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We Run Bad
America's in the throes of the Great Recession, and Tim's dreams of flipping a house have collapsed along with the housing market. After abandoning his new home as a lost cause, he's caught up in the poker craze and moves to Atlantic City with a new dream of "playing poker for a living", but soon finds himself stuck in a dizzying spell of bad luck at the card tables. Or maybe he just sucks at poker, like everybody else. His money all gone, and finding that it's actually difficult to drink oneself to death at 1am, he's suddenly offered a chance to make his money back, and then some, by running an underground poker game in New York City. Once in New York, Tim finds himself on the road to recovery and making real money for the first time—but at what cost?
We Run Bad offers an authentic and darkly comic look at underground poker culture, while serving up an indictment of post-recession America. Here, every game is rigged, and the only way to come out ahead is to be the one doing the rigging.
We Run Bad offers an authentic and darkly comic look at underground poker culture, while serving up an indictment of post-recession America. Here, every game is rigged, and the only way to come out ahead is to be the one doing the rigging.
119 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2018
About the author
John Curry
298 books8 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
See:
John Curry, Irish historian
See:
John Curry, Irish historian
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
July 15, 2018
Author, John Curry, pulled no punches with a colorful narrative filled with expletives and street jargon. As for me, his style of writing worked; it was fascinating reading. Given a charge of adrenaline, the scenes rushed forward at break-neck speed. From beginning to end, the well-written topsy-turvy action never slowed nor failed to amuse.
Down on his luck, Tim, staggered through a decadent life with a bottle of booze in one hand, illegal narcotics in the other. Fast food carried him through from one day to the next. A career choice had been made. He left the real estate market behind to enter the world of professional gambling. In his case - professional losing.
Initially, that fortuitous move proved to be disastrous. In record time, almost every penny to his name had been lost in high stakes poker. As far as he was concerned, it didn't really matter; he had his drugs, booze and cigarettes to ease his crumbling world. This was not the American dream he had envisioned.
He bounced between New York City and Atlantic City. That's where the action took him. Try as he might, his life was on a continual downward spiral. Living one day to the next, this was the unfortunate life that he found himself sucked into. There was no ending, just another bottle of whiskey, one more line of nose candy. He made his bed...
I send my thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Down on his luck, Tim, staggered through a decadent life with a bottle of booze in one hand, illegal narcotics in the other. Fast food carried him through from one day to the next. A career choice had been made. He left the real estate market behind to enter the world of professional gambling. In his case - professional losing.
Initially, that fortuitous move proved to be disastrous. In record time, almost every penny to his name had been lost in high stakes poker. As far as he was concerned, it didn't really matter; he had his drugs, booze and cigarettes to ease his crumbling world. This was not the American dream he had envisioned.
He bounced between New York City and Atlantic City. That's where the action took him. Try as he might, his life was on a continual downward spiral. Living one day to the next, this was the unfortunate life that he found himself sucked into. There was no ending, just another bottle of whiskey, one more line of nose candy. He made his bed...
I send my thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
April 12, 2021
This is a well written, compulsively readable narrative about a relentlessly unlikeable booze- and drug-houndish dude who gets up to no good. And who doesn’t love unlikeable people? They’re my favourite!
Tim “runs bad.” He’s a gambler profoundly in the red. And there’s an interesting comparison here: Tim lost his investments in the 2008 recession, and is now a loser at poker. But what’s the big difference?
Having lost everything in the recession, he’s completely lost faith in the idea of building anything—a credit rating, a relationship, a decent life. I couldn’t help but think that he might have thrown the baby out with the 2008 recession! Which is maybe the underlying, understated point of this seedy narrative, that perhaps there were many others like him unwilfully thrust into an utterly dissatisfying nihilism.
I wondered what the guy was like before the crash. As misogynistic, self-defeating, disgusting? I don’t think we get that answer.
But I found a very weird kind of hope in this story. I’m of the opinion, and I think there’s evidence in this story, that whoever Tim was hasn’t entirely gone. There’s a sliver of a chance of redemption, a little sprig of hope growing up from the wreckage of the life before. And in the meantime, giving up is so much fun, is it not?
Rock bottom has a nice flat surface on which to dance. And who doesn’t love dancing?
Tim “runs bad.” He’s a gambler profoundly in the red. And there’s an interesting comparison here: Tim lost his investments in the 2008 recession, and is now a loser at poker. But what’s the big difference?
Having lost everything in the recession, he’s completely lost faith in the idea of building anything—a credit rating, a relationship, a decent life. I couldn’t help but think that he might have thrown the baby out with the 2008 recession! Which is maybe the underlying, understated point of this seedy narrative, that perhaps there were many others like him unwilfully thrust into an utterly dissatisfying nihilism.
I wondered what the guy was like before the crash. As misogynistic, self-defeating, disgusting? I don’t think we get that answer.
But I found a very weird kind of hope in this story. I’m of the opinion, and I think there’s evidence in this story, that whoever Tim was hasn’t entirely gone. There’s a sliver of a chance of redemption, a little sprig of hope growing up from the wreckage of the life before. And in the meantime, giving up is so much fun, is it not?
Rock bottom has a nice flat surface on which to dance. And who doesn’t love dancing?
September 16, 2018
So, this is more of a novella or a long short story. And I'm a bit of a sucker for this type of writing, which reminds me of Chuck Palahniuk in its crass-but-genuine storytelling. Understand, this is isn't a book that's TRYING to be crass, but it just comes naturally, and I love it.
There's not much of a moral to this story, or even much of a character arc. But the way it's written had me laughing out loud throughout the entire story, and that made up for some of its other shortcomings. I also found it highly educational, as it really gives you the low-down on underground poker. So, if you want a short read that feels kind of like an American Guy Ritchie movie, and you enjoy rude, satirical humor, then you'll probably like this.
There's not much of a moral to this story, or even much of a character arc. But the way it's written had me laughing out loud throughout the entire story, and that made up for some of its other shortcomings. I also found it highly educational, as it really gives you the low-down on underground poker. So, if you want a short read that feels kind of like an American Guy Ritchie movie, and you enjoy rude, satirical humor, then you'll probably like this.
September 17, 2018
"We Run Bad" is a story about Tim caught in the middle of the collapse of America's housing market and moved to Atlantic City with a new dream of playing poker for a living. After losing all his money at the card tables, he encounters a chance to recoup all his losses and make more money by running an underground poker game in New York City.
The story moves at a fast pace with interesting and realistic characters. It is also funny in a crude way. The book is an entertaining read and would possibly make an entertaining movie, similar to "Hangover" -- crude, funny, somewhat dark, with underdogs who are surprisingly likable despite their foolish ways.
The story moves at a fast pace with interesting and realistic characters. It is also funny in a crude way. The book is an entertaining read and would possibly make an entertaining movie, similar to "Hangover" -- crude, funny, somewhat dark, with underdogs who are surprisingly likable despite their foolish ways.
August 28, 2018
Ill preparation wouldn't get you anywhere.
We run bad is a thought provoking story, personally I learnt a lot from it, as an entrepreneur myself decision making is the most vital part of day to day business life. It's a story about a man with an ambition to make it but he never seems to find the right thing to do or the right path to follow. He tries several things hoping to make it but all to no avail. At first he tried flipping houses, he saw them do it on TV and he thought what big deal is there? If they could do it, he could too it looks so easy and fast. Unfortunately the market crashes and the country enters into a great recession, with his flipping idea a total loss he moves on to something new he would become a professional poker player motivated by what he saw on TV he felt it was the path for him. So he moved to Atlantic City but yet again he lost all and now is left inside a liquor store drinking and drowning his sorrows with alcohol.
I learnt a lot of lessons from this. Ill preparation wouldn't get you anywhere, if one hopes to not only survive but also thrive in life one has to be fully prepared and ready before starting anything no matter how small, just because it looks easy doesn't always mean it is easy.
John curry did a really good job on this book, his writing style and tone really reaches out to the reader, he let's us feel the characters pain and really relate to his emotions as he Wade through life given us the opportunity to learn from it. All round a very good book which I strongly recommend.
We run bad is a thought provoking story, personally I learnt a lot from it, as an entrepreneur myself decision making is the most vital part of day to day business life. It's a story about a man with an ambition to make it but he never seems to find the right thing to do or the right path to follow. He tries several things hoping to make it but all to no avail. At first he tried flipping houses, he saw them do it on TV and he thought what big deal is there? If they could do it, he could too it looks so easy and fast. Unfortunately the market crashes and the country enters into a great recession, with his flipping idea a total loss he moves on to something new he would become a professional poker player motivated by what he saw on TV he felt it was the path for him. So he moved to Atlantic City but yet again he lost all and now is left inside a liquor store drinking and drowning his sorrows with alcohol.
I learnt a lot of lessons from this. Ill preparation wouldn't get you anywhere, if one hopes to not only survive but also thrive in life one has to be fully prepared and ready before starting anything no matter how small, just because it looks easy doesn't always mean it is easy.
John curry did a really good job on this book, his writing style and tone really reaches out to the reader, he let's us feel the characters pain and really relate to his emotions as he Wade through life given us the opportunity to learn from it. All round a very good book which I strongly recommend.
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September 21, 2018To be honest, I never quite understand the way that gambling leads to addiction. I was as aware as the next general person that gambling can lead to serious issues, and I’ve seen the gambling hotlines posted in casinos. Still, the issue wasn’t quite real to me until reading this book and understanding that for some people, poker is not a game. For some, it is an occupation, and for those for whom it is a problem, it is a lifestyle. What I didn’t expect, even beyond the fact that the presentation of gambling as a problem exceeded my expectations, was the subtle commentary on people’s general addiction to money. Whether we want to admit it or not, we spend a lot of time and energy focusing on how much money we have, how to spend our money, and perhaps more sinisterly, how to invest our money. Like gambling, those who have more money can afford to worry about money less, but even then you can become susceptible to investment worry. Curry takes all of these questions and more into account as he navigates the seedy underbelly of New York City’s poker scene, sending his protagonist through brutal and often soul-crushing moments of despair, tempered only by brief and manic highs. Gambling is a drug in that sense. Money is a drug in the long-term addiction sense, and together, they present a dark and frightening image of America’s post-recession financial situation. I would highly recommend this read to anyone who feels like money has too large a presence in their life.
August 31, 2018
The book is very cleverly written. The vernacular used indicates the author has a close relationship with the subject matter and the dialogue is harsh and believable. Tim's stream-of-conscious that runs the book is unrelenting and intense.
There is very little redemption to be had in anyone, and the world these characters live in is a tragic nightmare.
John Curry has taken the story of a man who made some pretty terrible decisions that very quickly come back to bite him, but is suddenly given the opportunity to climb back to the top.
Tim is genuinely abhorrent, his opinions are disgusting and his treatment of women is beyond the pale and I found the book a genuinely difficult read, but this shows the talent gone in to portraying him by the author.
A fascinating and in depth portrayal of post-economic collapse America and the effect it had on peoples lives. The book shows the dark, manipulative and dangerous side of the underground poker scene and what some people are willing to risk in order to get back on top.
There is very little redemption to be had in anyone, and the world these characters live in is a tragic nightmare.
John Curry has taken the story of a man who made some pretty terrible decisions that very quickly come back to bite him, but is suddenly given the opportunity to climb back to the top.
Tim is genuinely abhorrent, his opinions are disgusting and his treatment of women is beyond the pale and I found the book a genuinely difficult read, but this shows the talent gone in to portraying him by the author.
A fascinating and in depth portrayal of post-economic collapse America and the effect it had on peoples lives. The book shows the dark, manipulative and dangerous side of the underground poker scene and what some people are willing to risk in order to get back on top.
August 26, 2018
Okay, so we all know the historical tales of the economy taking a dip, and eventually falling into a deep recession. We also know the fears of it taking a turn in front of us anytime in the near future. It is also interesting to see what lengths others like us may go to in order to regain financial control of our lives, or simple control of the situations in which we find ourselves. With complete exasperation and frantic attempts to regain control over one's own finances through the overtaking of others, it's hard to see what further shackles any of us could find ourselves in when this potentially happens. Definitely an entertaining tale!
April 16, 2019
To be successful, rich, and comfortable are some of the top accomplishments many of us dream of, but unfortunately is far too difficult to achieve for most. There are plenty of ways an individual could make a living to have those checked off their list, but would it come at some kind of cost? It’s upsetting to know that not everyone will be able to make it in life to say they don’t have any form of worries because any kind of worrying is just a part of life. By focusing on making ends meet in order to survive, can construed a mindset into thinking that even doing something illegal to fulfill this notion is better than nothing.
In “We Run Bad,” author John Curry sheds some light on the protagonist, Tim, as he struggles to climb his way out of his gambling debts. With his connections to a few individuals, Brian became the main go-to person that would assist him in crawling out of the hole he’s dug for himself. Working as a dealer for underground single-table gambling games throughout Manhattan, Tim would finally have the funds he’ll need to hopefully start over with a new life. Through the experiences of getting caught twice by S.W.A.T. through unexpected raids, he had to come up with an effective strategy that would last him until he can save up his ideal amount of money. Of course, as a man he has needs, he was able to encounter a Japanese nymphomaniac that would cater to his sexual needs for the time being. They had a simple “friends with benefits” kind of arrangement so it wouldn’t be a challenge to up and leave if necessary. It took a close call one day, for Tim to step out and get some food for him to realize just how lucky he was, to observe Brian and their Russian partner Matt, to be hauled away by the F.B.I with mortified faces, to pack his little belongings and go back to Jersey.
This was a wild ride journey for the main character and the author made sure to provide a rollercoaster experience for his readers. Well-written, I was unable to set it down as I wanted the story to continue unfolding and learn what else happens to Tim, plus it painted an interesting picture of New York City with some shared opinions about how “clean” the city has become. If you’re looking for a quick read that has enough action with a hint of reality, I would recommend this book to others.
In “We Run Bad,” author John Curry sheds some light on the protagonist, Tim, as he struggles to climb his way out of his gambling debts. With his connections to a few individuals, Brian became the main go-to person that would assist him in crawling out of the hole he’s dug for himself. Working as a dealer for underground single-table gambling games throughout Manhattan, Tim would finally have the funds he’ll need to hopefully start over with a new life. Through the experiences of getting caught twice by S.W.A.T. through unexpected raids, he had to come up with an effective strategy that would last him until he can save up his ideal amount of money. Of course, as a man he has needs, he was able to encounter a Japanese nymphomaniac that would cater to his sexual needs for the time being. They had a simple “friends with benefits” kind of arrangement so it wouldn’t be a challenge to up and leave if necessary. It took a close call one day, for Tim to step out and get some food for him to realize just how lucky he was, to observe Brian and their Russian partner Matt, to be hauled away by the F.B.I with mortified faces, to pack his little belongings and go back to Jersey.
This was a wild ride journey for the main character and the author made sure to provide a rollercoaster experience for his readers. Well-written, I was unable to set it down as I wanted the story to continue unfolding and learn what else happens to Tim, plus it painted an interesting picture of New York City with some shared opinions about how “clean” the city has become. If you’re looking for a quick read that has enough action with a hint of reality, I would recommend this book to others.
May 15, 2019
“Running bad means loss---of Gatsbian proportions. The author of this story clearly knows a thing or two about the poker world. In this story he shares his in-depth knowledge and insight into this world and into some of the secrets that outsiders may never otherwise be privy to. This story is too interesting to be totally fiction! The author writes, “…it doesn’t matter how good you are. Eventually, you lose like everybody else--only slower.” Although there is clearly a deep draw to this game for this novel’s lead character, there is also a healthy amount of awareness around the cons of gambling big money on cards.
Tim is a gambling man with very few strings attached. His life is thrown for a loop with the economic recession of 2008. The scene of him abandoning his home is heart-wrenching. Honestly, I had no idea that people did that during the recession. After heading to Atlantic City to drink and gamble away his woes and the last of his money he is met with an interesting proposal by a friend. He leaves Jersey for the big city to run an illegal underground poker operation in Manhattan, Hell’s Kitchen to be exact. As his friends says, “Crime pays. Don’t let them bullsh*t you.” So many good one-liners in this book!
In New York, Tim realizes he may be getting dirtier than he was led to believe! The New York operation days seem so tumultuous and anxiety-producing. When one is running an illegal operation SWAT may be a heartbeat away at any moment! It’s interesting how Tim becomes so desensitized to certain things as he learns how things run. This is an interesting story that honestly reads as if it all truly happened!
This was a quick read that packs a big punch! The ending could have given me a bit more closure and maybe a little more redemption for Tim but maybe there will be more story to come! It certainly left an opening for the author to share more stories of the adventures of Tim!
Tim is a gambling man with very few strings attached. His life is thrown for a loop with the economic recession of 2008. The scene of him abandoning his home is heart-wrenching. Honestly, I had no idea that people did that during the recession. After heading to Atlantic City to drink and gamble away his woes and the last of his money he is met with an interesting proposal by a friend. He leaves Jersey for the big city to run an illegal underground poker operation in Manhattan, Hell’s Kitchen to be exact. As his friends says, “Crime pays. Don’t let them bullsh*t you.” So many good one-liners in this book!
In New York, Tim realizes he may be getting dirtier than he was led to believe! The New York operation days seem so tumultuous and anxiety-producing. When one is running an illegal operation SWAT may be a heartbeat away at any moment! It’s interesting how Tim becomes so desensitized to certain things as he learns how things run. This is an interesting story that honestly reads as if it all truly happened!
This was a quick read that packs a big punch! The ending could have given me a bit more closure and maybe a little more redemption for Tim but maybe there will be more story to come! It certainly left an opening for the author to share more stories of the adventures of Tim!
June 4, 2020
Curry’s novel is an entertaining, brief account of an American man who, caught in the cross-hairs of the Great Recession and its unapologetic effects on society (and of course, the stock market), oscillates between periods of near impoverishment, desperation, intoxication, and illegal redemption as he observes and comments on a society both familiar and obfuscated to him at different points in time.
The narration is direct, detailed, and grim; the protagonist is neither shy to profanity-flowered language nor is he shy to engaging in criminal activities, and contrary to his mostly unlikable character, he has a surprising epiphany of remorse near the novel’s coda which mirrors the uncanniness of the very “miracle” which offers to save him from his financial dilemmas and woes. Given the setting, the book presents quite unlikable characters in general—unlikable, at least, by society’s conventions of morality and common decency. Ironically, by the conventions of Tim’s (the protagonist’s) world, the caricatures of people portrayed throughout the novel are by and large unsurprising and normal.
I only have one grip with “We Run Bad,” and it’s that the novel is rather short. While brevity by no means implicates a lack of quality, I feel that some of Tim’s thoughts, quips, and opinions about his various interactions with his world feel a bit underdeveloped, to the point where I found myself asking, “That’s, it? No more?” Maybe it was used rhetorically to convey the protagonist’s casual absent-mindedness at attempting to make particularly “poignant” observations at times, but I feel the same, nonetheless.
However, this doesn’t retract from that fact that the book was an enjoyable read, and I imagine that it would be the same to most—as long as they can handle its friendliness to profanity and some of the darker, more mature themes of life.
The narration is direct, detailed, and grim; the protagonist is neither shy to profanity-flowered language nor is he shy to engaging in criminal activities, and contrary to his mostly unlikable character, he has a surprising epiphany of remorse near the novel’s coda which mirrors the uncanniness of the very “miracle” which offers to save him from his financial dilemmas and woes. Given the setting, the book presents quite unlikable characters in general—unlikable, at least, by society’s conventions of morality and common decency. Ironically, by the conventions of Tim’s (the protagonist’s) world, the caricatures of people portrayed throughout the novel are by and large unsurprising and normal.
I only have one grip with “We Run Bad,” and it’s that the novel is rather short. While brevity by no means implicates a lack of quality, I feel that some of Tim’s thoughts, quips, and opinions about his various interactions with his world feel a bit underdeveloped, to the point where I found myself asking, “That’s, it? No more?” Maybe it was used rhetorically to convey the protagonist’s casual absent-mindedness at attempting to make particularly “poignant” observations at times, but I feel the same, nonetheless.
However, this doesn’t retract from that fact that the book was an enjoyable read, and I imagine that it would be the same to most—as long as they can handle its friendliness to profanity and some of the darker, more mature themes of life.
June 14, 2019
This is a quick read crafted by a talented author who really understands how to convey the seedy dark side to an urban existence off the grid. The tale is told in the first person by Tim who is a Philadelphia native. Society has marginalized him and stripped him of everything normal he's ever had. With the last of his life savings, he decides that he is going to try and play poker for a living in Atlantic City. I'm a Philadelphian myself and so I related a lot to his perspective. Atlantic City is one of the most depressed cities in the country. It survived almost entirely on the casino industry and once competition showed up in the surrounding states it hit the economy of this seaside gambling town very hard. The story takes place in the post-economic recession beginning around 2008 and it weaves deftly between down and out moments in Atlantic City with Tim and his degenerate buddy Harris, his escape back to the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia and eventually to his reluctant flight to New York City where the story really begins to unfold.
Due to his circumstances, Tim doesn't have any real belongings or family or home. He lives life from moment to moment always just surviving. He doesn't believe in participating in the "rat race" and has disdain for those who can't see there are ways to survive without being a slave to the system. The novel weaves an interesting tale but it is also a social commentary on the illness plaguing America even in 2019, and how that illness affects the individual also. Tim is about hard living. I hate his character deeply but I also recognize that it takes a talented writer to evoke such a feeling, so kudos to his creator John Curry. Great Read, thanks for the ride!
Due to his circumstances, Tim doesn't have any real belongings or family or home. He lives life from moment to moment always just surviving. He doesn't believe in participating in the "rat race" and has disdain for those who can't see there are ways to survive without being a slave to the system. The novel weaves an interesting tale but it is also a social commentary on the illness plaguing America even in 2019, and how that illness affects the individual also. Tim is about hard living. I hate his character deeply but I also recognize that it takes a talented writer to evoke such a feeling, so kudos to his creator John Curry. Great Read, thanks for the ride!
August 12, 2019
Well a good sandwich is hard to come by
The book “ We Run Bad “ by John Curry is a story about a character named Jim. Jims puts everything into real estate lost it all moved to Atlantic City and lost even more than money, seemed to have lost apart of his soul. This down hearted and down heartening story rings more than true to a very large portion of our country, not to mention our world. The author John Curry paints a descriptive,cruel, vulgar but very real portrait of what many people suffer through in order to make it “big”. WARNING THERE IS SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT. There is a portion of the story that goes into the character Jim’s sexual encounters and his neighbors. The one part that really stuck with me as a reader was when Jim saw a young child next door and was afraid the child needed held but instead this young child flips Jim off and starts singing “ F you” but not the censored version and laughs. This part both shocked me and made me laugh out loud at the horror of it. The fact that this is not far from many children in the “real world”. “We Run Bad” is not a censored or watered down version of a character who makes bad choices and ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time but the opposite. Jim is not a heroine in this tale or is he!? Jim goes through hell and back in the beginning of his tale however by the middle he is offered all he could ever want on a silver platter , and then some. However as we all know nothing is ever free and the cost this offer comes at seems too high for Jim and in the end it seems he is changing his mind and does not want all that the fame and fortune seem to cost , or does he ? I would recommend this story to someone who is looking for something that is not cookie cutter or predictable , however they have to be ok with profanity and true grit.
The book “ We Run Bad “ by John Curry is a story about a character named Jim. Jims puts everything into real estate lost it all moved to Atlantic City and lost even more than money, seemed to have lost apart of his soul. This down hearted and down heartening story rings more than true to a very large portion of our country, not to mention our world. The author John Curry paints a descriptive,cruel, vulgar but very real portrait of what many people suffer through in order to make it “big”. WARNING THERE IS SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT. There is a portion of the story that goes into the character Jim’s sexual encounters and his neighbors. The one part that really stuck with me as a reader was when Jim saw a young child next door and was afraid the child needed held but instead this young child flips Jim off and starts singing “ F you” but not the censored version and laughs. This part both shocked me and made me laugh out loud at the horror of it. The fact that this is not far from many children in the “real world”. “We Run Bad” is not a censored or watered down version of a character who makes bad choices and ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time but the opposite. Jim is not a heroine in this tale or is he!? Jim goes through hell and back in the beginning of his tale however by the middle he is offered all he could ever want on a silver platter , and then some. However as we all know nothing is ever free and the cost this offer comes at seems too high for Jim and in the end it seems he is changing his mind and does not want all that the fame and fortune seem to cost , or does he ? I would recommend this story to someone who is looking for something that is not cookie cutter or predictable , however they have to be ok with profanity and true grit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2019
From loss to life in the fast lane.
John Curry tells a captivating tale in his novella We Run Bad. The story is complete with offbeat characters and colorful language to match. It could be anybody's story, but the author makes the main character, Tim own it.
Tim has a dream of becoming a successful house flipper and invests in a fixer upper home in a rundown Philadelphia neighborhood. When his life is turned upside down during the 2008 economic downturn he winds up abandoning his unfinished flip house before the bank evicts him for defaulting on his loan. He then heads to Alantic City with his pal Harris to play poker for a living. In a semi-drunk hangover state-of-mind, he loses everything in a poker game and simply walks away from the table.
With no prospects for income or a place to live he runs into a shady bookie who offers him a job running his underground poker house. Tim accepts the job of hustling poker players to help recover his losses. He moves to Manhattan where he experiences the darker side of New York City. Every night the poker house is at risk of being raided by police, but Tim holds his own and does his job. Though his love for liquor and and need for money keep a stronghold on him.
The question is: will Tim ever get out of the game?
The author leaves the story open for more of Tim's escapades in the future, but readers are left with a neat ending.
The story was intriguing and showed how easily a person can lose hope and slip into unhealthy lifestyles following costly dreams unfulfilled. If you're looking for a fast-paced story that will hold your attention - this is it.
John Curry tells a captivating tale in his novella We Run Bad. The story is complete with offbeat characters and colorful language to match. It could be anybody's story, but the author makes the main character, Tim own it.
Tim has a dream of becoming a successful house flipper and invests in a fixer upper home in a rundown Philadelphia neighborhood. When his life is turned upside down during the 2008 economic downturn he winds up abandoning his unfinished flip house before the bank evicts him for defaulting on his loan. He then heads to Alantic City with his pal Harris to play poker for a living. In a semi-drunk hangover state-of-mind, he loses everything in a poker game and simply walks away from the table.
With no prospects for income or a place to live he runs into a shady bookie who offers him a job running his underground poker house. Tim accepts the job of hustling poker players to help recover his losses. He moves to Manhattan where he experiences the darker side of New York City. Every night the poker house is at risk of being raided by police, but Tim holds his own and does his job. Though his love for liquor and and need for money keep a stronghold on him.
The question is: will Tim ever get out of the game?
The author leaves the story open for more of Tim's escapades in the future, but readers are left with a neat ending.
The story was intriguing and showed how easily a person can lose hope and slip into unhealthy lifestyles following costly dreams unfulfilled. If you're looking for a fast-paced story that will hold your attention - this is it.
September 12, 2019
We Run Bad by John Curry is full of lessons. The first notable lesson I can describe would be a lesson in vocabulary. Yowza! I feel like I have been positively sheltered in my 42 years. I had no idea the breadth and depth of the world of profanities. That being said, the language used by the characters does lend itself to the description and explanation of the scenes depicted in the book. I don't think Beaver Clever was sitting down to an underworld poker game with Eddie Haskell while June and Ward were at the Bridge game down the street. This is not a story about "nice" people. It is a story about desperate people and the predators that wait in the shadows to consume them. Loan sharks, bookies, informants, law enforcement, and the unseen hand of the puppet masters pulling the strings of the house. They are all part of the giant, ever moving machine of illegal gambling dens. Everyone is on the take and you will NEVER beat the house. A lot of us can identify with the desperation the characters feel after having tried to make it in this world by legitimate methods. What will we do if the bottom falls out? How can I make just a little on the side? As I read this tale, that I must say seems autobiographical Mr. Curry, I felt somewhat indignant at the behavior of the characters. It was not until I took a break from reading to play my free online scratchers, WINNERS GUARANTEED EVERYDAY!, that it becomes apparent just how easy it is to become them. If I can just get to $10 I can cash out! I guess it is just divine intervention that I don't have a head for cards. If I did I may find myself at a green felt table, all in, playing just one more hand.
December 21, 2019
Wow what a great read! I really enjoyed this book from the start, but I wasn’t sure why at first. It seemed familiar with the language and mannerisms in the authors grammar, but then once I realized he was writing about places I was familiar with, I realized why it felt so familiar.
John does a great job of writing this book from the perspective of someone who was actually a part of these neighborhoods and scenes, or at least someone who had experience them.
His descriptions of the neighborhoods of Philly and Atlantic City made me feel like I was back there walking the streets again. Not that I had any drug fueled experiences, but his descriptions of the people, buildings, and atmospheres really brought back some old memories.
The book is very well written, and really lets you feel what the main character Tim is feeling and experiencing. There were only two errors in the book which jumped out at me, but they did not take away from the story, aside from me rereading those lines a few times to be sure I read them correctly.
The story is great and having been in some of those neighborhoods myself when I was young, I can confirm John does an excellent job of laying out the streets and neighborhoods for us. The writing and phrasing the author uses had me laughing many times, since I could hear those words and phrases going back to conversations I had overheard years ago in Philly and AC.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to see life from the eyes of a troubled person, trying to make it in this world. Not all lives are glorious, or memorable. But there is always a story to be told, if told well.
John does a great job of writing this book from the perspective of someone who was actually a part of these neighborhoods and scenes, or at least someone who had experience them.
His descriptions of the neighborhoods of Philly and Atlantic City made me feel like I was back there walking the streets again. Not that I had any drug fueled experiences, but his descriptions of the people, buildings, and atmospheres really brought back some old memories.
The book is very well written, and really lets you feel what the main character Tim is feeling and experiencing. There were only two errors in the book which jumped out at me, but they did not take away from the story, aside from me rereading those lines a few times to be sure I read them correctly.
The story is great and having been in some of those neighborhoods myself when I was young, I can confirm John does an excellent job of laying out the streets and neighborhoods for us. The writing and phrasing the author uses had me laughing many times, since I could hear those words and phrases going back to conversations I had overheard years ago in Philly and AC.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to see life from the eyes of a troubled person, trying to make it in this world. Not all lives are glorious, or memorable. But there is always a story to be told, if told well.
May 8, 2019
We Run Bad by John Curry
Crazy – Fun but Crazy.
This novel grabs the read to the first page and then drags them through the murk and mire…and it’s all awesome! Our Arthur’s decision to tell this story from the first-person point of view made it possible for the reader to experience all the trails and tribulations of our character, with zero of the risks. Wonderful!
John Curry has managed to write a very modern and surreal tale of how someone’s life can be utterly out of control, with no hope of rescue. I’m not sure if I felt pity, empathy or disgust for our main character, Tim, I just felt like I was an intricate part of his life. I’m not sure how one person could be so unfortunate…makes me see how blessed my own life is.
This book uses a lot, I mean a LOT, of graphic language. I personally believe it adds a layer of realism to the novel. Seriously, you can see how this character and those around him would wallow in the lewdness of this type of language. Perfectly paired for this story and frankly a necessary component of the dark and tragic tale. Good job Mr. Curry!
The introduction to the seedy world of gambling, drugs and addiction was fascinating to me. I enjoy a good game of poker and a nice mixed drink on occasion, I imagine like most people do; However, to lose everything, perhaps even your soul, for a game of chance or the temporary high that our characters got with a drink or drugs, is a totally alien idea to me, that made this book amazing!
So, if you are looking for a good summer read you have found it!
Crazy – Fun but Crazy.
This novel grabs the read to the first page and then drags them through the murk and mire…and it’s all awesome! Our Arthur’s decision to tell this story from the first-person point of view made it possible for the reader to experience all the trails and tribulations of our character, with zero of the risks. Wonderful!
John Curry has managed to write a very modern and surreal tale of how someone’s life can be utterly out of control, with no hope of rescue. I’m not sure if I felt pity, empathy or disgust for our main character, Tim, I just felt like I was an intricate part of his life. I’m not sure how one person could be so unfortunate…makes me see how blessed my own life is.
This book uses a lot, I mean a LOT, of graphic language. I personally believe it adds a layer of realism to the novel. Seriously, you can see how this character and those around him would wallow in the lewdness of this type of language. Perfectly paired for this story and frankly a necessary component of the dark and tragic tale. Good job Mr. Curry!
The introduction to the seedy world of gambling, drugs and addiction was fascinating to me. I enjoy a good game of poker and a nice mixed drink on occasion, I imagine like most people do; However, to lose everything, perhaps even your soul, for a game of chance or the temporary high that our characters got with a drink or drugs, is a totally alien idea to me, that made this book amazing!
So, if you are looking for a good summer read you have found it!
November 7, 2019
“We run bad” reminds me of this movie I have seen before. It was called, “Running Scared.” The character Harris reminds of the character Tommy I believe his name was. They both have no empathy for anyone around them. They both make me laugh because even though they are just the most selfish characters in their stories they’re still funny. They bring so much life into each of their stories. To me they give the noble characters more of a reason to work harder and be a better person. The language and the way everyone carried themselves is the same as the movie. The location of the book is even better. I love that they’re in NJ. I rarely read books that are place in any city in NJ. I was born and raised in NJ, so it made me proud. I didn’t realize the title “We run bad” was a term in the book. That is so interesting to learn about. According to another main character who is the narrator running bad means loss of gatsbian proportions. Keep reading further and I learned so much about the two characters lives. It made me feel sympathy for them. It made me come to the realization that this is real life. People really do go through things like this every day. People are so caught up in their own problems that no one ever bothers to notice anyone else around us. Anyone could end up in their positions. This book has taught me a lot about myself and my awareness to people and the things around me. This is a great book that will open your eyes to things in life anyone would choose to be blind to.
March 12, 2019
"We Run Bad" by John Curry is a great read. He takes the reader into an atmosphere of darkness that most of us haven't had to experience and wouldn't want to experience. It's a great look into a man's spiral downhill and the fight to survive once he reaches bottom.
The main character Tim lost everything when he was flipping houses during the housing boom from there desperate and desolate he heads to Atlantic City where he tries his hand at gambling, convinced that he can strike it rich again, famous last words!
Tim tries his hand at poker and this was obviously a mistake because the only thing that happens is he ends up further in debt to all the wrong people. Through all of it the author paints the picture sovividly I can almost hear the slot machines playing in the background, smell the excitement in the air as people win and feel the desperation as they lose.
Be aware that there are several situations that are dark and gritty, rough and dangerous, and just as real as life for the ones trying to survive no matter what takes. Tim never gives up and I loved seeing what he was going to pull out of his hat full of tricks when he hits the next road block. It is a great example of what a person can withstand and still keep fighting, even when they hit bottom.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story John Curry and I look forward to your next best-seller! Five stars from this reader!!
The main character Tim lost everything when he was flipping houses during the housing boom from there desperate and desolate he heads to Atlantic City where he tries his hand at gambling, convinced that he can strike it rich again, famous last words!
Tim tries his hand at poker and this was obviously a mistake because the only thing that happens is he ends up further in debt to all the wrong people. Through all of it the author paints the picture sovividly I can almost hear the slot machines playing in the background, smell the excitement in the air as people win and feel the desperation as they lose.
Be aware that there are several situations that are dark and gritty, rough and dangerous, and just as real as life for the ones trying to survive no matter what takes. Tim never gives up and I loved seeing what he was going to pull out of his hat full of tricks when he hits the next road block. It is a great example of what a person can withstand and still keep fighting, even when they hit bottom.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story John Curry and I look forward to your next best-seller! Five stars from this reader!!
May 10, 2019
So wonderfully raunchy
So, this is kind of a sad story, but also raunchy, ridiculous, wonderful and freaking hilarious! It’s about a poor man’s dreams of flipping houses that is demolished by the recession and the spiral of shenanigans that ensues. The author uses such colorful and creative language, you can’t help but laugh out loud even though it is at the poor main character, Tim’s, expense. I also love the style in which the author writes, it’s unique and totally outlandish but also somehow relatable. Reading about Tim’s adventures could make even the most downtrodden feel like life is good. If you think you’ve made some poor decisions just jump into this guy’s shoes and you’ll really start to feel better about things! It’s true that you might have to have a bit of a dirty mind and at least a dabble of experience in the party scene to get some of the references and find a lot of it funny, but it’s so real and raw you can’t help but empathize. So, if you’ve ever been accused of being a prude, this is probably not a book you could appreciate but personally, I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t wait to see what other crazy mischief this poor man was going to get himself into! There are a few images that were burned into my mind from this book that sort of make me want to throw up but also laugh so hard I might pee myself. So, if you think you might have a dark sense of humor, you will more than enjoy this book!
So, this is kind of a sad story, but also raunchy, ridiculous, wonderful and freaking hilarious! It’s about a poor man’s dreams of flipping houses that is demolished by the recession and the spiral of shenanigans that ensues. The author uses such colorful and creative language, you can’t help but laugh out loud even though it is at the poor main character, Tim’s, expense. I also love the style in which the author writes, it’s unique and totally outlandish but also somehow relatable. Reading about Tim’s adventures could make even the most downtrodden feel like life is good. If you think you’ve made some poor decisions just jump into this guy’s shoes and you’ll really start to feel better about things! It’s true that you might have to have a bit of a dirty mind and at least a dabble of experience in the party scene to get some of the references and find a lot of it funny, but it’s so real and raw you can’t help but empathize. So, if you’ve ever been accused of being a prude, this is probably not a book you could appreciate but personally, I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t wait to see what other crazy mischief this poor man was going to get himself into! There are a few images that were burned into my mind from this book that sort of make me want to throw up but also laugh so hard I might pee myself. So, if you think you might have a dark sense of humor, you will more than enjoy this book!
August 10, 2019
Real life crashing on the rocks
A gritty account where the main character is hitting bottom so hard it hurts just to read about it.
After losing his job and giving up his house, he heads for the casinos in Atlantic City to try to win some money with the remnants of his bankroll. He finds that he's really bad at poker, though, and loses what's left of his money and his life.
When we step into the story, he's lost all sense of self respect, has absolutely no grip on reality, and is just trying to make it through each day. He's using drugs, booze and sex to keep some semblance of control over what's happening to his life.
His friend gets him set up as a dealer in an underground poker game, and as he learns to deal and handle 'the business' he slowly figures out that the amount of money at crossing the tables is insane. He also realizes that the guys who gamble in the games are never going to beat the odds. The game is always going to favor the house, and the house ALWAYS makes money. His bosses are invisible and very "hands-off", and he's finally putting away some cash, so he's inclined to go with the flow. He's got a girlfriend who makes his fantasies come true, a dealer who gets him whatever drugs he wants for the day, and things are going great.
Will be get caught? Will he end up in jail? Prison? Or will he continue to drink and drug his way through his life until something else forces him to change?
If you enjoy 'reality' drama, this is it!
A gritty account where the main character is hitting bottom so hard it hurts just to read about it.
After losing his job and giving up his house, he heads for the casinos in Atlantic City to try to win some money with the remnants of his bankroll. He finds that he's really bad at poker, though, and loses what's left of his money and his life.
When we step into the story, he's lost all sense of self respect, has absolutely no grip on reality, and is just trying to make it through each day. He's using drugs, booze and sex to keep some semblance of control over what's happening to his life.
His friend gets him set up as a dealer in an underground poker game, and as he learns to deal and handle 'the business' he slowly figures out that the amount of money at crossing the tables is insane. He also realizes that the guys who gamble in the games are never going to beat the odds. The game is always going to favor the house, and the house ALWAYS makes money. His bosses are invisible and very "hands-off", and he's finally putting away some cash, so he's inclined to go with the flow. He's got a girlfriend who makes his fantasies come true, a dealer who gets him whatever drugs he wants for the day, and things are going great.
Will be get caught? Will he end up in jail? Prison? Or will he continue to drink and drug his way through his life until something else forces him to change?
If you enjoy 'reality' drama, this is it!
March 13, 2020
A real look at the gambling world
We Run Bad by John Curry, is a dark, gritty, dismal look at the seedy and rough world of gambling (both legally and illegally). The author does an amazing job of creating disgusting and filthy characters through their slang, thoughts, and actions. For example, the character Harris was one of the grossest, most vile characters I have seen written in a long time. However, coupled with the shocking and off putting characters is a sense of relatability in an unpretentious real and genuine way. In fact, a lot of the banter is humorous and full of profound statements about life and struggle.
This book follows the main character at a point when he is dealing with his toughest times. After gambling away all he has, retreating to the house he bought to flip in the recession, then catching the gambling bug again and abandoning all he has to head back to gambling, Tim finds himself at the deepest and lowest points he could ever imagine. When the chance of running an illegal table is proposed and he has nothing left to lose, we get to see him enter the sex, drug, and greed fueled world of running illegal games. After a few run-ins with the law, Tim gets a bit cocky and doesn’t realize that he is gambling with a much bigger opponent that will really take all he has: FBI. Can he get out before it’s too late? Or is he in too deep?
Although vulgar and focused on very themes, I still recommend this book with high praise
We Run Bad by John Curry, is a dark, gritty, dismal look at the seedy and rough world of gambling (both legally and illegally). The author does an amazing job of creating disgusting and filthy characters through their slang, thoughts, and actions. For example, the character Harris was one of the grossest, most vile characters I have seen written in a long time. However, coupled with the shocking and off putting characters is a sense of relatability in an unpretentious real and genuine way. In fact, a lot of the banter is humorous and full of profound statements about life and struggle.
This book follows the main character at a point when he is dealing with his toughest times. After gambling away all he has, retreating to the house he bought to flip in the recession, then catching the gambling bug again and abandoning all he has to head back to gambling, Tim finds himself at the deepest and lowest points he could ever imagine. When the chance of running an illegal table is proposed and he has nothing left to lose, we get to see him enter the sex, drug, and greed fueled world of running illegal games. After a few run-ins with the law, Tim gets a bit cocky and doesn’t realize that he is gambling with a much bigger opponent that will really take all he has: FBI. Can he get out before it’s too late? Or is he in too deep?
Although vulgar and focused on very themes, I still recommend this book with high praise
May 29, 2020
This story starts off as Tim and his not so great friend Harris go out on the town clubbing in Atlantic City. Harris is a bad influence doing everything wrong along with his heroin addiction. Leading both of them into a lifestyle of atrocious behavior. Tim has to leave his dream of flipping his house because of the economy, plus his self destructing continued drinking is reaping havoc on him. Trying to start over in his own twisted way, leaving behind his house and the dying job market he decides to give playing poker for a way of income. Loosing nearly everything he drinks himself to the point of becoming dependent on alcohol. Brian who is a loan shark, takes some time laying out the allure of money that can be made in an illegal underground ripoff scheme. This shady new life scam for Tim takes him on the Amtrak to New York, meeting up with Brian takes on a whole new life of working for illegal people. As time goes on and Tim learns all about the sizeable amount of money being scammed at the tables each night, he just gets pulled in deeper and deeper. Being to late to turn back or feel bad about who is getting scammed. But that is how addiction is, no matter if it is drugs, alcohol, gambling or any other life obsession, the getting pulled in is easy, the getting out is the hard part. But what happens to Tim, Harris and Brian is yet to be seen. A must read if you want to know the ending.
January 22, 2020
Interesting story in a man life, his journey through his adult life. Gambling seems to be his downfall in life, he has played the game and lost a lot of money in the process of trying to get on top or make the game his career. He starts out with a house that he’s trying to fix up but seems to hit road blocks with every turn. He finishes one room in the house and then disaster comes in the form of raw sewage backing up in the basement. He thinks if he ignores it and blocks the basement off that it will go away, but it only leads to infestation of flies. So he moves on to another city where a guy hooks him up with a job in illegal poker houses, he either sits in the cage or deals the cards. He gets lonely and goes looking for love in a run down bar where he meets an Asian girl who likes to do drugs have sex and play video games in her underwear. One night he steps out to get something to eat and the poker house is raided by the feds, he realizes that he needs to get himself together and move in to another town, he packs up all his worldly belongings goes to the bank to get all the money he has been stashing in a safe deposit box and takes a last walk around the town. He moves on to another town and another casino, to start the same downfall he started with. I learned a lot about the poker game and the illegal poker games that go on around the states.
May 29, 2020
his book takes place in New York. The main character has a bit of a gambling problem. He spends most of his time in the seedy underworld of Manhattan. During this time, he has lost a lot. There has been a huge recession and stock market crash. Things are not looking good for him. He turns to playing poker to try and make ends meet.
Tim, the protagonist, used to flip houses for a living. Because of the economy, he was unable to flip the last one and could really use a push in his income. He tries his hand at playing poker in Atlantic City and then he is asked to come work as a poker dealer in the seedy underground gambling rings. During this time, he meets a lot of interesting people, including a Japanese woman that he is smitten with. This romance starts to give him the motivation to make more money and get his life right so they can be together and live the American dream.
The choices that Tim needs to make in the book are incredibly relevant. He must make the choice to save his money and try to make her his wife, have kids, and have a great house. The other choice is to continue to drink and gamble his life away until he is left with nothing. This book takes a good look at what a gambling addiction can do to a person and the ways that they can pull it together and make the life that they want for themselves.
Tim, the protagonist, used to flip houses for a living. Because of the economy, he was unable to flip the last one and could really use a push in his income. He tries his hand at playing poker in Atlantic City and then he is asked to come work as a poker dealer in the seedy underground gambling rings. During this time, he meets a lot of interesting people, including a Japanese woman that he is smitten with. This romance starts to give him the motivation to make more money and get his life right so they can be together and live the American dream.
The choices that Tim needs to make in the book are incredibly relevant. He must make the choice to save his money and try to make her his wife, have kids, and have a great house. The other choice is to continue to drink and gamble his life away until he is left with nothing. This book takes a good look at what a gambling addiction can do to a person and the ways that they can pull it together and make the life that they want for themselves.
February 5, 2019
"Why they need to lock up t $12 pint of gin behind four inches of bulletproof glass should be studied by the world's social science community. The secret behind all class conflict and social instability in the Western hemisphere lies within the walls of this American public convenience store." The bizarre fact that We Run Bad by John Curry has tons of convent truths mixed with the humor, gambling analogs and sad state of affairs that follow our main character Tim is his search to make a living playing poker after his world collapses along with the market.
Along with new poker terms and sayings such as "chop" which actually means two card players split the pot or "running bad" which means losing fifty thousand dollars in under three months at middle stakes poker; you learn that laughter is sometimes the best medicine and regardless what you think you can not make a living playing poker.
This jewel sitting at one hundred sixty-two pages will completely surprise you the whit and wisdom. John Curry characters, locations, and storyline makes this tale completely his own and even though I am by no imagination a fan of poker or gambling; I found myself cheering his protagonist and hoping that he will finally get what he is searching for.
Along with new poker terms and sayings such as "chop" which actually means two card players split the pot or "running bad" which means losing fifty thousand dollars in under three months at middle stakes poker; you learn that laughter is sometimes the best medicine and regardless what you think you can not make a living playing poker.
This jewel sitting at one hundred sixty-two pages will completely surprise you the whit and wisdom. John Curry characters, locations, and storyline makes this tale completely his own and even though I am by no imagination a fan of poker or gambling; I found myself cheering his protagonist and hoping that he will finally get what he is searching for.
September 14, 2019
Tim is the average American with a dream that he doesn’t see come to fruition. At the height of the recession, Tim finds himself on the bad side of the housing market with a partially flipped house. The book moves quickly through his day to day challenges trying to keep his head above water. Tim moves from a gambler to running illegal poker games in New York. Life changes for him as he enters the dangerous and criminal world of unlicensed gaming. With money this good, when is it enough?
I found this book to be a quick and entertaining read. I would have loved to see further development of the characters background stories. We only know Tim as someone who is down on his luck. I find I invest more in a character when I can see it full circle. I look forward to possible continuations of this story.
The plot was entertaining and informative. There is a possibility I am on a government list somewhere after some of the things I googled. Who knew what a rake was? It is not just a garden tool people! I love when I can walk away from a book having learned more about a topic. If you are a gambler - read the book. If you aren’t a gambler - read the book. Is there harsh language? Sure. Sexual content? You bet. Underground poker is not for the faint of heart.
I found this book to be a quick and entertaining read. I would have loved to see further development of the characters background stories. We only know Tim as someone who is down on his luck. I find I invest more in a character when I can see it full circle. I look forward to possible continuations of this story.
The plot was entertaining and informative. There is a possibility I am on a government list somewhere after some of the things I googled. Who knew what a rake was? It is not just a garden tool people! I love when I can walk away from a book having learned more about a topic. If you are a gambler - read the book. If you aren’t a gambler - read the book. Is there harsh language? Sure. Sexual content? You bet. Underground poker is not for the faint of heart.
February 8, 2019
Surprising
This book surprised me over and over again. Yes, it's a "gritty" one, but so well written and put together. The descriptions and word usage repeatedly impressed me. I've never heard invisible stamp ink described as "mucousy," but Curry does and I stopped and realized that yes, indeed it does have that odd consistency. Curry has a talent for breaking characters down and nonchalantly exposing their vulnerabilities in a way that is both entertaining and unnerving.
I previously knew next to nothing about the underground poker world and I now know that I'd like to never be involved in it; but more importantly than that "We Run Bad" reminded me that everyone in all walks of life retains more depth than I tend to think.
Yes, there were parts of this book that I chose to skim because I couldn't handle the grit, but I regret nothing in my reading choice. Tim, the main character, tucks you under his arm, takes you along for the ride, and shares his life in full blunt force. I most enjoyed Tim's intense moment of soul connection with the old dog stopped in the middle of a New York City busy street.
This book surprised me over and over again. Yes, it's a "gritty" one, but so well written and put together. The descriptions and word usage repeatedly impressed me. I've never heard invisible stamp ink described as "mucousy," but Curry does and I stopped and realized that yes, indeed it does have that odd consistency. Curry has a talent for breaking characters down and nonchalantly exposing their vulnerabilities in a way that is both entertaining and unnerving.
I previously knew next to nothing about the underground poker world and I now know that I'd like to never be involved in it; but more importantly than that "We Run Bad" reminded me that everyone in all walks of life retains more depth than I tend to think.
Yes, there were parts of this book that I chose to skim because I couldn't handle the grit, but I regret nothing in my reading choice. Tim, the main character, tucks you under his arm, takes you along for the ride, and shares his life in full blunt force. I most enjoyed Tim's intense moment of soul connection with the old dog stopped in the middle of a New York City busy street.
September 10, 2019
Wow…… This was dark, gritty, definitely not safe for work and at times was so descriptive I felt more than a little uncomfortable. That being said, this was probably the rawest, grittiest, most real book I have ever read. This book was so descriptive, and the author so confident in his writing, I am almost positive this is a thinly veiled autobiographical piece of work. Every scene this book painted, every situation confronted, made you feel like you were there. So effortlessly did the author paint pictures in your mind (Not always wanted one’s mind you) that it was almost impossible not to lose yourself in the book, even if you didn’t want to.
I can’t say this book is my cup of tea, I can’t say that this is a world I would actively seek to envelop myself in, and I can’t say that the author didn’t get his point more than across. He paints a world that doesn’t idolize the situations of its main character, but shows the horror of it, this book is by all mean a real-world horror story of being stuck in a vicious cycle of no options, but the perseverance to keep going.
Again, just wow…
I can’t say this book is my cup of tea, I can’t say that this is a world I would actively seek to envelop myself in, and I can’t say that the author didn’t get his point more than across. He paints a world that doesn’t idolize the situations of its main character, but shows the horror of it, this book is by all mean a real-world horror story of being stuck in a vicious cycle of no options, but the perseverance to keep going.
Again, just wow…
May 5, 2021
“We Run Bad”, was an easy read to breeze through. The book is narrated from the first person perspective of the main character, and wastes no time getting the reader stuck right in the midst of his problematic lifestyle. Overall I was quite pleased with Curry’s compelling style. He isn’t afraid to let the reader know exactly how the main character is dealing with whatever topic is at hand. For me, this raw approach to storytelling worked, because the main character was very opinionated and didn’t hold back. The story is very much focused on a specific period in Tim’s life, rather than the underground poker scene itself. Discovering this about the story was not too disappointing for me, as the poker aspect within the story takes on a symbolic meaning to the overarching narrative, which is much more about the ways in which Tim plays the “hand he is dealt”.
You can read my full breakdown here:
https://www.livefreeliverich.com/blog...
You can read my full breakdown here:
https://www.livefreeliverich.com/blog...
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