Because

by Joseph Riippi

"In Because, Joseph Riippi says he wants this book to be 'a love letter, a prayer, a purge' but it actually becomes even more than that. It's a bursting-at-the-seams dream that cradles so many wishes and passions into its wide scope that it constantly surprises with unexpected turns and brilliant thoughts. It transcends its simple mantra-like structure and becomes a reverberating world of beauty and wonder." - Kevin Sampsell, author of This Is Between Us

Genres: Fiction

147 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Joseph Riippi is the author of 5 books, including RESEARCH: A NOVEL FOR PERFORMANCE and BECAUSE. He lives with his wife in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

Reviews

[Courtney Maum · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the vein of Padget Powell's "The Interrogative Mood" and Allen Ginsberg's "Howl," Joseph Riipi's "Because" is a mantra of hope, shame, decadent naivety, and crippling regret that will remind the sensitive reader to celebrate our each and every day. I'd recommend reading this experimental memoir (my call, not the author's — it's listed as a novel) in one sitting so the spell isn't broken.

[ipsit · Rating 5 out of 5]

You float away in the rhythm of Riippi’s heartbreaking words. With Because, Joseph Riippi has given us the sort of book that slaps us in the face, then hugs us, and then does it all over again. His short sentences read more like laundry lists of things (some attainable, others impossible to get) that we really would all want in our lives. From love and fulfillment to family and dogs, Riippi condenses the human experience into a book that might just change you for the better

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book is amazing. It's not a good idea to even review it because nothing I say could capture how wonderful it is, how wonderful I felt reading it, how wonderful I want the next book I read to be.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I blurbed this book and that's great but let me just reiterate that this book is both beast and beauty. A small press classic.

[Edward Rathke]

Beautiful and, at times, heartbreaking. Riippi bears his soul here.

Interview coming.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is so interesting to me because it has been reviewed as a type of "Howl". I love everything the author has to say. I love how brave he is. I love the narrative with his grandparents.
But....
He uses the phrase "I want" (which I understand ) but it sounds to me after a while as cloying and sometimes selfish depending on the context.
I think this may be one of those narratives that you must read at the right place and the right time of your life.

[Tobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense, intimate, and deeply honest writing in a post-Brainard vein.

[Ryan Bradford · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off: This is an incredibly ballsy book. In the age when alt-lit is defined by self-indulgence and confessional tropes, it's refreshing to see a book that revels in those qualities rather than hiding behind them via a wall of self-martyrdom. Or, it's ballsy that a writer unforgivingly embraces the culture of want without any self-flagellation.

That said, I found Because difficult because it can't seem to strike a balance between that assertiveness and preciousness. At times it can be heartbreaking, but other times it comes off as very naive, especially when the author yearns to have faced more difficulty and/or adversity. To me, that seems like a very privileged POV. And when you begin every sentence in a book with "I want", that privilege doesn't wear too well.

[Michael Seidlinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

We, the people, share the same fears, the same hopeful fantasies, and, most of all, we still draw hope from the very same places. Because became that book that reminded me why literature is one of our most important coping mechanisms.

[AnnaRose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like a beautiful but strange piece of poetry or prose. Every sentence begins with "I want." Thus, Riippi explores our desires and what drives us.

[Sofia Chapa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I also want to do a lot of things Riippi writes about. Inspiring!

[Alex Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really hit hard for me, and I'm not quite sure why. I could relate to a lot of Riippi's "wants," and it's beautifully written. Definitely a life-changing book, for me at least.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book captures perpetual longing, guilt, hope and love. It is quietly beautiful, though repetitive.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A binge of desire.

[Tyler Crumrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I also want.