There's A Somebody

by Stephen W. Long

"Jim Bass is a twenty-two year old failed college student, who sees the world through the tragedy of his sister's death. It's a perspective that sets him on a journey that starts at misunderstanding and whose path is self-delusion, but whose destination might just be redemption.

281 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Kathleen]

Just bought it today at the Terroir Creative Writing Festival in McMinnville, Oregon and will be reading it over the next few weeks.

[Robert Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean, compact, energetic prose, punctuated by wry wit and brilliant similes, propels the reader effortlessly forward through an immediately compelling, relevant story filled with human beings you’re still convinced exist even after finishing and remembering it’s a novel. Stephen W. Long is a masterfully inconspicuous, all-knowing story-teller who fades from view with the first word and is entirely forgotten until the last. Jim Bass, Owen, Niki, Allison, Amanda, Mrs. Garcia and the rest of the ensemble are the undisputed stars and Long is content to relinquish the limelight while he writes, directs, produces, runs the lights, plays the music, takes tickets, builds the sets, and scoops the popcorn. It is the ultimate illusion: a mind-blowing magic show with an invisible magician. How does he do it? Think Hemingway or Kesey instead of Faulkner or Kerouac. Long works hard to present the perfect details at the perfect time with the perfect, understated delivery. He is the maître d’ who seats you at an apparently unremarkable table knowing full well that the moon will rise over the bay at the exact moment the espresso and tiramisu arrive after dinner.

There’s A Somebody: A Novel is a blue-collar, regular Joe, decent hard-working American story that illuminates truth with the blast of a Kenworth’s headlights, hits us in the gut with a fast break pass down to the baseline and moves us with heart-broken, unspoken goodbyes. Like the proverbial “place where everyone knows your name,” the conversation is poignant, humorous, coarse and flirtatious. Etta James is on the antique jukebox, the working girls aren’t glamorous and there’s a payphone by the restrooms. When they holler “Last Call” and you’re among the last to leave, Long throws his arm around your shoulders and guides you out to the California night, pointing out the broken glass, uneven sidewalks and fast food trash not only so you don’t walk into them but so you fully appreciate the atmosphere.

He juxtaposes daydreams with nightmares, common sense with panic attacks, cold-heartedness with flawed, effusive love. He understands that the chorus is only as good as the verse and vice versa. He knows what you want to know and when; that it’s a California Poppy, the peak in the distance is Mt. Baldy and that owner/operators often rely on a broker. There’s A Somebody is a story of the open West Coast highway, downtown side streets and country roads. It’s a debut novel that will stand the test of time like a good rig or the Rose Bowl Parade.

[Joelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll say at the outset, this book is well outside of my typical choice in books, as I typically tend much more toward fantasy/science fiction. That said, I did find myself engaged by the storyline - although I gravitated toward the relatively untold stories of secondary characters (particularly Mrs G. and her family) much more than to the central storyline.
One of the reviews I'd seen for this book said that the main character, Jim, makes "surprising" choices. I would classify them more as stupid, but then, who among us hasn't made stupid choices? Particularly when we are at the young and stupid stage of life...
Ultimately, it's a book about learning to live with the past - both the things within and outside your control. I am sure it will resonate with many people, I do think it is more of a man's book.
(On a totally frivolous note, it was fun to find that Jim drove a Duster, since that was my first car way back when.)

[Linda Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his debut novel, THERE'S A SOMEBODY, Stephen Long delivered to this reader a thoroughly enjoyable ride about the choices made or, more notably, not made by his protagonist, Jim Bass. Emotionally paralyzed by a tragic event in his youth, Jim makes a decision in the first few pages that will shock many. How he deals with the aftermath of his choice and the people that befriend him on his journey of self-discovery turn this novel into a "can't put down page-turner". Mr. Long has drawn characters that are richly complex yet, in the end, are, simply, quite human. I recommend this book most highly and can't wait to see what Mr. Long has in store for us next.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a simple story about a young man who has difficulty with commitment. The author weaves themes of long-distance trucking, the west, single parenting, and Latino culture. Characters are predictable and a little too stereotypical for my taste. And the plot fails to gather complexity. But it is a nice easy read for a summer day that requires little heavy thought. I would also recommend it to young adults who could better identify with the characters.

[Lori]

The main character, Jim Bass, just can't seem to get things right on his road to redemption. But in the end he does. It's the journey to get there that will keep you reading!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Local author wrote a beautiful book that I was really engaged with. Loved it!