Black Hole Blues
Black Hole Blues (Patrick Wensink, Lazy Fascist Press [Eraserhead] 2011, 196 pages)
A Smalldoggies book review by Maggie Foree
Black Hole Blues is Patrick Wensink’s latest and perhaps most deliciously absurd piece of writing, which dares to explore the view points of the most unlikely characters, from a shining celebrity to the molding three-week-old club sandwich tucked beneath his bed.
J. Claude Caruthers and his estranged twin brother, Lloyd, couldn’t be more opposite from one another. J. Claude is a world famous country rock star and Kenny Roger’s arch-nemesis, while Lloyd is a brilliant physicist. When one of Lloyd’s experiments goes awry, creating a black hole that threatens to destroy all of humanity, the brothers are once again reunited.
Wensink’s humor continues to shine through the perspective of a multitude of witty characters throughout the book, such as J. Claude’s guitar Rusty. “Rusty didn’t know if there was a Guitar Heaven or a Guitar Hell. Though, he was pretty sure any Guitar Hell would look something like a coffee house open mic night.”
Or his club sandwich, which quietly begs, “Please, someone, notice me. Throw me away.”
One of my personal favorites was a passage written from the perspective of a prosthetic hand:
“Please, Mister Black Hole,” the hand said without fear or regret. “If you had any clue the shit I’ve been through.” The hand briefly gazed into the dark expanse. “Hey, not so fast, don’t forget, I’m partially responsible for getting you here,” it said. While the hand didn’t actually deduce quantum equations, or even write them down, it had picked up a fair amount of astrophysics in its forty or so years of being attached to Lloyd Caruthers.
Wensink, who has been described as having a very Palahniuk-like style, lives up to the praise. Black Hole Blues has a bright and creative writing style, keeping you engaged and amused as you move seamlessly from one character’s point of view to another. It is an indisputable must-read for anyone looking to enjoy a hilariously imaginative and quippy novel.
* * *
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Learn more about Patrick Wensink at his site.
Find out more about the book at Lazy Fascist Press.