Palo Alto: Stories
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Description
Palo Alto is the debut of a surprising and powerful new literary voice. Written with an immediate sense of place--claustrophobic and ominous--James Franco's collection traces the lives of an extended group of teenagers as they experiment with vices of all kinds, struggle with their families and one another, and succumb to self-destructive, often heartless nihilism. In "Lockheed" a young woman's summer--spent working a dull internship--is suddenly upended by a spectacular incident of violence at a house party. In "American History" a high school freshman attempts to impress a girl during a classroom skit with a realistic portrayal of a slave owner—only to have his feigned bigotry avenged. In "I Could Kill Someone," a lonely teenager buys a gun with the aim of killing his high school tormentor, but begins to wonder about his bully's own inner life.
These linked stories, stark, vivid, and disturbing, are a compelling portrait of lives on the rough fringes of youth.
Book Information
Posts
Well well Franco...For me you come around as a cool person. I enjoy your movies and even your art. But it really isn't necessary to try out ALL forms of art. I don't really know what you're trying to say with these short stories, and I stopped trying to find deeper meaning really fast. All stories are pretty much the same with no outcome. This is easily the worst part. Some start pretty decent and left me thinking "hey this could be something", but they all end abruptly with no real outcome or closure whatsoever. Although the weird writing style gets slightly better half way through, it still doesn't safe it. I would have tossed this if it wasn't so short. Save your time.
Description
Palo Alto is the debut of a surprising and powerful new literary voice. Written with an immediate sense of place--claustrophobic and ominous--James Franco's collection traces the lives of an extended group of teenagers as they experiment with vices of all kinds, struggle with their families and one another, and succumb to self-destructive, often heartless nihilism. In "Lockheed" a young woman's summer--spent working a dull internship--is suddenly upended by a spectacular incident of violence at a house party. In "American History" a high school freshman attempts to impress a girl during a classroom skit with a realistic portrayal of a slave owner—only to have his feigned bigotry avenged. In "I Could Kill Someone," a lonely teenager buys a gun with the aim of killing his high school tormentor, but begins to wonder about his bully's own inner life.
These linked stories, stark, vivid, and disturbing, are a compelling portrait of lives on the rough fringes of youth.
Book Information
Posts
Well well Franco...For me you come around as a cool person. I enjoy your movies and even your art. But it really isn't necessary to try out ALL forms of art. I don't really know what you're trying to say with these short stories, and I stopped trying to find deeper meaning really fast. All stories are pretty much the same with no outcome. This is easily the worst part. Some start pretty decent and left me thinking "hey this could be something", but they all end abruptly with no real outcome or closure whatsoever. Although the weird writing style gets slightly better half way through, it still doesn't safe it. I would have tossed this if it wasn't so short. Save your time.