queda decir que esperare emocionada leerme el segundo.
August 30, 2008
I thought this is a horror novel, but I was wrong. This is bloody horror comedy! If Quentine Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez found this book, they'll say "Holy shit! I want to make a movie!".
September 4, 2016
8 out of 10
Genre: Horror/Crime, Black Comedy, Present-Day-Western (?)
Feels like: Quentin Terentino's and Joss Whedon's lovechild
Fav. Character: Most of the characters that are still alive at the end (not many)
Quote: "Whatever you do, don't read The Book With No Name"
Characters in this book be like
For all you Pulp Fiction lovers out there, for all the people who love a mix of splatter, gore and black humor, for all of you who are okay with language so dirty it's definitely not quotable on GoodReads. This is the book for you. It's absurd, violent, grimy, nasty and hilarious. It's definitely a book where I expect a ton of negative reviews, because if this thing is not right up your alley, then you better stop reading after chapter one, because it only gets worse (but in a good way).
I picked this book up on a whim when I was about thirteen years old and had run out of books on vacation, naively borrowing it from my father because I thought it "looked cool". It took me about 50 pages until I put the book down with horror. It took about 8 years for me to pick this book up again and decide to give it another go now that I'm not an innocent 13-year-old anymore. If you're reading this and you're 13, don't read this book.
Present day, when I hear a book synopsis that already starts with something like a Supernatural seriel killer that goes bonkers after drinking a glass of bourbon and brutally mass murders everyone on sight , my reaction's gonna be like
This book feels like a mix of a present-day western meets crime/horror meets black comedy. Without giving to much away, if you decide to pick up this book against the anonymous author's (yes, we really don't know who it is except that he/she is British) warning at the beginning, you can expect to have a blast with a seriel killer that maybe has minor drinking issues, an Elvis impersonator hitman, a cowardly bartender who likes to pee in bottles and serve it to strangers, a vampire hunter by the name of Rodeo Rex, a couple of monks, a costume festival, a fictional, Mexican (?) city crawling with the undead and lots and lots of blood and gore. If that sounds like it could be your thing, go ahead and read this book, you won't be disappointed. If you think that sounds horrible, I can only quote the first words to you again: Whatever you do, don't read The Book With No Name .
PS: Halfway through this book I found out that it's actually a series, and man, I'm so excited!
Genre: Horror/Crime, Black Comedy, Present-Day-Western (?)
Feels like: Quentin Terentino's and Joss Whedon's lovechild
Fav. Character: Most of the characters that are still alive at the end (not many)
Quote: "Whatever you do, don't read The Book With No Name"
Characters in this book be like
For all you Pulp Fiction lovers out there, for all the people who love a mix of splatter, gore and black humor, for all of you who are okay with language so dirty it's definitely not quotable on GoodReads. This is the book for you. It's absurd, violent, grimy, nasty and hilarious. It's definitely a book where I expect a ton of negative reviews, because if this thing is not right up your alley, then you better stop reading after chapter one, because it only gets worse (but in a good way).
I picked this book up on a whim when I was about thirteen years old and had run out of books on vacation, naively borrowing it from my father because I thought it "looked cool". It took me about 50 pages until I put the book down with horror. It took about 8 years for me to pick this book up again and decide to give it another go now that I'm not an innocent 13-year-old anymore. If you're reading this and you're 13, don't read this book.
Present day, when I hear a book synopsis that already starts with something like a Supernatural seriel killer that goes bonkers after drinking a glass of bourbon and brutally mass murders everyone on sight , my reaction's gonna be like
This book feels like a mix of a present-day western meets crime/horror meets black comedy. Without giving to much away, if you decide to pick up this book against the anonymous author's (yes, we really don't know who it is except that he/she is British) warning at the beginning, you can expect to have a blast with a seriel killer that maybe has minor drinking issues, an Elvis impersonator hitman, a cowardly bartender who likes to pee in bottles and serve it to strangers, a vampire hunter by the name of Rodeo Rex, a couple of monks, a costume festival, a fictional, Mexican (?) city crawling with the undead and lots and lots of blood and gore. If that sounds like it could be your thing, go ahead and read this book, you won't be disappointed. If you think that sounds horrible, I can only quote the first words to you again: Whatever you do, don't read The Book With No Name .
PS: Halfway through this book I found out that it's actually a series, and man, I'm so excited!
January 3, 2014
I read a page or two & realized - this is a book my husband would love. So, I read it to him. We laughed a lot, some hilarious characters. He would ask for "More Bourbon Kid, please". The back cover calls it: Tarantino meets the Da Vinci Code. "The Eye of the Moon" is book two and we will read that soon, have not gotten the third book yet.
December 15, 2007
Loved it , it is weird , vampires killer monks what more could u ask for ,I read it in a day utterly addictive
December 26, 2014
Well, this was certainly an odd book. Looking through the reviews of other readers, I think very few people would argue against this verdict. I just finished it and now need to decide whether I liked its oddity, or not. And to do that, first I need to understand why I thought it was odd.
Sure, the book is populated with characters which seem to have jumped straight out of a superhero comic. A bounty hunter with arms so muscular he cannot wear long-sleeved shirts. A hired killer who is an Elvis impersonator. A hood-wearing blondie who turns into a gun-touting überkiller after drinking a shot of Bourbon. Monks who turn into vampires. Gangsters who turn into vampires. Werewolves. And a Western-movie-type barkeep of the sort who is the last man standing in a saloon gunfight.
But none of that would make the book odd in a bad sense. Quite the contrary, while I am looking to describe the characters, I have visions from the excellently drawn characters in the Batman comics. So why did I think it was "odd"?
Wait a minute... Comic books? Movies? I think I know. I thought it was odd because the characters did not seem to be crafted for a novel. I got the impression that the (anonymous) author drew his characters from models he had seen in the movies. It even looked to me as if Anon crafted the "feel" of his scenes from the atmospheres he picked up in films he may have seen.
Take the opening sequence in chapter one, for example. Did nobody else think that scene was straight out of "Desperado" (1995, director Robert Rodriguez, starring Antonio Banderas)? In the film, we see Banderas' character in the Tarasco bar in Mexico, telling the story of a massacre he witnessed in another bar. The low-life drinkers in the bar are uninterested until he identifies the killer as "Bucho", and he describes "Bucho" as moving with his face constantly in the shade. Bucho, of course, turns out to be him, and he proceeds to kill the entire clientele gathered in the bar, including staff, but saving the barkeep.
Ringing a bell? The building blocks that lend the scene its unreal character are identical in the book and the movie.
Or how's this: Two thirds in, we find three of the many hardened criminals that populate this book engaged in a negotiation in the same bar:
"You just do your part or you'll be buzzard meat by noon tomorrow" [...]
"Buzzard meat? Go fuck yourself." [...]
"You go fuck yourself", snarled Miguel [...]
"No, you go fuck yourself." Jefe growled back (Anonymous, The Book With No Name, London 2006, pp334-5
This excellent dialogue feels like a conversation out of "Dude, where's my car?" But that is not why I think it's odd. It's odd because Anon does not manage to keep his characters consistent. Miguel and Jefe, whom we met in my quote, were, until their conversation in the bar, the baddest sunsobitches you can dread to meet. In their convo, they briefly morphed into juvenile schoolboys, only to snap back to form later in the novel.
And this is also true for the whole novel. Anon does not deliver a consistent feel. Movie references litter the book, and it is clear that Anon loves films. But his novel does not know whether it wants to be "Reservoir Dogs", "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure", or "From Dusk till Dawn". And even if it did, it strikes me as poor craftsmanship if a writer borrows his imagination from other genres.
So now I know. That's why I thought it was "odd". And no, I did not think that was good "odd".
Sure, the book is populated with characters which seem to have jumped straight out of a superhero comic. A bounty hunter with arms so muscular he cannot wear long-sleeved shirts. A hired killer who is an Elvis impersonator. A hood-wearing blondie who turns into a gun-touting überkiller after drinking a shot of Bourbon. Monks who turn into vampires. Gangsters who turn into vampires. Werewolves. And a Western-movie-type barkeep of the sort who is the last man standing in a saloon gunfight.
But none of that would make the book odd in a bad sense. Quite the contrary, while I am looking to describe the characters, I have visions from the excellently drawn characters in the Batman comics. So why did I think it was "odd"?
Wait a minute... Comic books? Movies? I think I know. I thought it was odd because the characters did not seem to be crafted for a novel. I got the impression that the (anonymous) author drew his characters from models he had seen in the movies. It even looked to me as if Anon crafted the "feel" of his scenes from the atmospheres he picked up in films he may have seen.
Take the opening sequence in chapter one, for example. Did nobody else think that scene was straight out of "Desperado" (1995, director Robert Rodriguez, starring Antonio Banderas)? In the film, we see Banderas' character in the Tarasco bar in Mexico, telling the story of a massacre he witnessed in another bar. The low-life drinkers in the bar are uninterested until he identifies the killer as "Bucho", and he describes "Bucho" as moving with his face constantly in the shade. Bucho, of course, turns out to be him, and he proceeds to kill the entire clientele gathered in the bar, including staff, but saving the barkeep.
Ringing a bell? The building blocks that lend the scene its unreal character are identical in the book and the movie.
Or how's this: Two thirds in, we find three of the many hardened criminals that populate this book engaged in a negotiation in the same bar:
"You just do your part or you'll be buzzard meat by noon tomorrow" [...]
"Buzzard meat? Go fuck yourself." [...]
"You go fuck yourself", snarled Miguel [...]
"No, you go fuck yourself." Jefe growled back (Anonymous, The Book With No Name, London 2006, pp334-5
This excellent dialogue feels like a conversation out of "Dude, where's my car?" But that is not why I think it's odd. It's odd because Anon does not manage to keep his characters consistent. Miguel and Jefe, whom we met in my quote, were, until their conversation in the bar, the baddest sunsobitches you can dread to meet. In their convo, they briefly morphed into juvenile schoolboys, only to snap back to form later in the novel.
And this is also true for the whole novel. Anon does not deliver a consistent feel. Movie references litter the book, and it is clear that Anon loves films. But his novel does not know whether it wants to be "Reservoir Dogs", "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure", or "From Dusk till Dawn". And even if it did, it strikes me as poor craftsmanship if a writer borrows his imagination from other genres.
So now I know. That's why I thought it was "odd". And no, I did not think that was good "odd".
September 2, 2018
Ši knyga - tai trileris/detektyvas/fantasy su siaubo ir mistikos priemaišomis ir gera doze ironijos, hiperbolizavimo bei satyros. Pirmieji puslapiai mane erzino ir piktino, bet paskui supratau, kad taip nutiko tik todėl, kad pernelyg rimtai ir tiesiogiai viską priėmiau iš pradžių :) Pačiame pirmame skyriuje supažindina skaitytoją su pačiu žiauriausiu ir negailestingiausiu žudiku. Bet, pasirodo, kaip naujas skyrius, taip randasi vis koks nors kitas blogietis - šitas tai jau tikrai nuožmiausias, žiauriausias žudikas, niekas nenorėtų atsidurti skersai jam kelio, o, žiūrėk, kitas skyrius, nu viskas, šitas tai dar nuožmesnis už aną, šitas tai jau koks baisus... O, pala, dabar susipažinkim su VISŲ laikų PAČIU žiauriausiu ne tik šito miestelio samdomu žudiku, bet ir už jo ribų... Kaip ir sakiau, daug ironijos ir satyros :) Tai gali erzinti, bet jei nesipriešini ir priimi kūrinį, tai knyga tikrai teikia malonumą. Veiksmo daug, veikėjų daug, visko joje daug išties: nedidelis miestelis, nepaaiškinami saulės užtemimai, tame miestelyje vykstantys dažniau nei kitur, įspūdingo stoto girtuokliai žudikai, atmintį praradusi paslaptinga moteris, Mėnulio akis, Kukurūzinis, pašėlstantis išgėręs kukurūzinės degtinės stiklą ir išžudantis visus, esančius bare, pora nekaltučių vienuolių, nesusigaudančių pasaulyje, bet turinčių surasti ir atgauti Mėnulio akį... Ir trykštantis kraujas, taškomos smegenys, išlupamos akys. Knyga užkabina, ypač jei pavyksta pagauti tą cinkelį ir kartu su autoriumi juoktis iš visų tų stereotipinių kūrinių apie detektyvus, geriečius/blogiečius, žudynes, vampyrus, visų taip trokštamą brangakmenį, turintį antgamtinių galių... Geras pasirinkimas, kai norisi ko nors lengvesnio, bet kartu įdomaus.
August 26, 2012
If Quentin Tarentino and Joss Whedon had a love child, and this love child was a bit demented and maybe giggled maniacally in the corner while writing a book, The Book with No Name would be what that love child would write.
Violent and funny, with a hefty dose of vampires, The Book With No Name traces the path of a mysterious blue stone that has been stolen from the very odd Hubal monks. The stone bounces from one thief to another, wreaking havoc and attracting the attention of a notorious serial killer called The Bourbon Kid. Miles Jensen, supernatural detective, is sent to the town of Santa Mondega where all this craziness is taking place.
The plot of the book loosely follows Jensen's investigation. Jensen is partnered with a local detective who is obsessed with the Bourbon Kid, and they go from one bloodbath to another. Along the way, they encounter a couple of starry eyed lovers who seize every opportunity to enjoy each other carnally, a carnival boxer, Elvis the hit man, and a fortuneteller with a copy of The Book With No Name.
Loved it! Some of the story lines felt a bit loose and perhaps there were a few too many characters, but the survivors are needed to populate book #2.
Violent and funny, with a hefty dose of vampires, The Book With No Name traces the path of a mysterious blue stone that has been stolen from the very odd Hubal monks. The stone bounces from one thief to another, wreaking havoc and attracting the attention of a notorious serial killer called The Bourbon Kid. Miles Jensen, supernatural detective, is sent to the town of Santa Mondega where all this craziness is taking place.
The plot of the book loosely follows Jensen's investigation. Jensen is partnered with a local detective who is obsessed with the Bourbon Kid, and they go from one bloodbath to another. Along the way, they encounter a couple of starry eyed lovers who seize every opportunity to enjoy each other carnally, a carnival boxer, Elvis the hit man, and a fortuneteller with a copy of The Book With No Name.
Loved it! Some of the story lines felt a bit loose and perhaps there were a few too many characters, but the survivors are needed to populate book #2.
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