When I read the synopsis of Ivyland by Miles Klee, I had to pick it up. I am constantly trying to test myself by reading new books outside of my comfort zone. I thought this would be a great piece to start with, especially given Klee's background, having been published in The Awl, Huffington Post, Salon, and other online publications I adore.
That said, when I received the novel from O/R Books, I was immediately frightened. I know, I know, you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I was judging (especially after finding this tumblr dedicated to girls reading the book, eep!). That said, the cover art fits right in with this totally shocking, freaky, and overwhelming text. The humor is dark, the storyline is extreme, and the world within which the text lives is drugged out, exciting, and strange.
That said, Klee is an extremely talented writer. I strongly believe that great writers have great imaginations and Klee's imagination is out of this world (literally). While his book isn't quite my style, his talent shines through the grit and jumps off the paper. I am sure this is something he is quite proud of, and rightfully so.
I'll look forward to see where Klee goes next. But in the meantime, I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves dark humor, strange worlds, and an imagnative author. I can promise you won't be disappointed (though, I can't promise you won't be a bit afraid). Enjoy.
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