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Amethyst
Bexley Martin, graphic novelist and nihilist, feels nothing matters in a world of fake art and false gods. When her friend, Bridget, drags her to yet another concert, Bexley befriends the bartender and chases her disinterest in everything around her with enough booze to knock her out. When the opening act clears the stage, when the next band walks onto it, Bexley hears a voice unlike the others. She sees art, passion, and truth-- something real in a world of falsehoods-- all flowing freely from the vocal chords of a confusing purple-haired man donned in black leather and chains. The Amethyst Alien stirs something inside Bexley, and she unwittingly trades apathy for obsession in this psychological commentary of intrigue, compulsion, detachment, art, temptation, choice, idolization, divinity, and inspiration.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 4, 2021
It's here you'll find writing that's more than poetic, writing that's flawlessly rhythmic that stimulates your mind's reach for answers that exist behind every effortless metaphor.
On its surface, Amethyst is a story that displays the initially innocent intentions that produce obsession, and the seemingly harmless desperation of a being's desire to feel true purpose. Beneath its gripping story, this book has an unmatched way of forcing a reader to question existence, question motives and reasons that produce attraction, and question all the symbolism in the world that you've been blind to until now.
Brooklynn Dean has written a story here where nearly every sentence feels profound, and you will find yourself questioning whether your thoughts of whats right and wrong as you follow along are as blurred as those of her villain.
On its surface, Amethyst is a story that displays the initially innocent intentions that produce obsession, and the seemingly harmless desperation of a being's desire to feel true purpose. Beneath its gripping story, this book has an unmatched way of forcing a reader to question existence, question motives and reasons that produce attraction, and question all the symbolism in the world that you've been blind to until now.
Brooklynn Dean has written a story here where nearly every sentence feels profound, and you will find yourself questioning whether your thoughts of whats right and wrong as you follow along are as blurred as those of her villain.
March 4, 2020
oh man! Dean has written another deliciously indulgent cautionary tale that I simply devoured! The story is written as diary entries in first person, which really add to the emotional rollercoaster and character spiraling of this story. I loved the writing, the seemingly stream of consciousness that was spilling from the narrator as she fell down this Reed/Reagan fueled rabbit hole.
Bexley is a graphic novelist who believes she is spiritually connected with Amethyst/Reed/Reagan - a rock star who captivates her at first, but then becomes an obsession.
This story quickly escalated to manic proportions, and it reminded me of the narrative voice from Lolita, trying desperately to gain the audience's favor, to validate their actions, often pleading with the words "dear reader" see why I had to do what I did?
What I love about Dean is how she is always questioning existence, God, good vs evil, humans vs deities, and are humans deities, and all the woven fabric of the universe. You may not get the answers to all these questions, but it will make you think.
Even though this book is not marketed as a sequel or prequel to Word of the Rock God, I highly recommend the reading of both.
Do yourself a favor, and read this book now!
Bexley is a graphic novelist who believes she is spiritually connected with Amethyst/Reed/Reagan - a rock star who captivates her at first, but then becomes an obsession.
This story quickly escalated to manic proportions, and it reminded me of the narrative voice from Lolita, trying desperately to gain the audience's favor, to validate their actions, often pleading with the words "dear reader" see why I had to do what I did?
What I love about Dean is how she is always questioning existence, God, good vs evil, humans vs deities, and are humans deities, and all the woven fabric of the universe. You may not get the answers to all these questions, but it will make you think.
Even though this book is not marketed as a sequel or prequel to Word of the Rock God, I highly recommend the reading of both.
Do yourself a favor, and read this book now!
May 11, 2021
'I'm always somewhere else, wishing to be alive in a place that doesn't exist'
Amethyst is a very interesting book, also in the fact it's very different for me. It's, really - and I think this is the only way to describe it - one long character study. I have never read this much detail on the life of one character, and not just that, but we're seeing this character through someone else's eyes.
Bexley is a thirtyish comic book artist and illustrator. She's talented. Sought after. And she is completely alone and cynical on the inside. There is no point to life. There is nothing particularly wrong with life. It's just a bit...monotonous. But she is dragged along to another rock gig, and here in the dark hall amid the shadowed bodies, she finds meaning: the singer, Amethyst, taking to the stage and into her mind. Obsession blooms.
I picked up this book more as a study of the writer, Brooklynn Dean, more than this book alone. I have several other books of hers to be read next. I just knew there was something about them I would like, and I was right. What I enjoyed here more than the plot (starting off light before careening to an absolutely horrifying ending), and even more than the beautiful, sharp yet poetic writing, was the notions within the words. The speculation. There is a lot of philosophy here, metaphysical and otherwise, and I think that is something which will continue in Brooklynn's other books. I can't wait to dive in.
So I have to give this 5 stars, more for the exquisite writing, rather than the plot. Super modern plots don't jive well with me, as there are usually a lot of references to social media, and I'd be happy if we banned them from books.
Amethyst is a very interesting book, also in the fact it's very different for me. It's, really - and I think this is the only way to describe it - one long character study. I have never read this much detail on the life of one character, and not just that, but we're seeing this character through someone else's eyes.
Bexley is a thirtyish comic book artist and illustrator. She's talented. Sought after. And she is completely alone and cynical on the inside. There is no point to life. There is nothing particularly wrong with life. It's just a bit...monotonous. But she is dragged along to another rock gig, and here in the dark hall amid the shadowed bodies, she finds meaning: the singer, Amethyst, taking to the stage and into her mind. Obsession blooms.
I picked up this book more as a study of the writer, Brooklynn Dean, more than this book alone. I have several other books of hers to be read next. I just knew there was something about them I would like, and I was right. What I enjoyed here more than the plot (starting off light before careening to an absolutely horrifying ending), and even more than the beautiful, sharp yet poetic writing, was the notions within the words. The speculation. There is a lot of philosophy here, metaphysical and otherwise, and I think that is something which will continue in Brooklynn's other books. I can't wait to dive in.
So I have to give this 5 stars, more for the exquisite writing, rather than the plot. Super modern plots don't jive well with me, as there are usually a lot of references to social media, and I'd be happy if we banned them from books.
May 23, 2021
This story is about an obsessive relationship and how it can spiral down a dark path. It is also about the need we all have to show people the real us regardless of what we show to the world.
This story is character based and I loved it. It's written in diary form which makes the story more compelling and adds to the emotional rollercoaster. Bexley is relatable to all of us in a way. You'll get attached to her from the start and feel with her throughout the book. Dean's rhythmic and sharp writing makes you feel like you are right there in Bexleys head.
I love that Dean questions attraction, motives, believes and right or wrong. I feel like Dean has put a lot of thought into making every scentence count. This story will linger and make you think about life even when you have put away the book.
And that ending.... If you like YOU this is definitely an exciting psychological story that you'll have to read.
This story is character based and I loved it. It's written in diary form which makes the story more compelling and adds to the emotional rollercoaster. Bexley is relatable to all of us in a way. You'll get attached to her from the start and feel with her throughout the book. Dean's rhythmic and sharp writing makes you feel like you are right there in Bexleys head.
I love that Dean questions attraction, motives, believes and right or wrong. I feel like Dean has put a lot of thought into making every scentence count. This story will linger and make you think about life even when you have put away the book.
And that ending.... If you like YOU this is definitely an exciting psychological story that you'll have to read.
January 28, 2024
Chilling and Sinister Thriller
If Stephen King wrote a diary of Annie Wilkes (Misery), it would sound similar to what we get in Amethyst. Bexley is on a dark path, and the reader experiences her journey through her own thoughts and actions regarding Reed, the musician over whom she suddenly becomes obsessed. We see the inner workings of this deeply haunted graphic artist and writer and her extremely frightening obsession with a man she has never met in person but feels is connected to her. This book is easy to read - the prose is extremely articulate, and the author is meticulous in detailing everything Bexley has noticed about Reed. It did seem a little repetitive in some chapters, but about 70 percent of the way through, sinister happenings begin, as this woman’s mental state begins to deteriorate beyond repair until it reaches a shocking end. Fans of psychological thrillers will not be disappointed.
If Stephen King wrote a diary of Annie Wilkes (Misery), it would sound similar to what we get in Amethyst. Bexley is on a dark path, and the reader experiences her journey through her own thoughts and actions regarding Reed, the musician over whom she suddenly becomes obsessed. We see the inner workings of this deeply haunted graphic artist and writer and her extremely frightening obsession with a man she has never met in person but feels is connected to her. This book is easy to read - the prose is extremely articulate, and the author is meticulous in detailing everything Bexley has noticed about Reed. It did seem a little repetitive in some chapters, but about 70 percent of the way through, sinister happenings begin, as this woman’s mental state begins to deteriorate beyond repair until it reaches a shocking end. Fans of psychological thrillers will not be disappointed.
January 28, 2021
Compelling masterpiece. Brooklyn Dean has a way of getting into the mind of her characters. In Amethyst, she has written a diary-like story of manic obsession. You find yourself drawn into the need of Bexley to have Reed. The obsession to control how he is seen in her world. I found this a very good book. And a compelling read in that it led me to take a closer look at what I might find myself obsessing about, just a little.
April 17, 2021
I dedicated my reading list for March entirely to female authors in recognition of Women's History Month and Brooklynn Dean was a natural choice from my ever growing TBR pile.
Her lyrical prose and deep dive into the human psyche, in the form of both Bexley and the Amethyst Alien, drew me into the world she crafted, driving a desire to know what happened on the next page...and the next....and the next.
Being seen for who we are, who we really are regardless of the face we show the world, is simultaneously our biggest desire and our biggest fear. If you had the opportunity to see and be seen, wouldn't you take it? Bexley did and you can live vicariously through her by picking up a copy of Amethyst!
Her lyrical prose and deep dive into the human psyche, in the form of both Bexley and the Amethyst Alien, drew me into the world she crafted, driving a desire to know what happened on the next page...and the next....and the next.
Being seen for who we are, who we really are regardless of the face we show the world, is simultaneously our biggest desire and our biggest fear. If you had the opportunity to see and be seen, wouldn't you take it? Bexley did and you can live vicariously through her by picking up a copy of Amethyst!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews