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Walking Through Quicksand
What goes on inside our own minds will often be our undoing...
He had not always been such a lost cause. Not long before life was consumed by the poisonous chemicals that pumped through an addict's body, He was an active participant in what was considered society; with a beautiful wife, a home, a decent career. To an outside observer, life seemed perfect. But this story isn’t a happily-ever-after fairy tale. It’s the darkest parts of life, an internal battle of demons and, maybe, redemption.
He had not always been such a lost cause. Not long before life was consumed by the poisonous chemicals that pumped through an addict's body, He was an active participant in what was considered society; with a beautiful wife, a home, a decent career. To an outside observer, life seemed perfect. But this story isn’t a happily-ever-after fairy tale. It’s the darkest parts of life, an internal battle of demons and, maybe, redemption.
84 pages, ebook
Published October 30, 2016
17 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 2, 2016
This is a dark dystopian tale of one man’s mind that has been ravaged by drugs. His life is a bizarre menagerie of tangled and disjointed chemically driven events.
The unreliable narrator is one of my favorite and this first person account was certainly of that persuasion. The narrator is both disdainful and seductive. Like a gash under a band aid, I had to keep turning the pages to find out if he succumbed to his gangrene plight.
The poetic prose made for slow reading and it took me a while to get that this was not a typical story or, in my opinion, a mystery. If you are looking for something non-mainstream, I recommend this book.
The unreliable narrator is one of my favorite and this first person account was certainly of that persuasion. The narrator is both disdainful and seductive. Like a gash under a band aid, I had to keep turning the pages to find out if he succumbed to his gangrene plight.
The poetic prose made for slow reading and it took me a while to get that this was not a typical story or, in my opinion, a mystery. If you are looking for something non-mainstream, I recommend this book.
November 6, 2017
Recap: We follow the downward spiral of an addict who has lost everything.
Review: I started reading this book with absolutely no idea as to what the story actually was which made it an intriguing read. The author has used every descriptive word possible creating a very poetic prose but interestingly enough without bucket loads of cliches and repetitive phrases. We get the very real sense of despair, the slippery slope that he fell down and didn't want to climb back up from. I don't want to give away any spoilers but the reasons why the main character's life fell apart, what he went through and the ending are all very powerful.
Review: I started reading this book with absolutely no idea as to what the story actually was which made it an intriguing read. The author has used every descriptive word possible creating a very poetic prose but interestingly enough without bucket loads of cliches and repetitive phrases. We get the very real sense of despair, the slippery slope that he fell down and didn't want to climb back up from. I don't want to give away any spoilers but the reasons why the main character's life fell apart, what he went through and the ending are all very powerful.
November 9, 2018
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
DNF at 51%.
I can't deal with this book anymore. The main character is a whining, unpleasant and self pitying mess, and a lot of the book didn't really make sense to me. It all felt like nonsense.
The good aspect of this book was the narration by Bob Dunsworth, who really felt like he became the character.
DNF at 51%.
I can't deal with this book anymore. The main character is a whining, unpleasant and self pitying mess, and a lot of the book didn't really make sense to me. It all felt like nonsense.
The good aspect of this book was the narration by Bob Dunsworth, who really felt like he became the character.
November 18, 2016
The writing style of this author really makes you feel like you are there with the characters. Your instantly pulled into the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read. Great book!
May 30, 2017
( Format : Audiobook )
""...merely shadows with a flashing outline.""
Not the book I expected it to be.
From the excellent title, Walking Through Quicksand, and the brief introductory blurb, I had thought this to.be the tale of one man's descent as he pursues a drugs career until, finally, admitting defeat, he struggles to regain his life. I even had hopes that it could illustrate that the use of drugs, and losing control of their taking, is not simply confined to the dregs of society, intent only on robbery or prostitution to fund their next fix. I was wrong.
The story starts reasonably well, with our 'hero' waking, near oblivious to time and surroundings, and making his way to the one place and person he knows he can trust. Then, not for the first time, he walks away, not yet prepared to face himself without his chemical crutches. A bit self indulgent and OTT, but it did give a taste of what might be inside the head of a man gone into self flagellation over the course his life has taken.
But it's all down hill after that. A seemingly silly story of how he became addicted initially, what happened next and the final launch into fantasy world regression and revenge. No, sorry, no sympathy whatsoever for this miserable specimen who stuffs himself full of drugs then blames the dealer. I know of several, real life destructive drug stories far more tragic in their origins and progress and not one has been one tenth as winging, self pitying and downright unpleasant as him.
However, this is fiction. It was a great idea. The narrator was splendid, with the slowed, not quite slurred, speech of someone using downers and was even convincing in his descent into the madness in his mind. Apart from a single other voice near the beginning, all is from the one character's imagination and Mr.Dunsworth assumes this personality well, reflecting it in his reading. In fact, it was his performance which carried me through to the end of the book.
My thanks to the rights holder for gifting me my copy of Walking Through Quicksand, via Audiobook Boom. To get inside the head of an addict was a splendid idea but this was just too contrived to have a sense of reality and I did struggle to listen through to the end.
A book I could only recommend people to avoid
""...merely shadows with a flashing outline.""
Not the book I expected it to be.
From the excellent title, Walking Through Quicksand, and the brief introductory blurb, I had thought this to.be the tale of one man's descent as he pursues a drugs career until, finally, admitting defeat, he struggles to regain his life. I even had hopes that it could illustrate that the use of drugs, and losing control of their taking, is not simply confined to the dregs of society, intent only on robbery or prostitution to fund their next fix. I was wrong.
The story starts reasonably well, with our 'hero' waking, near oblivious to time and surroundings, and making his way to the one place and person he knows he can trust. Then, not for the first time, he walks away, not yet prepared to face himself without his chemical crutches. A bit self indulgent and OTT, but it did give a taste of what might be inside the head of a man gone into self flagellation over the course his life has taken.
But it's all down hill after that. A seemingly silly story of how he became addicted initially, what happened next and the final launch into fantasy world regression and revenge. No, sorry, no sympathy whatsoever for this miserable specimen who stuffs himself full of drugs then blames the dealer. I know of several, real life destructive drug stories far more tragic in their origins and progress and not one has been one tenth as winging, self pitying and downright unpleasant as him.
However, this is fiction. It was a great idea. The narrator was splendid, with the slowed, not quite slurred, speech of someone using downers and was even convincing in his descent into the madness in his mind. Apart from a single other voice near the beginning, all is from the one character's imagination and Mr.Dunsworth assumes this personality well, reflecting it in his reading. In fact, it was his performance which carried me through to the end of the book.
My thanks to the rights holder for gifting me my copy of Walking Through Quicksand, via Audiobook Boom. To get inside the head of an addict was a splendid idea but this was just too contrived to have a sense of reality and I did struggle to listen through to the end.
A book I could only recommend people to avoid
July 18, 2017
Walking Through Quicksand is the thoughts of a heroin (and unnamed pills) addict and his struggles with issues brought about by addiction. Saying more than that would ruin the journey. The tale of how the narrator ended up in the situation he is currently in is slowly revealed through his memories throughout the book in little chunks.
The writing is full of almost poetic prose and, although events unfold slowly, it is worth the wait. The book is short, more of a novella than a novel, but I can't tell you exactly how many pages there are because there are no page numbers in the book. This feels strange at first, but feels right as most of the story is told through either the haze of an opioid high or the pain and "sickness" that are the low of withdrawal.
This story is dark. Very, very dark. Do not look for the stereotypical happy addiction ending of hitting rock bottom, getting clean, and going on to lead a full and happy life, although there is resolution and a sort of redemption. Many questions go unanswered, but that does not keep the story from feeling finished and complete.
This is a book for adults or very mature older teens. There are drug use (obviously), violence, sexual assault, death, and questionable ethics. This is really not one for kids.
I received this book through the Goodreads Giveaways program. Thank you to the author and/or publisher.
The writing is full of almost poetic prose and, although events unfold slowly, it is worth the wait. The book is short, more of a novella than a novel, but I can't tell you exactly how many pages there are because there are no page numbers in the book. This feels strange at first, but feels right as most of the story is told through either the haze of an opioid high or the pain and "sickness" that are the low of withdrawal.
This story is dark. Very, very dark. Do not look for the stereotypical happy addiction ending of hitting rock bottom, getting clean, and going on to lead a full and happy life, although there is resolution and a sort of redemption. Many questions go unanswered, but that does not keep the story from feeling finished and complete.
This is a book for adults or very mature older teens. There are drug use (obviously), violence, sexual assault, death, and questionable ethics. This is really not one for kids.
I received this book through the Goodreads Giveaways program. Thank you to the author and/or publisher.
February 14, 2019
This is a dark story about a man, his wife and his addiction. Written with poetic prose, at the beginning you really have to read between the lines, to understand what is going on. In Chapter 4 things really get going, however, now I found myself reading between the lines, and was not sure if what I was reading was actually happening, or was it a "between the lines" interpretation of our character going to HELL. That I will not tell you. The ending was very clear about what was happening.
(paperback copy)
(paperback copy)
December 27, 2017
During the first half of the story you keep hoping the poor man will find his way out of the depths of depression and drug addiction. The first half of the story is also very boring unless you've lived through it. In the second half, things pick up and it becomes much more purposeful and coherent with less rambling. All in all, I'm glad I didn't give up on it early on because the second half made it all worthwhile.
February 16, 2018
Brutally honest trip down the rabbit hole
I can't find the words to do this book the justice it deserves. The pain was long and slow. Gradual and sneaky. Like addiction, I did not realize how low things had gotten, until I joined the main character down at the bottom.
This book was hard to put down. Then I needed to put it down. Then I couldn't stop picking it up until I finished it.
I commend J.L . Hoyt. A Book this honest, deserves much respect.
I can't find the words to do this book the justice it deserves. The pain was long and slow. Gradual and sneaky. Like addiction, I did not realize how low things had gotten, until I joined the main character down at the bottom.
This book was hard to put down. Then I needed to put it down. Then I couldn't stop picking it up until I finished it.
I commend J.L . Hoyt. A Book this honest, deserves much respect.
May 14, 2017
Walking Through Quicksand by J.L. Hoyt was a pretty good quick read. This book shows that many times it is what goes on inside ourselves is usually our undoing. The book follows a man who once had everything until he let addiction take over.
July 4, 2017
A book about a sad descent into the hell of drugs. It left me feeling bad about all the people who struggle with addiction.
December 16, 2019
Addiction
If you ever want to consider taking drugs an fall into a hopeless life of nothingness, read this book first.
If you ever want to consider taking drugs an fall into a hopeless life of nothingness, read this book first.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews