What do you think?
Rate this book
Calm Before An Earthquake
Three teenagers gather for their last 420 smokeout and a few moments of coercive friendship, good music and halcyon narcotics.
Little do they realize their customized dooms await them...
Calm Before An Earthquake - the first of Felix Purat's California Tales - is a tremulous coming-of-age tale cloaked in the ominous nostalgia of a disguised golden age. A powerful refutation of "the end of history" concept, this mouse of a novel lives in a room with an elephant. Namely: what went wrong in Eden?
Little do they realize their customized dooms await them...
Calm Before An Earthquake - the first of Felix Purat's California Tales - is a tremulous coming-of-age tale cloaked in the ominous nostalgia of a disguised golden age. A powerful refutation of "the end of history" concept, this mouse of a novel lives in a room with an elephant. Namely: what went wrong in Eden?
286 pages, Paperback
Published June 29, 2023
18 people want to read
About the author
Felix Purat
4 booksFelix Purat is a poet, novelist, essay writer, traveler, Philip K. Dick scholar, recluse and connoisseur of many simple pleasures. Originally from Berkeley, CA, Felix currently resides in Greater Slavia.
His published works include a novel (Calm Before an Earthquake), a satire (The Taco Psychosis) and a poetry chapbook (Night Journeys).
His published works include a novel (Calm Before an Earthquake), a satire (The Taco Psychosis) and a poetry chapbook (Night Journeys).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 28, 2023
Felix Purat is one of the best writers of essays on Substack, where his book reviews are keenly perceptive and rich with insight.
In this novel, Purat reveals, at least to me, what it's like to be young and to not yet have discovered one's values or purpose in life. It should appeal to twentysomethings and college students who passed through a phase in their lives like that.
Since Purat is a Catholic writer who is interested in what is eternal, I expect great things from him as a novelist over the next two decades. I believe he will in time write novels and short stories of enduring meaning and value, just as he's doing with almost every essay. I'm glad his quest as a novelist is underway.
In this novel, Purat reveals, at least to me, what it's like to be young and to not yet have discovered one's values or purpose in life. It should appeal to twentysomethings and college students who passed through a phase in their lives like that.
Since Purat is a Catholic writer who is interested in what is eternal, I expect great things from him as a novelist over the next two decades. I believe he will in time write novels and short stories of enduring meaning and value, just as he's doing with almost every essay. I'm glad his quest as a novelist is underway.
June 23, 2024
I didn't know what to expect from this book, but I was still pleasantly surprised. I was compelled to read the book based on its cover, and many of the subjects brought up in the book were somewhat shocking, but really fascinating to explore.
Felix Purat writes like a philosopher, exploring the conversations between three unlikely friends in a way that urges you to think. He doesn't outright tell the reader the point of the book (although some tangents of the Hippie are more clear bouts of wisdom), but instead leaves you to discover it yourself
The story itself is fascinating and kept me reading. I enjoyed the characters, and the themes were intriguing. The only issue for me is that the way some things are revealed about the characters seem too abrupt. There was also some dialogue when two others met up with the gang that was a bit rough around the edges, and pulled me out of the immersion of what happened to Brad. Otherwise, I would highly recommend this book. Especially if you love music.
Felix Purat writes like a philosopher, exploring the conversations between three unlikely friends in a way that urges you to think. He doesn't outright tell the reader the point of the book (although some tangents of the Hippie are more clear bouts of wisdom), but instead leaves you to discover it yourself
The story itself is fascinating and kept me reading. I enjoyed the characters, and the themes were intriguing. The only issue for me is that the way some things are revealed about the characters seem too abrupt. There was also some dialogue when two others met up with the gang that was a bit rough around the edges, and pulled me out of the immersion of what happened to Brad. Otherwise, I would highly recommend this book. Especially if you love music.
July 26, 2023
I dig it! And you will too. Especially music lovers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews