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Life Is a Strange Place
Thirty-three year old Barry Munday is single minded in his pursuit of casual meaningless sex, but his life changes forever when an unfulfilled sexual encounter with a beautiful teenage girl meets with her angry, trumpet wheedling father in a darkened theatre. Upon waking up in a hospital Barry discovers that his most prized possessions, his family jewels, have been stolen. His testicles, irreparably damaged, have been surgically removed.
Re-evaluating his life, Barry realizes that work has been something to be avoided, he doesn't particularly like his best friend, and he will never have children. Things seem to go from bad to worse for Barry. He is chased out of a gay bar by a group of midget wrestlers, and his ex-girlfriend's dog has taken to defecating on his front stoop. But Barry is soon lifted from wallowing in a pit of self-despair when Ginger Farley, a woman he can't remember having sexual relations with, sues him for paternity. Ironically through the loss of his testicles Barry is transformed into more of a man than he might have otherwise become.
"Life is a Strange Place" is the fourth published novel for Frank Turner Hollon; an Alabama lawyer turned author. Layered with humor and sentimentality, Hollon skilfully weaves his sometimes goofy tale of a man with no balls who discovers there is more to the meaning of life than just planting his seed.
Re-evaluating his life, Barry realizes that work has been something to be avoided, he doesn't particularly like his best friend, and he will never have children. Things seem to go from bad to worse for Barry. He is chased out of a gay bar by a group of midget wrestlers, and his ex-girlfriend's dog has taken to defecating on his front stoop. But Barry is soon lifted from wallowing in a pit of self-despair when Ginger Farley, a woman he can't remember having sexual relations with, sues him for paternity. Ironically through the loss of his testicles Barry is transformed into more of a man than he might have otherwise become.
"Life is a Strange Place" is the fourth published novel for Frank Turner Hollon; an Alabama lawyer turned author. Layered with humor and sentimentality, Hollon skilfully weaves his sometimes goofy tale of a man with no balls who discovers there is more to the meaning of life than just planting his seed.
232 pages, Hardcover
First published August 22, 2003
2 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Frank Turner Hollon
18 books22 followersFrank Turner Hollon, a talented author, has works that vary from suspenseful novels, to short stories, to children’s books. Frank Hollon was born on July 24th, 1963 in Huntsville, Alabama. Although born in Alabama, Hollon soon became a Louisiana native when he moved to Slidell, Louisiana, or as he says “the ugliest town in America,” when he was 5 years old. Hollon attended Slidell High School and graduated in 1981. Hollon went to Louisiana Tech University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude, which earned him a scholarship to Tulane Law School.
Frank Turner Hollon began writing at an early age, usually composing short stories and poetry. He wrote his first book, The Pains of April, in the 1980s, while still in law school. Hollon never really wanted to be a lawyer, but he opted for law school when offered a scholarship, rather than having a full-time job. At the time, he worked at the St. Charles Guesthouse on Prytania Street. Always a free spirit, he even showed up at law school barefooted.
Hollon lived in Louisiana from the age of 5 until he graduated from law school when he was 24. The book, The Pains of April, was Frank Turner Hollon’s first book to be published, and was written while he was in law school in New Orleans. Only a few friends and family read his manuscript while the book sat under his bed for 12 years. This book was published by an Alabama publisher, Sonny Brewer. Another one of Hollon’s books, Life is a Strange Place, is set in New Orleans. This book is currently being made into a movie, called Barry Munday. Hollon has said that Walker Percy, a prestigious Southern author and one of Hollon’s favorite authors, has influenced and greatly affected his writings. Hollon read Percy’s books in New Orleans, and many Walker Percy quotes can be found throughout Hollon’s novels.
Throughout his books, Hollon’s style of writing is very unique, and his stories broadly range. In the psychological suspense story, Blood and Circumstance, the novel is written in the form of a transcript of interviews. Hollon says this is because, “The art of conversation is dying amongst cell phones, e-mails, and text messages. Our minds and bodies are geared instinctively for face-to-face communication.” His second book, The God File, consisted of 47 brief chapters. Throughout Hollon’s collections of writings, each book is notably different than the last. He has established a wide variety of readers, with dark, psychological suspenseful novels, to children’s books, to short stories. Each book seems to be a response to the previous one. Hollon creates intriguing and dynamic characters. From dysfunctional “mercy killers” to lawyers and psychiatrists, the book Blood and Circumstance challenges the reader to evaluate their own beliefs and keeps the reader interested. Strong opinions are voiced in many of the books about subjects like religion and legal matters, but usually they are not Hollon’s beliefs. He says that he writes through the eyes of his characters, thus investigating opinions that are not really his own. Hollon says, “After drowning in a very serious subject or character, I sometimes seek the lightness of a funny novel or children's book.”
Today, Frank Turner Hollon lives in Baldwin County, Alabama, with his wife and family. He still practices law, yet manages to keep a successful writing career and continues to write books.
(source: faculty.ashrosary.org/faculty/wohl/20...)
Frank Turner Hollon began writing at an early age, usually composing short stories and poetry. He wrote his first book, The Pains of April, in the 1980s, while still in law school. Hollon never really wanted to be a lawyer, but he opted for law school when offered a scholarship, rather than having a full-time job. At the time, he worked at the St. Charles Guesthouse on Prytania Street. Always a free spirit, he even showed up at law school barefooted.
Hollon lived in Louisiana from the age of 5 until he graduated from law school when he was 24. The book, The Pains of April, was Frank Turner Hollon’s first book to be published, and was written while he was in law school in New Orleans. Only a few friends and family read his manuscript while the book sat under his bed for 12 years. This book was published by an Alabama publisher, Sonny Brewer. Another one of Hollon’s books, Life is a Strange Place, is set in New Orleans. This book is currently being made into a movie, called Barry Munday. Hollon has said that Walker Percy, a prestigious Southern author and one of Hollon’s favorite authors, has influenced and greatly affected his writings. Hollon read Percy’s books in New Orleans, and many Walker Percy quotes can be found throughout Hollon’s novels.
Throughout his books, Hollon’s style of writing is very unique, and his stories broadly range. In the psychological suspense story, Blood and Circumstance, the novel is written in the form of a transcript of interviews. Hollon says this is because, “The art of conversation is dying amongst cell phones, e-mails, and text messages. Our minds and bodies are geared instinctively for face-to-face communication.” His second book, The God File, consisted of 47 brief chapters. Throughout Hollon’s collections of writings, each book is notably different than the last. He has established a wide variety of readers, with dark, psychological suspenseful novels, to children’s books, to short stories. Each book seems to be a response to the previous one. Hollon creates intriguing and dynamic characters. From dysfunctional “mercy killers” to lawyers and psychiatrists, the book Blood and Circumstance challenges the reader to evaluate their own beliefs and keeps the reader interested. Strong opinions are voiced in many of the books about subjects like religion and legal matters, but usually they are not Hollon’s beliefs. He says that he writes through the eyes of his characters, thus investigating opinions that are not really his own. Hollon says, “After drowning in a very serious subject or character, I sometimes seek the lightness of a funny novel or children's book.”
Today, Frank Turner Hollon lives in Baldwin County, Alabama, with his wife and family. He still practices law, yet manages to keep a successful writing career and continues to write books.
(source: faculty.ashrosary.org/faculty/wohl/20...)
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 3, 2023
Not the best book I’ve ever read, but I love the authors view on life. After reading his acknowledgments and the about the author page, I learned that he is a fun man who writes what he wants simply because he can. Although I didn’t fully enjoy the book, I applaud the author for his personal lifestyle.
August 18, 2008
Quite possibly one of the strangest books I've read... the author is from South Alabama- a seemingly good ole Southern boy/attorney-turned successful author. I love reading modern Southern writers, and apparently he has quite a few novels. If you choose to read anything by him, I wouldn't suggest starting with this one... disclaimer: It might be a little painful read for guys!
July 4, 2022
We watched the movie Barry Munday and I discovered that it was based on a book, so I had to read the book. The main character loses his testicles in a trumpet related incident and then finds out that a woman is saying that she is pregnant with his child. I laughed out loud several times. I will be putting the rest of Hollon's book on my reading list.
May 31, 2010
Look for the film adaptation under the title Barry Munday. This book offended and horrified me on the very first page, but I couldn't put it down! As the story progressed, it lost some of the sizzle that drew me in. The story also got a little predictable, but it was still worth hanging in there to see what became of the main characters. I look forward to seeing it in the big screen.
August 28, 2008
This is a wickedly funny book and not for the faint of heart. I almost put this book down several times but kept going. Wacky characters border on unlikeable at times, but overall it's a strange tale with lots of good laughs.
September 7, 2010
An odd, odd book. I was never sure what to expect. A main character I actively disliked much of the time and never understood. And yet... I really enjoyed this wacky tale. Looking forward to seeing this on the big screen.
February 23, 2008
One of the funniest and most bizarre things I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
June 30, 2016
This was such a strange book. Not funny, not entertaining, not a good storyline.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews