Tales of a Punk Rock Nothing

by Schweser Himelstein

The classic underground novel about a Jewish kid from Tennessee, who moves to D.C. and hangs out with militant vegetarians, manifesto-writing shoplifters, and strippers who write feminist theory. The story is told through journals, letters and zines. It's got everything you could want out of a a chase scene, a sex scene, plus angst-ridden critiques of American society.

Genres: Fiction, Music, Punk, Novels, Contemporary, Rock N Roll

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1998

Reviews

[xDEAD ENDx · Rating 1 out of 5]

Punk politics is so embarrassing.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

How strange it is to read a fictionalized account of a life that mirrors your very own. Living collectively, dealing with drama and identity politics. Setting up shows dealing with rats being a gentrifier. It was written in the early 90s in DC and the majority of the setting is in a collective house that I stayed at when it was still in existance. Since I knew everyone who lived in that house, I found myself trying to figure out who the people were that he was talking about in the book. It also reminded me that the way that we dealt with conflict during this time, (writing letters and zines about people, and dragging out the drama for years), as opposed to confronting the problem head on, and then moving on with our lives and getting over it is extremely unhealthy. It pains me that people are still reacting to conflict in the exact same ways in radical communities. It was something that my generation of radicals started and should be thrown out the window and replaced with something much much healthier.

[Gabriel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of a punk novel that consists of letters, journal entries and a zine by the main character and some of the people around him is fantastic. The actual content here wasn't my cup of tea, however. Basically it's a reminder of everything that's wrong with punk: judgmental pricks, dogmatism, fashion and its faux pas. Yeah... I can get enough of that reading actual zines and going to shows (though I don't remember the last punk show I went to). An easy read, but I'm glad it's done.

[Ryan Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book comes along at the right time in your life. I read this over the new year period and I loved the 'main character' (if it is fair to label him as such) and his gradual exasperation with the left-wing scene.

It paints a great picture of those of us who have ever wanted to do something good and be a positive force for change, but feel hampered by what can only be called considered in-fighting. I started reading the book feeling that I missed that feeling (one of determined hopefulness and drive) and left the book feeling as I did in later life, somewhat disillusioned.

It feels unique in its style and it is a fun read. Time will tell whether my general new years angst, over my failure to achieve what I had hoped in the previous 12 months, have fed into this book being 5-stars, but for now it well and truly deserves it!

[Susan Arnold · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really think it's just me that makes this book such a low rating. The story is told through many different mediums, and I knew that going in. The reason I bought the book was because it was outside of my general comfort zone and I wanted to challenge myself, so I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. Well, I didn't.

The main problem that I had with ToPRN was specifically that it was told through multiple different mediums. I'm sure that the authors' intention of that aspect was that it added to the story and told more about the characters. To me, though, it was so distracting that I struggled at times to understand what was happening...I couldn't make it through from one medium to the next.

For this low rating, I truly blame myself; I was not ready to read a book like this.

[Melissa Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this when I read it over a decade ago. I was at the time hitch hiking to Plan-It-X fest, running the original Art Not Ads distro after its founder and my best friend died, train hopping from Baltimore to Philly like catching a bus, cooking at Food Not Bombs, traveling cross country for IMF / World Bank / G8 etc demonstrations and falling madly in love with A//Politicals local boys. I've since settled down, had a child and gotten into law. I'm curious to know if Ill still love it as much. And so I read again. ..

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

These guys give a smart, insightful, politically and socially aware, yet funny look at themselves (ok, I know it's fiction) and their world in the early 90s. How old were they when they wrote this? Early 20s? Looking forward to reading their recent work.

For the social justice perspective of these amazing 20-somethings, I especially like the 'zine article on prisons, a summary of the paper Elliot writes for his Race Relations class at University of Maryland, starting on page 140.

[Tristan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie, how does it feel to know you've inspired a girl I watched grow up, now perched at the edge of thirteen, to shoplift at Urban Outfitters, only to get arrested? The maifesto needs some instructions about learning which corporations are most hip to teenage theft, but, otherwise, down right smart.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if this book was absolutely horrid, I would still give them an A- for effort. Fiction written as various letters and zines. I met one of these guys, I just can't remember which one. It was back in 1998 and he was hocking the book in Hattiesburg Mississippi, outside of a Grumpies show. It looked like really hard work, and I feel ashamed I didn't buy the book then.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious look at punk life in the 90's. A good demonstration of what was good about the punk movement, as well as the bullshit involved. Met the author who gave me my copy...he described the book as "beach reading for retired punk-rockers." I think that's fairly accurate.

[Jon Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember when Jamie and Abram were trying to get this published. They finally did it themselves and did a great job. It was fun to read after having lived a few blocks from the location of one of the houses in the book.

[micaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already have a soft spot for epistolary fiction and this delivered big time. The touches about Judaism were the most authentic I think I've ever read and even if the rest was unimpressive it'd earn points for that, but it was funny and earnest and really enjoyable.

[Jim Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice combination of fictional letters, journal entries, and zines. makes the early 90's D.C. punk scene sound as egotistical as any other punk scene. one of the authors was from Iowa City so I'm a little biased.

[Alyssa abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. i traded a very bad teen fiction for this book. one of the best trades i had ever made.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

all the characters seem so familiar...

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book reminded me of some very old frineds of mine.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's barely a book, but I liked it. It's some letters and 'zines and random ramblings. More than liked. I was inspired by it. It kindled the dying punk flame in this middle-age man.
I daresay I was punk- and DC- adjacent just a few years after the time period depicted here. (And the publisher/co-author was at the University of New Orleans just a few years before I was.) At first I was like, why haven't I heard about any of these bands? I was delightfully confused about what was real or not; and the editor's note just added to the confusion. When I ran across a band called "Small Menace" I finally wised up that they were changing the names - hilariously. However, that just makes it all look real. I'm pretty sure the main character is a composite and his band imagined, but still...It was also cool to see the guy's band go from a pipedream to playing for 100 people in New Orleans. Even if it is fake. It feels very real, so that's something.
It's such a great depiction of a guy just trying to be countercultural because he has to, with all the contradictions that entails, and then burning out on all the internal conflict. It honestly made me want to smash the fuck out of white patriarchal capitalism. But he also shows the absurdity of it all. And the earnest attempts at romance that blow-up so badly. Oh well.
I don't mind an ambiguous ending, but this one just stops. Closure is for The Man.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to read the sequel from when Elliot’s 40! Where are they now?

[Gabrielle Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read that made me laugh a lot. I liked how they incorporated the letters and zines.

[Hannah Augsburger · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was a cute fast lil read filled with amusing/interesting stories. however nothing life changing, I liked how easy it was to read though. Angie & Christa said what needed to be said 💅🏼

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly cute and telling fictional journal/scrapbook of a New Orleans punk who, instead of going to college, decides to move to Washington, D.C. and live a more "punk" life. Elliot's two years in D.C. unfold in a series of letters to his former girlfriend, letters to his little sister back home, journal entries, and three issues of "Mindcleaner" a 'zine he starts. Elliot's punk experience runs the gamut, from living in the Positive Force house, a hazy relationship with a riot grrrrl, working in a health food store at Dupont Circle, trying to organize a collective, moving to Mt. Pleasant, and of course, being in a band and putting out a record. I believe the book is pretty much based on the co-author's experiences in moving to D.C. and I suppose it captures/satirizes a lot of the D.C. "scene" pretty accurately. Although the names have been changed, plenty of D.C. bands (Fugazi, Nation of Ulysses) and scenesters will be recognizable to people in the know. The book works better as a rabid cry to "do something" instead of posing--an aim that is always laudable. It's critique/satire of the D.C. scene gets a little stale by the end, it seems to me like a lot of Elliot's disillusionment stems from idealized expectations about D.C.

[Cheyla Scantling · Rating 3 out of 5]

what i liked and disliked most about this book is that it felt like i was reading someone's lost misplaced journal. this is odviously exactly what the authors were going for, but at times it felt like all whinning and no winning- no progression. i'm happy to have read this book because it reminded me of everything i love about d.c. adams morgan etc. i could visualize the places in my head and wish that i was there too. this book is a must read for anyone who has interest in punk/feminist -remember the 90's, wish i was still there lifestyle (like myself).

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was often shocked by how timely this book feels, despite being set in the early 90's. Characters are unhappy with the US President, with the state of US politics, with a war the US is involved in, etc.
Despite the fact that it was written in the voice of an idealistic youth (which I can find it hard to be sympathetic with...often so black & white) I really was drawn up in the adventures of Elliott.

Written in letters, zine, and diary - and very entertaining.

[Leslie Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I re-read this later in life and found it a little tarnished and not speaking to my soul anymore (Though I strongly remember the color of the apartment, the bathroom I re-read it in, the decor, the smell of sandlewood incense, the way sunlight pooled perfectly on the beige couch just when I had to be at horrible cafe job in thirty minutes), i love it anyway for loving it in the 90s when I was living a version of Abram's life.

Abram is still a hero!

[Ed Wagemann]

Why Everything You Think You Know About Punk Is Completely Wrong:
http://generation-add.blogspot.com/20...

[Hannah Larisch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book after a recommendation from having read Perks of Being a Wallflower. It's teenage angst-y and all, but I found it difficult to read. Despite it's short length, it took me a decent amount of time to finish. It's not something to just read casually on a weekend or whatever. I just found it hard to follow because of how it was written. Oh, and when it ends you just sit there like, wait, what? Anyways, this book was not my cup of tea.

[Kalli Taub · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't follow the dialogue: got that it was a straight edge no babes booze or bud lifestyle, but why the anarchy and anti-education agenda. Was bored by the overarching themes of squalor vs. elitism- and forging a path (far from the middle of nowhere TN town he grew up in). I think making Elliot a self-loathing-deprecating jew shines a dim light on the problems all young men have- that are not college bound. This book can only relate to the occupiers that occupied that occupiers.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 2 out of 5]

Coming of punk rock age tale as Eliot moves to D.C. from a small southern town. Told in the first person and throught he characters zines (a nifty idea, by the way). Nails punk/activist infighting, but some of the attitudes conveyed by the main character come across as anti-feministt under the guise of being pro.

[Lis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diary format, I know, I'm a bit iffy about it too, but then you get the wonderful 'zines throughout the piece that just make me want to go and publish one. It reminds you of how to fight and that there is something worth fighting for. Everyone should read this and remember... the fifth of november!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this and sort of rolled my eyes at the high school and young punk version of living an alternative life. But as I got further into the book, the narrator became more thoughtful, less reactive, and clearly was trying to make a difference in the world. A quick read that is a good reminder of problems in the US from the early 1990s that are still very much with us today.