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PUNKS
Philadelphia, 1985. A once bustling industrial metropolis is now a veritable wasteland, rife with joblessness, homelessness and explosive racial tensions. Out of the swill and misery, a familiar anarchistic sound has returned to the scene and there’s a new, wild tribe of kids ready to show the city and America the error of its ways, whether either’s ready for their political and musical take on things, or not.
Nineteen year old Gemma ‘Swan’ Stinson, a tall, sultry hellcat with long, dark auburn hair, piercing green eyes and fingernails as sharp as switchblades, is a tenacious street kid who’s turned her abusive, addictive, catastrophic life around, becoming a brilliant college student, vigilant activist and a hard-working punk rock busker whose guitar prowess and exquisitely ranged voice leave her with dreams of a better life but never quite remove her from a flawed, complex and nightmarish past, or a resurfacing sinister figure, hoping to crush everything she loves.
Gem’s undying devotion for her adopted punk family, the Misfits, is surpassed only by her love for eighteen-year-old classmate and singer, Robert ‘Robbs’ Cavelli, a New York expatriate with a conflicted view of where his future lies. Sharing in Gem’s distaste over current politics, Rob rebels against his conservative upbringing in the suburban hell of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, which ultimately fuels his ambition to write the songs committing them to being “Punks for Life.”
Narrated from Rob’s literary perspective, PUNKS and the subsequent novels of the trilogy is an unrestrained ride of humor and heartbreak, triumphs and tragedies and envelops them into the riotous punk scene at famous venues such as Trenton’s City Gardens, New York’s CBGB’s and Philly’s underground clubs.
Rolling the dice on life’s gambles, will Gem and Rob fall victim to the will of the streets or stand tall against them, because when you have the love of each other and your music, the chance to make it big, and your faithful tribe of punks, you’ve got nothing left to lose.
Nineteen year old Gemma ‘Swan’ Stinson, a tall, sultry hellcat with long, dark auburn hair, piercing green eyes and fingernails as sharp as switchblades, is a tenacious street kid who’s turned her abusive, addictive, catastrophic life around, becoming a brilliant college student, vigilant activist and a hard-working punk rock busker whose guitar prowess and exquisitely ranged voice leave her with dreams of a better life but never quite remove her from a flawed, complex and nightmarish past, or a resurfacing sinister figure, hoping to crush everything she loves.
Gem’s undying devotion for her adopted punk family, the Misfits, is surpassed only by her love for eighteen-year-old classmate and singer, Robert ‘Robbs’ Cavelli, a New York expatriate with a conflicted view of where his future lies. Sharing in Gem’s distaste over current politics, Rob rebels against his conservative upbringing in the suburban hell of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, which ultimately fuels his ambition to write the songs committing them to being “Punks for Life.”
Narrated from Rob’s literary perspective, PUNKS and the subsequent novels of the trilogy is an unrestrained ride of humor and heartbreak, triumphs and tragedies and envelops them into the riotous punk scene at famous venues such as Trenton’s City Gardens, New York’s CBGB’s and Philly’s underground clubs.
Rolling the dice on life’s gambles, will Gem and Rob fall victim to the will of the streets or stand tall against them, because when you have the love of each other and your music, the chance to make it big, and your faithful tribe of punks, you’ve got nothing left to lose.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 24, 2019
2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Richard Cucarese
3 books1 followerWhether busking on street corners in Philadelphia, New Hope, PA or Lambertville, NJ, singing in venues the size of a postage stamp, large as a theater or as dank and devious as the underground settings could be, writing lyrics, poetry, fiery political or social articles, hitting the streets or the airwaves to fight for the poor and homeless (especially teens), workers’ rights and many other causes close to his heart, or finding the time to sit down and write a series such as ‘PUNKS’, the sounds of anarchy also known as punk rock have been Rich Cucarese’s lifelong soundtrack and fueled his ambition to continually fight for what is right and just.
With a background as patchwork as his musical influences, Rich spent a few years in college (Pennsylvania State University, Ogontz/Abington Campus 1985-86), toiled in the massive mills of United States Steel Corporation’s, Fairless Works not too far from Trenton or Philadelphia, and when the majority of the plant was shuttered, he went through a series of changes leading him back into music, activism and a never-ending stream of writing.
Eventually returning to what had become a much smaller steel plant after the Free Trade shakeouts, Rich became more involved in the Steelworkers Union (USW) as Local 4889’s Rapid Response Coordinator; writing many timely, socially active pieces including ‘The Battle for Prosperity Over Poverty’, which was awarded Best News Story of the Year by the United Steelworkers Press Association.
He’s been interviewed by CNBC, MSNBC, BBC America and VICE News as well as various print sources about everything from Free Trade and its social impact on communities, to protests he was involved in such as Occupy Wall Street. As always, he will credit much of his social and political enlightenment to his punk tribe and the anarchistic upheaval of the norms that many punk rock groups espoused, whether they were on this side of the Atlantic or across the pond.
Rich resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with his four fiery but equally kind-hearted daughters, his funny, gregarious son and a wife who has actively supported his writings, his music; even though their musical tastes are worlds apart, and still manages to forgive his teenage stupidities like jumping headfirst and happily into mosh pits at an advanced age.
With a background as patchwork as his musical influences, Rich spent a few years in college (Pennsylvania State University, Ogontz/Abington Campus 1985-86), toiled in the massive mills of United States Steel Corporation’s, Fairless Works not too far from Trenton or Philadelphia, and when the majority of the plant was shuttered, he went through a series of changes leading him back into music, activism and a never-ending stream of writing.
Eventually returning to what had become a much smaller steel plant after the Free Trade shakeouts, Rich became more involved in the Steelworkers Union (USW) as Local 4889’s Rapid Response Coordinator; writing many timely, socially active pieces including ‘The Battle for Prosperity Over Poverty’, which was awarded Best News Story of the Year by the United Steelworkers Press Association.
He’s been interviewed by CNBC, MSNBC, BBC America and VICE News as well as various print sources about everything from Free Trade and its social impact on communities, to protests he was involved in such as Occupy Wall Street. As always, he will credit much of his social and political enlightenment to his punk tribe and the anarchistic upheaval of the norms that many punk rock groups espoused, whether they were on this side of the Atlantic or across the pond.
Rich resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with his four fiery but equally kind-hearted daughters, his funny, gregarious son and a wife who has actively supported his writings, his music; even though their musical tastes are worlds apart, and still manages to forgive his teenage stupidities like jumping headfirst and happily into mosh pits at an advanced age.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 8, 2020
I purchased this book at a local independent store after listening to a radio interview Richard Cucarese had with a Philadelphia area DJ.
I was not a punk kid of the 1980's, which is when his novel takes place, but I have heard people from that time period speak of the scene on South Street and other areas which he brings up in PUNKS, and it sounds like he's captured the flavor of that era excellently.
His main characters, Gemma Stinson and Rob Cavelli are very believable and their punk 'tribe' of Misfits would have been a fun group to hang out with.
The story has good dialogue, a solid plot, moves along well and the references to Philadelphia itself are enjoyably captured, so even if you've never been to the city, you will get a good feel for it.
The situations of Gemma's past life can get pretty dicey, but they do add to the flavor of this fiction novel. All in all, Rob's character is very solid, as is his storytelling, but Gemma Stinson is a true punk rock girl and a force to be reckoned with.
I'm looking forward to seeing where this story ends up as this trilogy progresses.
I was not a punk kid of the 1980's, which is when his novel takes place, but I have heard people from that time period speak of the scene on South Street and other areas which he brings up in PUNKS, and it sounds like he's captured the flavor of that era excellently.
His main characters, Gemma Stinson and Rob Cavelli are very believable and their punk 'tribe' of Misfits would have been a fun group to hang out with.
The story has good dialogue, a solid plot, moves along well and the references to Philadelphia itself are enjoyably captured, so even if you've never been to the city, you will get a good feel for it.
The situations of Gemma's past life can get pretty dicey, but they do add to the flavor of this fiction novel. All in all, Rob's character is very solid, as is his storytelling, but Gemma Stinson is a true punk rock girl and a force to be reckoned with.
I'm looking forward to seeing where this story ends up as this trilogy progresses.
October 28, 2020
Picked this up at @angryyoungandpoordotcom a month or two ago and just pulled it off the tbr pile. It’s an awesome love story/walk down memory lane. I know those bands and some of those spots and being an obnoxious punk in love. Parts are too cheesy and parts are too close to home. Overall it gave me more goose bumps than I’d like to admit!
January 9, 2021
Set in 1985 Philadelphia, two newly in love college punks are flying high on the self righteous energy of youth, rebellion, and post adolescent idealism. From dark, rough beginnings better left behind and through the shadows of the socio economic strife created by Reaganomics, Robbs, Gem, and their tribe of Misfits shun the capitalist greed and hypocrisy of Wall Street to pursue a brighter future through activism, music, and sticking together.
I loved the electric pace of this novel, the lofty, college-esque pretension with which the characters converse, the spot on descriptions of the punk club scene, style, and music, and unexpected tone of optimism the main characters leave echoing in their wake.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who has ever had angst, felt the fresh breath of freedom and choice, or found a cause worth fighting for. It’s a good time.
I loved the electric pace of this novel, the lofty, college-esque pretension with which the characters converse, the spot on descriptions of the punk club scene, style, and music, and unexpected tone of optimism the main characters leave echoing in their wake.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who has ever had angst, felt the fresh breath of freedom and choice, or found a cause worth fighting for. It’s a good time.
May 6, 2020
Well written book Mr Cucarese. You had my attention with the preview, but by just reading the first chapter, I was all in. That's how you start a book to hook the reader. The last chapter was just as intriguing. The stay tuned to see what happens next way of ending it was great. What a rollercoaster of emotion. The highs, the lows, good times and bad, I loved it all. The loyalty within the tribe, the relationship between Gemma and Rob is epic. I grew up listening to rock and heavy metal, not really knowing much about punk, but have heard some. You turned me onto a new world of music. I'm looking forward to the second book to be available. Keep up the good work.
November 18, 2020
Good story and dynamic characters although storyline is a little too personal for me. Know author extremely well and can attest to the accuracy and hard he put into this book and his upcoming two (including sequel to Punks). Impressed by his ability to work 12-16 hr days, spend time with his family, get involved in the community, and write, which has been his passion for years. Give the book a chance and keep an open mind. I did. His writing style is different but he clearly has a talent with words.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews