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When I Was Punk
Tompkins Square Park, East Village, NYC, 2001.
Teen runaway Fluke Crowley is fast on his feet—key to surviving Alphabet City’s cruel streets. Fluke steals a messenger bag from a guy in an Avenue A restaurant, which holds the crude manuscript of the man’s peculiar life story: Conrad D’s descent into drug treatment, his stormy relationship, his love for Jack Kerouac’s books and lifestyle. As he reads, Fluke notes the strange coincidences in their vastly different lives. Fluke’s and Conrad’s paths eventually, inevitably and unforgettably cross—as they learn about each other, themselves, and the kaleidoscopic and wholly unique Tompkins Square Park neighborhood they share.
Fluke is attempting to survive a year on the streets, but those he’s wronged with his various schemes, including a pair of fearsome gutter-punk thugs, has him hustling for his life. Tapping Tompkins Square’s rich history of squatting, punk rock and protest, When I Was Punk is at turns humorous, harrowing and heartbreaking.
It is the second novel in Michael J. Malone’s Tompkins Trilogy.
Teen runaway Fluke Crowley is fast on his feet—key to surviving Alphabet City’s cruel streets. Fluke steals a messenger bag from a guy in an Avenue A restaurant, which holds the crude manuscript of the man’s peculiar life story: Conrad D’s descent into drug treatment, his stormy relationship, his love for Jack Kerouac’s books and lifestyle. As he reads, Fluke notes the strange coincidences in their vastly different lives. Fluke’s and Conrad’s paths eventually, inevitably and unforgettably cross—as they learn about each other, themselves, and the kaleidoscopic and wholly unique Tompkins Square Park neighborhood they share.
Fluke is attempting to survive a year on the streets, but those he’s wronged with his various schemes, including a pair of fearsome gutter-punk thugs, has him hustling for his life. Tapping Tompkins Square’s rich history of squatting, punk rock and protest, When I Was Punk is at turns humorous, harrowing and heartbreaking.
It is the second novel in Michael J. Malone’s Tompkins Trilogy.
326 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 15, 2014
Funny, fabulously authentic novel hums along on the energy of sharp turns and even sharper characterizations. Speaking of Fluke and Conrad, once you meet these two guys, you won't forget them.
September 11, 2014
Biased? Perhaps. But I found "PUNK" to be dark, funny and compelling, with some fun twists and turns in the subplot involving young punk Fluke, the thugs he's screwed, and the vengeance they seek. Colorful cast of characters--sharp-witted Fluke, his dopey but complicated Tompkins pals, feckless recovering drug addict/aspiring author Conrad D, the lad mag editor Ali, scary soccer thug Barnes and smarter-than-you-think private eye Rick.
Intriguing look at New York in another era, and those who tried to keep the punk-and-protest spirit of Tompkins Square Park and the East Village alive.
Intriguing look at New York in another era, and those who tried to keep the punk-and-protest spirit of Tompkins Square Park and the East Village alive.
September 15, 2014
For anyone who has ever wondered what it's like being a NYC street kid, this is a must read. Gripping, engaging, and insightful.
November 11, 2014
Difficult to follow at first. Loved Declan's cameo appearance.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews