Boy in the Air

by Don Bajema

Excellent condition. No wear or marks anywhere.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories

141 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of book you carry around with you in order to read your favorite stories while you are waiting for a friend on a train platform somewhere and you ask yourself: how far can I run? how high can I jump? Don Bajema reminds me of someone that I know, and I would quite like to strike up a correspondence with him because he likes Carson McCullers and Kathy Acker, too. Beautiful, clear prose. A few uncomfortable stories as you follow the "downward" direction of the protagonist, Eddie. These vignettes are not quite flashbacks but meditations, reflections. They remind me of other boys who come of age, like the movie Thumbsucker, set in a quiet part of town, with trees and shrubs, and a boy and a girl wearing outdated clothes, becoming a man and a woman. The struggles are underlined with hope. Put a hand under your chin and stare out of the window and wonder if you are the person that you thought you would be.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bajema articulates a development path generally overlooked, while documenting a polarized volatile period that is the foundation of today's dysfunction. The metaphor of 'in the air' continually explains our rootless, daring, and ultimately lost potential as manifested in a generation of young men devastated by a nation at war with it's own values, steeped in hypocritical actions, and too fat and happy to perceive its self destructive ways.
In spite of this seeming apocryphal tone, humanity, humor and ultimately the power of life persists like a shoot that splits a rock.
Southern California where Bukowski left off.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of short stories, scraps and trinkets about a troubled young man in an ex-military trailer park in the southwest. I read it when I was in highschool and it gave me hope, in a dark sort of way. I've never read Basketball Diaries, but I would guess it has a similar subject matter. He's not a master craftsman, some of the stories seem unfinished, but there are some gems in white trash just waiting to be uncovered.

It's on Henry Rollins' press so it get's punk rock points.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don Bajema is one of the best writers that you've probably never heard of. BitA features emotive and evocative prose that will lead you through singing highs and crushing lows.

[Anna June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrible and beautiful

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have had the pleasure of meeting Don and speaking to him. His direct and earthy nature comes through just as well in his writing as it does in person. There are some very beautiful Southern homey? images in this collection of short stories. There are also some very straightforward and powerful statements of opinion and disgust.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A former 500 Club regular.A collection of short pieces,some fictional,some semi-autobiographical.Life in Southern California in the 50's and 60's.
And a good guy to share a few drinks with.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book over and over again since High School. Great book about being and becoming a man.

[Roshawn Dilodovico · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most beautiful collections of short stories I have ever read.

[Jen Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, unknown writer. Hung out with him for a few days in college.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my college favorites.