Interior of the left-hand side: The tale of a slacker
Book Details
Author(s)Andrew M. Crane
ISBN / ASINB00W5M2MRU
ISBN-13978B00W5M2MR1
MarketplaceFrance 🇫🇷
Description
The time is 1986, in a small Southern Ontario Town. Ben Hawkes, a heavy drinker, heavy smoker and drug user is running in to the second year of writing his second book and living like a hermit to try and finish it. His best friend Philip Kells motivates him to go to Eddie Goodwin’s party, by mentioning Penelope Finch.
Before the party, Ben heads to the Open Kitchen, to eat, drink and smoke as he takes his notes. The characters of the world excite Ben as he meets them everywhere, including the donut shop. A drug dealer Frank, traps Ben, desperately wanting him to ghost write his stories. Agreeing is his only way of escape.
Ben and Philip head to their favourite hangout, ‘Rudi’s for beer, cigarettes and conversation while running up a tab. By the time they arrive at Goodwin’s party, Ben can’t help but have an altercation with ‘Tracy’, a girl from his past.
Battered and ego bruised, Ben wanders to the kitchen, where the more ‘Bohemian’ party is taking place. The characters surround him as Ben meets Eugene, the poet, and Peter Short, the publisher of Ben’s first novel. Through the crowd of drinkers, dancers, pot smokers and artists, Ben spots Penelope Finch. But, overwhelmed by heavy drinking and the plethora of characters that surround him, Ben can’t maintain his concentration.
Penelope comes home with Ben, then shocks him with the revelation that she is going to New York for an extended period to sell her art work. Penelope proves to be Ben’s muse and he finishes his novel. He also gets out and meets his characters, travelling to Guelph to see some bands at the University, heading to the bars in Guelph and Georgetown and coming to grips with his need to get away from what he knows.
Celebration time unfortunately, coincides with Philip getting a promotion and Penelope’s return. But in a haze of drugs and alcohol, Ben celebrates and then manages to get to Toronto to meet Penelope for more celebrations.
By the end of the novel, Penelope tells Ben that she was going back to New York. Ben jumps at the chance to go to New York, as he has never traveled outside of Canada before and leaves his old life behind.
Before the party, Ben heads to the Open Kitchen, to eat, drink and smoke as he takes his notes. The characters of the world excite Ben as he meets them everywhere, including the donut shop. A drug dealer Frank, traps Ben, desperately wanting him to ghost write his stories. Agreeing is his only way of escape.
Ben and Philip head to their favourite hangout, ‘Rudi’s for beer, cigarettes and conversation while running up a tab. By the time they arrive at Goodwin’s party, Ben can’t help but have an altercation with ‘Tracy’, a girl from his past.
Battered and ego bruised, Ben wanders to the kitchen, where the more ‘Bohemian’ party is taking place. The characters surround him as Ben meets Eugene, the poet, and Peter Short, the publisher of Ben’s first novel. Through the crowd of drinkers, dancers, pot smokers and artists, Ben spots Penelope Finch. But, overwhelmed by heavy drinking and the plethora of characters that surround him, Ben can’t maintain his concentration.
Penelope comes home with Ben, then shocks him with the revelation that she is going to New York for an extended period to sell her art work. Penelope proves to be Ben’s muse and he finishes his novel. He also gets out and meets his characters, travelling to Guelph to see some bands at the University, heading to the bars in Guelph and Georgetown and coming to grips with his need to get away from what he knows.
Celebration time unfortunately, coincides with Philip getting a promotion and Penelope’s return. But in a haze of drugs and alcohol, Ben celebrates and then manages to get to Toronto to meet Penelope for more celebrations.
By the end of the novel, Penelope tells Ben that she was going back to New York. Ben jumps at the chance to go to New York, as he has never traveled outside of Canada before and leaves his old life behind.
