Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical

by James Wallace Birch

Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical is the first book in the gripping mystery of the 2011 disappearance of Emory Walden, the notorious graffiti artist and evasive dissident who was famously hunted by authorities.

Harness your outrage, rev up your suspicions, and throw out what you thought you knew about 21st century political unrest.

"Witty and unsettling, this book takes you on quite the ride.” - review
"Captivating book that will keep the reader constantly wondering what will happen next. Loved it!.” - review
"A roller-coaster, counterculture read that keeps the excitement flowing.” - review

Synopsis
Fame as a social activist and graffiti artist brings Emory, a jobless millennial, the wrong kind of attention. He’s wanted by the police. And he’s tricked his beautiful but emotionally-fragile girlfriend, Carolyn, into thinking he’s just a normal guy. When Emory meets Fletcher, a rich baby boomer, he and Fletcher embark on a plan to cause mayhem. But soon, Emory suspects someone is trying to destroy him, Fletcher, and their plan. Unsure of who to trust, can Emory betray his ideals to save himself? And can he pull it off while keeping Carolyn in the dark?

Discontents is a psychological mystery mixed with the rebellion of Saul Alinksy’s Rules for Radicals and Naomi Klein’s No Logo.

Backstory
January 2011 was the last time anyone saw the infamous Emory Walden. Why?

Emory set out to answer this question when he contacted a former friend, James Wallace Birch, with a request: publish my story.

This book puts to rest speculation about Emory's disappearance. Get your copy now because the hunt for Emory continues with the release of the long-anticipated follow-up: If You Find Emory Walden.

Genres: Social Movements, Activism, Contemporary

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2011

About the author

James Wallace Birch is an author, occasional commentator, and full-time over-analyzer from Northern Virginia, just outside the U.S. capital. His writing has been described as smart, elegant, insightful and poetically bittersweet.

James is best known for his debut novel, Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical. James' long-anticipated follow-up novel, If You Find Emory Walden, is now available.

His favorite novel is Coming Up For Air by George Orwell.

Reviews

[Jay Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a real slow burner and, I must confess, a real surprise, with a denouement quite remote from my expectations, albeit one that was consistent with the tone and timbre of everything that had gone before. I genuinely thought I knew where this book was going, ready to criticize the cliches and predictability of the plot, but James Wallace Birch throws the reader a horror of a curveball, and everything that precedes the ending is cast in a new and enthralling light.

Ostensibly, this is the story of Emory Walden, an underground instigator of social unrest who wields his intellectual influence through his blog writings and graffiti. Emory's tale is told in a deliberately slow, cerebral, prolix style that calls to mind Philip Roth or Saul Bellow, but also with an absence of affect reminiscent of a J. G. Ballard sociopath. Indeed, for all his intellectualizing and self-absorption, Walden is completely lacking in self-awareness, at one point taunting a cop for beating up his partner having himself inflicted an extraordinarily vicious beating on her only a few chapters before. Walden's voice, the voice in which the story is told, makes the book hard going to begin with since so little seems to be happening and so much has to be taken on faith - is it credible that this rather turgid and unpleasant blogger could have such an effect on a mass movement? What's more, Walden becomes increasingly dislikable as the book progresses, even as he becomes the apparent victim of a conspiracy, leading (spoiler alert!) to him becoming a snitch with a view to victimizing someone else. But it is this self-absorption and narcissism, ironically, that lead Walden to this point, and where Birch leaves him, his ultimate fate unknown. I felt like standing up and clapping at this point, having been duped into assuming that redemption would be forthcoming but now realizing, and appreciating, that Birch had taken me on a ride with a hidden trajectory.

This is a clever, clever book in the great tradition of the American Paranoid style. A Catcher in the Rye-style Bildungsroman, or better, given the intellectual masturbation in which Walden engages, a Portnoy's Complaint for the Occupy generation. It won't be to everyone's taste but it rewards perseverance and, I venture to suggest, repeated reading. Bravo.

[sea · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review For: “ Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical” by James Wallace Birch
Rating: ★★★
Link To Book Blog: www.inkblottings.com
Link To Full Review: http://inkblottings.com/reader-review...

Full Review:

The story follows Emory Walden, a seemingly lost reclusive who doesn’t know all that much what he’s doing or where he’s going. Whilst the narrative alludes to a past of secrets and thrills, we follow the main character as he takes on the role of trying to fit back into a society that he doesn’t agree with. A secret graffiti artist, writer, and all around social activist, Emory finds himself pairing up with Fletcher Spivy to wreak mayhem against the societal forces he wishes to bring to their knees. The only issue is; can Emory trust the promises that Fletcher is making, or is there a more malicious plan at work?

Firstly, I really like how the book is introduced with a ‘publisher’s’ note that somewhat summarises the premise of the book without giving away too much information. It captures the reader’s attention from the very beginning and makes the audience want to read on to explore the story that’s being alluded to, which is very effective for general readership. The introduction, prior to the actual beginning of the story, works to grab the reader’s attention and their interest and gives them the necessary drive to continue reading to explore the story that’s hinted at and the life of the character who’s mysteriously mentioned.

Likewise, as the story actually starts off and introduces you to the protagonist, it’s interesting from the start as there are obvious details to the background of the character and what he’s done. He’s mysterious – we don’t know his story or why he’s ended up where he is, doing what he’s doing, and so that makes the reader want to learn more about who this person is that we’re meant to be connecting with. In that sense, the audience does want to get to know the character and the details regarding his life, and this prompts them to read on further. Along with having an obvious backstory that’s yet to be revealed, from the beginning of the book, there’s a very specific tone that’s created by the main character. Not only does this give the reader a good look into the mindset of the character himself, but it also sets the nature of the novel quite nicely. In that sense, the tone is continuous and doesn’t jump all over the place. You know you’re reading the book from the perspective of the protagonist due to the specific personalisation of the monologue itself, and this works to further transport the audience into the novel’s environment. The monologue feels realistic because there are obvious characteristics and traits that are portrayed in the way that the character ‘thinks’ and the way that he is described to ‘carry himself’ through certain situations. This means that the character is well-developed and has obviously been constructed to quite an in-depth extent to give the reader the full experience of getting to know his story.

One of the elements of the structure of the book that I found myself really enjoying is the way that the dialogue doesn’t detail every little thing that’s being said and noted by the characters. Whilst the conversations are detailed and in-depth and give the reader a good sense of tone/environment, there are some points where the author just summarises how the conversation continues. Instead of showcasing every interaction between a group of characters, the conversation is overlooked through the monologue of the protagonist as he reflects the interaction. It’s been a while since I read a book that takes this refreshing take and moves to alter the way that characters interact with each other, and that’s one of the reasons why I found the novel captivating. It was nice to be able to experience a somewhat new take on the way that the development of a relationship between characters develops.

The author also definitely knows how to create imagery through the use of in-depth descriptions and the inclusion of little details that often go overlooked in a scene. For example, I loved the character’s inner-monologue description of the diner that he works in and how he summarises what his work consisted of. Due to the fact that the author included these little but ever-so-vital details makes the scene seem all the more realistic. The reader’s attention doesn’t lack, and they’re able to create a vision for where the setting of the book is taking place.

However, I did have some issues with the introduction of Fletcher Spivey’s character as he seems very pompous. At some points during reading his dialogue, I felt like he was just regurgitating what he had read in a thesaurus. Though, saying this, I definitely was able to pick up on the fact that the character was meant to come across as pretentious and thinking of himself highly in that manner. He’s meant to come across as patronising, but some of the elements of the dialogue were rather played up to the extent where it actually did make it difficult to read through certain interactions and, instead of just making the reader roll their eyes, it works to confuse the audience.

As I said earlier, the character of Emory – the protagonist – has a specific tone of voice and has been well-constructed to seem like a three-dimensional person rather than just a trope. He has a very distinct view of himself, the world, and the people around him, but this isn’t something that I necessarily enjoyed. I wasn’t able to take a liking to him as a character from the start – and this only digressed as the story continued. Again, I was easily able to pick up on the specific type of personality that was being created for the character through the monologue, but I didn’t enjoy some elements of his personality. For example, using phrases such as ‘hideous girls’ in reference to people he’s slept with and the continued use of body and slut-shaming somewhat put me off of Emory as a character. I felt that, as his story progressed and the reader actually got to know his background more clearly, he also somewhat becomes more pretentious and his ‘true colours’ are revealed more clearly. There was also one point during the book where he uses the phrase ‘my life organ’ which, honestly, did make me cringe and pause reading for a moment as I felt there were occasions were similes and metaphors were overused.
Again, though, this speaks for the development of the character, and not the personal views of the author themselves.

As the second part of the book really got underway, the narrative and the action definitely picks up the pace and becomes a lot more riveting. Whilst the beginning half of the book works to establish the character and his current situation, the second part showcases struggles that he faces and begins to introduce the plot-twists that make the reader want to read on and explore the story even further. Due to the fact that the narrative escalates – quite quickly at that – it definitely becomes more of a thrilling read, and I found that I really enjoyed that. Without giving too much away, I think that the development of the ‘torture’ of the main character was very compelling to read because, along with being descriptive of the settings and scenes themselves, it makes the emotions and fear of the protagonist very evident. In that sense, it’s very emotive and, at some points, overwhelming for the reader to experience. Though, because it’s paced quickly and there doesn’t ever seem to be a ‘lull’ in the narrative of the second half of the book, the reader’s attention and interest are maintained throughout.

I was actually taken off-guard by one of the biggest plot twists of the book as I found that, throughout the development of the first half of the novel, I really got to like the character of Renton. In this case, I think the author does an excellent job of making the audience take a liking to a character that they least expect is going to ‘crop up’ in that type of plot twist. Like in most of my reviews, I try not to spoil the book or give away the biggest elements of the narrative, but I was definitely surprised by the way that the story rather comes to a close as it nears the end of the novel. Renton felt like a real person – he felt well-developed and I found myself continuously wanting to learn more about his own storyline and background. I suppose I was right to expect there to be more to his story that the author was initially letting on, and I think that the construction of that plot point was done very well.

Continuing on with the progression of the second half of the book, I like how the novel came to an end as it felt like the story of the main character had been told in the way that he was trying to get it across. Like the ‘publisher’s’ note at the beginning of the novel states, this is a story that the character wants to get out for people to read for themselves and get a better idea of his side of the narrative. He wanted to explain the situation from his perspective, and that’s very well achieved. However, at the same time, it still feels as if there is more mystery to be revealed. Whilst it draws to a close nicely and rather shuts that ‘chapter’ of the character’s life, it still feels like there’s more potential for the story to continue and for the life of the protagonist to develop further.

The last thing I want to point out that did work to trip me up is that there are the occasional spelling and grammar errors. Whilst the author notes at the beginning of the book that there are indeed likely to be some mistakes, there were some instances that I was somewhat tripped up by a spelling error. However, this is more so to do with the fact that I was captivated and involved in the book, and so the slight errors rather threw me off balance rather and didn’t work to ruin the reading experience at all. Which, in that sense, goes to show the success that the author has achieved in grabbing and maintaining the interest of the audience.

To put it simply; with strong personalities, tone, and well-developed characterisation, this book definitely is a great read for those who are interested in the thriller and mystery genres. This is a captivating and detailed read with a plot-twist that legitimately does take you off-guard. The book is structured in a refreshing style of monologue and the characters that are showcased feel three dimensional and specifically crafted to their individual storylines. Whilst there were issues that I had with the traits of the protagonist himself, this speaks for the character, not the author, and the author’s talent of being able to write a novel with a refreshing take on the genre is apparent.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The literary conceit set out in the foreword to the book is that the story we are about to read was contained in a letter received by the author from his friend, Emory, along with a request to publish it. As a reader, we're asked to forgive any typographical errors because the author isn't a professional editor and anyway he's sure Emory would prize authenticity over perfection. Depending on your point of view, you'll either consider this an example of chutzpah or a lame excuse for not having the book professionally proofread.

In the book, blogger and graffiti artist Emory Walden is taken under the wing of wealthy but ailing businessman, Fletcher Spivey, who offers to support him financially so he can continue his work as an advocate of radical social change. At least, that's the reason Fletcher gives him. With the help of Alice, Fletcher's personal assistant, Emory is given a new identity, an apartment and a generous allowance. However, after a while, a series of events make Emory wonder if Fletcher's interest in him is of a more dubious nature.

The book conjures up an Orwellian world of conspiracy theories and shadowy government agencies. It has the makings of a good mystery with a few surprising twists and turns but, for me, it got a bit bogged down in the political theorizing. I didn't really engage with Emory as a character and found myself in sympathy with his girlfriend Carolyn when she accused him of lacking commitment to their relationship. I also found his obsession with oral hygiene - or rather the need to keep mentioning it - rather strange.

If you're intrigued to find out more about what happened to Emory, the author has recently published a follow-up, If You Find Emory Walden.

[Scott Bury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discontents is the second independently published ebook I have read, and I am impressed.

There is a lot to like in this story. Birch demonstrates his own social awareness and a little of his politics. He’s sympathetic to the same ideals that I am, but also skeptical and a little cynical—like me. And he’s realistic.

This is a political thriller from a different perspective. The main character is not a super-spy, a cop, a politician or a reporter. He really is an outsider, an overeducated, underemployed, disaffected young man who sees the hypocrisy that Western capitalistic society depends on.

The story begins in the author’s own voice, where he describes how he receives a letter one day from an former friend in high school—a friend who ended the friendship by stealing the author’s girlfriend. Then the central character, Emory Walden, leaves to backpack in Europe. In the letter to the author, Emory tells the story of what happened to him after he returned to his home town, and how he found some shadowy organization is trying to kill him.

During his travels, Emory began a blog that criticized Western governments and their corporate buddies—typical young radical stuff. The blog became a hit among discontented youth, whence the title.

When Emory returns to Washington, DC, he realizes he has become the figurehead of a nebulous young revolutionary movement called FAY, for Fear the Art of Youth. Its main accomplishment seems to be large public marches and graffiti.

Emory finds a low-level job and crashes with another friend, Pat, and continues blogging. His star-blogger status attracts a certain kind of young woman, including Pat’s girlfriend; when she puts moves on Emory, Pat throws him out. Violently.

At this point, Emory is contacted by Fletcher Spivey—possibly the hokiest name in literature. Spivey is an old man who made a fortune in the kind of target marketing that makes corporations drool and civil libertarians quake in fear. Young Spivey had been a radical, the kind who wanted to wake people up, to make them aware of how they’re being fooled by the marketers. But he suppressed those convictions when he took over the family business. Now, in his old age, his career behind him, he wants to sponsor Emory and spark a revolution. He sets Emory up with an apartment, a fake identity as “Liam Logan,” cash and an untraceable Internet account. Emory just has to keep blogging, exhort young people to rebel, and to sneak out at night to make graffiti.

Of course, Emory does more than this; he also pursues a romance with Carolyn, who knows him as Emory Walden.

Eventually, Emory’s recklessness catches up with him: the police arrest him for his graffiti. His sentence is exile from DC. (That was a bit of a plot stretch, but maybe Birch was being metaphorical.) One young cop who knows that Liam Logan is really Emory Walden beats him up; Spivey’s assistant, the beautiful but maimed Ella Alice, takes him to a private doctor, who discovers that Emory has a brain tumor and probably won’t survive an operation that might extend his life beyond the three months he’d have without it.

At this point, Emory begins to suspect the FAY movement, of which he is the hidden head—none of the marchers in the streets even know what he looks like—has been infiltrated by the government. Lying in his hospital, he wonders if it’s the local police, the FBI, CIA or NSA. When Fletcher Spivey asks Emory if he would donate his organs if he does not survive the brain operation, Emory finally bolts.

The story is refreshing. The perspective of the real outsider—not someone who has found a comfortable place within this society, but a truly disaffected young man with no prospects—is a welcome change from the standard thriller on the bookshelves. I liked the way that Birch criticizes what’s wrong with our commercial, materialistic society, but at the same time the radical counterculture. The “discontents” are not heros. Birch describes how they’ll march, protest, blog and complain about what’s wrong with society, then drive fancy cars to overpriced nightclubs and spend their parents’ money.

Discontents disproves the arguments that snobbish commercial publishers use to scoff at independent literature. The style is professional: simple, lucid prose. There are a few typos, but I’ve yet to find a commercially published title without any.

The action and the dialogue are mostly believable, and there are no plot holes. The conclusion is satisfying on many levels: it’s plausible, logical, and leaves no loose ends. But it’s not too tidy, either, and not cloyingly sweet—like a Hollywood movie can be.

About the only real criticism I have is that Fletcher Spivey’s dialogue is not believable. He’s effusive past credibility. I know that Birch was trying to portray a wealthy, patrician type, but Spivey goes too far.

What I really liked was the realism the author portrays. He is ambivalent: he criticizes our own society and culture, as well as the counter-culture. Even Emory lives quite comfortably off the largess of one of the powerful that he criticizes. The most sympathetic character in the story is Renton, a homeless man who displays the grace of an acetic.

Overall, five stars to this smart, engrossing story for making me think while entertaining me with a satisfying story and believable characters.

[Jason Pettus · Rating 1 out of 5]

(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)

As I've said here before, although in general I'm proud of CCLaP's policy to review any book that any person takes the trouble to actually send, it sometimes leads to me having to do some pretty harsh critiques of titles that clearly don't deserve that harshness, titles that in fact are clearly not even ready for a wide general audience to see them, but that got sent anyway because of the (often self-publishing) authors not knowing better; and unfortunately, a perfect example of that would be James Wallace Birch's Discontents, obviously written with a lot of heart but so much of a mess to be almost unreadable. The supposed true story of an accidental political genius who sparks a national populist revolution, the book wallows in some of the worst cliches even known to the literary world -- the Chomsky-regurgitating undergraduate blogger who inexplicably has corporate CEOs and Congress members hanging onto his every word, the Shakespeare-quoting "noble street trash," the Manic Pixie Dream Girl who exists only to justify weak plot turns -- the storyline itself mostly hinging around a shadowy John Galtian figure who seems to be a left-leaning amalgam of a thousand pieces of Ayn Rand fan-fiction rolled together, who ironically spends most of his time delivering ridiculously portentous ten-page monologues about such subjects as '60s radicalism, just to end each one with, "…But please, I don't wish to bore you." (Too late, Fletcher; too late.) I always feel guilty writing reviews like these, because obviously the more prudent thing would be for someone to simply sit Birch down and tell him of all these problems in a much more private setting, to encourage him to simply ditch this book altogether and to take a few creative writing courses before starting again; but that's a side-effect of the kind of the world we now live in, where technology allows people to nationally release a professional-looking artistic project long before they've gathered the kind of trusted feedback that helps them determine whether they should actually do so or not. An 'A' for effort, certainly, but I can't in good conscience recommend this to a general audience.

Out of 10: 1.8

[Joe Crubaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Discontents. The writing is excellent, and it satisfied from the start. But about 30 pages in, magic happened. You've read books that introduce interesting characters, an interesting world, but then the story begins to flounder and go nowhere through the middle, but instead of bogging down Discontents hit the golden gear at this point--all of a sudden, the characters were real for me, and I wanted to turn the pages and spend more time with them. Then on top of that, a plot kicked in that I hadn't seen coming, and I was hooked in. I love these kinds of stories that slip under your skin, take you on a surprising journey and then warm your soul with bittersweet truth.

The only down side after reading this book was that I don't see another work immediately available from Birch. And I can't imagine him writing another one this good--he's clearly got the talent and the chops, but heck, what's left to say after a novel that plumbs so many depths of life so thoroughly, so well? It just feels like he dumped his soul into this one. He's got a tough task topping Discontents, and I hope he's working on the follow up, and I hope he keeps surprising and exceeding expectations like he did with each chapter of Discontents. This one's well worth your time...it'll stay with you after you've read the final page.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I struggled with the first half of this book, nothing was happening other than page after page of theories. Just as I was about to give up it hit me what I was reading, the "confession" of Emory Walden, somebody who wrote a blog, did graffiti and inspired 10,000's of people to rise up against the injustices from the government and corporations. He worked behind the scenes and that why there is no action in this book. Once I got past that I really got into the book, there are so many clever little bits, like Emory sat on a bench eating sandwiches as he watches a massive protest march going past. There are some classic lines;

"That's America, Right? Homogenization nation: You can be different, so long as you're not."

I'm not expert on the subject matter but there are some super thought provoking scenes, the power of peace was very interesting and nothing I had heard of before.

There is one thing I think would make this a 5star book, between some of the chapters have some of Emory's published blogs, it would involve the reader more in Emory's life and make that first half of the book easier to get into. Really, really glad I stuck with this book as it is something special.

Blog post: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2018...

[John Zunski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold on tight, James Wallace Birch is about to take you for a wild ride. With more twists and turns than a world-class roller coaster, Discontents plays out like the "Blair Witch Project" of Political Thrillers. Is Birch's 'relationship' with Emory Walden real or a stroke of marketing Genius? The question will linger long after the train returns to the station. Kudos Mr. Birch!

[David King · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been quite a while since I read any form of political thriller so I was looking forward to reading "Discontents" by James Wallace Birch. What I discovered was a slow burner of a novel that explores the various ideologies that our societies are currently based around. It really did make me think about things such as the roles of governments and corporations in our lives, which I suspect are the main purpose of a novel such as this.

The story itself follows the life of Emory Walden, an infamous blogger who has been sharing his dissatisfaction with the government and society in general. Upon his return to the US after travelling around Europe, he is approached by a wealthy man named Fletcher Spivey who wants to help Emory spread the word about the ails of society. Fletcher uses his money to create an alternative identity for Emory to ensure he remains safe and free. However soon paranoia beings to influence Emory and he begins to question various incidents and the relationships he has formed with people who know his true name.

I found the story to be quite dry and slow at first as it revels in the various issues and opinions of those who are unhappy with what society currently offers. After the first few chapters I really wasn't sure if I would enjoy it as I can't say that I follow similar views to what we see in the novel. However I am glad that I stuck with it as even though it isn't the fastest paced novels Birch still manages to take this political view point and integrates it into a rather interesting political thriller full of intrigue, paranoia, subterfuge, a few plot twists and even a little bit of romance.

Whilst I didn't really relate to Emory's overall viewpoints, it was still quite enjoyable to follow the viewpoint of an outsider like him, someone with no real prospects who was quite simply dissatisfied with what society could offer. In addition I found Emory to be a believable character, full of the hypocrisy, ego and flaws prevalent in most personalities. There was no attempt by Birch to make him perfect and this was a welcome change to the standard thriller novel that would usually follow the antics of a super spy or highly intellectual analyst.

There were a few issues with the novel however; the first is that there is a plot twist regarding a homeless man called Renton which I won't say much about beyond the fact that it just seemed thoroughly incredulous to me. There were also a few logical issues that had me feeling the same way such as one about Emory's face being plastered around the place yet no one seemed able to identify him even when he was in the police station or wandering around the streets all because he was using a different name.

Overall, this was a thought provoking and interesting read that I think most political minded readers should enjoy. This is definitely not a book for people expecting a light or easy read and I think the slow pace could prove a challenge for some. However, if you do want your ideas and thoughts challenged by what is at its heart an entertaining story then go ahead and pick it up.

[Doc · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if Bret Easton Ellis or Chuck Palahniuk wrote a book about Banksy? This would be that book.

Discontents is a savant-level weaving of character, dialog and place into a “what’s real and what’s not” journey. The reader is whisked along as the protagonist’s mind and sanity unravel as he tries to figure out who wants him dead.

The protagonist, Emory Walden, is a Banksy-like anti-authority graffiti artist and writer whom the Washington D.C. police are looking for. Ergo, the plot is set up around why did he disappear?

There are no one-dimensional characters in this book and this is what I loved about it. They’re real, tangible people and the kind of people we all know. No one is perfect. There is no good versus evil. Everyone in Discontents has both good and evil and is struggling with these very human wants and emotions. From the flawlessly-beautiful Ms. Alice, to the geriatric robber baron with a conscious Fletcher Spivey, to the sage-like hobo Renton, to Emory himself. The dialog is charmingly smart. The tensions are palpable. These are the kind of people I truly missed when the story ended and so I went back and re-read the last part of the book.

The book hooks you and then we follow Emory into his past life and the notches ratchet up, and the stakes get higher while Emory tries to uncover what happened to him [he has suffered from amnesia - that's not a spoiler]. Pay attention, because each twist plays into the next, as we proceed into an artfully crafted ending.

On a final note, I like a book that makes a social statement. Most writers can’t weave a narrative with a social commentary. It’s hard to pull off. I’ve read a lot of crummy books that have tried. That’s not this book. Emory is a radical and culture jammers, progressives, and people like me on the left are going to love him. Still, the unique thing is that you don’t have to like the character’s viewpoints. The author shows the hypocrisy of all sides - left and right. The book is a rebuke of human and social conditions today from every slant. It is a story about finding peace and the power of peace in our chaotic world. Birch holds nothing back against all his characters, slitting their flawed little lives open and leaving the reader to watch them slowly egest onto the concrete of our society.

[David Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coincidently, I read Discontents just before and during the latest surge of protests in the U.S. The back drop of current events lends this book an even more powerful aura than it easily establishes on its own.

This book delivers a well-balanced approach to ideas, emotions and story. It develops an intrigue of its own while weaving real events into its fabric. While the main character is self-righteous and pretentious (in his own subversive sort of way), he is also powerful and unassuming. James Wallace Birtch develops him and his world adeptly, from the grit and grace of the main character's graffiti tags to rambling conversations with a homeless sage.

In my opinion the greatest achievement of this novel is that whether you agree or disagree with the main character's ideologies (which are very much a part of the story) you can still sink your teeth into this book. On either side of the political or ideological divide you will find things to shake your fist at, and to champion.

Discontents is a story, and a good story. At the same time, it is a challenging book. Not challenging to read, but challenging to your senses and ideas. As the name should suggest, if your completely content with your life and the world (and you want to stay that way) then I suppose there might be more appropriate entertainment than this.

Thy story begins like a whirring fan, mesmerizing, energizing. And then just as you grow accustomed to the white noise it increases in speed and intensity. The notches are small but constant, and the effect is deceptively gripping. Read it and be challenged. Read it and be enlightened.

[Kelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discontents grabbed my attention from the start-- not in a jarring or abrupt fashion-- in a carefully crafted look into the main character's persona that was just so spot on and clever it left me instantly intrigued as to who this character (Emory) was and what he'd be getting into. The style is so fresh and unique and the commentary is witty and timely...it has political or social commentary but it is also very realistic and down to earth. It was believable and riveting. It made me hope there were many real Emory Waldens out there! The struggles each character battled were also interesting and it was such fun to discover how certain people were interwoven. Just the right amount of mystery to keep you guessing but not distracted. The details of each personality were vivid and convincing- I easily fell into rooting for (or against) certain characters-- overall it was FUN.

Favorite aspects of this book were the characters (very well developed and realistic) and the dialogue. And the geography-- it represented the unique DC area culture well. It was an overall fantastic read and I really hope a prequel or sequel comes out!

[Petra Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A roller-coaster, counterculture read that keeps the excitement flowing.

Emory Walden is a McJob-working slacker who is bitter about the world and blogs about it, becoming successful despite himself. He gets caught up in the tangled web of rebellion, business and the state, where everyone talks in riddles and nobody trusts anybody else.

Emory is a satisfying character, with big ideals and smart thinking, but no real clue what he is doing or who he is working with half the time.

With elegant writing and a little heart nestling in the cynicism, this is a fun and thoughtful read.

[Claire Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the start of the book graffiti artist Emery has been drifting for some time and I really like how Birch sums up his isolation and loneliness, 'I had not heard my name come from the lips of a friend in too long to remember. Without a name you can become anything. They remind you who you are, who you once were.' Little gems like this are peppered throughout the rest of the book and surface through Emery's confused and conflicting thoughts. A solid and original plot line with well-defined characters, enough intrigue and conspiracy to keep me enthralled to the last page.

[Daniel Shortell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel begins on the premise that the author (Birch) received a letter from a former high school friend/underground political activist (Emory Walden) who disappeared in early 2011. In the letter, Walden asks the Birch to publish the details of his story outside traditional publishing circles to ensure the integrity of the story.

Back in the US after a stint in Europe, Walden learns about the impact his political blog is having among a contingent of angry citizens in the wake of the 2008 financial collapse. While attempting to reestablish himself in the US, Walden crosses paths with retired marketing executive (Fletcher Spivey) who expresses interest in harnessing Walden's voice and energy to push his reawakened ideologies after keeping them dormant for decades as he built a massive corporate machine. The story that follows is a fast-paced political thriller that tracks Walden through the many turns (sometimes with jarring affect) in his relationship with Spivey et al as they attempt to spark change in an increasingly volatile fringe citizenry. Acting as a covert operative attempting to amass a following of discontents, Walden becomes increasingly paranoid that his operation with Spivey has been infiltrated and he finds himself racing against time to determine the true nature of several of his key relationships.

Discontents is a solid debut from author James Wallace Birch. By using witty dialogue, well-crafted prose and constantly stoking the coals of unsettled relationships and motivations, Birch maintains a consistent level of traction with the reader enabling a near effortless ability to engage the material. Main characters are well-developed, relationships are clear, and ulterior desires/motivations are effectively obfuscated as the story unwinds keeping suspense at the level of intrigue. Characters are very human/authentic and Birch adeptly portrays the many relationship threads and conflicts everyone encounters as they attempt to balance personal and professional lives. Birch is an effective storyteller, capable of extracting the essence out of his characters and leaving the reader to make judgments.

Twists and turns in the plotline ramp up substantially as Emory's relationship with Fletcher develops, requiring a close read to remain cognizant of the quickly developing set of 'facts'. These turns can be rather abrupt and loosely defined at times which may throw readers off.

For the political-minded reader, Discontents is not only an enjoyable adventure pushing back against the fabricated majority, but also an exploration of the challenges one faces when putting everything on the line to service ideals.

[Mark Vernon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been doing a bit of reading of late and really enjoyed this so thought I would give a fellow writer a shout out and review his book.
If you like true crime, Banksy, graffiti, Bret Easton Ellis, Grant Jerkins, Scott Philips, or generally dark stories about outsiders, gritty mysteries, psychological/paranoia mind romps, if you’re an armchair revolutionary, if you like intrigue and plot twists, basically, if you’ve lived through the last 10 years of mayhem and craziness, then this could be for you.
I am a sucker for transgressive Fiction so this was always going to be a winner with mix of neo-noir thrown in this is an engrossing mystery/thriller about a friend of James Birch's who disappeared never to be seen again.
The story is told by Emory Walden, the infamous subversive graffiti artist who disappeared, explaining what happened and he asks Birch essentially to publish his memoir to set the record straight. There's even a copy in the book of the letter with this request from Emory to Birch. Not sure if there is truth in the tale but it certainly possible.

[Guy Portman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twenty-something radical Emory Walden is a secret graffiti artist and the proprietor of a blog, which is scathing in its criticism of the corporate nature of society, and actively encourages rebellion. Our enigmatic protagonist has a large following and considerable influence.

One day an elderly, wealthy man offers to sponsor Emory to continue what he claims is his vitally important work. Is the man’s agenda what it seems, or does he have an ulterior motive?

Discontents is a purported work of Transgressive Fiction that contains considerable theorising and not a lot in the way of action. Whilst this reader approved of the author’s writing style, he found this mildly pretentious story uncompelling.

[James Birch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve received many emails asking to get this work into print now that Amazon can do it on demand. I’m excited to say that this is now available in paperback.

I decided to add a new, more descriptive subtitle.

The life and disappearance of Emory Walden is a fascinating story that has affected my life. It is a story that I come back to again and again. I still wonder, where Emory is and how he’s doing. It has been 7 years since Emory disappeared and I have not heard from him since the summer of 2011. If you’re out there Emory, I’m always here for you.

How are you, friend?

[Paul Brodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like conspiracy theory. There seems to be more going on in the world than meets the eye. Discontents: the Disapearance of a Young Radical is the story of Emory Walden, someone who knows. As he tries to inform others he runs into the very trouble he is trying to expose, and then...

Discontents was a fun and engaging read for me. There are interesting, relatable characters. The story creates, answers and then creates more questions. There is a lyrical quality to the authors writing. The story and characters are relevant to today.

[Gail Baugniet · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the Labor Day Book Blowout, sponsored by Independent Book Collective (IBC), I discovered and purchased DISCONTENTS, written by author James Wallace Birch. The “Legal Stuff” posted at the front of the book mystified me: Were the great many notices presented on this page issued out of fear . . . or did they mirror the paranoia of the story’s protagonist? With some trepidation, I finally proceeded to read the published version of Emory Walden’s ordeal.

The eras covered in Emory’s story are twofold, presented in a seamless blending of the politically sizzling 1960s and the current, high-tension situations in which Emory Walden becomes enmeshed. Entertaining and action-filled, often edged with the paranoia and fear reflected in the opening disclaimers, the book held my attention with its effortless transitions between vital backstory and unfolding “news-at-five” style present.

Sometimes it is the unexpected, tightly-written phrases utilized by an author to “show, not tell” that add power to a novel. Shortly into DISCONTENTS, I realized protagonist Emory Walden would not be receiving his fair share of respect anytime soon. As a steakhouse hostess watches the “half-sober backpacker” that is Emory enter the restaurant, Emory interprets her reaction: “. . . she gave me her disappointment with a shift of her weight.” As I experienced the waitress’s reaction of disapproval through the eyes of the protagonist, I developed empathy for Emory that carried through to the story’s end, granting credence to the story and offering me, the reader, investment in the outcome.

That empathy was put to the test, though. One instance is the street artwork Emory plasters around town, along with his opinion that the streets belong to the people and it is okay to use the outer walls of public buildings for personal commentary. If the streets belong to the people, what are the rights of the people who do not want to see graffiti?
Many who read this book will feel the urge to express an opinion: about politics, personality conflicts, oil prices, or even about current protests via the Internet. It’s that kind of story.

[Susan O · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the type of book I normally read. Usually I stick to non-fiction, classics, and what my friend calls "potato chip books" - books full of empty calories meant just for fun and escape. Discontents is not one of those books! So reading my review, keep in mind that I am not a literary critic. I have not read many "protest" books to compare it to. But I think I would call Discontents a "protest" book. Although it was published in July of 2011, it seems to echo many of the ideas that we see in the Occupy protests that are covering the globe at the time of this writing (Oct 2011). Emory Walden has to retreat underground because of his role in the movement, but feels like his story must be told. To do this, he reaches out to an old high school friend and Discontents is the result.

Emory Walden writes a blog that is read by many people who are discontent with the current state of the government. After he returns to the US from Europe, he is approached by an older man who is physically unable to support the protesters, but wants to do his part by helping Emory. The idea is to help Emory mask his identity and thus "fly under the radar" so to speak. In this way his message won't be compromised by the threat of exposure. This leaves him free to support the growing movement of people in the streets, but also leads to complications with the few people who know him by his true name.

Discontentsis a mystery/thriller with politics, subversion, infiltration and the "Agency", with a little romance thrown in to add a more personal perspective. The style of writing was a little distracting to me at first, but not after the first chapter or so. I'm not sure if this is because I adjusted to the authors style, or if the story just began to flow more easily after it got going. I suspect a little of both. It will definitely make you think, especially about the role of government and corporations in our lives.

Discontents is definitely worth the read!

[mountainmama · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing tale of a protest movement and Emory Walden, a blogger and graffiti artist who is approached by a tycoon who wants to underwrite his efforts to further the cause. What ensues is not exactly what Emory envisioned when he agreed to the deal. The story is presented by the author, after receiving the ‘rest of the story’ from Walden several years after Walden’s disappearance.

Mr. Birch has a very poetic style of writing, and the story itself is very well constructed, with twists and turns aplenty. Witty and unsettling, this book takes you on quite the ride. Grammarians and editors will cringe at the misspellings and typos, but according to the forward, that’s to be excused as Walden instructed the author to publish without regard to such niceties – he just wanted people to know the ‘truth’. Genius!

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I see documentaries or read books about the 1960s, I occasionally can't help but ponder whether the radicals of the period, such as Abbie Hoffman or Bernadine Dohrn, ever wondered what America would be like today had the change they advocated come to pass. They face the problem all of us do -- no one knows what might have been had fate or choice led us down a different path. But what would you do if you believed that conditions were similar enough that it's possible to take another stab at change that was unsuccessful?

That is the underlying premise of James Wallace Birch's Discontents as an individual hopes to vicariously effect the change he hoped for nearly 50 years ago. Birch sets the novel in the framework of a letter he received this summer from a high school friend, Emory Walden, who disappeared in January 2011. Walden, a political dissident who acted largely through a blog and graffiti art, asked Birch to publish his story of what happened to him. Birch also uses the conceit of Walden's insistence that the story not be edited by mainstream publishers to explain why the book is available only as an ebook.

Walden, a name apparently aimed at invoking some of the themes of Henry David Thoreau's book, returned home to the District of Columbia area from a scrounging life in Europe. Somewhat to his surprise, his blog of political thoughts developed a cult-like following in the activist community. Finding a job at a restaurant, Walden meets Fletcher Spivey, who recently sold a marketing firm his father co-founded that Spivey built into a Fortune 500 company. But Spivey sacrificed his ideals to achieve that success. Coming of age in the 1960s and 1970s, Spivey's presence at many seminal events, from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream' speech to the 1968 Democratic National Convention to Woodstock, renders him almost an avatar of the period. He became convinced of the necessity of radical change to reform the country but ultimately yielded to what he perceived to be a family obligation.

Now retired and aging, Spivey is nagged by regret, and even shame, over abandoning his beliefs and becoming part and parcel of the economic system he railed against. But he believes current political and economic conditions are such that the level of discontent and dissent can be ignited. He believes Walden's words and art can be the match that starts a revolutionary fire so offers to support Walden so he can focus on catalyzing radical change. To keep Walden safe from authorities as he builds and seeks to inspire his following, Spivey even gets Walden a fake identity. Along the way, though, Walden becomes convinced that the plan has been infiltrated and that things are not quite as they seem.

Overall, Birch tells the story in readable, well-crafted and creditable prose. He also does a good job summarizing the perspective of those who are among the discontented and makes Walden a fairly well-formed character as he deals with both his personal life and the burden Spivey's assignment poses. But Discontents still shows signs it is a self-published ebook. Aside from repeated typos (perhaps due to conversion alone), Birch sporadically lapses into sentences and phrases that feel a bit too embroidered. The bigger problem is the sense of incongruity the book creates in providing essentially two denouements.

Although one twist is certainly within the contemplation of the main story, the other seems incompatible with the picture most of the book draws of Walden. Birch provides some basis that might explain the latter but the core of the Walden character seems unaffected or unchanged overall. Logical issues also appear. For example, Walden's picture is published in the paper with his false name after he is arrested by D.C. police and the police say in the article they are looking for Walden. Yet the police never make the connection between the two names despite the fact a number of non-movement individuals -- including a member of the police force -- would recognize the picture as Walden.

No one can say for sure that the editorial staff of an established publishing house would have avoided those problems. And certainly an argument can be made that these plot developments force a reader to think more closely about fate and free will and the relationship between what we believe and life-changing turning points. Still, the handful of anomalies push the mystery or thriller aspect of Discontents more toward the forefront and encumber an interesting concept and generally well-told story.

(Originally posted at A Progressive on the Prairie.)

[Jessica Buike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, this book wasn't for me. I wanted to love it, since I love a good crime-solver, action-packed, mystery type of book - but this book didn't pull me in, and I had a hard time finishing it.
The language was difficult, and the author was very wordy. There were several spelling errors present in the text.
However, the concept was interesting and it was very ideological. The reader follows a blogger who inadvertently ends up becoming a figurehead for a massive political movement. When he gets an offer that he can't refuse that would allow him to quit his crummy waiter job and write full time, he takes it... but finds out that not everyone can be trusted.
Overall, this story wasn't for me, but I think it would be a good read for those who like a high level of language and the idea of reading about political uprising.

[Lynn Hallbrooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, I think that Discontents by James Wallace Birch is a truly intriguing book. It has plenty of twists and turns in it to keep you pondering on what is really happening...or is this really happening? The pace is good...more like a roller coaster...slowly you get to the top and then you find all the twist, turns and loop-the-loops.

The book is mainly first person and has a good balance between dialogue and inner thoughts. The main character's perceptions of the world around him is an essential key to the story line.

I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I did. Many thanks to the person who shared this book with me.