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Go Home, Ricky!: A Novel
From rising literary star Gene Kwak comes a fresh, satirical novel about masculinity and tenderness, fatherhood and motherhood, set in the world of semi-professional wrestling.
“This pile driver of a novel is original, deeply funny, and moving.”— New York Times bestselling author Sam Lipsyte
After seven years on the semi-pro wrestling circuit, Ricky Twohatchet, aka Richard Powell, needs one last match before he gets called up to the big leagues. Unlike some wrestlers who only play the stereotype, Ricky believes he comes by his persona honestly—he’s half white and half Native American—even if he’s never met his father. But the night of the match in Omaha, Nebraska, something askew in their intricate choreography sets him on a course for disaster. He finishes with a neck injury that leaves him in a restrictive brace and a video already going him spewing profanities at his ex-partner, Johnny America. Injury aside, he’s out of the league.
Without a routine or identity, Ricky spirals downward, finally setting off to learn about his father, and what he finds will explode everything he knows about who he is—as a man, a friend, a son, a partner, and a wrestler. Go Home, Ricky! is a sometimes-witty, sometimes-heart-wrenching, but always gripping look into the complexities of identity.
“This pile driver of a novel is original, deeply funny, and moving.”— New York Times bestselling author Sam Lipsyte
After seven years on the semi-pro wrestling circuit, Ricky Twohatchet, aka Richard Powell, needs one last match before he gets called up to the big leagues. Unlike some wrestlers who only play the stereotype, Ricky believes he comes by his persona honestly—he’s half white and half Native American—even if he’s never met his father. But the night of the match in Omaha, Nebraska, something askew in their intricate choreography sets him on a course for disaster. He finishes with a neck injury that leaves him in a restrictive brace and a video already going him spewing profanities at his ex-partner, Johnny America. Injury aside, he’s out of the league.
Without a routine or identity, Ricky spirals downward, finally setting off to learn about his father, and what he finds will explode everything he knows about who he is—as a man, a friend, a son, a partner, and a wrestler. Go Home, Ricky! is a sometimes-witty, sometimes-heart-wrenching, but always gripping look into the complexities of identity.
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
June 18, 2022
When Ricky, a minor career wrestler, suffers an injury during a match his life begins to disintegrate. Central to that identity is his belief that he have indigenous ancestry via his father whom he has never met, yet structured his act and sense of masculinity around. Retreating into himself as his body heals from the injury, he promptly pushes his support structure out from under him and opts to seek out his progenitor.
This is the kind of satire I can get behind. This becomes masterfully intersectional and precise in its indictment of cultural appropriation, toxic masculinity, poverty, and the unintentional damage from socialization entwined in a fundamental lack of identity in the predominate culture.
While plenty depressing and dark at times, Ricky’s naivety and perseverance coupled with fantastic, natural comedic timing that is an extension of the character. There’s no easy answers, no concern for a specific character arc or plot. Time is fairly malleable and it feels impossibly tense with only the stakes of messy white hayseed drifting from crisis to crisis.
I could easily indict him for casual racism and creating his own problems, but I didn’t want to. His damage is too well rendered and his damage representative of things far larger, too often too peripheral and never held accountable.
This is the kind of satire I can get behind. This becomes masterfully intersectional and precise in its indictment of cultural appropriation, toxic masculinity, poverty, and the unintentional damage from socialization entwined in a fundamental lack of identity in the predominate culture.
While plenty depressing and dark at times, Ricky’s naivety and perseverance coupled with fantastic, natural comedic timing that is an extension of the character. There’s no easy answers, no concern for a specific character arc or plot. Time is fairly malleable and it feels impossibly tense with only the stakes of messy white hayseed drifting from crisis to crisis.
I could easily indict him for casual racism and creating his own problems, but I didn’t want to. His damage is too well rendered and his damage representative of things far larger, too often too peripheral and never held accountable.
May 21, 2021
Oh how I love being the first to review a book. something of a mixed bag in this case, so read on to find out if it may be right for you.
There’s something strangely compelling about wrestling in fiction. I’ve noticed it while reading the very excellent Gimmicks and decided to test the theory with this book. Admittedly, a considerably less excellent book, but nevertheless the wrestling components were fun. The rest was somewhat brought down by a personal dislike of the main character, who I’m pretty sure was designed to be likeable.
Mind you, Ricky isn’t a total sh*t, he’s even mildly amusing at times, but overall he’s tediously immature, brash, foul tempered, shortfused manchild that throughout the novel is essentially dragged kicking and screaming into something resembling adulthood. Now having typed all of that up, it’s obvious he definitely has the personality for wrestling, if maybe not the discipline.
Then again, all of that is rendered irrelevant, because Ricky goes down in act one, chapter one, in fact, and stays down for the count. Temporarily disabled to a life changing degree, he can no longer wrestle or do his day job as a high school janitor, he ends his relationship with his beloved girlfriend when she very reasonably decides this isn’t the right time for them to have a child and gets an abortion and now all Ricky has is his Gilmore Girl tinged relationship with his mom, who has had him young and an absentee relationship with his father, whom Ricky has never known, but through whom he has always claimed a 50% Native American inheritance. In fact, the latter has been an indelible aspect of both Ricky’s personality and his wrestling persona. This is all despite the fact that he looks as white as wonderbread.
And then Ricky finds out that the man he has always been so proud to claim as his father might not have been that at all and begins to spiral like a top, unmoored from his personal mythology of birthright. And the novel becomes one of those…will Ricky get his sh*t together sort of things. Which, of course, he has to, more or less, to meet the classic three act literary composition.
So there you have it, a fun read, a read where the narrative is more fun than the characters, unless I’m not quite understanding or appreciative of that flat midwestern, specifically Nebraskan, mentality. A reasonably entertaining read despite its bratty lead. Something of a belated coming of age story. Reads quickly and easily. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
There’s something strangely compelling about wrestling in fiction. I’ve noticed it while reading the very excellent Gimmicks and decided to test the theory with this book. Admittedly, a considerably less excellent book, but nevertheless the wrestling components were fun. The rest was somewhat brought down by a personal dislike of the main character, who I’m pretty sure was designed to be likeable.
Mind you, Ricky isn’t a total sh*t, he’s even mildly amusing at times, but overall he’s tediously immature, brash, foul tempered, shortfused manchild that throughout the novel is essentially dragged kicking and screaming into something resembling adulthood. Now having typed all of that up, it’s obvious he definitely has the personality for wrestling, if maybe not the discipline.
Then again, all of that is rendered irrelevant, because Ricky goes down in act one, chapter one, in fact, and stays down for the count. Temporarily disabled to a life changing degree, he can no longer wrestle or do his day job as a high school janitor, he ends his relationship with his beloved girlfriend when she very reasonably decides this isn’t the right time for them to have a child and gets an abortion and now all Ricky has is his Gilmore Girl tinged relationship with his mom, who has had him young and an absentee relationship with his father, whom Ricky has never known, but through whom he has always claimed a 50% Native American inheritance. In fact, the latter has been an indelible aspect of both Ricky’s personality and his wrestling persona. This is all despite the fact that he looks as white as wonderbread.
And then Ricky finds out that the man he has always been so proud to claim as his father might not have been that at all and begins to spiral like a top, unmoored from his personal mythology of birthright. And the novel becomes one of those…will Ricky get his sh*t together sort of things. Which, of course, he has to, more or less, to meet the classic three act literary composition.
So there you have it, a fun read, a read where the narrative is more fun than the characters, unless I’m not quite understanding or appreciative of that flat midwestern, specifically Nebraskan, mentality. A reasonably entertaining read despite its bratty lead. Something of a belated coming of age story. Reads quickly and easily. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
February 18, 2022
Rounded up from 3.5 stars.
Overall, this is a quite enjoyable romp told from the perspective of Ricky "Twohatchet" Powell. The author, Gene Kwak tells brimming with emotion. When we first meet Ricky, he is swimming in confidence. He is fit, funny and in a relationship with a clever and interesting woman, Frankie. While, he is still finding himself, he has a strong identity. In a blink of an eye, his self-identity is changed with a botched move. A seemingly innocuous wrestling spot, results in a physical change that leads to the resultant storyline.
Due to his, debilitating injury Ricky is forced to take a closer and more honest look at his life. Frankie, has made a decision that he is having an impossible time getting over. His father, who he has elevated in his mind, may not be the man he thought he was. His mother, an accepting and loving presence, may be more mysterious than her generous nature shows. His employment is not very stable, as it relies on manual labor and his body has betrayed him. With this honest evaluation and his first love, wrestling, no longer an option, Ricky is in quite a pickle.
This is essentially a coming of age story and how one perceives it is based on how one feels about Ricky. For better and worse, Ricky is a character who is full of himself. This leads to some moments, which are quite enjoyable and full of mirth. He is quite witty and full of humorous observations. Kwak writes him as full of humanity and eccentricity. He is also immature and can be quite petty. One scene he purposely smashes his Playstation just to spite the son of the woman, he has been banging. To call it a relationship would be to much of a stretch. He also is stubborn to a fault and his falling out with Frankie, is a showcase for his self-center approach.
One thing that I thought this story did particularly well was the relationship between Ricky and his mother. His mother Arlene, is brassy and full of good will. Due to their circumstances, Ricky and her, have as much of a friend relationship as mother-son relationship. She is an open book- she discusses her past relationships and even her past experiences with drugs. They are both each others #1 support systems and also their #1 critics. Oftentimes, relationships between single parents and their children are more open and personal and this did an outstanding job demonstrating that.
While, this story bills itself as a fun, coming of age filled with wrestling references it is more than just that. Sure it has plenty of fun moments, namely the pool scene between Ricky, his mother and two strangers. The writing is kinetic and full of irreverent moments but the meat of the story is how one feels about Ricky. If you find Ricky to be a selfish, man-child full of self-loath, then you will not like this story. Conversely, if you like Ricky then this one will hit hard. Ultimately, Ricky is like a lot of people in their 20s (and 30s) and that is full of certitude until a barrier or impasse occurs. I enjoyed reading about Ricky's journey even if sometimes I wanted to throttle him.
Overall, this is a quite enjoyable romp told from the perspective of Ricky "Twohatchet" Powell. The author, Gene Kwak tells brimming with emotion. When we first meet Ricky, he is swimming in confidence. He is fit, funny and in a relationship with a clever and interesting woman, Frankie. While, he is still finding himself, he has a strong identity. In a blink of an eye, his self-identity is changed with a botched move. A seemingly innocuous wrestling spot, results in a physical change that leads to the resultant storyline.
Due to his, debilitating injury Ricky is forced to take a closer and more honest look at his life. Frankie, has made a decision that he is having an impossible time getting over. His father, who he has elevated in his mind, may not be the man he thought he was. His mother, an accepting and loving presence, may be more mysterious than her generous nature shows. His employment is not very stable, as it relies on manual labor and his body has betrayed him. With this honest evaluation and his first love, wrestling, no longer an option, Ricky is in quite a pickle.
This is essentially a coming of age story and how one perceives it is based on how one feels about Ricky. For better and worse, Ricky is a character who is full of himself. This leads to some moments, which are quite enjoyable and full of mirth. He is quite witty and full of humorous observations. Kwak writes him as full of humanity and eccentricity. He is also immature and can be quite petty. One scene he purposely smashes his Playstation just to spite the son of the woman, he has been banging. To call it a relationship would be to much of a stretch. He also is stubborn to a fault and his falling out with Frankie, is a showcase for his self-center approach.
One thing that I thought this story did particularly well was the relationship between Ricky and his mother. His mother Arlene, is brassy and full of good will. Due to their circumstances, Ricky and her, have as much of a friend relationship as mother-son relationship. She is an open book- she discusses her past relationships and even her past experiences with drugs. They are both each others #1 support systems and also their #1 critics. Oftentimes, relationships between single parents and their children are more open and personal and this did an outstanding job demonstrating that.
While, this story bills itself as a fun, coming of age filled with wrestling references it is more than just that. Sure it has plenty of fun moments, namely the pool scene between Ricky, his mother and two strangers. The writing is kinetic and full of irreverent moments but the meat of the story is how one feels about Ricky. If you find Ricky to be a selfish, man-child full of self-loath, then you will not like this story. Conversely, if you like Ricky then this one will hit hard. Ultimately, Ricky is like a lot of people in their 20s (and 30s) and that is full of certitude until a barrier or impasse occurs. I enjoyed reading about Ricky's journey even if sometimes I wanted to throttle him.
January 16, 2024
Starting the ny with a 5 ⭐️ review <3
My heart is in my throat, this is the perfect book. Ricky made me laugh out loud harder than any man has in 24 years. It is leaving me with a similar feeling to when I finish watching Juno. Beautiful and real peace.
Going along with Ricky after L after L after L is comforting and hilarious and just what I needed. I recommend this book to anyone who needs another funny friend. Love you forever Rocky Twohatchet, I believe in you!!!!🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
My heart is in my throat, this is the perfect book. Ricky made me laugh out loud harder than any man has in 24 years. It is leaving me with a similar feeling to when I finish watching Juno. Beautiful and real peace.
Going along with Ricky after L after L after L is comforting and hilarious and just what I needed. I recommend this book to anyone who needs another funny friend. Love you forever Rocky Twohatchet, I believe in you!!!!🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
May 19, 2021
Note: I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to The Overlook Press and NetGalley.
3.5/5
As soon as I saw this cover on NetGalley I hit the "read now" button like I was slamming my opponent to the mat to win the Women's title. I'm a huge wrestling fan. I find everything about it to be fascinating so I really appreciated how it was incorporated into this book even if it wasn't a main focal point.
Go Home, Ricky! is the story of Ricky, a semi-pro wrestler who has his life turned upside down after a horrific accident in the ring. This strains his relationship with his long-time girlfriend and sparks a revelation from his mother soon causes Ricky to question everything he knows and everything he is.
This feels a lot like a coming of age story except it's about an adult. I found this very refreshing since not every adult has everything or who they are figured out. A lot of adults go through that sort of journey when they're older so getting to read one was great. Especially when Ricky finds out that everything he thought he was he probably isn't - which causes him to spiral. Ricky deals with a lot of identity issues in this. Who is he outside of the ring? Who is he if he isn't with Frankie? Who is he when everything he thought he knew about himself isn't actually true?
One of my favourite parts of this book (other than the wrestling references) was how unique Ricky's voice felt. The book is in first person, which I'm not always a fan of, but Ricky's narration felt fresh and fun and very unique to him and this book. It was at times very funny and then also very sad. There were several times I actually laughed out loud while reading this. I do wish we got to dive deeper into some of the issues in this book and explore them a little bit more. Especially around Ricky's issues with identity. Sometimes it felt like we were just dealing with things at face value or surface level. There were also times where I wasn't even sure if I liked Ricky but I think he was also realistic so that could be why I didn't always like him.
There are a lot of wrestling references in this that I'm not sure you'd get if you aren't a fan but I don't think they'd be distracting if you aren't (though I do suggest doing a quick Youtube for some of them, trust me it will be worth it).
All in all a fun and sometimes challenging read, with a very unique voice.
3.5/5
As soon as I saw this cover on NetGalley I hit the "read now" button like I was slamming my opponent to the mat to win the Women's title. I'm a huge wrestling fan. I find everything about it to be fascinating so I really appreciated how it was incorporated into this book even if it wasn't a main focal point.
Go Home, Ricky! is the story of Ricky, a semi-pro wrestler who has his life turned upside down after a horrific accident in the ring. This strains his relationship with his long-time girlfriend and sparks a revelation from his mother soon causes Ricky to question everything he knows and everything he is.
This feels a lot like a coming of age story except it's about an adult. I found this very refreshing since not every adult has everything or who they are figured out. A lot of adults go through that sort of journey when they're older so getting to read one was great. Especially when Ricky finds out that everything he thought he was he probably isn't - which causes him to spiral. Ricky deals with a lot of identity issues in this. Who is he outside of the ring? Who is he if he isn't with Frankie? Who is he when everything he thought he knew about himself isn't actually true?
One of my favourite parts of this book (other than the wrestling references) was how unique Ricky's voice felt. The book is in first person, which I'm not always a fan of, but Ricky's narration felt fresh and fun and very unique to him and this book. It was at times very funny and then also very sad. There were several times I actually laughed out loud while reading this. I do wish we got to dive deeper into some of the issues in this book and explore them a little bit more. Especially around Ricky's issues with identity. Sometimes it felt like we were just dealing with things at face value or surface level. There were also times where I wasn't even sure if I liked Ricky but I think he was also realistic so that could be why I didn't always like him.
There are a lot of wrestling references in this that I'm not sure you'd get if you aren't a fan but I don't think they'd be distracting if you aren't (though I do suggest doing a quick Youtube for some of them, trust me it will be worth it).
All in all a fun and sometimes challenging read, with a very unique voice.
December 14, 2022
Okay so it wasn’t completely terrible but the whole time I’m thinking…it’s got to get better. Well, it didn’t. Was there a point to this book? I’m not entirely sure to be honest. I felt like I was just going through the motions to finish the book just like Ricky was going through the motions of just getting through each and every day.
25 year old Ricky is an up and coming wrestler, until he gets seriously hurt after a stunt. His wrestling career is officially over. From there it’s a domino effect, he just can’t get a break. Which is a real life situation. I know people who’ve been where Ricky was, some even worse. I don’t know, maybe it was the writing style? I just didn’t connect with Rickys character. Didn’t really feel bad for him either. I thought there was a bit of growing up he needed to do actually. However, it’s understandable how one can end up feeling like they’ve hit rock bottom and there’s nothing else to do but wallow and eat your sorrows away when your lifelong dream is derailed. I think in all honesty (the real reason why I gave 2 stars) the title is what did it for me. It was what Ricky really needed to do. His momma was able to set him straight on a better path.
Even though the story didn’t end on a high note for Ricky I did wonder if things eventually got better for him.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Abrams Books for gifting me with a copy of Go Home, Ricky! through the Goodreads Giveaway. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
25 year old Ricky is an up and coming wrestler, until he gets seriously hurt after a stunt. His wrestling career is officially over. From there it’s a domino effect, he just can’t get a break. Which is a real life situation. I know people who’ve been where Ricky was, some even worse. I don’t know, maybe it was the writing style? I just didn’t connect with Rickys character. Didn’t really feel bad for him either. I thought there was a bit of growing up he needed to do actually. However, it’s understandable how one can end up feeling like they’ve hit rock bottom and there’s nothing else to do but wallow and eat your sorrows away when your lifelong dream is derailed. I think in all honesty (the real reason why I gave 2 stars) the title is what did it for me. It was what Ricky really needed to do. His momma was able to set him straight on a better path.
Even though the story didn’t end on a high note for Ricky I did wonder if things eventually got better for him.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Abrams Books for gifting me with a copy of Go Home, Ricky! through the Goodreads Giveaway. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2022
“I tell her Mom revealed to me that the dude I thought was the dude all these years is probably not the dude….I cut out the part about the attempted incest orgy and leaving Mom in the lurch. I throw in a few details, but only the ones that don't leave me looking like complete trash. Hard to play these things to your ex. Show her that my life is shit, so she feels a little bad for me? Or throw my arms in the air, all jubilant, to show her I've moved on? I don't do either, because Frankie knows me too well.”
A hilarious tale of a man who has many set backs, wallows in self-pity, and then rebounds. In one way Ricky is always searching, looking for an answer. He never lets things get him down for too long. That is an odd sort of optimism and I appreciated that.
A hilarious tale of a man who has many set backs, wallows in self-pity, and then rebounds. In one way Ricky is always searching, looking for an answer. He never lets things get him down for too long. That is an odd sort of optimism and I appreciated that.
November 26, 2022
book was kind of all over the place. the style of writing made it feel like a fever dream at times, which makes sense for a book about a wrestler. but it all felt very stop start. how many times can a guy decide to meet his dad then not do it? then the meeting the dad itself is super underwhelming. probably about 4 pages when all said and done. if it was a good 4 pages that's one thing but man.
threads are constantly dropped and picked back up. i just want some cohesion man. from his dad, to wrestling, to his ex, to pilgrim at the school - it felt like several short stories that weren't finished.
ricky felt deeply unlikable by the end. every time he was given the opportunity to make a good choice or a bad choice, it seemed like he picked a third choice which was the really bad choice. generally feel there were no likable characters tbh, like it was almost intentional.
threads are constantly dropped and picked back up. i just want some cohesion man. from his dad, to wrestling, to his ex, to pilgrim at the school - it felt like several short stories that weren't finished.
ricky felt deeply unlikable by the end. every time he was given the opportunity to make a good choice or a bad choice, it seemed like he picked a third choice which was the really bad choice. generally feel there were no likable characters tbh, like it was almost intentional.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2021
A really wonderful debut novel about minor league wrestling, race, parents, necks, and the perils of exuberance in Midwestern America. Hilarious antics and sentences, characters wheezing and stumbling through their WTF and their love with equal guts, true to life if life were as frantic as you wished it could be.
November 20, 2021
How refreshing to read a book about masculinity that is neither racist nor misogynist! Tender, yet still in the vein of macho stylists like Larry Brown and Barry Hannah. Some standout sentences, funny and beautiful, like “One year a kid sneezed funny and had to change districts” and “They’re laughing like they invented joy.” Excellent first effort.
February 3, 2022
have no idea what i just read but i do know it absolutely was not for me
February 18, 2022
Richard Powell, aka Ricky Twohatchet. A semi-professional wrestler working on the smaller circuits and about to hit the big time after this one last match. He also happens to believe he is at least one half Native American, which factors into his wrestling persona. In love with the woman of his dreams whom he met in an improv class and working at a school as a beloved custodian, Ricky is no one-dimensional troglodyte. Ricky is a renaissance man, who reads books and thinks about things. And his wrestling career is on the cusp of a breakout. Everything is looking up.
Until disaster strikes at the wrestling match, and suddenly Ricky’s life is thrown into turmoil. Thus begins a road trip to find his long-lost father…with his mother riding along. But Go Home Ricky is not just about the trip he takes, but the people he meets and the discoveries he makes about himself.
“Go Home” in wrestling terminology means to finish the match. And Go Home Ricky is about a man who needs to come to terms with who he is and where he’s going.
This is a delightful book. I don’t think I’m doing it justice with this review. It’s funny and heart-felt and I only wish there had been a tiny bit more about wrestling. I liked the resolution of the story, which I will not spoil here. So good.
Until disaster strikes at the wrestling match, and suddenly Ricky’s life is thrown into turmoil. Thus begins a road trip to find his long-lost father…with his mother riding along. But Go Home Ricky is not just about the trip he takes, but the people he meets and the discoveries he makes about himself.
“Go Home” in wrestling terminology means to finish the match. And Go Home Ricky is about a man who needs to come to terms with who he is and where he’s going.
This is a delightful book. I don’t think I’m doing it justice with this review. It’s funny and heart-felt and I only wish there had been a tiny bit more about wrestling. I liked the resolution of the story, which I will not spoil here. So good.
September 5, 2023
I saw this on a list of Nebraskan authors and thought to give it a shot. I don't do super well with "man-lit", but Kwak does an extraordinary job of displaying toxic masculinity without actually disparaging women.
Go Home, Ricky! It is a fresh take on masculinity that I've never seen before! No matter Ricky's intentions, his anger and impulsions always win out. And his general directionlessness in life leads him exactly there.
Most of the negativity i see in the reviews is how much they hate Ricky. I don't think you're supposed to really like him! But he's learning to grow and take a deep breath (even though we really don't see this growth come to fruition), you're rooting for him to get his shit together cause he's not a bad dude. He's just got some insane impulse control issues. But the groundwork is set for him to get better and be better.
Also I'd go a little nuts in his situation too!
Go Home, Ricky! It is a fresh take on masculinity that I've never seen before! No matter Ricky's intentions, his anger and impulsions always win out. And his general directionlessness in life leads him exactly there.
Most of the negativity i see in the reviews is how much they hate Ricky. I don't think you're supposed to really like him! But he's learning to grow and take a deep breath (even though we really don't see this growth come to fruition), you're rooting for him to get his shit together cause he's not a bad dude. He's just got some insane impulse control issues. But the groundwork is set for him to get better and be better.
Also I'd go a little nuts in his situation too!
August 16, 2024
I struggled with this one because I wanted to like it — wrestling, set in the Midwest —but this is one of the most frustrating protagonists I’ve read. It’s a story about a guy that almost does several things but ends up doing nothing, defaulting to self-destruction, cowardice, self-pity, and letting the world happen around him while he stands still. As a character who I assume is mid-20s but could be late 20s, his sole motivation seems concentrated on earning the approval of children and high schoolers while leeching off of adults.
June 28, 2023
This was a fun read. The main character isn’t lovable and I’m sure that some sports and wrestling comments went over my head (although I was googling and researching while I read, which was pretty fun); but overall - this was a good one. I set it down for a while but read the final 70% of this one in a night which I think says something.
March 27, 2024
I really thought I would like this one, but somehow it just didn’t work for me. I found the prose to be unintentionally clunky, but ultimately I think this was just way more referential than it needed to be. There was a lot of potential for this to get more involved in the world of its unique niche. I was disappointed that so much time was instead spent on half-baked internet culture navel-gazing.
June 5, 2024
it probably says a lot about me that THIS is the book that made me understand the man i've been letting destroy my life for the last two years
more books should have the climax of the plot involve a guy pedigree-ing a child wearing a racist high school sports mascot costume tho
more books should have the climax of the plot involve a guy pedigree-ing a child wearing a racist high school sports mascot costume tho
April 3, 2024
I’m BEGGING the girlies to read this book so I can discuss.
The story was so funny (and fab on audio) but the plot is wild. And yes, I understand it’s satirical, but I still have so many questions. What is the timeline?? The side characters? Please I need to chat with someone
The story was so funny (and fab on audio) but the plot is wild. And yes, I understand it’s satirical, but I still have so many questions. What is the timeline?? The side characters? Please I need to chat with someone
July 23, 2024
Drôle !!!
October 21, 2023
On the back of this book it says the hardcover costs $26. Would I pay that much for my own copy? No. Would I check out this book from the library? Yeah, sure.
Also I didn’t appreciate the Freudian slip there in the middle. Really weird and unnecessary.
Also I didn’t appreciate the Freudian slip there in the middle. Really weird and unnecessary.
October 15, 2021
The main character's blase racism throughout most of the book almost sank the story for me, but there was something about the tongue-in-cheek, Midwest-white-trash culture that kept it going. Ricky is white. 100 percent, ultra hayseed hick white. He has been raised in Omaha by a single mother, who has told him his whole life that his father is an Apache named Jeremiah Twohatchet. Any Native person reading that sentence will be able to tell in a buried heartbeat why that story is false, but Ricky is white, so he doesn't know any better. (Hint to Ricky: The clue is in the tribe, not the name.) He lives his life proud as heck to be half Native, using stereotypes, and racist tropes to build up his wrestling persona as an Indian warrior, and even throws himself in the middle of an Intertribal Council group at the high school where he works as a janitor by day. His life is turned upside down when he almost breaks his neck during a match, leaving his career in the dust, and losing every small thing in his world expect the fierce devotion of his mother. Ricky decides to track down Apache Twohatchet and get to know his roots.
Surprisingly, there is a lot more to the story than that. Although there is a literal road trip to find his father, Ricky goes on a whirl of discovery and emotions in his own hometown as he navigates his identity with his mother, his ex-girlfriend, his fellow wrestlers, and himself. The narration is quick and unexpectedly funny. Yes, the racism is annoying, but white people who believe that they are Native are annoying, and as a Native person I have to deal with it in person, so it was a bit refreshing to read about it, knowing that I never had to have the talk that the kids in the Intertribal Council had to have with Ricky.
Although this book had some high points, there was some stuff that didn't sit well with me, particularly the way the the female characters of his book were written, except for Lena, Ricky's mom. This book reminded me a lot of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? a book I read in high school that I thought was OK, but have mostly dismissed since. Still, this book might work for the racist wrestling fan in your life.
Surprisingly, there is a lot more to the story than that. Although there is a literal road trip to find his father, Ricky goes on a whirl of discovery and emotions in his own hometown as he navigates his identity with his mother, his ex-girlfriend, his fellow wrestlers, and himself. The narration is quick and unexpectedly funny. Yes, the racism is annoying, but white people who believe that they are Native are annoying, and as a Native person I have to deal with it in person, so it was a bit refreshing to read about it, knowing that I never had to have the talk that the kids in the Intertribal Council had to have with Ricky.
Although this book had some high points, there was some stuff that didn't sit well with me, particularly the way the the female characters of his book were written, except for Lena, Ricky's mom. This book reminded me a lot of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? a book I read in high school that I thought was OK, but have mostly dismissed since. Still, this book might work for the racist wrestling fan in your life.
December 20, 2021
An interesting book that had potential to be more than it is in the end. I thought I was going to be reading a story told from the perspective of a hardscrabble youth who finds himself in the surreal world of regional professional wrestling and must then figure out what to do after an injury ends his career. There is very little of the wrestling world portrayed here although the little that is here is well-done and feels fresh. If only there was more of that. Unfortunately, it is all set aside quicker than expected and replaced by a meandering and unsatisfying story about a son searching for his true father - but the author never commits to that storyline either. In some respect it tries to be about ethnic identity as well, but that is also not fully realized. Nor is it really a coming-of-age story because there is very little personal discovery on the part of the narrator/protagonist.
Perhaps the point is that most people don't really have an epiphany that changes their entire identity. That change and self improvement comes in small doses and people's lives go on much the same, but they get better at coping and navigating the disappointments and making incrementally healthier choices in their relationships. A lot of great elements are brewing in these pages, but the final mix feels inconsequential. Mostly, I was left feeling unmoved by the main character. I think if I had gotten more of his journey to joining a local wrestling promotion, and the earlier days with his girlfriend, I may have cared a lot more about him.
The pros: I appreciate that the author is taking on some themes of casual racism and toxic masculinity and trying forge a path through them. Kudos to the book design as well - underneath the colorful neon dust cover, the book is bound with pink boards, an unexpected choice for a such a testosterone-driven narrative, and one that feels almost 'punk' in its choice.
Perhaps the point is that most people don't really have an epiphany that changes their entire identity. That change and self improvement comes in small doses and people's lives go on much the same, but they get better at coping and navigating the disappointments and making incrementally healthier choices in their relationships. A lot of great elements are brewing in these pages, but the final mix feels inconsequential. Mostly, I was left feeling unmoved by the main character. I think if I had gotten more of his journey to joining a local wrestling promotion, and the earlier days with his girlfriend, I may have cared a lot more about him.
The pros: I appreciate that the author is taking on some themes of casual racism and toxic masculinity and trying forge a path through them. Kudos to the book design as well - underneath the colorful neon dust cover, the book is bound with pink boards, an unexpected choice for a such a testosterone-driven narrative, and one that feels almost 'punk' in its choice.
June 21, 2022
Not for me I’m afraid. It wasn’t utter rubbish, but just lacked a good story and any real substance. The book is written with a fairly punchy/staccato pace and uses quite a lot of modern references, which I quite liked and made the story more readable than it really is. Having said this, he does apply some pretty funny memories and amusing observations on modern life, which again made this more readable. You spend the whole story wondering how Ricky is going to get his self together, and look forward to the outcome - I wont ruin this for you.
But on the whole, I didn’t really like the story, the character wasn’t likeable or relatable, and it all seemed a bit disjointed. Like I say, not terrible, but soft me not recommendable. Somewhere around the 3 mark at best. (My 90s wrestling knowledge also helped quite a lot - not all readers will have this).
But on the whole, I didn’t really like the story, the character wasn’t likeable or relatable, and it all seemed a bit disjointed. Like I say, not terrible, but soft me not recommendable. Somewhere around the 3 mark at best. (My 90s wrestling knowledge also helped quite a lot - not all readers will have this).
October 31, 2021
Although written with a solid understanding and perspective of the main character, this books plateaus in that Ricky starts off as an emotionally immature and unregulated young adult who just remains this way. There are many points where it feels like some accountability, vulnerable conversations, and real life consequences to horrible behavior could help arche this under dog's character development, but unfortunately he remains an emotionally immature, abusive, selfish man-child. Not sure what the author's goal was for his protagonist, but I was continually disappointed, saddened, and cringing from the.main character. I kept wondering if readers were intended to dislike him. If we were, that is terribly alarming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2022
The best way I can describe this book is that it reads like a post on r/thathappened. Ricky is kind of an ass the whole time, but maybe that’s the point? Not a lot of conflicts get resolved. Any time you want Ricky to do something to show that he’s grown since the beginning of the book, he doesn’t. The climax of the book is really just a continuation of Ricky being too concerned with what high school students think of him. This book would’ve been actually great if there was some reason why Ricky was an unreliable narrator, if we got a look into how his mom or Frankie or Pilgrim perceived him, but we didn’t and Ricky was just a douche the whole time. And then everybody clapped.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2023
I love books about failures - 100x more interesting, but I’m also a little like ok, what was the point of all that? I don’t need there to be a big cheesy redemptive arc, but I need a closure or something.
December 18, 2023
Full review on my substack (free to read, free to subscribe)
https://open.substack.com/pub/isabela...
For an all female book club, it felt meaningful to read a novel containing layers of discourse around masculinity and tenderness. All too often, a female collective can voice projections of the downfall of men and our bad experiences with them onto all males. I am guilty of it too, and have in the past stretched my own first hand observations of toxic masculinity into generalisations of the entirety of men. Although it is totally essential for females to lead many difficult conversations with men, I am concretely certain about the necessity for men to tell tales like these. I sometimes fear that the tone in which we talk about men, prevents them from raising those arduous conversations with each other. Our dialogue must be welcoming in order for things to change. In order for a collective healing, men must feel a freedom to narratively grapple with the complexities of what it means to be a man.
I am a tender man I am a tender man I am a tender man
is Ricky's mantra that appears and reappears several times throughout the fast paced story. Whether Ricky truly believes he is a tender man, is up to debate. He repeats this self soothing phrase throughout the story the way Dorothy taps her red shoes and makes herself return home in The Wizard of Oz. As if to imply.. I will be a tender man..one day..maybe. I felt a poignant pang each time I read those words. It reminded me of Sylvia Plath's resounding words from The Bell Jar .. I am I am I am.
Growing up Fatherless, Ricky paints his own picture of what a man should be, with the teachings and support from his loving mother and partner Frankie. In the absence of a fatherly figure, Ricky appears torn between being the toxically tough person he truly envisions his Father is/was, and being the kind of man that he would look up to. Ricky’s masculinity lies somewhere on the cusp of tender, and the brink of hypermasculine. The face he presents to the world is a tough one, who doesn’t take life too seriously. In my heart though, I know, he is a tender man.
“No Dad trumps a shitty one. Right? Wind can’t disappoint. Nothing can’t beat you black and blue.”
Growing up an only daughter, and only sister to three brothers, I have witnessed first hand the broad spectrum of masculinity, and where the tenderness and the toughness stands amongst that. A man is to be nurtured, and masculinity as an entity requires a collective healing. A boy, or a man could begin that journey by reading this book. The parameters of masculinity are explored in depth throughout the novel, which perhaps acts as a perfect paradox for the novels length, brief chaptering and congruous humility. I swallowed this up quickly, the story ending as swiftly as it started. It left me wanting a sequel, and yearning for the back story of all the characters, especially the women. I would adore to see this text become a motion picture one day.
With the novel’s topical pin of wrestling and physicality, a shuffling narrative pace, and light-hearted tone, reading Go Home Ricky was reminiscent of The White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty, which I read and reviewed earlier this year. Think.. disaster movie, Larry David, upside down and inside out and chasing tails over and over again...Everything seems to keep going wrong for Ricky, and Kwak narrates this in an extremely humorous fashion. The author has proved the witty within the hopeless.
Identity is perhaps the most prominent theme of the novel’s entirety. Growing up thinking his Dad is Native American, Ricky’s personality develops on the basis of that knowledge - his demeanour, his sporting career, and his own sense of self. With factual elements of his ancestry missing, Ricky seems to feel secure and at home in his body of mixed race. When this fact is brought to question (no spoilers), the upheaval of Ricky’s world swells even more. Home becomes a question, and the meaning of the novel’s title is brought to life.
This was a genius narrative choice from Kwak. He has creatively explored where ethnicity lies amongst human being’s ideals of identity. The protagonist, being one without a Father, financially drowning, and losing in the game of love, in addition to his career - causing further complications to the shaping of himself. All these facets bring forth conversations regarding home, which were raised at book club alongside glasses of vegan baileys and mulled wine.
The narrative voice is journalistic and casual, making the reading experience moreish and smooth. As always, I am a yes man to short chapters that make a reading deadline all the less daunting.
It feels paramount for females to read through a male lens, with streams of consciousness about being a man, and observations on the females in his life. Watch this space while I curate a list of books for collective male healing.. this book is going straight to the top.
https://open.substack.com/pub/isabela...
For an all female book club, it felt meaningful to read a novel containing layers of discourse around masculinity and tenderness. All too often, a female collective can voice projections of the downfall of men and our bad experiences with them onto all males. I am guilty of it too, and have in the past stretched my own first hand observations of toxic masculinity into generalisations of the entirety of men. Although it is totally essential for females to lead many difficult conversations with men, I am concretely certain about the necessity for men to tell tales like these. I sometimes fear that the tone in which we talk about men, prevents them from raising those arduous conversations with each other. Our dialogue must be welcoming in order for things to change. In order for a collective healing, men must feel a freedom to narratively grapple with the complexities of what it means to be a man.
I am a tender man I am a tender man I am a tender man
is Ricky's mantra that appears and reappears several times throughout the fast paced story. Whether Ricky truly believes he is a tender man, is up to debate. He repeats this self soothing phrase throughout the story the way Dorothy taps her red shoes and makes herself return home in The Wizard of Oz. As if to imply.. I will be a tender man..one day..maybe. I felt a poignant pang each time I read those words. It reminded me of Sylvia Plath's resounding words from The Bell Jar .. I am I am I am.
Growing up Fatherless, Ricky paints his own picture of what a man should be, with the teachings and support from his loving mother and partner Frankie. In the absence of a fatherly figure, Ricky appears torn between being the toxically tough person he truly envisions his Father is/was, and being the kind of man that he would look up to. Ricky’s masculinity lies somewhere on the cusp of tender, and the brink of hypermasculine. The face he presents to the world is a tough one, who doesn’t take life too seriously. In my heart though, I know, he is a tender man.
“No Dad trumps a shitty one. Right? Wind can’t disappoint. Nothing can’t beat you black and blue.”
Growing up an only daughter, and only sister to three brothers, I have witnessed first hand the broad spectrum of masculinity, and where the tenderness and the toughness stands amongst that. A man is to be nurtured, and masculinity as an entity requires a collective healing. A boy, or a man could begin that journey by reading this book. The parameters of masculinity are explored in depth throughout the novel, which perhaps acts as a perfect paradox for the novels length, brief chaptering and congruous humility. I swallowed this up quickly, the story ending as swiftly as it started. It left me wanting a sequel, and yearning for the back story of all the characters, especially the women. I would adore to see this text become a motion picture one day.
With the novel’s topical pin of wrestling and physicality, a shuffling narrative pace, and light-hearted tone, reading Go Home Ricky was reminiscent of The White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty, which I read and reviewed earlier this year. Think.. disaster movie, Larry David, upside down and inside out and chasing tails over and over again...Everything seems to keep going wrong for Ricky, and Kwak narrates this in an extremely humorous fashion. The author has proved the witty within the hopeless.
Identity is perhaps the most prominent theme of the novel’s entirety. Growing up thinking his Dad is Native American, Ricky’s personality develops on the basis of that knowledge - his demeanour, his sporting career, and his own sense of self. With factual elements of his ancestry missing, Ricky seems to feel secure and at home in his body of mixed race. When this fact is brought to question (no spoilers), the upheaval of Ricky’s world swells even more. Home becomes a question, and the meaning of the novel’s title is brought to life.
This was a genius narrative choice from Kwak. He has creatively explored where ethnicity lies amongst human being’s ideals of identity. The protagonist, being one without a Father, financially drowning, and losing in the game of love, in addition to his career - causing further complications to the shaping of himself. All these facets bring forth conversations regarding home, which were raised at book club alongside glasses of vegan baileys and mulled wine.
The narrative voice is journalistic and casual, making the reading experience moreish and smooth. As always, I am a yes man to short chapters that make a reading deadline all the less daunting.
It feels paramount for females to read through a male lens, with streams of consciousness about being a man, and observations on the females in his life. Watch this space while I curate a list of books for collective male healing.. this book is going straight to the top.
September 28, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher The Overlook Press for an advanced copy of this fiction book.
Reviewers at newspapers of note, and literary magazines of merit when reviewing books set in the world of comic books love to add words like Biff, Bam or Holy Something in a way to act with it and at the same time above what they are writing about. That is the fact of literature that delves into the world of genre entertainment. As this is a book about wrestling, I will abstain from "Ohh Yeah" or any comments about Pythons and Brother. Or am I working the readers. Possibly.
Go Home, Ricky! by Gene Kwak might have a wrestler on the cover, and a term for bringing the match to a close in the title, but this novel is more of a book on growing up. Finally. Ricky is a wrestler just about to move up to a bigger stage, no more bar wrestling or recreation center halls for him, but his future is suddenly changed. The book is more about Ricky trying to hold on to his gimmick, what makes him a wrestler and a man, and what he needs to do to grow and move on. Everything he was, a Native American Wrestler, a father-to-be, loved, is stripped away from him leaving him lost and confused. Ricky kind of tries to roll with the forearm shots, but he can't as he has never been prepared for dealing with life without a theme song. He's not a bad guy, just kind of lazy who does stupid things not out of malice, but just because he's an unthinking jerk. Which sounds bad, but is true.
The writing is interesting, though time seems to be jumping around a lot. Things seem to happen quickly, more like the story of Job, than of a wrestling jobber. I wish he had more or a wrestling career I would have liked more on that, and I am sure that Ricky wishes the same thing, but I still enjoyed the novel. Not a Wrestlemania event kind of story, but good mid-card level tale. I would like to read more by Mr. Kwak.
Reviewers at newspapers of note, and literary magazines of merit when reviewing books set in the world of comic books love to add words like Biff, Bam or Holy Something in a way to act with it and at the same time above what they are writing about. That is the fact of literature that delves into the world of genre entertainment. As this is a book about wrestling, I will abstain from "Ohh Yeah" or any comments about Pythons and Brother. Or am I working the readers. Possibly.
Go Home, Ricky! by Gene Kwak might have a wrestler on the cover, and a term for bringing the match to a close in the title, but this novel is more of a book on growing up. Finally. Ricky is a wrestler just about to move up to a bigger stage, no more bar wrestling or recreation center halls for him, but his future is suddenly changed. The book is more about Ricky trying to hold on to his gimmick, what makes him a wrestler and a man, and what he needs to do to grow and move on. Everything he was, a Native American Wrestler, a father-to-be, loved, is stripped away from him leaving him lost and confused. Ricky kind of tries to roll with the forearm shots, but he can't as he has never been prepared for dealing with life without a theme song. He's not a bad guy, just kind of lazy who does stupid things not out of malice, but just because he's an unthinking jerk. Which sounds bad, but is true.
The writing is interesting, though time seems to be jumping around a lot. Things seem to happen quickly, more like the story of Job, than of a wrestling jobber. I wish he had more or a wrestling career I would have liked more on that, and I am sure that Ricky wishes the same thing, but I still enjoyed the novel. Not a Wrestlemania event kind of story, but good mid-card level tale. I would like to read more by Mr. Kwak.
October 7, 2021
GO HOME, RICKY!, by Gene Kwak, is a unique novel on several levels. Not only is it the story of Ricky, a struggling semi-professional wrestler whose recent injury had left him unable to wrestle or work and who must figure out what to do with the rest of his life, but it's also a commentary on the unmotivated and sedimentary lifestyle that so many young adults can find themselves stuck in. Along both of those lines, this book is also about Ricky's discovery of who he is at his core. The book is gritty, heartfelt, and unafraid to look closely at what it means to have little ambition, a lot of passion for life, and tons of heart.
Post injury, which means he wears is a funky looking neck brace for a few months and gets funny looks everywhere he goes, Ricky moves in with his mother. Ricky devolves into a lump of a human that eats, drinks, and consumes edibles. Finding the bottom of worthlessness, Ricky figures if he can find his father it will help him find himself. His search leads to some crazy situations and shocking revelations, but in the end Ricky begins the slow journey to becoming a meaningful member of society and feeling good about who he is.
GO HOME, RICKY! is a delightful read that reminds the reader that finding our purpose in life is one of the most meaningful and rewarding expeditions we can take on.
I received a copy of this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaway program.
Post injury, which means he wears is a funky looking neck brace for a few months and gets funny looks everywhere he goes, Ricky moves in with his mother. Ricky devolves into a lump of a human that eats, drinks, and consumes edibles. Finding the bottom of worthlessness, Ricky figures if he can find his father it will help him find himself. His search leads to some crazy situations and shocking revelations, but in the end Ricky begins the slow journey to becoming a meaningful member of society and feeling good about who he is.
GO HOME, RICKY! is a delightful read that reminds the reader that finding our purpose in life is one of the most meaningful and rewarding expeditions we can take on.
I received a copy of this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaway program.
May 29, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and The Overlook Press for an ARC of this book.
Go Home, Ricky! is an entertaining rollercoaster of a novel that will have readers laughing along with the main character's wild antics.
Ricky Twohatchet AKA Richard Powell is an amateur wrestler who is about to get his big break before a near-career-ending injury happens in the squared circle. As Ricky begins his long journey of healing and navigates a new crisis of self-identity outside of wrestling, he's determined to finally meet his long-lost father. But not without a few bumps along the way.
As a debut novel, Gene Kwak presents a unique writing style and voice, and any wrestling fan will know that the author really knows his history. The book is quick to read and the short chapters make it easy to fly through within a day or two. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and laughed at a lot of the dialogue. The plot was well written too, but it fell a little short for me in some parts of the book. Overall, I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a comedy, self-identity fiction, or discovering the meaning of fatherhood. I especially recommend this to adult wrestling fans for a fictional story about an amateur wrestler figuring out his life outside of the ring.
Go Home, Ricky! is an entertaining rollercoaster of a novel that will have readers laughing along with the main character's wild antics.
Ricky Twohatchet AKA Richard Powell is an amateur wrestler who is about to get his big break before a near-career-ending injury happens in the squared circle. As Ricky begins his long journey of healing and navigates a new crisis of self-identity outside of wrestling, he's determined to finally meet his long-lost father. But not without a few bumps along the way.
As a debut novel, Gene Kwak presents a unique writing style and voice, and any wrestling fan will know that the author really knows his history. The book is quick to read and the short chapters make it easy to fly through within a day or two. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and laughed at a lot of the dialogue. The plot was well written too, but it fell a little short for me in some parts of the book. Overall, I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a comedy, self-identity fiction, or discovering the meaning of fatherhood. I especially recommend this to adult wrestling fans for a fictional story about an amateur wrestler figuring out his life outside of the ring.
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