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Syncopated Rhythm
This is an ACE of ISBN:1515155625 Syncopated Rhythm
“The most razor-sharp prose I’ve read in years. While I loved James Halat’s other two books, I wasn’t prepared for the art and beauty of Syncopated Rhythm.” Ellen Fitzpatrick (Amazon)
Syncopated Rhythm reads like the memoir of a man who is very disappointed with life. In his first novel, James Halat details the lonely years of detached youth in the raw voice of an unnamed narrator who grows up in New Jersey in the 1960s and 1970s. He spends most of his time alone as a child, not interested in school or church or playing with the other children. A harrowing move from New Jersey to a jerkwater town in Pennsylvania only serves to drive him deeper into isolation. There, a rare local murder, a deadly motorcycle crash, and a doomed crush on a boy in high school mark his time in the sleepy town.
As he moves into adulthood, he begins to adapt to his solitary life of empty relationships and pointless jobs by reaching out to the contemporary art world, making ephemeral connections he does not fully grasp, but is convinced will link him to a better world.
"The fact that each work is a painting is not what makes it interesting. What makes it interesting is that each painting elicits its own breath."
One day, he finds himself living in the middle of Tokyo, alone, illiterate, and utterly stunned by his new surroundings. There he wanders into a local bar where he meets a disarmingly attractive young bartender he calls My Foolish Thing. My Foolish Thing pours him drinks and draws pictures on napkins in a genuine effort to get to know him. Our narrator replies with an impassioned attempt to complete the connection, but it isn't clear to him what, if anything, will happen.
Syncopated Rhythm is an intimate look into a solitary life, an honest and sobering account of living in a world meant for other people, and the truly heroic hopes that make that possible.
“The most razor-sharp prose I’ve read in years. While I loved James Halat’s other two books, I wasn’t prepared for the art and beauty of Syncopated Rhythm.” Ellen Fitzpatrick (Amazon)
Syncopated Rhythm reads like the memoir of a man who is very disappointed with life. In his first novel, James Halat details the lonely years of detached youth in the raw voice of an unnamed narrator who grows up in New Jersey in the 1960s and 1970s. He spends most of his time alone as a child, not interested in school or church or playing with the other children. A harrowing move from New Jersey to a jerkwater town in Pennsylvania only serves to drive him deeper into isolation. There, a rare local murder, a deadly motorcycle crash, and a doomed crush on a boy in high school mark his time in the sleepy town.
As he moves into adulthood, he begins to adapt to his solitary life of empty relationships and pointless jobs by reaching out to the contemporary art world, making ephemeral connections he does not fully grasp, but is convinced will link him to a better world.
"The fact that each work is a painting is not what makes it interesting. What makes it interesting is that each painting elicits its own breath."
One day, he finds himself living in the middle of Tokyo, alone, illiterate, and utterly stunned by his new surroundings. There he wanders into a local bar where he meets a disarmingly attractive young bartender he calls My Foolish Thing. My Foolish Thing pours him drinks and draws pictures on napkins in a genuine effort to get to know him. Our narrator replies with an impassioned attempt to complete the connection, but it isn't clear to him what, if anything, will happen.
Syncopated Rhythm is an intimate look into a solitary life, an honest and sobering account of living in a world meant for other people, and the truly heroic hopes that make that possible.
127 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2015
12 people are currently reading
828 people want to read
About the author
James Halat
4 books136 followers
My books have received three 5 Star reviews from Amazon Hall of Fame Top 100 Reviewer Grady Harp and The San Francisco Review of Books
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Living in a world meant for other people
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James Halat was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and now lives in Tokyo. Before moving to Japan, he lived in New York City, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. In addition to being a booklover, he is an art lover and food lover. He started writing in college, and has four books published: Syncopated Rhythm (2015), Clifford and Claudia (2015), The Story of Teddy and Eddie (2015), and A Delicate Child (2019).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 4, 2016
It's a little bit of a depressing read, but I really liked this book, and didn't want it to end as quickly as it did. The story is told from a first person point of view, following the main character from childhood, throughout his teens, the awkward college years and into adulthood. The main character seems to like solitude throughout most of his life, spending time alone and having a fear of both rejection and acceptance. He is an alcoholic, Scotch being his drink of choice, and talks quite a bit about his perversions such as jerking off in random places, at random times.
One thing that I didn't care too much about the book though, is the short sentences.
All in all, this is a great short read. Look forward to seeing more from the author.
One thing that I didn't care too much about the book though, is the short sentences.
All in all, this is a great short read. Look forward to seeing more from the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2016
The prose is simple, but so precise it's illuminating.
Highly recommended for the lit crowd. (Not for the titillation seeker.)
Highly recommended for the lit crowd. (Not for the titillation seeker.)
March 7, 2016
N.J. Christmas Al (father, supermarket), Louise (mother), & Andrew Anthony Johnson (narrator, lamp factory college, grad school) are going to Pennsylvania to visit relatives.
The family later moves there.
Fast forward Anthony takes a job in Tokyo, Japan. He is staying at the Metropolitan Hotel.
Who is My Foolish Thing?
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written gay mild erotic book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great gay mild erotic movie, or paid-per-view mini TV series. Just a reminder
I’m not Gay. This 1 made sense. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
The family later moves there.
Fast forward Anthony takes a job in Tokyo, Japan. He is staying at the Metropolitan Hotel.
Who is My Foolish Thing?
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written gay mild erotic book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great gay mild erotic movie, or paid-per-view mini TV series. Just a reminder
I’m not Gay. This 1 made sense. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
January 15, 2020
Syncopated Rhythm is my first novel, released as an ebook on Amazon in Apr 2015. It has since been released as a paperback in Oct 2015. It follows an unnamed narrator as he goes through life in a world meant for other people and the heroic hopes that make that possible.
September 12, 2017
I found the book very relatable. Despite being straight, I found his sexual frustration, family problems, and the sense of directionless life similar to mine. Hell, reading his book felt more like looking into a mirror.
I like how his writing has this dark but down to earth voice. Making it easy to get lost and enjoyed what he had experienced. Again, James Halat is very relatable.
I wish more biographies were like James Halat. There is life in his writing and the hardship he had to go through felt real.
I like how his writing has this dark but down to earth voice. Making it easy to get lost and enjoyed what he had experienced. Again, James Halat is very relatable.
I wish more biographies were like James Halat. There is life in his writing and the hardship he had to go through felt real.
November 18, 2019
A word of caution for those that are looking to pick up this book as the back cover does not offer any warning - this book contains a large amount of references that are sexual in nature. While I found the authors experiences to be interesting I wish I had known prior to picking up this book about the sheer volume of references to the author walking around naked outside and him describing in detail his self-gratifications. I would not have started to read it had I known.
I received this book as part of the GoodReads Giveaway Contest.
I received this book as part of the GoodReads Giveaway Contest.
January 29, 2016
I received this book for free from Goodreads first reads in exchange for an honest review...
This book was dreadful! It was boring, dull, bland, details were non-existent, and it was ridiculously repetitive. It's a novella following the depressing life of a gay man, from childhood to adulthood, as he experiments with drugs, unhealthy relationships, isolation, and severe alcoholism. It was anything but interesting. It bounced around all over the place, leaving you confused on what was actually happening or if it was in the past, present, or future. Did we really need to know everything that was in the vending machine that he walked by? Could the author at least include who was saying what statement, so that we didn't get lost in the few conversations this book had? And why was this man so depressing and miserable?
I don't even know how I put up reading this entire book, even though it was a very quick and easy read. It was poorly written and incredibly boring!
This book was dreadful! It was boring, dull, bland, details were non-existent, and it was ridiculously repetitive. It's a novella following the depressing life of a gay man, from childhood to adulthood, as he experiments with drugs, unhealthy relationships, isolation, and severe alcoholism. It was anything but interesting. It bounced around all over the place, leaving you confused on what was actually happening or if it was in the past, present, or future. Did we really need to know everything that was in the vending machine that he walked by? Could the author at least include who was saying what statement, so that we didn't get lost in the few conversations this book had? And why was this man so depressing and miserable?
I don't even know how I put up reading this entire book, even though it was a very quick and easy read. It was poorly written and incredibly boring!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews