Nirvana Dreams

by Benjamin Joe

Tommy Cocay took his name from a pair jeans and a rock star. Now in this early-90s coming of age and enlightenment story, those jeans are shredded in grunge fashion and leader of that movement is stuck in this boy's imagination. Follow Tommy as he makes his way across the country and swelters in the desert heat far from his snowy home. See Tommy take any drugs he can get his hands on, kiss any girl who lets him, and start to go truly insane. Ask ourselves what we should be talking about, the lifestyles of the rich and famous, or the trials of another homeless youth? Be assured that this story is as never-ending as the issues it brings up and regardless of its conclusion, the characters are as real as the readers themselves.

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2018

Reviews

[Ross Jeffery · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s not often I do this but I stopped reading this book after eight chapters - I tried, and I tried but in the end, I couldn’t read any more.

Unfortunately with the many books I have to review, and the pressures of my time I didn’t have the luxury to fight with a book that I’m not going to be able to review it in a good light - others may find what the writer was trying to do interesting, the subject matter some may find interesting.

But for me unfortunately I couldn’t get to grips with it.

[Aaron Randolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tommy's Adventures in Blunderland makes for a surprisingly engaging read. Its occasionally meandering, jumping backward and forward in time, seemingly uncontrollably, seemed at first to be a sign the book was in dire need of an editor, but they occur most often when the narrator himself is high on their narcotic of choice, so as a stylistic choice, it actually works astonishingly well. It was impossible not to become invested in Tommy and root for him to find a way to break the cycle he's trapped in, especially once he starts actually trying to want and find a better life for himself. I just wish the ending hadn't been predictable and that we'd found out, for better or worse, whatever happened to Joe. Clever wordplay, a good yarn, and a likable protag carry the day here - but this might be a challenging read for those not interested in the subject matter.