18% Gray - Zachary Karabashliev
Book 86
Released in 2008 18% Gray tells the story of Zack, a Bulgarian photographer and musician who lives in The USA. The story opens with the protagonist in the midst of a breakdown. His wife, Stella, has gone missing. We join him 9 days after her disappearance and things are only about to ramp up a gear.
In the midst of his despair Zack decides a road trip to Tijuana is just what he needs, following some exceptional and alcohol fueled events south of the border he finds himself beaten and bloodied and in possession of a stolen vehicle... and a few kilos of the purest weed you can imagine. Obviously there is only one thing for it - try and sell it, but Zack has no idea how to do such a thing.
This idea takes Zack on another road trip across the states where through the medium of flash backs we hear all about his past with his wife and just how they came to be in The USA, seeking a better life. It's certainly a fun journey and the fact that it is told as a stream of consciousness makes it fly by. I was surprised just how big the chunks I had read were each time I sat down with it.
It's an interesting story, and my only down side here was the sections filled with technical details about photography (where the name of the book comes from). I'm sure any future Dorothea Langes would love those parts. Aside from that it is a great story that reminded me a little of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing.
While I am unsure what genre I would put this in I definitely recommend it. It's a wild ride.
No comments:
Post a Comment