Sushi Central

by Alasdair Duncan

Calvin is sixteen and out of control. He and his friends inhabit a world of their own design. Then Calvin meets Anthony, and the two boys form an obsessive bond. But as Calvin deals with the confusion of first love, he discovers pictures of Anthony on a website, and is drawn into a world more adult than he could have imagined.

Genres: Queer, Young Adult, Fiction

257 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

About the author

Alasdair Duncan (born 22 November 1982) is an author and journalist, based in Brisbane on the east coast of Australia. He is a section editor at weekly music magazine Rave, where he has published interviews with Cut Copy, LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A. and Soulwax, and is a frequent contributor to The ABC's Unleashed blog.

Duncan is perhaps most notable as the author of the novel "Sushi Central", which was published under the title "Dance, Recover, Repeat" in the United States by MTV Books. His second novel, Metro, was published in Australia in August 2006, and was released in the UK by Burning House Books in February 2008.

At age 16, Duncan's first short novel, "Rose and Charcoal," was shortlisted for the Penguin/Qantas/Somerset Award for School-Age Writers. He later won the State Library of Queensland's Young Writers Award with an entry called "Love".

In 2008 he was a judge for the State Library of Queensland's Young Writers Award.

Reviews

[Nikhilā · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I’m not a huge fan of the way this book is set out. It very much reminds we of a creative writing assignment I had to do in year ten and was just a bit disjointed for my liking.
It was also quite disorienting having the author describe places around Brisbane that I know. As someone who mainly reads fiction, mainly fantasy, it was a bit strange.
That said, I did quite enjoy this book. The teenage angst of the main character, his embarrassing interactions with friends and awkward interactions with family are all things I remember from my own teenage years, and while his drug-taking, partying, and promiscuity are all things I cannot relate to, either now or as a teen, it was still very interesting to be provided this little window into that world.
I also think the author did a great job of telling the story as if it were actually being told by a 16-year old.

[Hnin Kyaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard book to review. Caution: deals with underage drinking, drugs, sex - a lot of teenage gay boys having sex on drugs, sexual exploitation of minors by adults.
The writing style reflects what a sixteen year old in the early 2000s probably went through - teenage uncertainty and angst and confusion and shame. The rise of internet and what are these kids supposed to do with it.
They’re “young and hot” and that’s powerful.
Calvin doesn’t know who he is, what he wants, just like most of us at that time I guess. An untold part of the story is a brother that’s no longer there, and parents who might be checked out because of this. Friends who are also as broken as he is. Teenagers thinking they are doing the things they are doing because they want to, but maybe forgetting that adults with money and power probably have more hold over their decisions than they would choose to believe.

[Tim Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually difficult to read because, growing up gay in Brisbane, it was so similar to my life and the cringe is real. Certainly no greater praise for an author because Alasdair made the world feel real, I was invested in the story and the outcome.

[Andrew Chidzey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read by Alasdair Duncan - it was gritty and compelling telling the tale of a young man in urban Brisbane. Fans of Christos Tsiolkas would enjoy this work - part poetry, part diary it’s a very engaging read.

[Paul Mclaughlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some lovely work, but too much time gliding over the characters. I figure that’s the point, but it ends up being too much of its kind.
3 3/4

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those YA books that tries to be all emo but ends just being stupid, lame and pointless. The only interesting thing about it was that it took place in Queensland, around the Bris area, which I hadn't been to you, but was still interested in. Some gay kid thinks he is the centre of the universe and chaos ensues around him. I think this book took me a while to read, despite only being like less then 200 pages. I just didn't care. There were too many characters that ended up being pointless and it really brought nothing new. Maybe I couldn't relate. That is fine. Just not for me.

Grade: C-

[Dave Hine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tale of a neurotic, over sexed, drugged out teenager was strangely compelling. Appealing to me because i grew up in Brisbane so a lot of the places were very familiar. I also grew up gay in Brisbane so references to places like The Beat in Fortitude Valley kind of brought back memories; not good ones but memories all the same. This novel demonstrates how a gifted young man's life can go so horribly wrong; Calvin's determination to drag himself down had the appeal of a car crash; you know you shouldn't look, but you still do. The end was especially poignant and I thought about this book a lot after reading it. But most of all I want to know what happened to Calvin's brother!

[Chloe Rattray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sushi Central is the kind of book that aims to shock, and it does just that with its stark portrayal of the amount of drugs and sex that one gay teenager partakes in. The structure of the novel is where the magic lies, and the ending is haunting enough that it stuck with me for a long while after I'd finished the story. There are some parts that are decidedly trite and a little cliche, but they're short and far between. It's enjoyable to read, if a little frightening in parts.

[Daniel Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one because Alasdair was coming to Adelaide's lesbian and gay cultural festival, Feast, and I emceeing his event. He gives an astonishing snapshot of being a same-sex attracted and drug-addled teen in a world that seems far removed from Duncan's own.

[Brock Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

this author has obvious mental problems, honestly, this is book is an embarrassment and metro is even worse than metro, if these books are based on true events, then i shall never sleep again because it is disgusting, revolting and scary. i gave it 5 stars for being horrible

[Lauren B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the main character to be aggravating and annoying. He was so self absorbed and hated himself so much. The end left me thinking - wow. Nothing was learnt, he is demeaning himself further... no happy ending with this book! It was ok, but I wouldn't read it again.

[eprptegshtgn · Rating 4 out of 5]

well written. a little screwed up. I learnt that people are scary.

[Evelyn]

It's well written and the ending haunted me for quite a while.

[Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz · Rating 1 out of 5]

eeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Wendell · Rating 3 out of 5]

All I want to know is what happened to Calvin's brother. It is never mentioned, and that bothers me.