What do you think?
Rate this book
The Shithead: The Advance Reader Edition
382 pages, Paperback
Published June 10, 2024
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 11, 2024
Well. What do I say about this book? The narrator took me on a wild ride of emotions. I went from wanting to wring his neck for being such a shithead to rooting him on and wanting everything to work out for him in the end.
I was uncertain why there was a framing story. It didn't seem to add much to the storyline. Was I a shithead for not seeing the reason behind all the tense changes, or was that because it's an ARC copy that hasn't been fully edited yet? Either way, it was distracting.
As a trauma survivor still working through a lot of BS, this book was difficult to read at times, and I'm not sure the ending was all that satisfying. But, hey, what do I know? If I had the kind of intense "therapy" this guy had, maybe I'd be "cured" too. Anyone know of any of this specific type of therapist?
I was uncertain why there was a framing story. It didn't seem to add much to the storyline. Was I a shithead for not seeing the reason behind all the tense changes, or was that because it's an ARC copy that hasn't been fully edited yet? Either way, it was distracting.
As a trauma survivor still working through a lot of BS, this book was difficult to read at times, and I'm not sure the ending was all that satisfying. But, hey, what do I know? If I had the kind of intense "therapy" this guy had, maybe I'd be "cured" too. Anyone know of any of this specific type of therapist?
September 21, 2024
The Shithead by Tim Grahl
ASIN : B0D54S215N
Publisher : Story Grid Publishing LLC (September 19, 2024)
Publication date : September 19, 2024
Calling someone a shithead is a more common remark made about something stupid that someone else just did or said; it’s rarely a comment one makes about oneself with any conviction… especially on a daily basis. If you have any curiosity about what sort of life a self-appointed shithead would be like, then I recommend Tim Grahl’s book “The Shithead” for a more in-depth description of such a person.
Tim’s main character, Eric, would be the first to tell you, "If someone looks at my life logically, it’s clear everything has gone horribly wrong.” He does step-fall-slide into one mess after another with such frequency that you think (and hope) that Mr. Grahl will take pity on Eric and toss him a rope. But no, as you turn the page, another twist to Eric’s narrative pulls him even deeper into his self-made pool of quicksand.
As each new twist became part of Eric’s story, I was surprised to find that they were actually quite logical events. I can only say, “Wow!” and be amazed at how Mr. Grahl even thought about adding those new events into the story.
I must admit that around 70% of reading “The Shithead,” I almost called it quits. Not because the story was terrible but because it was quite the opposite. I’ve experienced life events akin to Eric's and made many bad decisions, all while thinking I was improving things. As Eric’s life continued to spiral out of control, I was hit pretty hard emotionally as this narrative continued to build upon his misery. One always hopes for a happily ever after ending to stories like this one, but by that 70% mark, I honestly didn’t think there would/could be one. (I'm still waiting for mine).
So, does author Tim Grahl’s “The Shithead” have a happy ending? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
I was given an ARC from the author and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
ASIN : B0D54S215N
Publisher : Story Grid Publishing LLC (September 19, 2024)
Publication date : September 19, 2024
Calling someone a shithead is a more common remark made about something stupid that someone else just did or said; it’s rarely a comment one makes about oneself with any conviction… especially on a daily basis. If you have any curiosity about what sort of life a self-appointed shithead would be like, then I recommend Tim Grahl’s book “The Shithead” for a more in-depth description of such a person.
Tim’s main character, Eric, would be the first to tell you, "If someone looks at my life logically, it’s clear everything has gone horribly wrong.” He does step-fall-slide into one mess after another with such frequency that you think (and hope) that Mr. Grahl will take pity on Eric and toss him a rope. But no, as you turn the page, another twist to Eric’s narrative pulls him even deeper into his self-made pool of quicksand.
As each new twist became part of Eric’s story, I was surprised to find that they were actually quite logical events. I can only say, “Wow!” and be amazed at how Mr. Grahl even thought about adding those new events into the story.
I must admit that around 70% of reading “The Shithead,” I almost called it quits. Not because the story was terrible but because it was quite the opposite. I’ve experienced life events akin to Eric's and made many bad decisions, all while thinking I was improving things. As Eric’s life continued to spiral out of control, I was hit pretty hard emotionally as this narrative continued to build upon his misery. One always hopes for a happily ever after ending to stories like this one, but by that 70% mark, I honestly didn’t think there would/could be one. (I'm still waiting for mine).
So, does author Tim Grahl’s “The Shithead” have a happy ending? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
I was given an ARC from the author and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
September 19, 2024
I loved reading this book! Having never read any of Tim's work before and only seeing Shawn Coyne's video recommendation I had no idea what a 'Story in 50 songs' was going to be like. I usually read murder mysteries and science fiction so I kind of worried it would be 50 scenes written in rhyming lyrics or something difficult to wade through like that, but NO, I was gratefully wrong. I even managed to recognize some of the chapter titles as lines from songs. An extremely readable story, it's also truthful in the actions and reactions of the protagonist and supporting characters. I was kept guessing all the way through the story - and my guesses were refreshingly wrong! So that's a plus. I felt the emotional stress of 'Eric' quite acutely, which was uncomfortable but like any second-hand experience of another's trauma, it should be. Personally, I think it's very difficult task to portray the divine and very subjective experience of healing childhood trauma in words but Tim's painted a very good picture, leaving some things to the reader's imagination. And delivered the mature payoff at the end. I bought the paperback ARC for USD$22 (cost of postage to Australia) and it was worth every penny.
August 20, 2024
Firstly, thanks for the free book, Tim! It was definitely worth the read. I’d be lying, however, if I claimed to share Shawn’s overwhelmingly positive opinion. I’d give it 2.5 stars if I could, and I hope I can properly express my thoughts here.
I wish there was a word that meant “in between macro and micro writing,” because that’s where Tim shines. The pacing here is excellent. I absolutely breezed through this book. I can tell he’s put a lot of work into scene structure and narrative drive, because I kept saying to myself, “Oh, I can just read another chapter,” and ended up reading 50 pages.
My issues are with the far zoomed-out, big-picture, macro writing, and the super zoomed-in, line-by-line, micro writing. As I said, the in between is awesome.
Macro:
To me, the story seems to lack focus. At first, I thought this was a book about a guy who gets screwed by the IRS. Couple chapters later, I thought it was about a guy who gets a great job offer. Then I thought it was about a guy who seeks crazy hallucinogenic therapy. There seemed like 3 completely different global inciting incidents, and with each “call to adventure,” the story veered off tracks to me and made me wonder what the overarching throughline was. Even at the end, I found myself asking, “What’s the main storyline here?” The internal genre is clear cut, but the “dodging the IRS” and “going to therapy” plots seemed like disjointed side quests rather than one story weaved together.
The subplot with Lori and the psychotherapy—which was ultimately meaningful in terms of the protagonist’s arc—nevertheless felt lackluster for me because Lori herself seemed more like a plot device than a character. Her lines consisted almost exclusively of “You can’t stop now” or “This isn’t easy,” and we never get a resolution to who she really is, what her motivations are, or what the deal is with her weird hallucination-inducing therapy. She just vanished as a character once her dramatic purpose was served. I could very clearly see the author’s hand in the work there rather than getting immersed in the story.
Speaking of vanishing characters, I’m not sure what narrative purpose Bob served, or why he needed to be a figment of Eric’s imagination. It seemed to me like it was included just to be a scene’s turning point and nothing more. Eric didn’t even seem to react to the news that this man he’s been interacting with for months doesn’t exist. He just shrugged and kept going. Strange.
Additionally, the framing device—where Eric is telling the story to Faye, who I presume is his daughter-in-law—fell flat for me. If it was removed from the book entirely, I don’t think any substance would be lost. Maybe this wouldn’t have been so big a con for me if Faye as a character didn’t disappear for 100 pages during the middle act. When she showed up again, I had actually forgotten she was in the story at all.
Additionally, and this might just be me being a moron, but I’m also not exactly sure what the point to the song titles is. It’s not mentioned anywhere directly in the text or an author’s note, so I’m left wondering. This unanswered question wouldn’t bother me so much, I think, if the subtitle of the book wasn’t “A Novel in 50 Songs.” Why are the songs significant? Is it more than “These 50 songs kinda match the vibes of each chapter, so I decided to name them after them?”
Micro:
Every once in a while the sentence structure is clunky. I had to reread several sentences multiple times to understand the meaning. Additionally, there’s a lot of “telling” in this book, where “showing” would have been preferred. One example I can think of is when Aneel is introduced (I forget the specific scene). I also feel like Tim occasionally doesn’t trust his reader to pick up on the subtext of a line. For instance, a character will say something, and then narration will explain the meaning behind it. I just wish the action or dialogue would be allowed to speak for itself. One example is the middle paragraph of page 190. We know you’re furious, dude. You don’t need to spell it out for us.
Overall, like I said, it’s worth a read. But to me, this book fell flat.
I wish there was a word that meant “in between macro and micro writing,” because that’s where Tim shines. The pacing here is excellent. I absolutely breezed through this book. I can tell he’s put a lot of work into scene structure and narrative drive, because I kept saying to myself, “Oh, I can just read another chapter,” and ended up reading 50 pages.
My issues are with the far zoomed-out, big-picture, macro writing, and the super zoomed-in, line-by-line, micro writing. As I said, the in between is awesome.
Macro:
To me, the story seems to lack focus. At first, I thought this was a book about a guy who gets screwed by the IRS. Couple chapters later, I thought it was about a guy who gets a great job offer. Then I thought it was about a guy who seeks crazy hallucinogenic therapy. There seemed like 3 completely different global inciting incidents, and with each “call to adventure,” the story veered off tracks to me and made me wonder what the overarching throughline was. Even at the end, I found myself asking, “What’s the main storyline here?” The internal genre is clear cut, but the “dodging the IRS” and “going to therapy” plots seemed like disjointed side quests rather than one story weaved together.
The subplot with Lori and the psychotherapy—which was ultimately meaningful in terms of the protagonist’s arc—nevertheless felt lackluster for me because Lori herself seemed more like a plot device than a character. Her lines consisted almost exclusively of “You can’t stop now” or “This isn’t easy,” and we never get a resolution to who she really is, what her motivations are, or what the deal is with her weird hallucination-inducing therapy. She just vanished as a character once her dramatic purpose was served. I could very clearly see the author’s hand in the work there rather than getting immersed in the story.
Speaking of vanishing characters, I’m not sure what narrative purpose Bob served, or why he needed to be a figment of Eric’s imagination. It seemed to me like it was included just to be a scene’s turning point and nothing more. Eric didn’t even seem to react to the news that this man he’s been interacting with for months doesn’t exist. He just shrugged and kept going. Strange.
Additionally, the framing device—where Eric is telling the story to Faye, who I presume is his daughter-in-law—fell flat for me. If it was removed from the book entirely, I don’t think any substance would be lost. Maybe this wouldn’t have been so big a con for me if Faye as a character didn’t disappear for 100 pages during the middle act. When she showed up again, I had actually forgotten she was in the story at all.
Additionally, and this might just be me being a moron, but I’m also not exactly sure what the point to the song titles is. It’s not mentioned anywhere directly in the text or an author’s note, so I’m left wondering. This unanswered question wouldn’t bother me so much, I think, if the subtitle of the book wasn’t “A Novel in 50 Songs.” Why are the songs significant? Is it more than “These 50 songs kinda match the vibes of each chapter, so I decided to name them after them?”
Micro:
Every once in a while the sentence structure is clunky. I had to reread several sentences multiple times to understand the meaning. Additionally, there’s a lot of “telling” in this book, where “showing” would have been preferred. One example I can think of is when Aneel is introduced (I forget the specific scene). I also feel like Tim occasionally doesn’t trust his reader to pick up on the subtext of a line. For instance, a character will say something, and then narration will explain the meaning behind it. I just wish the action or dialogue would be allowed to speak for itself. One example is the middle paragraph of page 190. We know you’re furious, dude. You don’t need to spell it out for us.
Overall, like I said, it’s worth a read. But to me, this book fell flat.
Read
August 23, 2024Free ARC in exchange for honest review.
The Shithead is a little hard to categorize. The best I can describe it is that it's a character study of a man named Eric, related in first person via flashbacks during a meeting in a coffee shop with another character who turns out to be his daughter-in-law, with a tiny bit of a supernatural/metaphysical element (there are two characters that you're not quite sure who/what they are - are they really there, are they figments of Eric's imagination, are they some kind of guardian angels - who/what are they, are they even really there? It's left to the reader's imagination to fill in the blank).
Basically, The Shithead is about a guy sent into a complete tailspin when several events converge at once and he can no longer 'fake it, till he makes it'. His business is failing, he's in debt up to his eyeballs, the IRS is after him for nearly 6 figures in unpaid taxes, and his wife has had it with him - and she doesn't even know about the IRS or the failing business yet - but when she finds out the extent of the mess he's made, his marriage implodes. He thinks he can fix everything if only he can get THE JOB - an opportunity to run a political Super PAC. But to get the job, is he going to have to sell his soul and everything else he cares about?
It's a well-paced, easy read - by easy I mean, 'readability' - I read it in a few hours in a straight shot, but the story itself is a masterclass in progressive complications, it was giving ME anxiety wondering how and if Eric was going to dig his way out of the mess that was his life because all through the story, he just kept digging himself in so much deeper, I felt like he was going to pop out in China any minute. I couldn't see how he was going to fix anything.
But he does fix things, and in doing so offers both a cautionary tale and a life lesson about finding and embracing the broken parts of yourself in order to gain freedom from the lies you've told yourself about who you really are, about all the walls you build to protect yourself from the truth that they're lies, and the destructive things you'll do to keep those walls intact at all costs - even when it costs you everything you care about.
I 'get' that some reviewers were put off by the way the story is presented because it doesn't really follow the more ubiquitous novel format people are used to - but I read any and everything, so I didn't have any issues with the format and method of storytelling, and really, you won't either - especially, if you're looking for something that's not the 'same-old'. It's well written and well worth the read.
The Shithead is a little hard to categorize. The best I can describe it is that it's a character study of a man named Eric, related in first person via flashbacks during a meeting in a coffee shop with another character who turns out to be his daughter-in-law, with a tiny bit of a supernatural/metaphysical element (there are two characters that you're not quite sure who/what they are - are they really there, are they figments of Eric's imagination, are they some kind of guardian angels - who/what are they, are they even really there? It's left to the reader's imagination to fill in the blank).
Basically, The Shithead is about a guy sent into a complete tailspin when several events converge at once and he can no longer 'fake it, till he makes it'. His business is failing, he's in debt up to his eyeballs, the IRS is after him for nearly 6 figures in unpaid taxes, and his wife has had it with him - and she doesn't even know about the IRS or the failing business yet - but when she finds out the extent of the mess he's made, his marriage implodes. He thinks he can fix everything if only he can get THE JOB - an opportunity to run a political Super PAC. But to get the job, is he going to have to sell his soul and everything else he cares about?
It's a well-paced, easy read - by easy I mean, 'readability' - I read it in a few hours in a straight shot, but the story itself is a masterclass in progressive complications, it was giving ME anxiety wondering how and if Eric was going to dig his way out of the mess that was his life because all through the story, he just kept digging himself in so much deeper, I felt like he was going to pop out in China any minute. I couldn't see how he was going to fix anything.
But he does fix things, and in doing so offers both a cautionary tale and a life lesson about finding and embracing the broken parts of yourself in order to gain freedom from the lies you've told yourself about who you really are, about all the walls you build to protect yourself from the truth that they're lies, and the destructive things you'll do to keep those walls intact at all costs - even when it costs you everything you care about.
I 'get' that some reviewers were put off by the way the story is presented because it doesn't really follow the more ubiquitous novel format people are used to - but I read any and everything, so I didn't have any issues with the format and method of storytelling, and really, you won't either - especially, if you're looking for something that's not the 'same-old'. It's well written and well worth the read.
August 12, 2024
This book was an emotional journey, with some real-deal marriage/family stuff, and some deep digging by the author. There was also some mystical elements, which really added to the main character's slog through his inner world, which was holding him back from living more authentically. I haven't given myself the chance to read much fiction in the last couple of years, and I read this in a three-hour stretch last night. It was definitely worth my time.
September 2, 2024
4 1/2 stars. This is an important book.
While there was definitely too much foul language for my taste, I’m glad I read Tim Grahl’s book. I have hung around in Story Grid circles for a few years now, and heard about Tim’s writing journey, so I was really curious to discover what Shawn Coyne was so excited about. And I get it. This is a deep book with everything firing and integrating like it should. It also speaks to the heart and explores the dark places of the human psyche in a way that is accessible to those who probably need it most.
Set in contemporary Nashville, it follows the story of a small-time book marketer who has made a mess of his life and just keeps digging the hole deeper and deeper in his quest for self-worth until one day, a strange form of divine intervention gets him to start facing himself.
The writing is compelling and pacey, with a satisfying catharsis at the end.
The strong language and frequent F-bombs did bother me, especially as EVERY character bar the kids used them. I thought more character specific substitutes could have been used, especially for Marie and her father, and would have served to differentiate the forces of antagonism a little better. Apart from that–which might be a personal taste thing–I can honestly say this book is worth reading.
While there was definitely too much foul language for my taste, I’m glad I read Tim Grahl’s book. I have hung around in Story Grid circles for a few years now, and heard about Tim’s writing journey, so I was really curious to discover what Shawn Coyne was so excited about. And I get it. This is a deep book with everything firing and integrating like it should. It also speaks to the heart and explores the dark places of the human psyche in a way that is accessible to those who probably need it most.
Set in contemporary Nashville, it follows the story of a small-time book marketer who has made a mess of his life and just keeps digging the hole deeper and deeper in his quest for self-worth until one day, a strange form of divine intervention gets him to start facing himself.
The writing is compelling and pacey, with a satisfying catharsis at the end.
The strong language and frequent F-bombs did bother me, especially as EVERY character bar the kids used them. I thought more character specific substitutes could have been used, especially for Marie and her father, and would have served to differentiate the forces of antagonism a little better. Apart from that–which might be a personal taste thing–I can honestly say this book is worth reading.
August 29, 2024
Couldn't put it down! I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. I really liked the imagery! I felt like I was falling down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland at some points, really fun to read. I also wanted to cry at some parts 😢. Such a good story and would highly recommend!
September 19, 2024
I was a beta reader of the digital edition. I read this mostly because Tim talked about it on several of the podcasts and vlogs I consume, and the offer to see Tim's own work made me interested in discovering how he executes on what he talks about. Then I started to read it.
Within the first three chapters, I was seeing myself in the shoes of the protagonist, Eric. It was easy to see how my life might be just like this guy, with a few different choices in my own life. I honestly read through it in just a few days, foregoing several other entertainment opportunities that were available. I would love a short story about what happens in the next two years as Eric and his family work out the damage from Eric acting like the title's sake. Yes, I was that invested in the family by the end. The book felt a lot like a less silly sit-com. It did not make the situations too comedic, so the drama of the situations was still present. However, the gravity of the experience was tempered by the tone of the character's perceptions and inner narration.
I liked the book, the writing was comfortable to read which made me forget why I was reading it. The structure fell to the background and the reading sessions became more about "what happens next" than the structure, which for me is a huge part of enjoying books. I went back and did a second read through to see if there were any details about the writing structures that stood out from the things Tim teaches on. I feel like this was a textbook execution of the skills Tim talks about, pun intended. But, as I said, the story continued to grab me and make me forget about the structures, even the second time I read it. It is an excellent book. Since it is not my usual genre, I think the fact that I like it speaks to it strength in my opinion.
Within the first three chapters, I was seeing myself in the shoes of the protagonist, Eric. It was easy to see how my life might be just like this guy, with a few different choices in my own life. I honestly read through it in just a few days, foregoing several other entertainment opportunities that were available. I would love a short story about what happens in the next two years as Eric and his family work out the damage from Eric acting like the title's sake. Yes, I was that invested in the family by the end. The book felt a lot like a less silly sit-com. It did not make the situations too comedic, so the drama of the situations was still present. However, the gravity of the experience was tempered by the tone of the character's perceptions and inner narration.
I liked the book, the writing was comfortable to read which made me forget why I was reading it. The structure fell to the background and the reading sessions became more about "what happens next" than the structure, which for me is a huge part of enjoying books. I went back and did a second read through to see if there were any details about the writing structures that stood out from the things Tim teaches on. I feel like this was a textbook execution of the skills Tim talks about, pun intended. But, as I said, the story continued to grab me and make me forget about the structures, even the second time I read it. It is an excellent book. Since it is not my usual genre, I think the fact that I like it speaks to it strength in my opinion.
September 5, 2024
I think that Tim was very brave to put himself out there like this -- opening up his writing to all of those who follow his teachings and will be anxious to see if he succeeds at practicing what he preaches. And he does succeed! It was really a treat to see how he crafted this book, one compelling scene after another. I especially liked the progressive complications. The main character has clear goals, motivation, and conflict from the very start, and they just get more juicy as the book goes on. A real page-turner, as other reviews have pointed out. Plus, the built-in audience member is very clever. Congrats to Tim on that success!
The only reasons I didn't give it 5 stars were: I found the therapy sequences of interior landscape slow and overly detailed. The concept is great, but I think it could have gotten across with less description of dream-like threats. I kept wanting to get back to the main story. Which is good news for the main story!
The other thing that was slightly lacking for me was a sense of joyful whimsy or quirkiness in the writing style, like following the story rules accidentally outshone the love of language. On the other hand, there were some really fantastic images and word choices, like the scene where a crack in the driveway is compared to the main character's marital bed.
The shifts between present tense and past tense verbs was jarring for me, but I assume this will be fixed by the time the book is officially launched.
Overall, thanks for showing how it is done with scene after scene of escalating conflict, while also making the story feel personal and meaningful.
The only reasons I didn't give it 5 stars were: I found the therapy sequences of interior landscape slow and overly detailed. The concept is great, but I think it could have gotten across with less description of dream-like threats. I kept wanting to get back to the main story. Which is good news for the main story!
The other thing that was slightly lacking for me was a sense of joyful whimsy or quirkiness in the writing style, like following the story rules accidentally outshone the love of language. On the other hand, there were some really fantastic images and word choices, like the scene where a crack in the driveway is compared to the main character's marital bed.
The shifts between present tense and past tense verbs was jarring for me, but I assume this will be fixed by the time the book is officially launched.
Overall, thanks for showing how it is done with scene after scene of escalating conflict, while also making the story feel personal and meaningful.
August 28, 2024
It felt like an action movie, I got so stressed out reading it.
For storycraft, yes, I think the story works great. But for finding deeper and more complicated truths, I just couldn’t get there.
I believe the protagonist was deeply humiliated by his financial troubles, yes. I believe he had staggering childhood trauma, yes.
But - you know what I didn’t believe? I didn’t believe this character would whip his child-self. Even a man who regularly says, “Fuck you Shithead” to himself wouldn’t automatically harm a child. —not even himself as a child.
For all of his negatives, -even his negatives toward his actual children-, I just don’t believe that this character would pick of a whip and use it on a kid.
Shithead? Sure. Violent-toward-a-bleeding-child shithead? I don’t think so. Not even in a hypnotic state.
Anyway. This isn’t a genre I normally read. I like fluffy and/or dirty romance, so this was a big departure for me. I’m still glad I read it, and grateful for the advance copy.
For storycraft, yes, I think the story works great. But for finding deeper and more complicated truths, I just couldn’t get there.
I believe the protagonist was deeply humiliated by his financial troubles, yes. I believe he had staggering childhood trauma, yes.
But - you know what I didn’t believe? I didn’t believe this character would whip his child-self. Even a man who regularly says, “Fuck you Shithead” to himself wouldn’t automatically harm a child. —not even himself as a child.
For all of his negatives, -even his negatives toward his actual children-, I just don’t believe that this character would pick of a whip and use it on a kid.
Shithead? Sure. Violent-toward-a-bleeding-child shithead? I don’t think so. Not even in a hypnotic state.
Anyway. This isn’t a genre I normally read. I like fluffy and/or dirty romance, so this was a big departure for me. I’m still glad I read it, and grateful for the advance copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2024
An Intriguing Novel about the Business World of Present-Day America
This is a remarkable story about stress-filled life in contemporary America. This story has a macabre plot, full of unpredictable and suspenseful twists and turns. Its mood is desperate and dark, menacing at times. Its pace is relentless. It has a mixed bag of curious characters. We watch how a middle-aged Nashville promo man fights his way through a veritable Dante's Inferno of trouble in order to save his marriage, his precious home and family, his reputation, his dear life and immortal soul, from certain destruction - all of it - at great cost to a desperate Protagonist. This Neo Gothic Tennessee Drama is a must-read for all aspiring entrepreneurial wannabes, who hope to survive - let alone prosper - in the ruthlessly competitive contemporary world of American business. It is certainly well worth the read.
Robert W. Zimmerman
This is a remarkable story about stress-filled life in contemporary America. This story has a macabre plot, full of unpredictable and suspenseful twists and turns. Its mood is desperate and dark, menacing at times. Its pace is relentless. It has a mixed bag of curious characters. We watch how a middle-aged Nashville promo man fights his way through a veritable Dante's Inferno of trouble in order to save his marriage, his precious home and family, his reputation, his dear life and immortal soul, from certain destruction - all of it - at great cost to a desperate Protagonist. This Neo Gothic Tennessee Drama is a must-read for all aspiring entrepreneurial wannabes, who hope to survive - let alone prosper - in the ruthlessly competitive contemporary world of American business. It is certainly well worth the read.
Robert W. Zimmerman
September 20, 2024
Whatever you may have heard about the plot of this book, you don’t know what’s in store for you. The story begins with the mundane life of a husband and father, a man who is fighting hard to fulfill his obligations. It is very much like the beginning of a roller coaster ride where the car starts on a flat track. As you read along, you will realize you are ascending higher and higher. You have no idea what is on the other side of that precipice. The book will take you to a place you cannot predict and show you an inner life that you will surely recognize.
This story will feel familiar in such a way as to bring to light what you already know but may have not been able to articulate. It shines a light on the things we say to ourselves and has the potential to change the life of anyone who has ever called himself a shithead. It does all this while being a fast, fun, modern and engaging story. You’re going to want to recommend this book to your friends and family.
This story will feel familiar in such a way as to bring to light what you already know but may have not been able to articulate. It shines a light on the things we say to ourselves and has the potential to change the life of anyone who has ever called himself a shithead. It does all this while being a fast, fun, modern and engaging story. You’re going to want to recommend this book to your friends and family.
September 19, 2024
I have a lot of respect for Tim Grahl, so when he asked for volunteers to read a free, advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, I raised my hand. Then I saw the title and I almost changed my mind.
Not my usual kind of reading, for sure, but I'm glad I stuck with it! The story and characters are engaging, and it's well written.
Eric's in trouble, and it's trouble of his own making. His income is sporadic because he doesn't pursue his business seriously. He overspends in an attempt to impress people, primarily his wife and her father. He says he wants the best for his kids, but he won't spend any time with them.
Sound like anyone you know?
Every time a problem comes up, he insists he can fix it.
Until he can't.
His struggles just keep driving him deeper into the hole. What will it take for him to save himself and all he holds dear?
Not my usual kind of reading, for sure, but I'm glad I stuck with it! The story and characters are engaging, and it's well written.
Eric's in trouble, and it's trouble of his own making. His income is sporadic because he doesn't pursue his business seriously. He overspends in an attempt to impress people, primarily his wife and her father. He says he wants the best for his kids, but he won't spend any time with them.
Sound like anyone you know?
Every time a problem comes up, he insists he can fix it.
Until he can't.
His struggles just keep driving him deeper into the hole. What will it take for him to save himself and all he holds dear?
August 28, 2024
Thanks for the Free copy. I did started to read it immediately in order to finish before the release.
I felt the book somewhat stressy, I didn’t put me at ease a bit like a thriller I guess. I m personally not fond of that kind of style.
I was unsure what the story was about: the irs debt the job offer or the hypnotic sessions. I was a bit lost.
Now that all came together and rest has been restored I think the book was too predictable.
It is the simple theme : from all goes wrong to a climax and then they all lived long and happy.
This has been done too many times and is too cliche to make it a great work imho.
Ps.
I also do agree with the fact that the personage Fay does not adds anything to the story.
I felt the book somewhat stressy, I didn’t put me at ease a bit like a thriller I guess. I m personally not fond of that kind of style.
I was unsure what the story was about: the irs debt the job offer or the hypnotic sessions. I was a bit lost.
Now that all came together and rest has been restored I think the book was too predictable.
It is the simple theme : from all goes wrong to a climax and then they all lived long and happy.
This has been done too many times and is too cliche to make it a great work imho.
Ps.
I also do agree with the fact that the personage Fay does not adds anything to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2024
The book is the proof that Story Grid method works. Each scene is packed with tension, it's goal oriented, and it ends with a new problem, which makes you want to read more, to see what happens next.
For me, the main character was not much relatable, and I couldn't root for him, since he was liar and pretty much irresponsible human being, but the more you read, and the more he changes, the more likable he becomes.
The prose was fine. Straight to the point, but lacks certain images, which could make it richer.
Overall, enjoyable read, 4/5, marks it as one of those book which were worth reading.
For me, the main character was not much relatable, and I couldn't root for him, since he was liar and pretty much irresponsible human being, but the more you read, and the more he changes, the more likable he becomes.
The prose was fine. Straight to the point, but lacks certain images, which could make it richer.
Overall, enjoyable read, 4/5, marks it as one of those book which were worth reading.
September 19, 2024
In his new novel “The Shithead”, Tim Grahl presents what may seem, at first, to be a standard tale of an ordinary man who, through no particular fault of his own, finds his life quickly spiraling out of control. He has financial problems which lead him to make decisions which don’t align well with his personal values. You may think that you’ve seen this story before. You may think that you know where it’s going. However, there is a genre-bending twist which comes up fairly soon that promises redemption from an unexpected source. Without leaving any spoilers I would just like to say, stick with it. It’s worth it.
November 1, 2024
Visceral and astonishing. It's centred around a man and his marriage. It reminded me of Elizabeth Taylor in her rendition of Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf and the veils shrouding a ' normal ' marriage get burned down and you see the real psychological labyrinth roiling barely underneath. It's all there, in between every line. By page ten I was riveted. It was no longer a book but a story. And so good it felt like a history. I kept wanting to shout ' how can't you see?'. How Tim Grahl did it amazes and heartens me. This work puts the lie to a myth. Writing can be learned, here is the proof.
September 1, 2024
Received advance review copy.
I had no expectations or idea of what I was reading but thoroughly enjoyed. Fast paced, good read of a redemption story.
I was good with Bob & Lori’s roles but went back to figure out who Faye was (harder for me with ebooks than with physical books for some reason). I eventually figured out that all would be revealed.
Great progressive slide into meaninglessness while desperately searching for meaning.
I had no expectations or idea of what I was reading but thoroughly enjoyed. Fast paced, good read of a redemption story.
I was good with Bob & Lori’s roles but went back to figure out who Faye was (harder for me with ebooks than with physical books for some reason). I eventually figured out that all would be revealed.
Great progressive slide into meaninglessness while desperately searching for meaning.
September 19, 2024
This wasn't what I was expecting. It's fast paced and hard to put down. Some of the things that happen, like the therapist sessions, are somewhat confusing. I didn't know whether this was meant to be a paranormal experience or whether the character was having a real breakdown. I had my suspicions about why he was seeing what he was seeing, and they proved accurate.
September 21, 2024
I can't remember the last time I stayed up past midnight because I couldn't put down a book. A fascinating novel about, literally, a shithead. But a shithead I cared about and couldn't stop rooting for, no matter how many unwise decisions he made. For readers who are not afraid to read a book that pushes the boundaries of genre and imagination, get ready for a journey.
August 17, 2024
A fast enjoyable read that forces you to reflect on domesticity and it's worth. With a main character so memorable he'll sit in your head alongside Holden Caulfield, Norman Bates and Frances Cauldhame.
August 20, 2024
Interesting read on a redemption story. Easy to read and short chapters.
September 11, 2024
I was absolutely on my seat throughout the whole book. Very well written, fast paced, and a page turning story that you can’t put down. I loved it.
August 23, 2024
I received an advanced reader copy of this book.
Great book. Not normally my genre, but I liked it anyway. The buildup gave me a lot of anxiety reading it.
Great book. Not normally my genre, but I liked it anyway. The buildup gave me a lot of anxiety reading it.
September 23, 2024
I’ve heard that there are no new stories and everything fits into an archetype etc, but my experience of reading The Shithead felt pretty unique. I’ve never read anything like it.
What to say …?! This novel took me for a ride. I read an ARC and had no idea what to expect. The title is interesting, right?! Provocative, but not particularly promising of a fun or relaxing read.
The narrative is immersive and well-written in first person, present tense (e.g. I am experiencing/seeing/thinking this right now) and told from the point of view of a self-proclaimed ‘shithead.’
It was, as predicted, not a particularly fun or relaxing read. However, it was extremely engaging and intense. I was drawn into the protagonist’s experience and couldn’t put the book down at times. I tend to empathise with the emotions of characters pretty deeply and absorb the mood of whatever book I’m reading, so for a couple days I was in quite an odd place emotionally, especially since Eric doesn’t like himself- and he’s telling the story! So it’s kind of hard for the reader to like him either. But as he spirals deeper, we begin to see and understand, but I won’t give away any spoilers.
The ending was a bit surprising - and surprisingly satisfying. :) Tim Grahl has written this story with incredible skill, and I highly recommend it. Just, if you are empathetic like me, take care in choosing the time and place. As I mentioned, I read an ARC and am happy to offer this review.
What to say …?! This novel took me for a ride. I read an ARC and had no idea what to expect. The title is interesting, right?! Provocative, but not particularly promising of a fun or relaxing read.
The narrative is immersive and well-written in first person, present tense (e.g. I am experiencing/seeing/thinking this right now) and told from the point of view of a self-proclaimed ‘shithead.’
It was, as predicted, not a particularly fun or relaxing read. However, it was extremely engaging and intense. I was drawn into the protagonist’s experience and couldn’t put the book down at times. I tend to empathise with the emotions of characters pretty deeply and absorb the mood of whatever book I’m reading, so for a couple days I was in quite an odd place emotionally, especially since Eric doesn’t like himself- and he’s telling the story! So it’s kind of hard for the reader to like him either. But as he spirals deeper, we begin to see and understand, but I won’t give away any spoilers.
The ending was a bit surprising - and surprisingly satisfying. :) Tim Grahl has written this story with incredible skill, and I highly recommend it. Just, if you are empathetic like me, take care in choosing the time and place. As I mentioned, I read an ARC and am happy to offer this review.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews