My family hated going to films with me. My inability to suspend disbelief made for frustrating discussions on the film’s plot because I would always hone in on lapses in the storyline. My contentions often ruined the ‘magic’ of film for them and after a while, my wife and daughter refused to ask my opinion when they enjoyed the movie.
Suspension of disbelief is a requirement in enjoying The Death of Wizdem, a first novel from music promoter Laszlo Borsai. It’s a ‘fictional memoir’ based somewhat on Borsai’s own youth. The story revolves around “Grip”, a rebellious youth who left home at fourteen. The book begins by showing Grip living in a 1974 Blue Maverick with “Biscuits”, an obese teenage runaway and Biscuits’ love interest, “The Waitress”.
When they’re not living in the car, they’re taking The Waitress’ earnings and renting rooms in bad motels located in the poor section of Strawberry Town, a mythical suburban area of what reads like Los Angeles. Grip hangs out with a slew of homeless adolescents who meet at The Top, a club on the grounds of a giant theme park called “Strawdonia”.
They spend their time chasing willing teenage girls from out of town for one-night stands and orgies back at the bad hotels. But Grip experiences a number of adventures throughout the book, going from hoodlum to failed management headhunter to the apex of clubbing as a ‘rave’ promoter, raking in big dollars and living it up at an exclusive apartment complex.
The book reminds me a little of the novels of Irvine Welsh, especially Trainspotting. But Welsh unabashedly condemns the extreme self-destructiveness of these youths, whereas Borsai celebrates it. This is less a memoir and more an exercise of male macho posturing.
The accounts in The Death of Wizdem make me think of the incredibly over-the-top stories losers like to tell in order to receive adulation from neophytes and modern-day philistines. The two-dimensional characters rarely suffer a consequence for their actions. Grip and his pals are young geniuses, rebels without causes who always manage to pull something over the pedantically stupid authority figures.
Article comments
1 - Latte Loca
Seems like something the tweeners would eat up with a giant spoon if they were to make it into a movie. Lol!
2 - Laszlo Borsai
Larry thank you for taking the time to read my book. I appreciate your feedback. I did want to say that about 85% of the book is true. I also want to say not dealing with the consequences of my actions still surprises me today. But the main thing you point out which I did not really think about was the acid. I think it may still be affecting my vision 20 years later....Thank You,
Laslo
3 - Larry A. Sakin
Laszlo- Thanks for taking time to respond. In ways, the book reminded me of elements in my own life. I had some major instant karma as consequence for my actions- and that straightened me out quickly, although I still deal with the after-effects of drug use.
I wish you success with the book.
Larry
4 - Vanessa Mathews
Growing up in Anaheim, only a few blocks from Les, I loved how he was so creative with the names and the locations in the book. The book had such an honest edge to it. Things that many people have done in their youth but not able to share or describe in detail. It was easy to read and very well told. I recommend this book to anyone. Thank you Les.
5 - the ghost of tod
i would say 45% of this is true, but overall, it is poorly written.