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Compression: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, Punk Rock and Dark Hidden Secrets
Punk rock, heavy drugs, and a sleazy lifestyle changes one man's life forever.
169 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 3, 2025
Compression by Tim Cundle
Now this is a book that packs a punch! It has a punk rock ethos from start to glorious finish. It’s all going on, there’s manslaughter, a cover-up, love, borderline insanity, class A drugs, and a porn star.
But beyond the clickbait, there’s a lot more to it than that. The author describes how the protagonist stubbornly holds on to the punk rock ideals that he believes will get him through anything. But the truth is, the lifestyle wasn’t what he’d imagined it’d be. He knew he had to fight for something but this was a better-late-than-never coming of age tale that eventually sees the protagonist fighting for himself and dismissing all the “false gods” that were only ever going to solidify his demise if he did not act.
There’s rich prose and novel word-smithery. Readers will be surprised, entertained, and eager to ruminate in their empathy with the central character. Kudos to the author.
(P.S. I recommend buying the paperback version because the Kindle version doesn’t read as well.)
Now this is a book that packs a punch! It has a punk rock ethos from start to glorious finish. It’s all going on, there’s manslaughter, a cover-up, love, borderline insanity, class A drugs, and a porn star.
But beyond the clickbait, there’s a lot more to it than that. The author describes how the protagonist stubbornly holds on to the punk rock ideals that he believes will get him through anything. But the truth is, the lifestyle wasn’t what he’d imagined it’d be. He knew he had to fight for something but this was a better-late-than-never coming of age tale that eventually sees the protagonist fighting for himself and dismissing all the “false gods” that were only ever going to solidify his demise if he did not act.
There’s rich prose and novel word-smithery. Readers will be surprised, entertained, and eager to ruminate in their empathy with the central character. Kudos to the author.
(P.S. I recommend buying the paperback version because the Kindle version doesn’t read as well.)
February 8, 2022
This book is even better the second time. I read it when it first came out and then finished rereading it today. Flanagan walks a hard road but, holy crap, what a journey.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews