Raw Egg

by Joe King

The only problem with Gregor Planks as a fictional character is that he discovers he is trapped in a book. Naïve and arrogant, the adolescent Gregor abandons a home life where his literary ambitions are viewed as an excuse to avoid working. He soon finds himself in the town of Riverside, where a story-stealing seductress sets him along a plot that forces him to take up residence in a dilapidated motel room. In squalor, Gregor writes fiction on an old typewriter while attempting to support himself with menial jobs he believes no artist should have to endure. Gregor’s assumption that he is in control of the fiction he writes is soon disrupted when a recurring character he created begins to talk to him. Life quickly becomes a blend of fiction and reality for Gregor as he travels in and out of the stories he writes while attempting to win the love of Hannah, a gawky waitress who is immediately repulsed by Gregor’s disillusioned reality. Not to be left without a proper antagonist, the bulky restaurant owner -- known to Gregor only as the hairy man -- has an unquenchable desire to keep the would-be writer away from Hannah by any means possible. Blinded by his ego, Gregor overlooks the common threads of fiction that control his life and finds himself locked in a battle for his own existence.

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2016

About the author

Joe King got his first taste of professional writing as a print journalist, earning several awards in the field from the Tennessee Press Association. He later expanded his craft by moving into the world of fiction and poetry writing. His works include the novels Raw Egg and A Salted Slug as well as the poetry collection Human Ants. Reviewers of his work have compared his writing to the likes of Dostoevsky, Sartre, Vonnegut, Ginsburg, and Bukowski. King also writes and records songs under the moniker Bones in the Museum, and he has released several albums with this musical project. He lives in Knoxville, TN. For more information about his writing and music, go to www.booksbyjoeking.com.

Reviews

[Joe Pranaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Joe King brings us the tale of a writer who along the course of the book becomes trapped inside his story. Raw Egg is about a man named Gregor Planks who leaves his home after his mother insults him and his passion of being a writer. He hops on a train that takes him to a small town where he makes a fool of himself and meets the love of his life Hannah. But things do not unfold as they should as voice in Gregor's head begins to talk to and with him about everything and tries to warn him that he shouldn't put himself in one or more of his stories. Gregor doesn't listen to the voice as his reality merges with that of the story that he is writing. This is a great read and one that will suck you in. I highly recommend that you pick up a copy as soon as you can.

[The Owl Branch Book Promotions]

This book is a psychological thriller. It dwells into the mind of a man who writes a book, then lives inside the book, well written and executed. The author developed this character so well I lost myself in his journey. Recommended to anyone who wants to read a book like no other.

[Pamela · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this, but I could only suffer through the first couple of dozen pages.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will keep you guessing and wondering; if the main character is crazy or just a little out of touch. For me, I found this story highly imaginative, creatively written with characters who lent feelings and emotion to the story. Secondary characters also added excitement and new angles to this ever-evolving story. Poetry lovers will appreciate the added verses of poetry the author uses to break up the story and or to add to the feelings of the moment.
"I can feel the absence in my bones
The weight in my chest
The wait in the ocean of time
I will swim to the end of the shore
For you honestly, I don't mind."
I like the visual of the young would-be author, typing tirelessly on his ancient typewriter all the while crumpling pages up and throwing them away as he wrote.
I don't like to give spoilers away in my reviews; just know that for me, this was a first class story, funny and sad at times but definitely a story to be read when craving something totally different from other indie-author offerings available now.
"Clara's leg bounces up and down. She takes a series of deep breaths and exhales a gust of cherry scented air. Clara holds her hand inside of mine and I fixate on the bump in her French nose. My work is finally unleashed to the world."
"Intolerance and impatience nibbled at my soul."

[Shervin Jamali · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Jean-Paul Sartre, risen from the grave, was asked to re-write Seinfeld, the result would be Raw Egg. When the noted French philosopher and playwright, asked why he removed the slapstick humor and turned it into an absurdist existential piece, he might have said, "Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness and dies by chance." Of course, Sartre didn't write it. Joe King did. It's creative and unique, but you'll have to stay on your toes to follow the narrative. If you do, the result is a satisfying experience. So why did I dock a star? Too many typos. King's novel is in need of another proofreading/editing run. A few typos can be ignored; we're all guilty of them. But there were far too many in this manuscript which caused me distraction. At one point, a minor character named John became Paul and then John again, which forced me to backtrack to see if I had missed something; I hadn't. It's a shame because it detracted from what would have likely been a five star read. If you're looking for something different, look no further.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imaginatively terrifying

King writes a dark and terrifying tale of Raw Egg. This is an intense look into the mind of author Gregor Planks. King pens an incredible story that brings to life the craziness and intensity of Planks. This was a very well put together page turner, and as a writer, I enjoyed it even more. I liked how Planks was sarcastic, witty, funny and could be very dark, as he immersed himself in his work. The words came to life in this story. I read it in one sitting, and anticipated what would happen next. I look forward to definitely reading more work by King.

[Jessica Ozment · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, this was one of the best thrillers I've ever read. It had just the right amount of terror, dark humor and in-depth character building--to keep me entertained throughout. I found the premise of the story to be quite clever and easy to fall into. I'd highly recommend this read to anyone, as the story offers several different elements within its pages. Give it a shot, the story won't disappoint and you'll walk away impatiently waiting for more.
--A very pleased avid reader

[Carissa Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a really cool concept, about an author who gets lost in his own story. It's imaginative and terrifying, with great writing and a unique storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed it! 5 stars!