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Vicious
It’s 2008. Tolly’s a 40-something punk rocker who has always known Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols would reincarnate to recommence their love affair. Now she’s met Henry, a 21 year old student, she’d convinced this is Sid, finally returned to love her forever.
Unfortunately, Henry has a girlfriend, Laura, who is quite obviously the reincarnation of Sid’s former girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. That can be sorted though. Tolly got rid of Nancy in 1978 and she can do the same with Laura now.
But there’s just one problem. Laura’s certain she is miraculously pregnant with the second coming of Christ and her church will do anything to protect her. In fact, so, it seems, will her invisible childhood friend, Gabe, who reappears when Tolly abducts Laura …
Unfortunately, Henry has a girlfriend, Laura, who is quite obviously the reincarnation of Sid’s former girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. That can be sorted though. Tolly got rid of Nancy in 1978 and she can do the same with Laura now.
But there’s just one problem. Laura’s certain she is miraculously pregnant with the second coming of Christ and her church will do anything to protect her. In fact, so, it seems, will her invisible childhood friend, Gabe, who reappears when Tolly abducts Laura …
344 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2018
10 people want to read
About the author
Michael Forester
9 books138 followersSome are born with silver spoons in their mouths. Michael Forester was born with a pen in his hand.
Of course, it was immediately pinched by his big brother who put it on a shelf too high for him to reach. He got his own back though. He nicked his brother’s abacus and hid behind the sofa with it. Thus his accountancy and entrepreneurial career was born, but always clouded by a nagging suspicion that his true calling had something to do with writing.
By the time he was 30 he was finally tall enough to reach the shelf, and took down the pen. This induced a bout of split personality disorder in which he oscillated between pillaging the stock market and writing books teaching others how to make incalculably vast sums of money. Unfortunately, they didn’t make incalculably vast sums of money themselves...
The millennium year saw a complete volte-face (millennia can be quite feisty like that, Michael says – still, not to worry, he’s fully prepared for the next one) in which he determined to devote his life to poetry, fiction and life writing. The first result was If It Wasn’t For That Dog, about his first year with his beloved hearing dog, Matt. (Michael has been severely deafened from the age of 30).
In 2009 he won first prize at the Winchester Writer’s Festival in the ‘Writing can be Murder’ category. He has been short/longlisted three times in the Fish Writing Contest.
Eventually Michael felt ready to start his first novel, Vicious, a story of Punk Rock, reincarnation and the second coming of the Messiah. It took six years to complete the manuscript which was showcased by The Literary Consultancy in November 2015.
Now at the venerable age of 63 (deep respect, master, deep respect), Michael writes and promotes his books full time. He numbers angels and dryads amongst his closest friends.
His children look on aghast as he squanders their inheritance on such profligacies as A4 printing paper and laser toner cartridges.
They need have no concern. He plans to leave them the pen.
Of course, it was immediately pinched by his big brother who put it on a shelf too high for him to reach. He got his own back though. He nicked his brother’s abacus and hid behind the sofa with it. Thus his accountancy and entrepreneurial career was born, but always clouded by a nagging suspicion that his true calling had something to do with writing.
By the time he was 30 he was finally tall enough to reach the shelf, and took down the pen. This induced a bout of split personality disorder in which he oscillated between pillaging the stock market and writing books teaching others how to make incalculably vast sums of money. Unfortunately, they didn’t make incalculably vast sums of money themselves...
The millennium year saw a complete volte-face (millennia can be quite feisty like that, Michael says – still, not to worry, he’s fully prepared for the next one) in which he determined to devote his life to poetry, fiction and life writing. The first result was If It Wasn’t For That Dog, about his first year with his beloved hearing dog, Matt. (Michael has been severely deafened from the age of 30).
In 2009 he won first prize at the Winchester Writer’s Festival in the ‘Writing can be Murder’ category. He has been short/longlisted three times in the Fish Writing Contest.
Eventually Michael felt ready to start his first novel, Vicious, a story of Punk Rock, reincarnation and the second coming of the Messiah. It took six years to complete the manuscript which was showcased by The Literary Consultancy in November 2015.
Now at the venerable age of 63 (deep respect, master, deep respect), Michael writes and promotes his books full time. He numbers angels and dryads amongst his closest friends.
His children look on aghast as he squanders their inheritance on such profligacies as A4 printing paper and laser toner cartridges.
They need have no concern. He plans to leave them the pen.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 1, 2018
Interesting concepts but not my cup of tea.
In many ways, this book is quite amazing encompassing reincarnation, obsession, psychology and Sid Vicious!!
Tracy Jones is a 48-year-old punk rocker working in her father’s company of Matthis and Son. However, she is still living in the past and after a very brief encounter with Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols has become totally obsessed with him. When he starts an affair with Nancy Spungen, Tracy follows them to New York and in an insane fit of jealousy kills Nancy whilst Sid is unconscious from a drug overdose. Sid himself was suspected of committing this crime but nothing was ever proven.
Fast forward 20 years and Tracy becomes besotted with Henry Tallison, a young Oxford student, working at Matthis and Son during his holidays from Oxford University. He is beginning a relationship with Laura who lives in his hometown of Brockenhurst and who is also working at the same firm. Tracy is convinced that Henry is the reincarnation of Sid and attempts unsuccessfully to seduce him. She again realises that Laura is in her way and tries to ruin her life especially when she realises that Laura’s surname is Spurgeon.
Laura becomes involved in a church group, whose Pastor, Philemon Littleman, is desperate to raise enough money to build an amazing church in Southampton and encourages his congregation both in 0erson and online to donate everything they have to this purpose. Meanwhile, he has his three-week retreats in a luxurious hotel in Miami with his 2 boyfriends!
This story is very convoluted and at times I found it difficult to work out who was who, the writing is, as always good to read but unfortunately, for me, the bad language and graphic descriptions were off-putting. I did struggle to understand the actual ending and the rules of the game that was at the beginning of each chapter.
As I said in my strapline, this book was not really for me and that is why I have given it 3 stars.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
In many ways, this book is quite amazing encompassing reincarnation, obsession, psychology and Sid Vicious!!
Tracy Jones is a 48-year-old punk rocker working in her father’s company of Matthis and Son. However, she is still living in the past and after a very brief encounter with Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols has become totally obsessed with him. When he starts an affair with Nancy Spungen, Tracy follows them to New York and in an insane fit of jealousy kills Nancy whilst Sid is unconscious from a drug overdose. Sid himself was suspected of committing this crime but nothing was ever proven.
Fast forward 20 years and Tracy becomes besotted with Henry Tallison, a young Oxford student, working at Matthis and Son during his holidays from Oxford University. He is beginning a relationship with Laura who lives in his hometown of Brockenhurst and who is also working at the same firm. Tracy is convinced that Henry is the reincarnation of Sid and attempts unsuccessfully to seduce him. She again realises that Laura is in her way and tries to ruin her life especially when she realises that Laura’s surname is Spurgeon.
Laura becomes involved in a church group, whose Pastor, Philemon Littleman, is desperate to raise enough money to build an amazing church in Southampton and encourages his congregation both in 0erson and online to donate everything they have to this purpose. Meanwhile, he has his three-week retreats in a luxurious hotel in Miami with his 2 boyfriends!
This story is very convoluted and at times I found it difficult to work out who was who, the writing is, as always good to read but unfortunately, for me, the bad language and graphic descriptions were off-putting. I did struggle to understand the actual ending and the rules of the game that was at the beginning of each chapter.
As I said in my strapline, this book was not really for me and that is why I have given it 3 stars.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
March 4, 2018
I found this book to be compelling as well as thought provoking reading – human behaviour in the extreme made me want to continue reading to the end. I would recommend Vicious to anyone who appreciates a complex read, requiring some degree of concentration! Be aware that at times it can be quite graphic and there is some strong language. That said, I definitely surprised myself in my enjoyment of it! There are some complex personality traits (disorders?) of each character leading to a multitude of stories about individual people trying to just be themselves, fulfil their lives, doing what they believe is right and perhaps making their fortunes.
The twists and turns of this book might make you think, on a superficial level, that this is an episode of Eastenders on speed: a seemingly innocent man caught up with a seemingly innocent woman (albeit that she believes she is destined to be the Virgin Mary) and another who believes him to be the reincarnation of Sid Vicious. Hence his girlfriend (the Virgin Mary) is her arch enemy who must be destroyed.....
This is a tale where love morphs with obsession and fanaticism. Split personalities and clever betrayal weave a dangerous web of deceit trapping all who dare to enter or who are entered...
....and then there is the talisman, the angels, a sign, the thunder, the lightning; the big game being played out with real lives all because of a glitch in time and space.
Who really controls our fate? What is god and destiny? After reading this you may not only begin to question your beliefs but also every action and thought you make....
The twists and turns of this book might make you think, on a superficial level, that this is an episode of Eastenders on speed: a seemingly innocent man caught up with a seemingly innocent woman (albeit that she believes she is destined to be the Virgin Mary) and another who believes him to be the reincarnation of Sid Vicious. Hence his girlfriend (the Virgin Mary) is her arch enemy who must be destroyed.....
This is a tale where love morphs with obsession and fanaticism. Split personalities and clever betrayal weave a dangerous web of deceit trapping all who dare to enter or who are entered...
....and then there is the talisman, the angels, a sign, the thunder, the lightning; the big game being played out with real lives all because of a glitch in time and space.
Who really controls our fate? What is god and destiny? After reading this you may not only begin to question your beliefs but also every action and thought you make....
March 9, 2018
Michael has excelled himself in this masterpiece. It kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. It is quirky, humorous, surreal and above all, thought provoking. At the beginning of each chapter is a Rule - it is not until near the end of the book that you find out what "game" these rules are for. My only criticism of the book is that I wish all the Rules were at the beginning of the book too (after the list of characters) - it would have saved me from flipping back and forth each time I read a new rule or discovered another clue to their meaning. I especially loved his portrayal of Philomen - the bombastic, hypocritical and greedy preacher. Most of the book is set in Southampton where I live. If the events in this book happened in real life they would certainly put our city on the national news! However, it is not a book for the faint hearted - there are a lot of swearwords in it and quite shocking scenes. The big question this book left me thinking about was - "How much free will do we, as humans, actually have?"
April 3, 2018
Interesting premise
The premise of the story was indeed interesting, but it didn't always flow very well, and some parts of the story, were a bit confusing. Punk rock and Reincarnation. I can almost see a connection there, but the story didn't help me connect the two. The story did build some good characters, such as Laura. I liked Laura, and even could believe that she had an eccentric and intriguing past life, which affects her present. It's a unique love story, and does have promise
The premise of the story was indeed interesting, but it didn't always flow very well, and some parts of the story, were a bit confusing. Punk rock and Reincarnation. I can almost see a connection there, but the story didn't help me connect the two. The story did build some good characters, such as Laura. I liked Laura, and even could believe that she had an eccentric and intriguing past life, which affects her present. It's a unique love story, and does have promise
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews