Rotten

by Mandy Brownholtz

Set against a grimy, punk DC, spiraling college dropout and freelance writer Viv Taylor revisits her unresolved past when a local paper assigns her a story on underground DIY venue Fort Rotten. Predating #MeToo, Viv reckons with the difference between choice and acquiescence, free will and circumstance, and ultimately determines that the only choice we have is to take ownership of ourselves, our stories, and our love of self.

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 22, 2021

About the author

Mandy Brownholtz is a writer living in Queens, NY. She is from the D.C.-Metro area. Her features appear on the NYC-based music & culture blog Audiofemme. Her work has been published in The New York Times. Rotten is her first novel.

Reviews

[amelia oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I bought this little guy at a Baltimore bookstore, it's been a beautiful and mysterious thing to me. I’ve been waiting to read it in DC springtime, which is where I currently reside (in NE). I grew up in Maryland, not too far from here. I mention this because setting is an integral focus and theme, the location being the DC metro area. Reading this story in the city it was referring to was a bit magical. Sitting on the red line metro to gallery place, reading this book, now that just hit different.

think this book is bold, inspiring, raw, and honest. College dropout Viv, a young author living in DC, embarks on a mission to write about a local DIY underground music venue in Fort Totten, for the City Paper. She decides to make the article an expose on the sexual assault that has followed this grimy ass house venue for decades. The story is timely while also being timeless, centering around rape culture in the metro area, and what it means to grow up in a culture that does not value women’s bodies. Having experienced unsettling incidents with men at College Park and my hometown, I found this story to be shockingly relatable, and just purely real. Viv’s character arc is tremendous; I found myself genuinely liking her at the end. Her article about Fort Rotten (the venue in question) is excellent— I’ve gone back to read it a few times now. The direct way that rape is approached is significant, and I hope that everyone is paying attention to the message; speak up, speak out. Accountability is the first step. Call out your abusers; you might be saving a future victim. Be brave, and be real.

This book is a truth, which is refreshing, and necessary in this day and age. I recommend this to College Park students, DC residents, and anyone in the underground scene. Genuinely, everyone should read this- it might open your mind and perspective. It is a self-published novel, which only elevated my level of respect for the author. I would love to meet her someday.

[Morgan Schaffner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, powerful and so authentic. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of reading this book. Would highly recommend to any of my friends!!

[Nora Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written - a raw, personal, original lens on youth/punk culture. You’re likely see some of your friends or yourself in Brownholtz’s characters. An incredible first novel.

[Dylan Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story, told really well.

I’m really happy I read this book, I didn’t want Viv to disappear when I got to the end. You know when you finish a book and at the last page you just stare into space for a while?

The author really brings you into this punk world. From the outside it’s a world you can’t help but want to be a part of, and then you get inside it, and it makes your skin crawl.

I’ve read a few novels set against punk rock and this is the best. Its so human, dirty and grimy in the best way. Definitely give it a shot.

[Jacqueline Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel was incredible!! It really framed for me some feelings I had felt in some younger years, yet still felt very present. It reminded me that feelings that I felt in my early twenties didn't necessarily stay in my early twenties, and pop up now and then today as well.

The novel was incredibly well written, and I'm very impressed with the way Brownholtz expressed feelings, ideas, emotions, experiences, and life observations through her writing. I enjoyed reading it so much and highly recommend!

[Jane Lai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandy has a way of conveying subtle details and inconsistencies of what it's like being a woman in a DIY music scene. In her debut, she plays with form and memory, replicating what it feels like to remember. More importantly, she debunks the interconnectedness of a micro-community often lauded as inclusive. It's a refreshing way to introduce us to a new world of music while grabbing us, the reader, and making sure we're a bit more conscious of our everyday actions.

[Leilani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A personal, raw and beautifully well written book that highlights an important issue through the point of view of a woman trying just trying to figure everything out. The language makes the reader so immersed and present within Viv and her everyday life and consciousness. Hard for me to put down the book and enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Gary Langworthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book, earnestly deals with sexual assault while also examining the role of the individuals decisions to get there.

Somewhat feels like the narrator is a 20 something, which isn’t my ideal POV but it was a quick easy read. Took 2 days to get through and I go at a slow pace.

[Sian Cirpili · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well written ! It pulls you into the story from the very first page and I could not put it down. I found the characters really relatable and it was all around a great read with a satisfying ending!

[Miranda Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book of our times I have read this year. I cried and I cried again, and then wondered at the way this felt so novel to me. How bad do we want it yall??? Punk is either for everyone or it’s Rotten. Read this book!

[Will Speros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a bum rush in a mosh pit, this one came outta nowhere and blew me away. Mandy is a superlative writer who made me feel so much—good and bad—over the course of 326 pages. Hometown glory!

[Nerissa Coan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly well-written and enjoyable story of a terrible tragedy. I cannot wait for Mandy Brownholtz's next novel.

[K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Feels like it was wrote by a poser

[savannah bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the story of an “””imperfect””” victim in a scene rife with abusers is an important one ! unfortunately the writing was a little too YA for me

[Michelle Dillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important story that is expertly unfolded for the reader. Great read, I couldn’t put it down, would highly recommend.

[Sydney Sanial · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, especially as someone who spent a lot of time in the DIY house show scene in DC It was beautifully written and the characters felt very real & raw. It was so engrossing watching the story unfold piece by piece.