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Lunchmeat
Victor Ferraro is a heroic and chivalric knight plucked from the Middle Ages and stuck in late 1990s New Jersey, or so he’d like to believe. More interested in dreaming up sweeping epics than learning how to subtract, Victor often catches himself staring out the window of his first-grade classroom, imagining battlefields riddled with arrows and orc corpses.
But his new real-life nemesis may be too powerful for Victor to defeat. A Goliath in chestnut top-siders, Pierce Stone wields a weapon more powerful than any battle-ax or broadsword. And Victor soon learns that at his new school, kids like Pierce Stone fight with words. Victor’s smattering of Itanglish might not be enough to take on his new enemy, but his obsession with Hell might just save him yet.
Follow Victor, from his impressionable childhood to the formidable years of high school, on his search for Hell—his own ordained quest for the Holy Grail, woven throughout his life like a thread of darkness.
But his new real-life nemesis may be too powerful for Victor to defeat. A Goliath in chestnut top-siders, Pierce Stone wields a weapon more powerful than any battle-ax or broadsword. And Victor soon learns that at his new school, kids like Pierce Stone fight with words. Victor’s smattering of Itanglish might not be enough to take on his new enemy, but his obsession with Hell might just save him yet.
Follow Victor, from his impressionable childhood to the formidable years of high school, on his search for Hell—his own ordained quest for the Holy Grail, woven throughout his life like a thread of darkness.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2018
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 16, 2024
The story was good...i really love Ben D'Alessio books and stories ...the book moves fast,, I finished the whole book in one wayb..and I found myself sucked into the details and events of Victor's life, wondering,if there was a point to all the different ..
It is a rare occurrence that a book manages to suck me in so thoroughly ..
Like
It is a rare occurrence that a book manages to suck me in so thoroughly ..
Like
January 18, 2021
Super enjoyable read taking me back to my formative years and the associated embarrassments, epiphanies, and triumphs common to all boys growing up in the 90s/2000s. A wonderful coming of age tale interspersed with Medieval allegorical imagery and a "good vs. evil" theme.
May 31, 2018
Reviewer Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have not received any financial compensation in exchange for a review. This review may contain spoilers.
Lunchmeat tells the story of Victor Ferraro, a Jewish-Italian boy living in New Jersey, from 1997 to 2009, grades 1 through 12. Victor, Vito/Vic, is a young boy obsessed with stories about knights and chivalry, fascinated with a TV evangelist, and curious about everything. The book follows Victor as he navigates childhood, family, friends, and the very awful bully, Pierce Stone. His love of knights puts him on his own “holy” quest, the search for Hell. Along the way, Victor will learn about popularity, puberty, the opposite sex, drugs, and importance of family. The story reaches an explosive end that leaves the reader speculating about Victor's future downward spiral.
When the story opens, Victor is a young and innocent 6 year old, a first grader, who loves his older brother, Tony, and looks up to his best friend and neighbor Karl Geiger. Victor has a younger sister, Brittney, who is autistic and responds to life with Disney movie quotes and her best friend is a toy horse named Marlene. Victor’s father works for the school district, but interestingly while we know his mother works, we do not know what her career is or where it is, all Victor says is that “they” don’t know where his mom works. It is in Part One of the book that the reader first hears about Victor’s search for Hell, a place he quests for the same way King Arthur’s men quested for the Holy Grail. At one point, he thinks he has found Hell, but the place he and a group of boys venture to is merely a field near a parking lot. Part One closes with Victor surviving second grade, still enamored with knights and still searching for Hell. He joined other boys in competitive games of Pokémon and did his best to avoid his arch-nemesis, Pierce Stone.
In Parts Two and Three, Victor experiences the tragedy of September 11, 2001, goes through puberty, develops a growing curiosity and interest in girls, becomes a very good athlete, encounters drugs and alcohol, and continues his search for Hell. In Middle School, Victor has to make new friends, as his guide and protector Karl is attending a different school. In High School, Victor has to navigate the fears of an unplanned pregnancy and a relationship that rocks between loving and volatile on a fairly regular basis. It’s while protecting his sister that he discovers what and where Hell is.
I have mixed feelings about this story. I really enjoyed Part One of the book. I found Victor to be very endearing and sweet, probably due to his naivete and curiosity. The bullying he suffers from Pierce Stone is awful, yet he never teases Pierce for wetting his pants when their group encounters a terrifying snake. Karl Geiger is a wonderful friend to Victor, he’s the one who protects Victor from Pierce’s teasing and bullying, and he’s the one who patiently answers Victor’s questions about life. Parts Two and Three were a little harder for me to get into. As Victor aged, I found my interest in him decreasing. I still found some of his more innocent moments, a few different scenes involving middle school girls and his confusion when agreeing to “date” these girls were humorous. His growing fascination with the TV evangelist was interesting and it helped to support his search for Hell. By the time Victor got to high school (Part Three), I had lost much of my interest in him and had almost forgotten about the search for Hell. The book ended very rapidly and I had to reread the last few pages to make sure I understood what happened.
I think this book was very well written and, while I did not enjoy all of it, that will not prevent me from reading more books by Ben D’Alessio. I did lose interest in the story the older the main character got, and by the end of the book, I just did not like him nor really care about him. The way the book ended bothered me to some degree; it was a very fast escalation from calm to murderous rage, but given the path Victor’s life took, I was not surprised by his actions at the end. While I did not enjoy this book the further I got into it, I do like and appreciate the way the author told the story. He humanized his characters, they seemed like people you could encounter during the course of your own life, and that is what will bring me back to the author’s other works.
Lunchmeat tells the story of Victor Ferraro, a Jewish-Italian boy living in New Jersey, from 1997 to 2009, grades 1 through 12. Victor, Vito/Vic, is a young boy obsessed with stories about knights and chivalry, fascinated with a TV evangelist, and curious about everything. The book follows Victor as he navigates childhood, family, friends, and the very awful bully, Pierce Stone. His love of knights puts him on his own “holy” quest, the search for Hell. Along the way, Victor will learn about popularity, puberty, the opposite sex, drugs, and importance of family. The story reaches an explosive end that leaves the reader speculating about Victor's future downward spiral.
When the story opens, Victor is a young and innocent 6 year old, a first grader, who loves his older brother, Tony, and looks up to his best friend and neighbor Karl Geiger. Victor has a younger sister, Brittney, who is autistic and responds to life with Disney movie quotes and her best friend is a toy horse named Marlene. Victor’s father works for the school district, but interestingly while we know his mother works, we do not know what her career is or where it is, all Victor says is that “they” don’t know where his mom works. It is in Part One of the book that the reader first hears about Victor’s search for Hell, a place he quests for the same way King Arthur’s men quested for the Holy Grail. At one point, he thinks he has found Hell, but the place he and a group of boys venture to is merely a field near a parking lot. Part One closes with Victor surviving second grade, still enamored with knights and still searching for Hell. He joined other boys in competitive games of Pokémon and did his best to avoid his arch-nemesis, Pierce Stone.
In Parts Two and Three, Victor experiences the tragedy of September 11, 2001, goes through puberty, develops a growing curiosity and interest in girls, becomes a very good athlete, encounters drugs and alcohol, and continues his search for Hell. In Middle School, Victor has to make new friends, as his guide and protector Karl is attending a different school. In High School, Victor has to navigate the fears of an unplanned pregnancy and a relationship that rocks between loving and volatile on a fairly regular basis. It’s while protecting his sister that he discovers what and where Hell is.
I have mixed feelings about this story. I really enjoyed Part One of the book. I found Victor to be very endearing and sweet, probably due to his naivete and curiosity. The bullying he suffers from Pierce Stone is awful, yet he never teases Pierce for wetting his pants when their group encounters a terrifying snake. Karl Geiger is a wonderful friend to Victor, he’s the one who protects Victor from Pierce’s teasing and bullying, and he’s the one who patiently answers Victor’s questions about life. Parts Two and Three were a little harder for me to get into. As Victor aged, I found my interest in him decreasing. I still found some of his more innocent moments, a few different scenes involving middle school girls and his confusion when agreeing to “date” these girls were humorous. His growing fascination with the TV evangelist was interesting and it helped to support his search for Hell. By the time Victor got to high school (Part Three), I had lost much of my interest in him and had almost forgotten about the search for Hell. The book ended very rapidly and I had to reread the last few pages to make sure I understood what happened.
I think this book was very well written and, while I did not enjoy all of it, that will not prevent me from reading more books by Ben D’Alessio. I did lose interest in the story the older the main character got, and by the end of the book, I just did not like him nor really care about him. The way the book ended bothered me to some degree; it was a very fast escalation from calm to murderous rage, but given the path Victor’s life took, I was not surprised by his actions at the end. While I did not enjoy this book the further I got into it, I do like and appreciate the way the author told the story. He humanized his characters, they seemed like people you could encounter during the course of your own life, and that is what will bring me back to the author’s other works.
May 28, 2019
Book Title: Lunch Meat: The Novel
Author: Ben D'Alessio
Format: Kindle
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Lunch Meat: The Novel ' is really very unique and interesting.
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is a simple image of the title letters in red and green. Though the image is simple, it's attractive. But it doesn't talk anything about the story.
Plot:
This book is about the protagonist Victor Ferrara since his childhood, the time he starts first grade at a new school where he feels lost and tries to adapt to the environment. His classmate Pierce Stone always bullies him and as a child, Victor faces man challenges. The story narrates his life from his own perspective where he develops a unique quality of imagination and his expressions during the incidents imagined. His interest in imagination ranges from history to war stories. The story also narrates his struggles with drug abuse and unwanted sexual encounters thus how those ruined a good life.
What I like:
1. The story is narrated in the first person and it is quite engaging
2. The emotional quotient in the story is maintained well
3. The stages of good - bad, happy and sadness in one's life is illustrated nicely
4. The author's unique style of writing is interesting
What I didn't like:
1. Though the writing is engaging, during the mid-chapters I felt the story dragging
2. Too many details during the protagonist's drug intake and sexual encounters felt out of the way
Characters:
All the characters are scripted with much scope and honesty. At some point, a reader can identify either himself or any of his close associate.
Narration:
A very engaging and interesting narration is observed in the story. As the story is a life journey of the protagonist, the reader also will walk with the author throughout the book.
Language & Grammar:
A very find language with good grammar is followed in the story.
My Final Verdict:
A very nice read
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
Author: Ben D'Alessio
Format: Kindle
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Lunch Meat: The Novel ' is really very unique and interesting.
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is a simple image of the title letters in red and green. Though the image is simple, it's attractive. But it doesn't talk anything about the story.
Plot:
This book is about the protagonist Victor Ferrara since his childhood, the time he starts first grade at a new school where he feels lost and tries to adapt to the environment. His classmate Pierce Stone always bullies him and as a child, Victor faces man challenges. The story narrates his life from his own perspective where he develops a unique quality of imagination and his expressions during the incidents imagined. His interest in imagination ranges from history to war stories. The story also narrates his struggles with drug abuse and unwanted sexual encounters thus how those ruined a good life.
What I like:
1. The story is narrated in the first person and it is quite engaging
2. The emotional quotient in the story is maintained well
3. The stages of good - bad, happy and sadness in one's life is illustrated nicely
4. The author's unique style of writing is interesting
What I didn't like:
1. Though the writing is engaging, during the mid-chapters I felt the story dragging
2. Too many details during the protagonist's drug intake and sexual encounters felt out of the way
Characters:
All the characters are scripted with much scope and honesty. At some point, a reader can identify either himself or any of his close associate.
Narration:
A very engaging and interesting narration is observed in the story. As the story is a life journey of the protagonist, the reader also will walk with the author throughout the book.
Language & Grammar:
A very find language with good grammar is followed in the story.
My Final Verdict:
A very nice read
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
February 1, 2020
A Novel by Ben D'Alessio is an interesting story with unusual characters. Victor Ferraro lives in the 90’s, but he feels like a “tourist in his own hometown.” The story begins on his seventh birthday in Short Hills in 1997. The reader is introduced to a kid who feels ill at ease in his new vicinity, not just because he is intimidated by the imposing home of George and Karl that sits upon the hill, but more so because he is not of this century. A day-dreamer who, while in class, finds himself imagining battle scenes of another century with a lot of action. While he thinks about an age with orcs and great battles, bully Pierce Stone makes life impossible for him, a boy who has words that can hurt more than a sword. This spellbinding novel follows the life of Victor Ferraro from childhood to his years in high school, exploring his fantasies, and his obsession with Hell. But can he find his place in a world that doesn’t understand him?
The narrative is laced with humor and readers will enjoy the unique point of view of the protagonist. The author creates suspense and fires up the reader’s interest in Victor by injecting the narrative with a strong sense of mystery. The reader constantly wonders who Victor really is and wants to know more about this kid who feels so out of place. Ben D'Alessio keeps you engrossed in the story and he unveils the heart of the protagonist layer by layer, offering surprises that readers will love. The writing is impeccably good and I loved the formatting, the timely paragraph breaks for dramatic effect, the interesting dialogues, and the world building. A Novel is a work of huge entertainment, a story of adventure that also explores the universe of kids in a great style. The prose is atmospheric and gripping.
The narrative is laced with humor and readers will enjoy the unique point of view of the protagonist. The author creates suspense and fires up the reader’s interest in Victor by injecting the narrative with a strong sense of mystery. The reader constantly wonders who Victor really is and wants to know more about this kid who feels so out of place. Ben D'Alessio keeps you engrossed in the story and he unveils the heart of the protagonist layer by layer, offering surprises that readers will love. The writing is impeccably good and I loved the formatting, the timely paragraph breaks for dramatic effect, the interesting dialogues, and the world building. A Novel is a work of huge entertainment, a story of adventure that also explores the universe of kids in a great style. The prose is atmospheric and gripping.
February 19, 2019
This story follow’s Victor from his early childhood years through his high school years. The book starts out with a young Victor who recently moved to a new grade school and is trying to find his place. We learn about his journey making friends and his struggles to stay clear of his bully Pierce. Victor has a wild imagination that he is a chivalric knight and often daydreams about what life would look like if he were really born in the Medieval times. He is on a quest to find Hell and there are many times throughout the book where he thinks he had indeed found hell. I really enjoyed Victor during his younger years. He narrates the story and we really get to know him through his various experiences and emotions. He is so innocent at this time and it is so sweet how he looks up to his older brother.
As Victor got older and starts his high school years, I found myself liking him less and less. He seemed to focus less on his daydreams of battlefields and knights and was very much into sex and drugs. He’s not so innocent anymore and doesn’t always make the best decisions.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. As with the first novel I read by this author I found his writing style to be unique. The writer is very descriptive and has the ability to pull the reader in and help you literally feel what Victor is feeling.
Thank you to Ben D’ Alession for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
As Victor got older and starts his high school years, I found myself liking him less and less. He seemed to focus less on his daydreams of battlefields and knights and was very much into sex and drugs. He’s not so innocent anymore and doesn’t always make the best decisions.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. As with the first novel I read by this author I found his writing style to be unique. The writer is very descriptive and has the ability to pull the reader in and help you literally feel what Victor is feeling.
Thank you to Ben D’ Alession for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2018
A lot of this book is very much just the traditional coming of age. A lot of parties, drugs, sports, and sex. For the most part it is a quick read. There are some parts that slow down, but it doesn't happen often. There are some cringe worthy parts when it comes to interactions with the opposite sex. It is also humorous in parts.
I knew there was something building because there were quite a few reoccurring themes, the ending was a bit of a surprise. It was also extremely abrupt.
I did find some of the parts of the book unbelievable, but felt that it was a good coming of age story.
I knew there was something building because there were quite a few reoccurring themes, the ending was a bit of a surprise. It was also extremely abrupt.
I did find some of the parts of the book unbelievable, but felt that it was a good coming of age story.
July 26, 2019
Engaging and thoroughly enjoyable, this story does not start off as dark as it ends and I was surprised by all the events and choices in the main characters life thst brought me to the final stage. Their final stage, it was a winding road through childhood and adolescent choices that while at times dark, and disagreeable to me, were realistic and relatable. I found it hard to put the book down, and had to know where the main character finally found the ending.
December 9, 2023
This was an entertaining read. The narrator told the reader all about his youth and his schooldays, so when I was reading, I felt a little bit nostalgic at times. There were some humorous moments in the story that made me chuckle. There were also some moments in the story when I thought the behaviour of the characters was silly, or questioned their intentions, but I think that speaks to the fact that everyone makes mistakes, perhaps even more so during youth. I did find this fun to read.
October 7, 2018
Entertaining coming of age, that jumps around in the growing up of a boy. It was funny and true through most of the book. Some of the sexual conquests towards the end were a bit much. Not too graphic, just not completely believable. But overall, a decent addition to the coming of age genre.
December 4, 2019
What a great read! A coming of age tale, where we follow Victor Ferraro from his earlychildhood years through his high school years. This is the second book I read from this author, and I really enjoyed it. It's a book that you can relate to. I highly recommend.
March 28, 2018
This book tells the story of Victor Ferrara, starting from his childhood, when he starts first grade at a new school where he tries desperately to fit in, and finds himself confronted with Pierce Stone, who makes his life more difficult. The story narrates his life from his own perspective, how how he likes to use his imagination writing stories about middle-age wars and quests, how he feels about being of Italian descendence, and the various anecdotes and happenings during his childhood and young adult years.
It is an entertaining story, with funny parts that make the reader laugh out loud, but also quite reflective and sensitive parts. The plot is distributed according to the sequence of his educational years and the writing is done in a funny, sensitive and pensive way, adapting to the situations described. It has been an enjoyable read.
It is an entertaining story, with funny parts that make the reader laugh out loud, but also quite reflective and sensitive parts. The plot is distributed according to the sequence of his educational years and the writing is done in a funny, sensitive and pensive way, adapting to the situations described. It has been an enjoyable read.
May 9, 2018
In this novel you get sucked into a whirlwind of school days with the main character - Victor Ferraro. You get taken through from his primary school days right up until his high school days - which for me - ends on a slight 'up in the air' note - which I'm hoping that there's going to be a sequel for.
January 30, 2020
A real laugh out loud coming of age story!
This is a coming of age story, following a young boy in his school years & the major events of each year. Nicely written by an author who is new to me with some real laugh out loud moments. Not going to lie it did take me sometime to get into the book but think this was more to do with my mindset at the time, will re-read in the future.
This is a coming of age story, following a young boy in his school years & the major events of each year. Nicely written by an author who is new to me with some real laugh out loud moments. Not going to lie it did take me sometime to get into the book but think this was more to do with my mindset at the time, will re-read in the future.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews