March 2015 Book Reviews

The Jesus And Mary Chain: Barbed Wire Kisses
Zoë Howe
St. Martin’s Press
Street: 11.11.14
Zoë Howe (Typical Girls? The Story of the Slits, Wilko Johnson—Looking Back at Me) provides the brilliant narrative for one of most significantly turbulent and perpetual outsider bands to ever grace the pages of rock n’ roll history. Barbed Wire Kisses pulls no punches taking the reader through the origins of the Reid brothers from their influences in punk, the affiliation with Alan McGee’s Creation Records and the recording of their defining first album, Psychocandy. Howe captivates as she pulls you through the twists and turns that make up a trail of wreckage. She describes a lengthy catalogue of the hilarious but legendary Jesus and Mary Chain fuckups, the brothers’ dynamic but remarkably tense relationship that lead to the explosive but temporary breakup of the band, and the surprising but seemingly inevitable reformation almost a decade later. This book had my attention from Page One and all the way through the last chapter. It is wonderfully clever and continuously had me close to laughterdriven tears. Barbed Wire Kisses is an in-depth fun read that requires your immediate attention. If you see it, be sure to add it to your collection and bump it to the top of your reading list. –Nick Kuzmack

Saltfront Issue No. 2
Various Authors Self-Published
Street: 09.15.14
Saltfront is a collection of short stories, poetry and visual art that is themed around environmental issues and wonder at the natural world. The book is unexpectedly premised with an included reprint of the fourth issue of an Orem zine, The Fifth Goal, from 2001. It has a great initial article but, overall, contains a crazy amount of spelling errors (some so consistent and blatant that I had the suspicion that they were purposeful). As for Saltfront, this book is perfect for local environmentalists who want to feel hopeful and inspired by the works of other Utahns who also see the Earth as art. In my opinion, it’s hard to write extensively about nature without sounding campy or bland. However, the 20 writers in this collection have thoughtful and rewarding perspectives. Diane Leslie Fouts has a piece called “In the Matter of Magpies” that will make you rethink your understanding of bird lore, and Dylan Mace’s essay “The Land’s Genius” tells the story of Utah’s own destructive habits in history. I don’t have the space to touch on all of their unique voices, but I recommend this publication to those who want to feel challenged, introspective and hopeful about Utah’s future in an increasingly industrial age. –Nic Smith

The Spartak Trigger
Bryce Allen
Bedlam Press
Street: 03.14.14
Bryce Allen has created an interesting piece of work with The Spartak Trigger. While the general feel of this work is noir with a splash of classic private eye, the author creates an overall picture of dark nasty-ness that leads character Shane Bishop and escorts you through, despite your better judgment. The story is foul and rotten—this is obviously intentional. Allen seems to enjoy letting the reader dwell in filthy happenings and the reader sticks to the book because it’s a train wreck you have to see through. The story is well crafted and paced with enough action scenes to keep even the youngest reader engaged. Allen’s anti-hero, Bishop, grows on you like moss. His antics become subtly endearing but you never stop feeling uncomfortable. The plot twists like a drunk dancing partner holding a drink—by the time the vodka hits you in the face, Allen has you trapped in his dark and oddly humorous world. This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you know any hearts prone to fainting perhaps watching them read it could be its own fun. At the end of the day, The Spartak Trigger is a solid book for those that like to read in the dark. –Benjamin Tilton