Kafka at the Beach: A Layman's Handbook for Those Falsely Accused of Felonies

by S.R. Bevilacqua

KAFKA AT THE BEACH: A Layman's Handbook for Those Falsely Accused of Felonies is the hilarious and shocking tale of a most devastating ordeal. One sunny day in Venice Beach, Steve B- steps out of his apartment and finds himself in a surreal nightmare that will devour the next year of his life. Run down by a road rage maniac, attacked in the street, brutalized by gun-crazy cops, and harassed by police detectives, Steve is dragged through the courts for months, facing mandatory prison sentences for imaginary crimes. Shoved through a maze of court-ordered therapy, Steve ultimately finds himself navigating a new labyrinth on national TV at the mercy of the snarling, modern-day Solomon known as Judge J-. Is daytime TV the last bastion of true justice in America? KAFKA AT THE BEACH: A Layman's Handbook for Those Falsely Accused of Felonies is a surreal tour of America's court systems; criminal and civil, real and televised.

384 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2013

About the author

S.R. Bevilacqua is a longtime resident of Venice, California, where he lives with his wife and young daughter. He was born in Philadelphia and attended the University of Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Keith Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the cautionary story of how a few seemingly innocuous actions can snowball into a world of red-tape/police/legal hell when those in charge have ego's larger than their IQ's and only act to satisfy those who yell the loudest.

It is superbly written and in such a manner that I often disturbed others nearby when I was reading it because I burst out laughing so often. It is that funny. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this writing is on par with the wit of Oscar Wilde.

In short, you learn some valuable lessons on how to stay out of trouble when you might have even the smallest run-in's with the law…and will find yourself laughing as your read this lesson.

[Doug Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Murphy's Law hitting the legal system in LA. Poor schmuck Steve has everything that can go wrong, go wrong, in a laugh out loud book that you just can't put down. Very funny book and somewhat scary that our legal system can be so utterly dysfunctional. My lawyer friends said it should be mandatory reading for all law students as they run into similar bizarre situations.
The author did a great job of putting the reader right there experiencing the inanity of incompetent/uncaring police and a bigoted (and besotted) DA.

[Gerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call it a docu-dramedy. That's because the real-life worst-case scenarios visited on this poor author by the justice system are just too sardonically bizarre to believe. As he's walking along the street, he gets hit by a car. The driver stops, and emerging from the unscathed auto appears to be a crazed woman. In a series of seemingly improbable events, the tables are turned on the victim such that he's accused of attacking the woman and brought up on charges. The book is his story of zigging and zagging through legal stratagems, both criminal and civil, ending up on a reality-based court TV show that dispenses its own brand of oddly concocted but curiously appropriate street justice. The Kafka reference is to quotes from the surrealist philosopher strewn throughout the text, reinforcing the notion that the author has somehow slipped down a rabbit hole crafted by Nietzsche - or Marx (Groucho, that is).

[Adrienne Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's surreal and hilarious and weird and compulsively readable. I couldn't put it down. I tore through it in a weekend, and was sad to see it end. It's so well written that it carries you along on a journey. You feel like you're with the writer every step of the way, from every twist and turn to every funny and telling detail. It has a great sense of place and a funny and strange assortment of characters, and while it addresses a lot of serious points, from police intimidation to the culture of victimization to the unfairness of how our legal system really works, it does so in a way that is so humorous and taut that it doesn't get in the way of the excitement and compelling nature of the story. I feel like I discovered a great new writer, and I can't wait to see what he writes next!

[trixer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would and should be a made for TV movie. Greg kinnear would have to be Steve. That being said , as the book opens and through the first half of the book the reader will find it incredible and seemingly implausible that the events that were clearly happening were in fact happening. The author puts a caustic sarcastic down right funny tone to each layer of mishap. If it were a movie I would be standing and cheering it's unexpected ending. It just goes to prove that you never know what life has in store for us.
I do know that this should not be the author's only book. Maybe a series ? But please , fiction next time !

[Rory Abel · Rating 3 out of 5]

All too often comparisons to Kafka are thrown around undeservedly. However, in this case it is most definitely earned. Steve Bevilacqua has crafted what feels like a true modern Kafka tale, with surreal, grinding absurdities piling mercilessly upon his hero. It is often hilarious, eliciting chuckles or outright laughter, and, occasionally, depressing when glimmers of sad truths about our society bubble up to the surface of the story. This is highly entertaining book and well worth checking out, which I heartily recommend you do.

[Matt Galvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man, this is a sad but funny cautionary story of how anyone of us can get screwed by a messed up system.

The craziest part about this story is it's not a story at all but true! Which makes the journey even more amazing when a regular joe ends up screwed by the system which lands him on court tv. It's even better if you live in LA as you can relate to it, not necessary but I found it even better because I did.

It's really outrageous and a really fun read. It really moves along at a quick pace, highly recommend it.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but I had a really hard time believing it was true. However, it most certainly is true.