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Only Milo
Meet Milo, a closet writer who emerges from his dull, SPAM-flavored retirement to become an unseen force in the literary world. But when Milo's illicit ghostwriting is nearly exposed on national television, his options are limited. In a world of egotistical, no-talent authors and duplicitous, back-stabbing publishers, how can Milo achieve the recognition he deserves?
- GenresFiction
143 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2009
56 people want to read
About the author
Barry Smith
1 book1 followerLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Barry Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.
Barry Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 23, 2009
Feeling screwed over? Everyone taking your ideas and getting credit? Want revenge? Write about it! Make yourself the smartest character, kill everyone who makes you mad, get away clean. This is like a diary entry that was then expanded upon, also a voodoo doll in writing. Oddly, you sort of want the murdering main character to make it, maybe because we've all felt unrecognized and unrewarded for our efforts at some point.
One of the Wordstock booths was giving out free copies of this book. It's in Courier font with extremely generous line spacing.
One of the Wordstock booths was giving out free copies of this book. It's in Courier font with extremely generous line spacing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2009
This book drew me in from the beginning. We meet Milo, retired, loves Spam, but wants to get published. He soon starts dating a publisher, Margaret, who hires him to translate José Calderon's first novel from Spanish to English. Except the book his horrible and decides to use his own novel as the "translation." But when Calderon finds out and almost cracks under pressure on live TV, Milo knows he has to "take care of the problem." And so begins Milo's journey to gain the recognition he deserves and nothing will stand in his way as one by one those who stand in his way fall by the wayside.
It was shocking to see the callousness of Milo has he continues on his way to success. That was what was so incredible about this book. Milo is a horrific murderer and yet I care about the guy. I don't want him to get caught; I want him to be successful and find the happiness he's been looking for.
What will a person do to gain their heart's dreams? We come face to face with the demon inside us all. How many people do we step on to gain our dreams and desires, how many do we callously overlook and destroy? I thought this was a brilliant satire on how we can corrupt ourselves to the point of losing our souls. Yet, in the end, Milo finds success and happiness; just as in life when good things happen to bad people, or people less-deserving.
Barry Smith really shows us Milo, who he is, in only 256 pages. A fascinating read that makes you laugh and think! I say, a wonderful combination!
Thanks to Nicole, again, for letting me be apart of the Only Milo book blog tour and giving me the chance to read such a fun and thought-provoking book!
It was shocking to see the callousness of Milo has he continues on his way to success. That was what was so incredible about this book. Milo is a horrific murderer and yet I care about the guy. I don't want him to get caught; I want him to be successful and find the happiness he's been looking for.
What will a person do to gain their heart's dreams? We come face to face with the demon inside us all. How many people do we step on to gain our dreams and desires, how many do we callously overlook and destroy? I thought this was a brilliant satire on how we can corrupt ourselves to the point of losing our souls. Yet, in the end, Milo finds success and happiness; just as in life when good things happen to bad people, or people less-deserving.
Barry Smith really shows us Milo, who he is, in only 256 pages. A fascinating read that makes you laugh and think! I say, a wonderful combination!
Thanks to Nicole, again, for letting me be apart of the Only Milo book blog tour and giving me the chance to read such a fun and thought-provoking book!
August 23, 2009
This was a VERY fast, highly entertaining read.
It's funny in a very twisted way.
Milo finds himself in situations which, although not fair, are of his own making. He decides to make his own solutions as well.
The writing had an interesting rhythm to it, with short sentences, repeated phrases. In some ways, the book read like poetry, although it wasn't what I'd normally name poetic.
It's funny in a very twisted way.
Milo finds himself in situations which, although not fair, are of his own making. He decides to make his own solutions as well.
The writing had an interesting rhythm to it, with short sentences, repeated phrases. In some ways, the book read like poetry, although it wasn't what I'd normally name poetic.
November 4, 2010
A superfast read: quirky, funny. The question is: did Barry Smith really write this book or did Milo?
November 7, 2014
I’m looking back through the beginning of my copy of Barry Smith’s Only Milo. I read it in two parts: the first half one night several weeks ago before bed, and the second half this afternoon. I didn’t break up the reading experience intentionally – it just happened. But what I’m noticing is that I read the two halves very differently. During my first reading session, I circled the first sentence on the first page (which reads, “Maybe it was the SPAM Reuben sandwich.”). I also underlined and commented in the margins until I quit reading that night. I was very gung-ho about ‘reviewing.’ When I picked up the story this afternoon, though, I just wanted to know what happened next. I flew through the rest, relishing the murder and mayhem and rushing headlong to see where it would lead me.
I think Only Milo can be read either way. It’s got dark humor to savor like you would smooth, dark chocolate or a great cup of coffee. It’s also got action and a non-stop plot to keep you chuckling and racing to find out if Milo can possibly get away with it. Whichever route you take, Only Milo is a hilarious, snarky, up-to-the-minute novel for readers, writers and anyone who has ever secretly seethed that someone else got the credit of their work.
It’s subversive, witty, a little bit odd and a lot wonderful. I loved it!
I think Only Milo can be read either way. It’s got dark humor to savor like you would smooth, dark chocolate or a great cup of coffee. It’s also got action and a non-stop plot to keep you chuckling and racing to find out if Milo can possibly get away with it. Whichever route you take, Only Milo is a hilarious, snarky, up-to-the-minute novel for readers, writers and anyone who has ever secretly seethed that someone else got the credit of their work.
It’s subversive, witty, a little bit odd and a lot wonderful. I loved it!
November 10, 2010
Only Milo
By Barry Smith
Inkwater Press
2009
Reviewed by Angie Mangino
Rating: 4 stars
The first three short background sections of Only Milo set the pace followed by 82 extremely short sections, most only a page or less, some only a sentence or two, in a simple direct writing style unlike most novels. But it works!
Smith takes readers along quickly with Milo, a frustrated writer who hides his own writing, but secretly craves recognition. Hired to translate a young Mexican’s first novel, Milo is driven to do more than translate it, substituting his own rejected work, which leads him in directions he never initially planned. Milo’s dull, rejection filled life takes on unexpected excitement.
The unique style of this novel keeps the readers engulfed in Milo’s actions as he gets deeper and deeper into his deception and keeps them absorbed with each new twist and turn until the very end of the book.
Angie Mangino currently works as a freelance writer and book reviewer. http://www.angiemangino.com
By Barry Smith
Inkwater Press
2009
Reviewed by Angie Mangino
Rating: 4 stars
The first three short background sections of Only Milo set the pace followed by 82 extremely short sections, most only a page or less, some only a sentence or two, in a simple direct writing style unlike most novels. But it works!
Smith takes readers along quickly with Milo, a frustrated writer who hides his own writing, but secretly craves recognition. Hired to translate a young Mexican’s first novel, Milo is driven to do more than translate it, substituting his own rejected work, which leads him in directions he never initially planned. Milo’s dull, rejection filled life takes on unexpected excitement.
The unique style of this novel keeps the readers engulfed in Milo’s actions as he gets deeper and deeper into his deception and keeps them absorbed with each new twist and turn until the very end of the book.
Angie Mangino currently works as a freelance writer and book reviewer. http://www.angiemangino.com
October 16, 2010
I received this book free through Goodreads. I different type of writing, in that, the story is told through short sentences and short paragraphs without the detail that sometimes bogs down a novel. I found myself turning page after page enthralled with the story and which turn it was going to take. A very entertaining and fun read.
October 18, 2010
Won this in a goodreads giveaway.
Maybe it was the Spam Reuben sandwich.(First sentence)
How can you go wrong with a beginning sentence like that? A quirky, dark humor, odd, but fun read. I read it in one sitting. The story was fast paced and though few in words, it was mesmerizing, action packed and quite fulfilling. Just like a Spam Reuben sandwich!
Maybe it was the Spam Reuben sandwich.(First sentence)
How can you go wrong with a beginning sentence like that? A quirky, dark humor, odd, but fun read. I read it in one sitting. The story was fast paced and though few in words, it was mesmerizing, action packed and quite fulfilling. Just like a Spam Reuben sandwich!
December 17, 2010
Granted, the truncated language of the first-person narrator made that task a little easier. But I couldn't put it down. I stood over my grill, cooking dinner, with the book in my hand. ...
Please read my full review here: http://cineastesbookshelf.blogspot.co...
Please read my full review here: http://cineastesbookshelf.blogspot.co...
July 13, 2013
A born loser, Milo drifts from rags to riches to rags and back again. The novel is written in spartan paragraphs that appear to be a manuscript typed on a manual typewriter... which is fitting, since Milo is an author. The lengths he'll go to get published under his own name are astounding and black-humor-hilarious.
October 22, 2009
This is the most unique book I've read in a very long time. At 256 pages, you can actually read it in just a few hours but there's a lot, a lot, going on in this little book. Completely got into Milo's head and the ending was a total surprise.
August 23, 2011
Quick, witty, dark novel. I read in an afternoon. Milo's solution to all problems is to think like "DEXTER" very amusing.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews