Buck

by J.M. Faries

It's New Orleans in the early 1990s at the onset of the Grunge movement, a palpably different place from the post-Katrina city of today. James Buck is a young, self-taught musician, in exile from his devastatingly unsupportive parents, with an impossible dream to be a classical violinist. What he lacks in pedigree, though, he makes up for with a raw talent and an uncompromising determination. Saving his meager pay working at a poultry plant in rural Missouri, he dreams big and colorful about his upcoming life in the Big Easy. However, reality is well fashioned to break his heart. Opportunities are scarce, racism runs amuck, the culture is changing and it may not be to his benefit. The people he meets are vague shapes in a haze of drugs and sex and dysfunctional relationships, murmuring in a storm of impenetrable music, and the best last thing to rebel against is being normal. But James Buck has reason to believe he can succeed, even if inadequately prepared, and he holds to his dream, entirely convinced it's better do something great, briefly, than to do nothing in particular, indefinitely. Buck is a beautifully written novel about an uncompromising young musician at the end of the twentieth century, and the only thing it lacks is an accompanying soundtrack. "The freedom to ridicule another is as close to the heart of friendship as the desire not to." from the book Almost everything is addressed in this intimate account of the struggle of a self taught musician. The death of the family, adolescent sex, drug and alcohol addiction, the passive "Here We Are Now Entertain Us" meme eroding youth culture, poverty, race relations, More For Less consumer mores, God, love, self hate, and self help. A true Hardyesque, 'pull yourself up by your boot straps and march ahead' arrow in the heart of contemporary culture. This is literature so important it should be called non-fiction.

ebook

First published June 8, 2010

Reviews

[Mike D · Rating 4 out of 5]

First word that comes to mind: Descriptive. The author has a very sharp and cynical, yet realistic writing style that kept me engaged in the book. The story behind Buck was good, but it was the "attention to detail" used by the author that kept me turning pages. Everything from the main character's observation of other people; to other people's observation of the main character. I especially enjoyed the characters interpretation of society's "progression" as it related to entertainment. Obviously, the book addresses the unfortunate emerging lack of appreciation people generally have for real art and abilities.

Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was the unpredictability of the main characters life. I enjoyed following Buck through all of the twists and turns, many of which caught me off guard. I genuinely look forward to the next book!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buck is a great read. The physical descriptions of New Orleans are fantastic. The story line keeps your interest nonstop. Grouping up(same age as buck) in the early 1990's really brings this story to life. It was very easy for me to SEE the story as well as feel the emotions the author was protraying. I loved it and think everyone should read it but especially those of us in our thirties!!!!! GREAT job j m faries.....

[Fordon James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buck is the kind of story that had to be written, first, and now, urgently needs to be read.