Not Forever, But For Now by Chuck Palahniuk

I’ve been a fan of Chuck Palahniuk since…. well… probably over twenty years now; since I was in high school really. I remember reading Fight Club, Rant, Choke, and Invisible Monsters in high school or soon after high school / college. But over time, the wording “fan” has probably changed a bit when regarding my interest in Palahniuk. Firstly, I think most of his newer novels have been very low quality, secondly, even re-reading some of the older works I’ve found myself enjoying them less.

Chuck Palahniuk

Palahniuk at BookCon in June 2018 (photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Chuck Palahniuk might be best known for Fight Club; his first published (but not first written) novel – published in 1996. Hes credited with over 20 novels, films, short story compilations, short fictions, essays, and non-fiction works.

The following quick summary of Chuck Palahniuk comes from Wikipedia:

Charles Michael “Chuck” Palahniuk (/ˈpɔːlənɪk/;^[1][2] born February 21, 1962) is an American novelist who describes his work as transgressional fiction.^[3][4] He has published 19 novels, three nonfiction books, two graphic novels, and two adult coloring books, as well as several short stories. His first published novel was Fight Club, which was adapted into a film of the same title.

Palahniuk was born in Pasco, Washington, the son of Carol Adele (née Tallent) and Fred Palahniuk.^[5][6] He has French and Ukrainian ancestry.^[7] His paternal grandfather migrated from Ukraine to Canada and then to New York in 1907.^[8]

Palahniuk grew up living in a mobile home in Burbank, Washington. His parents separated when he was 14 years old, and they subsequently divorced, often leaving him and his three siblings to live with their maternal grandparents at their cattle ranch in eastern Washington.^[9] Palahniuk acknowledged in a 2007 interview that he is a distant nephew of actor Jack Palance, and that his family had talked of distant relations with Palance.^[10]

Palahniuk attended the University of Oregon, graduating with a degree in journalism in 1986. He interned at the local public radio station, KLCC, as part of his coursework.^[11]

– Chuck Palahniuk (Wikipedia Article)

Quick Book Review

Chuck Palahniuk is a name long associated with provocative, boundary-pushing literature. Known for his signature shock value and dark commentary on the absurdities of society, Palahniuk has captivated readers with books like Fight Club, Invisible Monsters, and Survivor. But, with his latest novel, Not Forever, But For Now, fans are feeling conflicted. Does it live up to Palahniuk’s legacy, or is it simply another installment of chaos for chaos’s sake? Let’s dive in.

For many, it’s been a while since a Palahniuk book really hit the mark. Some fans still find moments of brilliance in his work, but others feel his recent novels lack the depth that once balanced out the shock factor. In Not Forever, But For Now, that shock factor is turned up to eleven, but the substance behind it feels tenuous at best. Palahniuk’s approach here raises the question: how much is too much?

The story centers on Otto and Cecil, two brothers raised in a twisted lineage of assassins. Their privileged, grotesquely eccentric lifestyle is filled with hedonism and depravity, from murder to an assortment of disturbing obsessions. The narrative moves in erratic fragments, blending scenes of violence and debauchery with sporadic jumps to famous celebrity deaths and chilling family traditions. The overall tone feels forced, as if Palahniuk is determined to outdo his past works, even at the expense of storytelling.

One recurring complaint from readers is the novel’s mind-numbing repetitiveness. The phrases “having a go” and “having it off” are repeated endlessly—appearing over 180 times in a 256-page book. By the end, it’s hard not to feel exhausted by the lack of linguistic variety and to wonder if Palahniuk is simply running out of ideas. Gone are the insightful, twisted trivia and clever asides that once peppered his novels. Here, we’re left with repetitive dialogue that dilutes the impact of the narrative and any chance of connection with the characters.

The characters themselves—typically a saving grace in Palahniuk’s worlds—are flat. Otto and Cecil are self-indulgent, shallow, and virtually unchanging throughout the story. Their psychopathy lacks the nuanced edge of Palahniuk’s earlier protagonists, and instead, the brothers come across as hollow caricatures. Their antics seem designed solely to elicit shock rather than offer any real commentary. It’s hard to sympathize or even find intrigue in characters so lacking in complexity. Palahniuk’s knack for dissecting and humanizing dark, twisted psyches seems absent, leaving us with a cast that feels more grotesque than compelling.

Adding to the frustration is the lack of a coherent plot. What storyline exists feels derivative, a watered-down version of Fight Club without the depth. The book reads like a series of darkly comic skits with Otto and Cecil at the center, but there’s no overarching conflict or development. This structure—episodic and staccato—prevents the reader from becoming fully immersed or invested, and by the time Palahniuk hints at the novel’s purported theme of addiction in the afterword, it feels like an afterthought, tacked on to lend some semblance of meaning.

For long-time fans, this book is a tough pill to swallow. Many remember Palahniuk’s glory days, when his “edgy” style came with wit and a message, no matter how darkly delivered. But Not Forever, But For Now feels like it’s all edge and no center. Those shocking elements that once served as vehicles for exploring society’s flaws now feel like shock for shock’s sake. Readers who have followed his work for years—some since the early 2000s—are feeling more disappointed than disturbed, lamenting the loss of the writer who once brought so much raw, meaningful provocation to the page.

Ultimately, Not Forever, But For Now may appeal to those who can stomach its graphic content and relentless absurdity. It’s not a book for the faint-hearted or anyone expecting to find a redeeming arc within its twisted storyline. If you’re a die-hard Palahniuk fan, you may want to approach this one with caution; if you’re new to his work, there are better starting points.

As one reviewer aptly put it, reading this book feels “like a fever dream of nonsense trying to be something.” Palahniuk is undoubtedly talented, but in Not Forever, But For Now, that talent seems buried beneath layers of gratuitous grotesquerie, leaving readers wondering if he’s lost touch with the insightful, acerbic commentary that once made him a literary icon.

For those who remain undeterred, this book is available at your local library—and perhaps that’s the best place for it. No need to add this one to the shelf. It’s unlikely you’ll want to revisit it.

Book Summary and Back of Cover Blurb

This is the back of cover blurb (according to GoodReads):

From the bestselling author of Fight Club comes a hilarious horror satire about a family of professional killers responsible for the most atrocious events in history and the young brothers that are destined to take over.Meet Otto and Cecil. Two brothers growing up privileged in the Welsh countryside. They enjoy watching nature shows, playing with their pet pony, impersonating their Grandfather…and killing the help. Murder is the family business after all. Downton Abbey, this is not. However, it’s not so easy to continue the family legacy with the constant stream of threats and distractions seemingly leaping from the hedgerow. First there is the matter of the veritable cavalcade of escaped convicts that keep showing up at their door. Not to mention the debaucherous new tutor who has a penchant for speaking in Greek and dismembering sex dolls. Then there’s Mummy’s burgeoning opioid addiction. And who knows where Daddy is. He just vanished one day after he and Mummy took a walk in the so called “Ghost Forest.” With Grandfather putting pressure on Otto to step up, it becomes clear that this will all end in only two a nuclear apocalypse or just another day among the creeping thistle and tree peonies. And in a novel written by Chuck Palahniuk, either are equally possible.

– Not Forever, But For Now (GoodReads)

Currently it has 717 reviews, and 4,059 ratings on GoodReads with an average global rating of 3.10 (as of 11.8.24). It was first published on September 5th, 2023.

Book Review: “Not Forever, But For Now” by Chuck Palahniuk – A Disheartening Foray into the Grotesque

(The following is my full book review. It is quite long and lengthy.)

It’s been a long time since I truly enjoyed a Chuck Palahniuk book—my last favorite being Pygmy in 2009. Perhaps it’s because he’s changed, or maybe I have. Palahniuk, who made his mark with sharp, transgressive fiction, seems to have lost his edge in a way that’s less about maturity and more about shock tactics growing stale. His latest book, Not Forever, But For Now, was a chore, one that feels more like a caricature of his earlier work than an actual evolution of it.

A Lackluster Attempt at Shock Value

If Palahniuk is trying to provoke, he’s doing it in the most uninspired way. Not Forever, But For Now features two depraved brothers, Otto and Cecil, who come from a family of hitmen and pass their time committing heinous acts with nihilistic indifference. Rather than being cleverly subversive or thought-provoking, the book relies heavily on crass depictions of taboo topics—incest, necrophilia, and casual violence—served up without much nuance or narrative purpose.

The book is awash in repetitive language. Every mention of “having a go” or “having it off”—phrases meant to stand in for sexual acts—is jarringly overused, coming across more like a gimmick than anything artistically meaningful. In fact, it happens so often that it begins to feel like padding in an already thin story. The sheer redundancy detracts from the impact of the story and draws attention away from any attempt at deeper commentary. There’s an unsettling sense that Palahniuk is merely trying to be offensive for offense’s sake, without bothering to ground it in anything substantial.

Characters that Fall Flat

Characters are central to any story, but the two brothers in Not Forever, But For Now come across as shallow and undeveloped. They seem more like grotesque caricatures than people, with no redeeming qualities or growth throughout the novel. This would be less of an issue if there were at least something intriguing about them or if the plot gave them a purpose beyond nihilistic thrill-seeking. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case here. Palahniuk has managed to make Otto and Cecil dull, despite their appalling behavior.

For longtime Palahniuk fans, this lack of compelling characters is especially disappointing. His early works, like Fight Club, succeeded not only because of their shock value but because the characters were multifaceted and served as vehicles for larger, often biting social commentary. In Not Forever, But For Now, that balance is lost. What remains are over-the-top personalities without any depth or context, making it difficult to care about anything they do.

A Plot that Never Quite Takes Off

One of the most frustrating aspects of this book is its lack of a cohesive plot. While Not Forever, But For Now flirts with themes of addiction and social alienation, it doesn’t explore them in any meaningful way. The brothers engage in disturbing acts, but these actions don’t lead anywhere. There’s no real conflict, no resolution—just a sequence of sordid scenes that feels less like a story and more like a loosely strung-together collection of vignettes.

The absence of a structured narrative is compounded by abrupt time shifts between past and present, which often make the plot hard to follow. Readers are thrown into seemingly random moments without much explanation, resulting in confusion rather than intrigue. Palahniuk’s choice to emphasize style over substance here does a disservice to his story, making the reading experience feel choppy and disjointed.

Failed Social Commentary

Palahniuk is known for his dark humor and his often scathing critique of society. However, in Not Forever, But For Now, the social commentary feels forced and hollow. The book attempts to satirize toxic masculinity and societal taboos, but the execution is lacking. Instead of examining or challenging these themes, the novel simply throws them at the reader without providing any real insight. The gratuitous violence and sexual references come across more as shock-jock material than as an effort to convey anything substantive.

There’s a moment near the end where Palahniuk hints that the book is really about addiction—a last-minute attempt to inject meaning. This revelation feels like an afterthought rather than an organic part of the story, and it does little to redeem the narrative. In his early works, Palahniuk was able to blend shocking content with insightful commentary on the darker sides of human nature. Here, though, he falls short, relying too heavily on lurid details without the layered critique that once made his work compelling.

A Disappointing Shift in Tone and Quality

As a longtime fan of Palahniuk’s work, I found this novel to be especially disappointing. At one time, he was so influential to me that I jokingly referred to him as “Uncle Chuck.” I’ve reread Invisible Monsters numerous times, finding new layers and nuances with each read. But Not Forever, But For Now lacks the charm and depth that made those earlier works so memorable.

Palahniuk’s writing here feels stale and formulaic, as if he’s struggling to find new ways to provoke. Rather than shocking readers with innovative ideas or unique perspectives, he’s resorting to a checklist of obscene acts, none of which carry much emotional or intellectual weight. The book’s tone is weary, almost desperate—like Palahniuk is trying to prove he can still be edgy, but without any of the conviction or purpose that marked his earlier work.

Final Thoughts

Not Forever, But For Now is, ultimately, a disappointing entry in Palahniuk’s bibliography. While it contains some of the hallmarks of his style—dark humor, transgressive themes, and a bleak worldview—it fails to bring these elements together in a satisfying way. The characters are unlikable and one-dimensional, the plot is fragmented, and the social commentary feels shallow.

For those who are new to Palahniuk’s work, I wouldn’t recommend starting here. His earlier books, like Fight Club or Invisible Monsters, showcase his ability to blend shock value with genuine insight into the human condition. Longtime fans might still be curious, but they should approach this one with tempered expectations. Not Forever, But For Now is, unfortunately, a reminder that even the most daring authors can fall into the trap of trying too hard to be provocative, ultimately sacrificing substance for style.

This one-star experience feels like a requiem for what Palahniuk’s writing once was—a visceral, uncompromising voice that’s since devolved into empty, tiresome provocation. For now, I’ll stick to revisiting his older work, holding on to the memory of the author he used to be.

My ratings:
GoodReads Rating: * out of *****
Global Average Rating: 3.10 (as of 11.8.24)
LibraryThing Rating: 1.5 out of 5

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Star Wars Most Wanted by Rae Carlson

Star Wars: Most Wanted by Rae Carson offers fans of the galaxy far, far away a thrilling prelude to the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Set on the gritty streets of Corellia, the novel delves into the early lives of Han Solo and Qi’ra, two characters whose destinies are intricately linked.

Good Reads Back Cover

The back cover synopsis on GoodReads:

Set before the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story! Han and Qi’ra don’t have a lot in common other than not having a lot. They’re street kids on the industrial planet Corellia, doing whatever it takes to get by, dreaming of something more. They each jump at a chance to prove themselves in the perilous world of Corellia’s criminal underbelly, only to discover they are on the same mission for the same unscrupulous boss. When the job goes disastrously wrong, Han and Qi’ra are on the run–from pirates, a droid crime syndicate, the Empire, and their boss–and will have to learn to trust each other if they are going to survive.

GoodReads – Star Wars: Most Wanted

Book Review: Star Wars – Most Wanted by Rae Carlson

(I listened to this on audiobook via Libby. I also then read the in print version as well for comparison’s sake.)

Plot Overview

The story centers on Han and Qi’ra before they became the figures we know from the Star Wars saga. They are both “scrumrats,” orphans who must rely on their wits and street smarts to survive in the criminal underworld of Corellia. Their ultimate goal is to escape their oppressive circumstances and find freedom beyond the stars. But when a heist goes wrong, the two must team up to survive against the odds, racing against time to outmaneuver rival gangs, corrupt officials, and the ever-looming presence of the Empire.

Character Development

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its portrayal of Han and Qi’ra as complex, multifaceted characters. Han is the scrappy, reckless dreamer we’ve come to expect, but Carson gives him layers of vulnerability and determination that make his journey all the more compelling. Qi’ra, on the other hand, is cunning and ambitious, yet haunted by the harsh realities of her world. The dynamic between them is electric, filled with tension, camaraderie, and a touch of romance.

Themes and Setting

Rae Carson does a masterful job of immersing readers in the seedy underbelly of Corellia. The city is portrayed as a living, breathing entity—grimy, dangerous, and full of opportunities for those daring enough to seize them. Themes of survival, loyalty, and the quest for freedom resonate throughout the novel, making it more than just a simple adventure tale. It’s a story about the choices we make, the people we trust, and the lengths we’ll go to achieve our dreams.

Writing Style

Carson’s writing is brisk and engaging, perfectly suited to the fast-paced nature of the story. She captures the voice of the Star Wars universe with ease, balancing action, character moments, and world-building in a way that feels true to the franchise. Her ability to convey the inner thoughts and emotions of Han and Qi’ra adds depth to the narrative, making their journey not just one of survival, but of self-discovery.

Final Thoughts

Star Wars: Most Wanted is a must-read for fans of the Star Wars saga, particularly those interested in the backstory of Han Solo and Qi’ra. Rae Carson has crafted a tale that is both exciting and emotionally resonant, providing new insights into these beloved characters while staying true to the spirit of the franchise. Whether you’re a die-hard Star Wars fan or just looking for a gripping adventure, this book delivers on all fronts.

My GoodReads Rating: ****
Global GoodReads Rating: 3.76 (as of 7.25.24)
My LibraryThing Rating: ***.5

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Seinfeld:

• Beer Review: Jon Voight’s Car (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: Airing of Grievances (Black Flag Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Treats of Strength (Icarus Brewing)

The Muppets:

• RAR Brewing – Out of Order – Muppet Series Can Release
• RAR Brewing Brings the Nostalgia with Muppets Out of Order Series

Other:

• Beer Review: Super Villain (Urban Village Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Pixels (Seminar Brewing)
• Beer Review: Villeinage (Elder Pine Brewing and Blending)
• Beer Review: Intergalactic Deals (Levante Brewing)
• Beer Review: Galactic Space Circus (Creature Comforts Brewing Co)
• Beer Review: The Death of Civilization in Slow Motion I (Ghost 907) (Adroit Theory)

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

Big Two Hearted River by Ernest Hemingway

Two Hearted River

Found this sitting on the “new fiction” shelf at the Hershey Public Library. I enjoy Hemingway for what he is (well, was), and his style is something I can usually get behind. Plus a quick read to help with my GoodRead’s Yearly Book Challenge, and also staring at the cover, it finally clicked for me – the connection to Bell’s Brewery’s Two Hearted Ale / IPA. So needless to say I knew I had to grab the novella to read and review for the site here, to go along with a review of the beer as well!

(You can see that review here: Beer Review: Two Hearted IPA by Bell’s Brewery.)

Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway working on For Whom the Bell Tolls at the Sun Valley Lodge, 1939 (photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Ernest Hemingway, born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois, is one of the most influential American writers of the 20th century. Renowned for his distinctive writing style, characterized by economy and understatement, Hemingway’s impact on literature is profound and enduring. He began his writing career as a journalist, which significantly shaped his concise and direct prose style. His early work as a reporter for the Kansas City Star and later as a correspondent during World War I and the Spanish Civil War provided a foundation for his literary career and informed the themes of courage, conflict, and survival that permeate his work.

Hemingway’s experiences in World War I were particularly formative. Serving as an ambulance driver for the Italian Red Cross, he was severely wounded, an experience that deeply influenced his outlook on life and death. This period is reflected in his first major novel, “A Farewell to Arms,” which is widely regarded as one of the greatest war novels ever written. The novel’s stark portrayal of the futility and devastation of war set against a poignant love story encapsulates Hemingway’s ability to blend personal and historical narratives.

Throughout his life, Hemingway was an adventurer and a keen observer of the human condition. His love for bullfighting, big-game hunting, deep-sea fishing, and other pursuits often found their way into his writing. “The Sun Also Rises,” his first significant novel, captures the disillusionment and aimlessness of the post-World War I generation, known as the Lost Generation. Set against the backdrop of Spain’s bullfighting culture, the novel is a testament to Hemingway’s fascination with bravery, ritual, and the struggle against insurmountable odds.

Hemingway’s later works, such as “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “The Old Man and the Sea,” further cemented his status as a literary giant. “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” set during the Spanish Civil War, explores themes of honor, duty, and sacrifice, while “The Old Man and the Sea” tells the story of an epic struggle between an aging fisherman and a giant marlin. The latter work won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 and contributed to Hemingway being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. His narrative techniques, especially the “iceberg theory,” where the underlying themes are implied rather than explicitly stated, have influenced generations of writers.

Despite his literary success, Hemingway’s life was marked by personal turmoil and tragedy. He struggled with depression, alcoholism, and the lingering effects of numerous physical injuries. These struggles culminated in his suicide on July 2, 1961, in Ketchum, Idaho. Hemingway’s legacy, however, remains undiminished. His works continue to be studied and celebrated for their powerful storytelling, innovative style, and profound exploration of the human spirit. As a writer who lived life to its fullest and confronted its darkest depths, Ernest Hemingway’s contributions to literature and his larger-than-life persona have left an indelible mark on the world of letters.

From Wikipedia:

Ernest Miller Hemingway (/ˈhɛmɪŋweɪ/ HEM-ing-way; July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer and journalist. Known for an economical, understated style that influenced later 20th-century writers, he has been romanticized for his adventurous lifestyle and outspoken, blunt public image. Some of his seven novels, six short-story collections and two non-fiction works have become classics of American literature, and he was awarded the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Hemingway was raised in Oak Park, Illinois, in the Chicago area. After high school, he spent six months as a cub reporter for The Kansas City Star before enlisting in the Red Cross. He served as an ambulance driver on the Italian Front in World War I and was seriously wounded in 1918. His wartime experiences formed the basis for his 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms.

In 1921, Hemingway married Hadley Richardson, the first of four wives. They moved to Paris where he worked as a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star and fell under the influence of the modernist writers and artists of the 1920s’ “Lost Generation” expatriate community. His debut novel, The Sun Also Rises, was published in 1926.

He divorced Richardson in 1927 and married Pauline Pfeiffer. They divorced after he returned from the Spanish Civil War, where he had worked as a journalist and which formed the basis for his 1940 novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. Martha Gellhorn became his third wife in 1940. He and Gellhorn separated after he met Mary Welsh in London during World War II. Hemingway was present with Allied troops as a journalist at the Normandy landings and the liberation of Paris. He maintained permanent residences in Key West, Florida, in the 1930s and in Cuba in the 1940s and 1950s. On a 1954 trip to Africa, he was seriously injured in plane accidents on successive days, leaving him in pain and ill health for much of the rest of his life. In 1959, he bought a house in Ketchum, Idaho, where he lived until his death by suicide two years later.

Ernest Hemingway – Wikipedia

Book Review

Big Two Hearted River by Ernest Hemmingway

Back of cover blurb by GoodReads:

A gorgeous new centennial edition of Ernest Hemingway’s landmark short story of returning veteran Nick Adams’s solo fishing trip in Michigan’s rugged Upper Peninsula, illustrated with specially commissioned artwork by master engraver Chris Wormell and featuring a revelatory foreword by John N. Maclean. “The finest story of the outdoors in American literature.” — Sports Illustrated A century since its publication in the collection  In Our Time , “Big Two-Hearted River” has helped shape language and literature in America and across the globe, and its magnetic pull continues to draw readers, writers, and critics. The story is the best early example of Ernest Hemingway’s now-familiar writing short sentences, punchy nouns and verbs, few adjectives and adverbs, and a seductive cadence. Easy to imitate, difficult to match. The subject matter of the story has inspired generations of writers to believe that fly fishing can be literature. More than any of his stories, it depends on his ‘iceberg theory’ of literature, the notion that leaving essential parts of a story unsaid, the underwater portion of the iceberg, adds to its power. Taken in context with his other work, it marks Hemingway’s passage from boyish writer to accomplished nothing big came before it, novels and stories poured out after it. —from the foreword by John N. Maclean

Big Two Hearted River – GoodReads

A Deep Dive into Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River”

Introduction

Ernest Hemingway’s novella, “Big Two-Hearted River,” is a poignant and profound exploration of healing, nature, and the human spirit. Published in 1925 as part of his short story collection In Our Time, this work is renowned for its minimalist style and deep emotional resonance. Let’s delve into the layers of meaning and artistry that make this novella a masterpiece.

Summary

“Big Two-Hearted River” follows Nick Adams, a character often seen as a semi-autobiographical representation of Hemingway himself. After returning from the trauma of World War I, Nick seeks solace and rejuvenation in the wilderness of Michigan. The novella is divided into two parts, detailing Nick’s journey to a remote river and his subsequent fishing expedition.

In the first part, Nick arrives at a burned-out town and treks to the river, setting up camp with meticulous care. The second part focuses on his fishing, depicting his methodical and almost ritualistic approach to catching trout. Through these simple actions, Nick reconnects with nature and begins to heal from his wartime experiences.

Themes

1. Healing through Nature The natural world serves as a therapeutic backdrop for Nick’s recovery. The detailed descriptions of the landscape and the river’s serenity contrast sharply with the chaos of war, offering Nick a space to find peace and regain control over his life.

2. Solitude and Self-Reliance Nick’s journey is one of solitude and self-reliance, emphasizing the importance of self-sufficiency in the healing process. His deliberate actions and careful preparations reflect a need to rebuild his sense of autonomy and stability.

3. The Power of Ritual The novella underscores the significance of ritual and routine in coping with trauma. Nick’s methodical approach to camping and fishing illustrates how repetitive, purposeful actions can provide comfort and a sense of normalcy.

Style and Technique

Minimalist Prose Hemingway’s signature minimalist style is on full display in “Big Two-Hearted River.” His economical use of language and focus on surface details belie the deeper emotional currents running beneath the narrative. This “iceberg theory” of writing allows readers to infer Nick’s psychological state without overt exposition.

Symbolism The burned-out town symbolizes the destruction left by war, while the river represents a source of life and renewal. The act of fishing, with its focus on patience and precision, mirrors Nick’s internal process of piecing himself back together.

Imagery and Sensory Detail Hemingway’s vivid imagery and sensory detail immerse readers in the natural environment. Descriptions of the river, the trout, and the campfire create a tangible sense of place and underscore the restorative power of nature.

Impact and Legacy

“Big Two-Hearted River” has had a lasting impact on literature, influencing countless writers with its spare, evocative prose and profound themes. It remains a quintessential example of Hemingway’s ability to convey complex emotions through simplicity and restraint.

The novella also holds a special place in the hearts of readers who have experienced trauma, offering a timeless depiction of the healing power of nature and the importance of finding solace in simple, deliberate actions.

Conclusion

Ernest Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River” is a masterful exploration of healing and the human spirit. Through its minimalist prose, rich symbolism, and profound themes, the novella captures the essence of recovery and the quiet strength found in nature and solitude. It stands as a testament to Hemingway’s literary genius and continues to resonate with readers nearly a century after its publication.

My GoodReads Rating: ***
My LibraryThing Rating: ***.5
Global GoodReads Rating: 3.82 (as of 7.24.24)

Literary Connection: Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River”

Two Hearted IPA by Bell’s Brewery (photo courtesy of Bell’s Brewery)

One of the unique aspects of Two Hearted Ale is its connection to Ernest Hemingway’s novella, “Big Two-Hearted River.” The beer’s name pays homage to this classic literary work, which is set in Michigan’s wilderness, much like Bell’s Brewery itself.

In Hemingway’s story, the protagonist, Nick Adams, finds solace and healing in nature after the trauma of war. The serene and restorative qualities of the river in the novella mirror the experience of savoring a Two Hearted Ale. Just as Nick reconnects with himself through the simplicity and beauty of nature, enjoying a Two Hearted Ale can be a similarly grounding and enriching experience.

The beer embodies the spirit of the story—simple yet profound, familiar yet deeply satisfying. For fans of both craft beer and literature, this connection adds an extra layer of appreciation and enjoyment.

I just recently finished the novella, and it immediately clicked in my had the connection between Hemingway’s “Big Two Hearted River” novella and the beer by Bell’s Brewery (Two Hearted River IPA / Ale). Its amazing how I never put the connection together before I picked up the novella at the Hershey Public Library and read it.

We also reviewed the beer as well.

You can find the review here:

• Beer Review: Two Hearted IPA by Bell’s Brewery

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

Star Wars: Pirate’s Price (Flight of the Falcon, #2) by Lou Anders

Book Review: Star Wars: Pirate’s Price (Flight of the Falcon, #2) by Lou Anders

The other day we reviewed the first book of the series – Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland.

Star Wars: Pirate’s Price is the second installment in the Flight of the Falcon series and is written by Lou Anders. It’s a rollicking, swashbuckling adventure set in the galaxy far, far away, with a particular focus on one of the most notorious scoundrels in Star Wars lore: Hondo Ohnaka, the space pirate with charm, wit, and no shortage of tall tales.

GoodReads Back Blurb

All-new adventures starring Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Hondo Ohnaka aboard the Millennium Falcon!

Hello, my friends! It is I, Hondo Ohnaka, greatest pirate in the galaxy, hero of the Rebellion, and if you believe that Obi-Wan Kenobii guy, a villain, too. But what did he know?

I am here to tell you stories of that most amazing ship, the Millennium Falcon, including my very first time on board and a few occasions when I actually flew the Falcon myself! And I did a great job of it, too. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

Oh, there might be a familiar Wookie in the stories. And that Han Solo guy. He had a way of popping up. And some other people you may know. And some you may not.

So hang on tight, because this adventure is traveling at lightspeed and it’s going to be a wild ride!

Star Wars: Pirate’s Price (Flight of the Falcon, #2) by Lou Anders – GoodReads

Book Review

Plot Summary: The novel revolves around Hondo’s adventures with the iconic Millennium Falcon. Hondo recounts his wild escapades to Bazine Netal, a spy who is seeking to learn more about the Falcon’s whereabouts. Through a series of flashbacks, readers are taken on a ride through time, revisiting different points in the galaxy’s history where Hondo, in true pirate fashion, becomes embroiled in various schemes that involve the famous ship.

Character Focus: Hondo Ohnaka is undoubtedly the star of the show. His humor, opportunism, and rogue-like charm shine throughout the book. Anders nails Hondo’s voice, capturing his eccentricities perfectly—whether he’s boasting about outwitting Imperial forces or narrowly escaping danger through clever trickery. Fans of the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels will be delighted by how the character leaps off the page, maintaining the essence that made him a fan favorite.

Although Hondo takes center stage, Pirate’s Price also gives us glimpses of Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the Falcon herself, which is portrayed as a kind of mystical, legendary ship that has lived through countless escapades. There’s even a brief cameo by Rey, linking the story to the sequel trilogy’s timeline, which adds a layer of continuity.

Writing and Pacing: Lou Anders crafts a fun and fast-paced narrative. The story moves quickly from one escapade to the next, almost like a series of mini-adventures tied together by Hondo’s storytelling. The pacing is energetic, which makes the novel hard to put down—perfect for younger readers or anyone looking for a lighthearted romp through the galaxy. Anders’ writing is accessible and full of humor, especially in Hondo’s voice, which is both comical and engaging.

The dialogue is a highlight, with Hondo’s quips and self-serving bravado creating a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. The story structure—being told through Hondo’s unreliable narration—adds a layer of charm, as you’re never quite sure if Hondo is telling the whole truth or embellishing his exploits for dramatic effect.

Appeal for Star Wars Fans: For fans of Star Wars lore, Pirate’s Price serves as a fun side story that enriches the universe’s vast narrative. It doesn’t delve into deep, galaxy-altering events, but it does offer a more intimate look at the everyday chaos of the galaxy, focusing on the smaller, personal adventures of its characters. If you’re familiar with Hondo from the animated series, this book will feel like an extension of his character, and fans of the Millennium Falcon will enjoy seeing the ship woven into another set of stories.

Conclusion: Star Wars: Pirate’s Price is an enjoyable, lighthearted adventure that’s perfect for younger readers and die-hard fans of Hondo Ohnaka. It’s a story packed with humor, charm, and classic Star Wars adventure, though it doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you’re looking for a fun read that celebrates one of the franchise’s most entertaining characters, this book will certainly deliver.

My GoodReads Rating: ***
Global GoodReads Rating: 4.02 (as of 7.16.24)
My LibraryThing Rating: ***.5

Hondo’s larger-than-life personality and the fast-paced storytelling make Pirate’s Price a delightful addition to the Flight of the Falcon series.

Other Book Reviews

• Book Review: The Greatest Beer Run Ever (John Chick Donohue and J.T. Molloy)

• Book Review: Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors (Amber Share)

• Book Review: Courage is Calling (Ryan Holiday)

• Book Review: The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity (Carlo M. Cipolla)

• Book Review: Brewed in Japan (Jeffrey Alexander)

• Book Review: The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life (Armand M. Nicholi Jr.)

• Book Review: Family Reins (Billy Busch)

• Book Review: The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World (Riley Black)

• Book Review: The Wit and Humor of Oscar Wilde (Oscar Wilde)

• Book Review: Create Dangerously (Albert Camus)
• Book Review: The Road (Cormac McCarthy)
• Book Review: The Donnie Darko Book (Richard Kelly)
• Book Review: How to Rule the World: A Handbook for the Aspiring Dictator (André de Guillaume)
• Book Review: Here is New York (E.B. White)
• Book Review: Uncle John’s Beer Topia
• Book Review: I Drink For a Reason (David Cross)
• Book Review: Revenge of She – Punks (Vivien Goldman)

All of Our Nerd Content

Here’s all of our nerd content, served up best in one single place. Enjoy!

I know ya’ll here for the nerd reviews. So check out our other nerd reviews below:

Star Wars:

• Beer Review: The Pandalorian (Tattered Flag)
• Beer Review: Wookie Monster (Fourscore Beer Co)
• Beer Review: Out of Order: Blue Milk (RAR Brewing) (Batch 1)
• Beer Review: Out of Order: Tatooine Tart (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: Out of Order: RAWRGWAWGGR (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: Out of Order: Droid Juice (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: Wookies and Cream (Tall Tales Brewing)
• Revenge of the Fifth / Cinco de Mayo
• May the Fourth Be With You
• Beer Review: This is Nut the Fluff You’re Looking For (Fourscore Beer Co)
• Beer Review: This is the Way (Broken Goblet Brewing)
• Beer Review: This is the Whey (Bolero Snort Brewery)
• Beer Review: Java the Stout (Jackie O’s Brewery)
• Beer Review: The Mangolorian (Brewery Fire)
• Beer Review: BoBull Fett (Bolero Snort Brewery)
• Mead Review: The Meadalorian (Space Time Mead and Cider Works)
• Beer Review: Let the Haze Flow Through You (Black Flag Brewing Co)
• Book Review: The Jedi Path and The Book of the Sith (Daniel Wallace)
• Book Review: Guardians of the Whills (Greg Rucka)
• May the Fourth Be With You (2022)
• RAR Out of Order Star Wars Drop!
• Beer Review: Vader (Mispillion River Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Out of Order: Green Milk (RAR Brewing Company) (Batch 1)
• Beer Review: The Phantasm Menace (Second Sin Brewing Company)
• RAR Brewing – Out of Order – Star Wars Can Drop (2023)
• May the Fourth Be With You (2023)
• Brewery Fire Celebrates Their Fourth Anniversary: The Power of the Fourth
• Crooked Crab – May the Fourth Be With You (2024)
• Book Review: Star Wars – Most Wanted (Rae Carlson)
• Book Review: Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland
• Book Review: Star Wars: Pirate’s Price (Flight of the Falcon, #2) by Lou Anders

Futurama

• Good News Everyone, Futurama is Back: Exploring Futurama – Inspired Craft Beers
• Book Review: Futurama and Philosophy (edited by Courtland Lewis)
• Futurama Episode Review – The Impossible Stream and Mead Review: Omicron Persei 8 (SpaceTime Meadery)
• Mead Review: Omicron Persei 8 (Space Time Mead and Cider Works)
• Futurama Episode Review – Children of a Lesser Bog and Beer Review: Stay on Target (Allusion Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: I Apologize For Nothing (Fourscore Beer Co.)
• Beer Review: Fing-Longer (Turning Point Beer)
• Futurama Episode Review – How the West was 1010001 (and Beer Review: The Shining by Foam Brewers)
• Futurama Episode Review – Parasites Regained
• Beer Review: Hop Bender (Local Craft Beer)
• Futurama Episode Review – I Know What You Did Next XMas and Beer Review: Bo Katan Red IPA (Brewery Fire)
• 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐰 on Draft and Cans at Intermission Beer Company
• Beer Review: I’m 40% Galaxy (Local Craft Beer)

Lord of the Rings:

• Book Review: An Atlas of Tolkien (David Day)
• Book Review: The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun (J.R.R. Tolkien)

Magic the Gathering:

• New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA

Heroes of Barcadia:

• Rollacrit Partners with Voodoo Ranger IPA for New Kickstarter, Heroes of Barcadia: Heroes for Hire Tabletop Game

Zelda:

• Zelda and Craft Beer
• Beer Review: Motueka’s Mask (Black Flag Brewing Company)

Rick and Morty:

• Beer Review: Peace Among Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Space Balls:

• Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

• Beer Review: Game of Thrones: My Watch Has Ended (Omnegang Brewery)
• Book Review: The Wit and Wisdom of Tyrion Lannister (George R.R. Martin)

The Simpsons:

• Beer Review: I Voted for Kodos (Second Sin Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: I Voted for Kang (Second Sin Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Ned Flanders Red (AleCraft Brewery)

Back to the Future:

• Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

• Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

Groundhog Day:

• Beer Review: Prognosticator Pils (Logyard Brewing Company)
• Logyard Brewing’s Prognosticator Pils is the Official Beer of Groundhog Day (2022)

A Christmas Story:

• Beer Review: The Soft Electric Glow of Sex (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out! (Eight and Sand Beer Co)

The Peanuts:

• Book Review: The Philosophy of Snoopy (Charles M. Schulz)
• Book Review: You Don’t Look 35, Charlie Brown! (Charles M. Schulz)

Pro Wrestling:

• Beer Review: Broken Skull – Stone Cold Steve Austin’s IPA (El Segundo Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Macho Man (Couch Brewery)
• Beer Review: Royal Rumble (Funk Brewing)
• Stone Cold Steve Austin and the WWE Are Celebrating 3:16 Day
• Human Robot and The Full Pint Are Hosting RoboMania
• Brawl in the Beer Hall at Lakefront Brewery

Soccer:

• Beer Review: Pulisic Pilsner (Jackass Brewing Company)
• Book Review: Pulisic – My Journey So Far (Christian Pulisic)

World Cup:

• Qatar Bans Alcohol Sales at World Cup in Last Second Decision
• Breweries Opening Early For the USA vs Netherlands World Cup Ga

Phillies:

• Drunk Phils Fans and Rotunda Brewing Company Collaborate Together on Jam the Batter sWheat Tart
• Mystery Phillies fan buys rounds of beer for people in Section 103

Philadelphia Eagles:

• The Philadelphia Eagles Running Back – D’Andre Swift – Visits Bald Bird Brewing Company

Matrix:

• Matrix Monday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

• Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

HP Lovecraft / Cthulhu:

• Beer Review: Azathoth (Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company)

Seinfeld:

• Beer Review: Jon Voight’s Car (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: Airing of Grievances (Black Flag Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Treats of Strength (Icarus Brewing)

The Muppets:

• RAR Brewing – Out of Order – Muppet Series Can Release
• RAR Brewing Brings the Nostalgia with Muppets Out of Order Series

Other:

• Beer Review: Super Villain (Urban Village Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Pixels (Seminar Brewing)
• Beer Review: Villeinage (Elder Pine Brewing and Blending)
• Beer Review: Intergalactic Deals (Levante Brewing)
• Beer Review: Galactic Space Circus (Creature Comforts Brewing Co)
• Beer Review: The Death of Civilization in Slow Motion I (Ghost 907) (Adroit Theory)

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland is the first of two installments on the Flight of the Falcon series. (Look for the book review for the second installment in a bit.)

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck, the first book in the Flight of the Falcon series, brings us on an exciting adventure with none other than the galaxy’s most charming gambler, Lando Calrissian. Written by Justina Ireland, this middle-grade novel is a fast-paced, action-packed story that explores Lando’s life as a rogue pilot, highlighting his wit, cleverness, and occasional brushes with morality.

As the inaugural book in the Flight of the Falcon series, it sets the tone for what readers can expect: engaging characters, high-stakes missions, and the legendary Millennium Falcon at the center of it all.

GoodReads Back Blurb

An all-new adventure starring Lando Calrissian and L3-37 onboard the Millennium Falcon. When Lando Calrissian gets caught smuggling on the planet Hynestia, the queen agrees to let him go if he delivers something called the Solstice Globe to the Empire on her behalf. Lando is relieved that his punishment is a simple delivery mission — but things are not as simple as they seem. The queen’s daughter, Princess Rinetta, has stowed away on the Millennium Falcon and demands that Lando and L3-37 take the globe back to its home planet, which needs the globe to survive. Now Lando has to choose: do what’s right or do what’s best for Lando? If he’s lucky enough, he just might be able to do both…

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland – GoodReads

Plot Overview:

The story kicks off when Lando, piloting the Millennium Falcon long before Han Solo won it from him, gets roped into a royal mission on the planet Hynestia. His job? Transport a priceless, sacred artifact known as the Solstice Globe to the Empire. However, Lando being Lando, nothing goes quite according to plan. Enter Princess Rinetta, the young, determined heir to Hynestia’s throne, who becomes Lando’s unexpected ally as they work to avoid the Empire and save her people from oppression.

Throughout the book, readers are treated to a series of twists, betrayals, and daring escapes as Lando and Princess Rinetta face peril and moral dilemmas, all while piloting the iconic Millennium Falcon across the stars.

Lando Calrissian: Scoundrel with a Heart

What makes Lando’s Luck shine is the characterization of Lando himself. Justina Ireland captures his charisma and smooth-talking ways perfectly, balancing his opportunistic nature with a deeper sense of loyalty and justice that only emerges when he’s pushed into a corner. He may be motivated by self-interest, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that even Lando can’t resist doing the right thing when it really matters.

The banter between Lando and L3-37, his co-pilot droid, adds humor and depth to the story. L3’s sharp wit and rebellious spirit are great counterpoints to Lando’s smooth charm, making their dynamic one of the book’s highlights. If you enjoyed their relationship in Solo: A Star Wars Story, you’ll love how it’s further developed in this book.

Princess Rinetta also plays a pivotal role. Her growth throughout the novel is subtle but important, as she learns to navigate the complexities of leadership, diplomacy, and sacrifice. Together, she and Lando form an unlikely but effective team, and their dynamic is one of the book’s core strengths.

Accessible and Action-Packed

As a middle-grade novel, Lando’s Luck is written in an accessible style that will appeal to younger readers and casual Star Wars fans. The plot moves quickly, with plenty of action sequences, from blaster shootouts to high-speed chases in the Falcon. Justina Ireland keeps the story tight and focused, making sure there’s never a dull moment. The stakes are high, but the tone remains lighthearted and adventurous, perfect for readers looking for a fun, fast read.

At the same time, seasoned Star Wars fans will appreciate the way Ireland weaves in familiar elements of the galaxy without bogging down the story in heavy lore. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the saga, you’ll find plenty to enjoy, especially when it comes to Lando’s swashbuckling style of problem-solving.

Themes of Choice and Consequence

Though it’s a fun and light adventure, Lando’s Luck subtly explores deeper themes of choice, responsibility, and morality. Lando’s constant tug-of-war between doing what’s easy and doing what’s right serves as a relatable moral compass for younger readers. The narrative doesn’t preach, but it does present tough decisions that the characters must face, making it a story not just about adventure, but also about growth and integrity.

Princess Rinetta’s struggle to save her people and find her own voice as a leader parallels Lando’s journey of self-reflection, showing that even the galaxy’s most charismatic scoundrel is capable of change. This exploration of moral choices elevates the book from simple adventure fare into something with a bit more weight, especially for young readers learning about ethics and personal responsibility.

Verdict: A Fun and Engaging Star Wars Adventure

Star Wars: Lando’s Luck is a fun, fast-paced adventure that perfectly captures the spirit of its titular hero. Justina Ireland does a fantastic job of bringing Lando Calrissian to life, complete with all his wit, charm, and mischief. Whether you’re a young reader or a long-time Star Wars fan, this book offers an enjoyable look into the galaxy’s seedier side, with plenty of heart and humor to balance the action.

If you’re looking for a quick, enjoyable read filled with adventure, moral dilemmas, and a dash of roguish charm, Lando’s Luck is worth adding to your reading list.

My GoodReads Rating: ***
Global GoodReads Rating: 3.47 (as of 7.10.24)
My LibraryThing Rating: ***.5

Lando’s daring escapades, paired with Justina Ireland’s snappy storytelling, make this an absolute must-read for fans of the galaxy’s smoothest gambler.

Other Book Reviews

• Book Review: The Greatest Beer Run Ever (John Chick Donohue and J.T. Molloy)

• Book Review: Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors (Amber Share)

• Book Review: Courage is Calling (Ryan Holiday)

• Book Review: The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity (Carlo M. Cipolla)

• Book Review: Brewed in Japan (Jeffrey Alexander)

• Book Review: The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life (Armand M. Nicholi Jr.)

• Book Review: Family Reins (Billy Busch)

• Book Review: The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World (Riley Black)

• Book Review: The Wit and Humor of Oscar Wilde (Oscar Wilde)

• Book Review: Create Dangerously (Albert Camus)
• Book Review: The Road (Cormac McCarthy)
• Book Review: The Donnie Darko Book (Richard Kelly)
• Book Review: How to Rule the World: A Handbook for the Aspiring Dictator (André de Guillaume)
• Book Review: Here is New York (E.B. White)
• Book Review: Uncle John’s Beer Topia
• Book Review: I Drink For a Reason (David Cross)
• Book Review: Revenge of She – Punks (Vivien Goldman)

All of Our Nerd Content

Here’s all of our nerd content, served up best in one single place. Enjoy!

I know ya’ll here for the nerd reviews. So check out our other nerd reviews below:

Star Wars:

• Beer Review: The Pandalorian (Tattered Flag)
• Beer Review: Wookie Monster (Fourscore Beer Co)
• Beer Review: Out of Order: Blue Milk (RAR Brewing) (Batch 1)
• Beer Review: Out of Order: Tatooine Tart (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: Out of Order: RAWRGWAWGGR (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: Out of Order: Droid Juice (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: Wookies and Cream (Tall Tales Brewing)
• Revenge of the Fifth / Cinco de Mayo
• May the Fourth Be With You
• Beer Review: This is Nut the Fluff You’re Looking For (Fourscore Beer Co)
• Beer Review: This is the Way (Broken Goblet Brewing)
• Beer Review: This is the Whey (Bolero Snort Brewery)
• Beer Review: Java the Stout (Jackie O’s Brewery)
• Beer Review: The Mangolorian (Brewery Fire)
• Beer Review: BoBull Fett (Bolero Snort Brewery)
• Mead Review: The Meadalorian (Space Time Mead and Cider Works)
• Beer Review: Let the Haze Flow Through You (Black Flag Brewing Co)
• Book Review: The Jedi Path and The Book of the Sith (Daniel Wallace)
• Book Review: Guardians of the Whills (Greg Rucka)
• May the Fourth Be With You (2022)
• RAR Out of Order Star Wars Drop!
• Beer Review: Vader (Mispillion River Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Out of Order: Green Milk (RAR Brewing Company) (Batch 1)
• Beer Review: The Phantasm Menace (Second Sin Brewing Company)
• RAR Brewing – Out of Order – Star Wars Can Drop (2023)
• May the Fourth Be With You (2023)
• Brewery Fire Celebrates Their Fourth Anniversary: The Power of the Fourth
• Crooked Crab – May the Fourth Be With You (2024)
• Book Review: Star Wars – Most Wanted (Rae Carlson)
• Book Review: Star Wars: Lando’s Luck (Flight of the Falcon, #1) by Justina Ireland

Futurama

• Good News Everyone, Futurama is Back: Exploring Futurama – Inspired Craft Beers
• Book Review: Futurama and Philosophy (edited by Courtland Lewis)
• Futurama Episode Review – The Impossible Stream and Mead Review: Omicron Persei 8 (SpaceTime Meadery)
• Mead Review: Omicron Persei 8 (Space Time Mead and Cider Works)
• Futurama Episode Review – Children of a Lesser Bog and Beer Review: Stay on Target (Allusion Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: I Apologize For Nothing (Fourscore Beer Co.)
• Beer Review: Fing-Longer (Turning Point Beer)
• Futurama Episode Review – How the West was 1010001 (and Beer Review: The Shining by Foam Brewers)
• Futurama Episode Review – Parasites Regained
• Beer Review: Hop Bender (Local Craft Beer)
• Futurama Episode Review – I Know What You Did Next XMas and Beer Review: Bo Katan Red IPA (Brewery Fire)
• 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐰 on Draft and Cans at Intermission Beer Company
• Beer Review: I’m 40% Galaxy (Local Craft Beer)

Lord of the Rings:

• Book Review: An Atlas of Tolkien (David Day)
• Book Review: The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun (J.R.R. Tolkien)

Magic the Gathering:

• New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA

Heroes of Barcadia:

• Rollacrit Partners with Voodoo Ranger IPA for New Kickstarter, Heroes of Barcadia: Heroes for Hire Tabletop Game

Zelda:

• Zelda and Craft Beer
• Beer Review: Motueka’s Mask (Black Flag Brewing Company)

Rick and Morty:

• Beer Review: Peace Among Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Space Balls:

• Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

• Beer Review: Game of Thrones: My Watch Has Ended (Omnegang Brewery)
• Book Review: The Wit and Wisdom of Tyrion Lannister (George R.R. Martin)

The Simpsons:

• Beer Review: I Voted for Kodos (Second Sin Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: I Voted for Kang (Second Sin Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Ned Flanders Red (AleCraft Brewery)

Back to the Future:

• Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

• Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

Groundhog Day:

• Beer Review: Prognosticator Pils (Logyard Brewing Company)
• Logyard Brewing’s Prognosticator Pils is the Official Beer of Groundhog Day (2022)

A Christmas Story:

• Beer Review: The Soft Electric Glow of Sex (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out! (Eight and Sand Beer Co)

The Peanuts:

• Book Review: The Philosophy of Snoopy (Charles M. Schulz)
• Book Review: You Don’t Look 35, Charlie Brown! (Charles M. Schulz)

Pro Wrestling:

• Beer Review: Broken Skull – Stone Cold Steve Austin’s IPA (El Segundo Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Macho Man (Couch Brewery)
• Beer Review: Royal Rumble (Funk Brewing)
• Stone Cold Steve Austin and the WWE Are Celebrating 3:16 Day
• Human Robot and The Full Pint Are Hosting RoboMania
• Brawl in the Beer Hall at Lakefront Brewery

Soccer:

• Beer Review: Pulisic Pilsner (Jackass Brewing Company)
• Book Review: Pulisic – My Journey So Far (Christian Pulisic)

World Cup:

• Qatar Bans Alcohol Sales at World Cup in Last Second Decision
• Breweries Opening Early For the USA vs Netherlands World Cup Ga

Phillies:

• Drunk Phils Fans and Rotunda Brewing Company Collaborate Together on Jam the Batter sWheat Tart
• Mystery Phillies fan buys rounds of beer for people in Section 103

Philadelphia Eagles:

• The Philadelphia Eagles Running Back – D’Andre Swift – Visits Bald Bird Brewing Company

Matrix:

• Matrix Monday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

• Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

HP Lovecraft / Cthulhu:

• Beer Review: Azathoth (Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company)

Seinfeld:

• Beer Review: Jon Voight’s Car (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: Airing of Grievances (Black Flag Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Treats of Strength (Icarus Brewing)

The Muppets:

• RAR Brewing – Out of Order – Muppet Series Can Release
• RAR Brewing Brings the Nostalgia with Muppets Out of Order Series

Other:

• Beer Review: Super Villain (Urban Village Brewing Company)
• Beer Review: Pixels (Seminar Brewing)
• Beer Review: Villeinage (Elder Pine Brewing and Blending)
• Beer Review: Intergalactic Deals (Levante Brewing)
• Beer Review: Galactic Space Circus (Creature Comforts Brewing Co)
• Beer Review: The Death of Civilization in Slow Motion I (Ghost 907) (Adroit Theory)

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

I Drink for a Reason by David Cross

David Cross

David Cross in 2007 (photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

David Cross’s career is a tapestry of diverse comedic and dramatic endeavors, underscored by his sharp wit and distinctive voice. He first gained widespread attention in the 1990s with the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and David, which he co-created and starred in alongside Bob Odenkirk. The show, known for its inventive and often surreal humor, became a cult favorite and established Cross as a significant figure in the comedy world. Mr. Show was lauded for its clever writing and ambitious sketches, earning critical acclaim and a devoted fan base that appreciated its subversive take on societal norms and pop culture.

Following the success of Mr. Show, Cross’s career continued to flourish with a mix of television, film, and stand-up comedy. Perhaps one of his most iconic roles is that of Tobias Fünke on the critically acclaimed sitcom Arrested Development. As the perpetually clueless, aspiring actor and “never-nude,” Cross delivered a performance that was both hilarious and endearing, further cementing his status as a versatile and talented comedian. His portrayal of Tobias became a standout in a show known for its ensemble cast, showcasing his ability to blend absurdity with a touch of humanity.

In addition to his work on television, Cross has also made a mark in the world of stand-up comedy and film. His stand-up specials, such as The Pride is Back and David Cross: Making America Great Again, are characterized by his fearless approach to controversial topics and his incisive social and political commentary. On the big screen, Cross has appeared in a variety of roles, from voice work in animated films like Kung Fu Panda to live-action comedies such as Alvin and the Chipmunks. Despite the broad range of projects he has undertaken, Cross remains consistent in his commitment to challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries of comedy, making him a significant and enduring figure in contemporary entertainment.

The following about David Cross comes from his Wikipedia page: David Cross:

David Cross (born April 4, 1964)^[1] is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and director. Cross is best known for his stand-up performances, the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995–1998), and his role as Tobias Fünke in the Fox/Netflix sitcom Arrested Development (2003–2006, 2013–2019). He has been described as “ one of the defining figures of cult Gen X comedy”.^[2]

Cross created, wrote, executive produced, and starred in The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (2010–2016); developed and had a prominent role in Freak Show (2006); appeared on Modern Family (2011–2012); and portrayed Ian Hawke in three of the live-action/animated films Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007), Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009), and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011). Cross has also done voice work for the sitcom Oliver Beene (2003–2004), and has had lead voice-over roles in Curious George (2006), Battle for Terra (2007), the Kung Fu Panda film franchise (2008–2016), Megamind (2010), and Next Gen (2018).

In 1993, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for his work on The Ben Stiller Show. For Mr. Show with Bob and David, he gained three Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and for Arrested Development, Cross was nominated for a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Television Series, and, along with his cast, for three Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. For his stand-up specials, he was nominated for several Grammy Awards.

Wikipedia – David Cross

Book Review: I Drink For a Reason

The GoodReads blurb:

After a decade spent in isolation in the Ugandan jungles thinking about stuff, David Cross has written his first book. Known for roles on the small screen such as “never-nude” Tobias Funke on Arrested Development and the role of “David” in Mr. Show With Bob And David, as well as a hugely successful stand-up routine full of sharp-tongued rants and rages, Cross has carved out his place in American comedy. Whether deflating the pomposity of religious figures, calling out the pathetic symbiosis of pseudo-celebrity and its leaching fandom, or merely pushing the buttons of the way-too-easily offended P.C. left or the caustic, double-standard of the callous (but funnier) right, Cross has something to say about everyone, including his own ridiculous self.

Now, for the first time, Cross is weaving his media mockery, celebrity denunciation, religious commentary and sheer madness into book form, revealing the true story behind his almost existential distaste of Jim Belushi (“The Belush”), disclosing the up-to-now unpublished minutes to a meeting of Fox television network executives, and offering up a brutally grotesque run-in with Bill O’Reilly. And as if this wasn’t enough for your laughing pleasure in these troubled times, some of the pieces splinter off with additional material being created online in exclusive video and animated web content created solely for the book-a historical first (presumably)!

With a mix of personal essays, satirical fiction posing as truth, advice for rich people, information from America’s least favorite Rabbi and a top-ten list of top-ten lists, I DRINK FOR A REASON is as unique as the comedian himself, and cannot be missed.

GoodReads – I Drink For a Reason

David Cross’s I Drink For a Reason is a compelling amalgamation of sharp wit, irreverent humor, and biting social commentary. As a seasoned comedian and actor known for his work on Mr. Show and Arrested Development, Cross brings his distinctive voice to the page, offering a collection of essays, anecdotes, and rants that both entertain and provoke thought.

The book’s structure is delightfully chaotic, with each chapter serving as a standalone piece, allowing readers to dip in and out at their leisure. This format mirrors Cross’s stand-up style, where tangents and digressions often lead to some of the most insightful and hilarious moments. From lampooning Hollywood absurdities to critiquing religious fanaticism, Cross navigates a wide array of topics with a deft hand and a sharp tongue.

One of the standout features of I Drink For a Reason is Cross’s unapologetic and often self-deprecating honesty. He doesn’t shy away from sharing personal anecdotes that reveal his own vulnerabilities and flaws. This candidness, combined with his acerbic humor, creates a sense of intimacy with the reader, as if you’re sharing a late-night conversation with a particularly funny and insightful friend.

However, the book isn’t without its flaws. At times, Cross’s relentless sarcasm can feel overwhelming, and some of the jokes may fall flat or come across as too abrasive. Additionally, readers who are not already fans of Cross’s comedic style might find his humor polarizing or even off-putting. Despite these minor drawbacks, the book’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.

Cross’s ability to weave humor with incisive social critique is one of his greatest talents. In essays like “Why I Hate Vegans” and “An Open Letter to Larry the Cable Guy,” he dissects cultural phenomena with precision, offering perspectives that are both humorous and thought-provoking. His commentary on the absurdities of modern life, particularly in the realms of entertainment and politics, is both timely and timeless.

In conclusion, I Drink For a Reason is a must-read for fans of David Cross and those who appreciate comedy that challenges the status quo. It’s a book that invites readers to laugh, think, and perhaps see the world from a slightly skewed, yet refreshingly honest, perspective. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea—or rather, everyone’s preferred drink—those who enjoy Cross’s brand of humor will find it a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging read.

My GoodReads Rating: ***
My LibraryThing Rating: ***1/2
Global Average GoodReads Rating: 3.34 (as of 5.29.24)

Other Book Reviews

• Book Review: The Greatest Beer Run Ever (John Chick Donohue and J.T. Molloy)

• Book Review: Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors (Amber Share)

• Book Review: Courage is Calling (Ryan Holiday)

• Book Review: The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity (Carlo M. Cipolla)

• Book Review: Brewed in Japan (Jeffrey Alexander)

• Book Review: The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life (Armand M. Nicholi Jr.)

• Book Review: Family Reins (Billy Busch)

• Book Review: The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World (Riley Black)

• Book Review: The Wit and Humor of Oscar Wilde (Oscar Wilde)

• Book Review: Create Dangerously (Albert Camus)
• Book Review: The Road (Cormac McCarthy)
• Book Review: The Donnie Darko Book (Richard Kelly)
• Book Review: How to Rule the World: A Handbook for the Aspiring Dictator (André de Guillaume)
• Book Review: Here is New York (E.B. White)
• Book Review: Uncle John’s Beer Topia

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho, born on August 24, 1947, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a renowned author whose works have captivated millions of readers around the world. Before becoming an internationally recognized writer, Coelho had a diverse and unconventional career path. He pursued interests in theater, journalism, and even songwriting, where he collaborated with popular Brazilian musicians like Raul Seixas. However, his journey towards literary success was not straightforward. Coelho experienced a spiritual awakening during a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, which deeply influenced his writing and led to the creation of his seminal work, “The Alchemist.”

“The Alchemist,” first published in 1988, is Coelho’s most famous novel and has been translated into over 80 languages, making it one of the most translated books in the world. Despite its initial lackluster reception, the book eventually gained massive popularity and established Coelho as a significant voice in contemporary literature. His narrative style, characterized by simplicity and spiritual themes, resonates with readers seeking meaning and inspiration in their lives. Beyond “The Alchemist,” Coelho has written numerous other novels, including “Brida,” “Veronika Decides to Die,” and “The Zahir,” each exploring different facets of the human experience and spiritual journey.

Coelho’s influence extends beyond the literary world; he is also known for his active presence on social media, where he engages with his vast global audience. His personal story of overcoming adversity, including periods of institutionalization during his youth for his rebellious nature, adds to the inspirational aura that surrounds him. Despite criticisms of his work as being overly simplistic or commercial, Coelho’s impact on readers and his ability to address universal themes of personal legend, destiny, and the pursuit of dreams have cemented his status as a significant cultural figure. His life and work continue to inspire millions, making him a unique and enduring presence in the literary landscape.

Paulo Coelho’s Writing

In my view, Paulo Coelho’s writing suffers from a simplistic style and an over – reliance on platitudes that lack depth and originality. While his prose is undeniably accessible, it often falls short of the literary finesse and complexity that I believe are essential for great writing. Coelho’s narratives are frequently filled with trite aphorisms and banal observations that are presented as profound wisdom. For me, his characters often feel like mere vessels for these aphorisms, lacking the necessary depth and development to truly engage on a meaningful level. This superficiality makes his stories resemble self-help manuals more than novels, which diminishes their literary value in my eyes.

Furthermore, I find Coelho’s themes, although universally appealing, to be overly simplistic and reductive. His deterministic notions, such as the idea that the universe conspires to help individuals achieve their desires, come across as a form of magical thinking that ignores the real complexities and hardships of life. While this kind of storytelling can be comforting, it often feels detached from the nuanced and realistic explorations of human experience that I look for in literature. Coelho’s tendency to wrap his narratives in mysticism and spirituality without substantive exploration further diminishes his standing as a serious literary figure in my perspective. Although his books have found a large audience, the lack of intellectual rigor and literary depth in his work leaves him, in my opinion, outside the ranks of truly great writers.

Book Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

GoodReads Blurb:

Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different, and far more satisfying, listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.

GoodReads – The Alchemist

If you’re looking for a book that promises profound life lessons but delivers nothing more than a series of tired clichés, then look no further than Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist.” This so-called modern classic has been praised for its wisdom and spiritual insight, but any discerning reader will quickly see through the thin veneer of profundity to the hollow core beneath.

At its heart, “The Alchemist” is a simple tale of a shepherd named Santiago who dreams of finding a treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. Along the way, he’s bombarded with mystical mumbo jumbo about Personal Legends, the Soul of the World, and other vague, esoteric concepts that seem profound until you realize they’re just filler for an otherwise banal story.

The Alchemist: A Masterpiece of Mediocrity

Coelho’s writing style, lauded by many as poetic and inspiring, often feels more like a string of fortune cookie aphorisms. “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it,” he writes. But what does that really mean? In the real world, dreams require hard work, persistence, and often a healthy dose of luck. Suggesting that the universe is somehow invested in our personal desires is not just naïve; it’s misleading.

The characters in “The Alchemist” are less people and more cardboard cutouts designed to spout Coelho’s pseudo-philosophical nonsense. Santiago himself is the quintessential everyman, a blank slate onto which readers are supposed to project themselves. The wise alchemist, the crystal merchant, and even the Englishman—all are vehicles for the book’s simplistic messages rather than fully fleshed-out individuals.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of “The Alchemist” is its relentless positivity. While there’s nothing wrong with optimism, Coelho’s insistence that everything happens for a reason and that we all have a predestined path comes off as shallow and detached from reality. Life is messy, unpredictable, and often unfair—an idea Coelho seems determined to gloss over in favor of his feel-good narrative.

Contextually, “The Alchemist” came out during a time when self-help and spiritual enlightenment books were gaining immense popularity. The late 20th century saw a surge in works that promised quick fixes to life’s deeper problems, and Coelho’s book fit perfectly into this trend. It’s no surprise that it found a ready audience among those disillusioned by the complexities of modern life, offering them a simplistic escape wrapped in faux wisdom.

Moreover, “The Alchemist” has been marketed as a life-changing book, a label that has undoubtedly contributed to its success. Many readers, caught up in the hype, are quick to proclaim its greatness without critically examining its content. The book’s success can also be attributed to its universal themes, which, while ostensibly deep, are so generalized that they can apply to anyone, anywhere, thus broadening its appeal to a global audience.

In the realm of literary acclaim, “The Alchemist” stands as a curious case. It’s a book that has sold millions of copies and been translated into dozens of languages, yet it remains divisive among critics. Some hail it as a masterpiece of spiritual literature, while others, like myself, see it as a prime example of how shallow, feel-good platitudes can be mistaken for profound wisdom. For those seeking genuine insight and inspiration, there are far more substantial works out there. But if you prefer your philosophy served with a heavy dose of sugar and a side of magical thinking, then by all means, dive into the saccharine sea that is “The Alchemist.” Just don’t be surprised when you surface feeling empty.

Another issue with “The Alchemist” is its heavy reliance on allegory to convey its messages. While allegory can be a powerful literary tool, Coelho’s use of it often feels overly simplistic and heavy-handed. The symbols and metaphors in the book, such as the desert representing life’s challenges and the treasure symbolizing personal fulfillment, are so transparent that they leave little room for interpretation or deeper thought. This lack of subtlety can be frustrating for readers who prefer more nuanced storytelling that allows them to draw their own conclusions rather than being spoon-fed the author’s intended messages.

Additionally, the plot of “The Alchemist” is remarkably predictable and formulaic. Santiago’s journey follows a well-worn path of the hero’s quest, complete with standard tropes like the wise mentor, the trials and tribulations, and the ultimate revelation. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with following a classic narrative structure, Coelho fails to bring anything new or innovative to the table. The story unfolds in a manner that’s almost too smooth, with obstacles that seem conveniently surmountable and a conclusion that wraps everything up in a neat, overly satisfying bow. This predictability undermines the potential for genuine suspense or emotional investment in the protagonist’s journey.

Lastly, “The Alchemist” tends to oversimplify complex life issues, reducing them to easily digestible moral lessons. The book’s central theme—that one should follow their dreams and listen to their heart—while inspirational, can come off as naive and unrealistic when taken at face value. Real-life pursuits often involve significant sacrifices, unexpected setbacks, and nuanced decision-making, none of which are adequately addressed in Coelho’s narrative. By presenting such a rose-tinted view of the pursuit of personal legends, Coelho overlooks the intricacies and difficulties inherent in chasing one’s dreams. This oversimplification not only diminishes the book’s realism but also risks misleading readers about the true nature of personal and spiritual growth.

Allegory Over Substance

In “The Alchemist,” Paulo Coelho’s reliance on allegory over substantive storytelling often detracts from the depth and complexity that readers might expect from a novel with such lofty spiritual ambitions. Allegory, when used effectively, can provide rich layers of meaning that enhance a story. However, in Coelho’s hands, the allegorical elements are so overt and simplistic that they leave little room for personal interpretation or discovery. The clear-cut symbols and metaphors—like the desert symbolizing life’s challenges or the treasure representing personal fulfillment—are presented in such an obvious manner that they feel more like didactic lessons than nuanced storytelling. This approach can make the narrative feel more like a lecture on spirituality than an engaging and thought-provoking novel.

Furthermore, Coelho’s allegorical approach often sacrifices character development and plot complexity in favor of delivering clear moral messages. The characters in “The Alchemist” serve primarily as archetypes rather than fully realized individuals, existing mainly to convey specific ideas or lessons. Santiago, the protagonist, is less a flesh-and-blood character with unique struggles and more a symbolic everyman whose journey is meant to illustrate broader spiritual truths. This lack of character depth can make it difficult for readers to form a genuine connection with the story or its characters, as they come across as one-dimensional and static.

The plot itself is similarly constrained by the allegorical framework. Santiago’s journey follows a predictable and formulaic path, with each event and encounter designed to teach a specific lesson rather than contribute to a dynamic and engaging narrative. The story’s progression feels almost mechanical, with Santiago overcoming obstacles and meeting mentors in a manner that feels more like checking boxes on a spiritual checklist than embarking on a genuine adventure. This predictability reduces the sense of suspense and discovery, making the reading experience feel more like a guided tour through Coelho’s philosophical beliefs than an immersive and unpredictable journey.

Ultimately, the overemphasis on allegory in “The Alchemist” can make the novel feel superficial and didactic, undermining its potential impact. While Coelho’s intent to convey profound spiritual and philosophical insights is clear, the execution often falls short. By prioritizing allegorical symbolism over substantive character and plot development, the novel risks alienating readers who seek deeper, more nuanced explorations of the themes it addresses. Instead of inspiring reflection and personal insight, the heavy-handed allegory can leave readers feeling as though they’ve been handed a simplistic, one-size-fits-all solution to life’s complexities.

Falling Short of One’s Reputation and Hype

In conclusion, “The Alchemist” falls short of its reputation as a profound and transformative work of literature. Paulo Coelho’s heavy reliance on simplistic allegory and overt moral lessons undermines the novel’s potential for depth and complexity. The characters are one-dimensional archetypes, the plot is formulaic and predictable, and the supposed wisdom often comes off as trite and superficial. For readers seeking a rich and immersive narrative experience, “The Alchemist” offers little more than a series of fortune cookie philosophies wrapped in a thin veneer of mysticism. It fails to engage on a meaningful level, leaving an impression of superficiality rather than substance.

Ultimately, “The Alchemist” is a disappointing read that does not live up to its acclaim. While its themes of following one’s dreams and listening to one’s heart are universally appealing, the execution is so heavy-handed and reductive that it feels more like a self-help pamphlet than a work of serious fiction. The novel’s lack of character depth, plot complexity, and nuanced exploration of its themes results in a reading experience that is both unfulfilling and frustrating. For those who seek genuine literary and philosophical insights, “The Alchemist” is unlikely to satisfy, earning it a well-deserved one-star rating.

My GoodReads Rating: *
My LibraryThing Rating: *
Global Average GoodReads Rating: 3.91 (as of 4.23.24)

See Also

• Beer Review: Heady Topper (The Alchemist)

Other Book Reviews

• Book Review: The Greatest Beer Run Ever (John Chick Donohue and J.T. Molloy)

• Book Review: Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors (Amber Share)

• Book Review: Courage is Calling (Ryan Holiday)

• Book Review: The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity (Carlo M. Cipolla)

• Book Review: Brewed in Japan (Jeffrey Alexander)

• Book Review: The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life (Armand M. Nicholi Jr.)

• Book Review: Family Reins (Billy Busch)

• Book Review: The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World (Riley Black)

• Book Review: The Wit and Humor of Oscar Wilde (Oscar Wilde)

• Book Review: Create Dangerously (Albert Camus)
• Book Review: The Road (Cormac McCarthy)
• Book Review: The Donnie Darko Book (Richard Kelly)
• Book Review: How to Rule the World: A Handbook for the Aspiring Dictator (André de Guillaume)
• Book Review: Here is New York (E.B. White)
• Book Review: Uncle John’s Beer Topia
• Book Review: I Drink For a Reason (David Cross)
• Book Review: The Homebrewer’s Garden (Joe and Dennis Fisher)

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road

I read this just a few years after high school, after the birth of my second child, and what now feels like forever ago (but was really just 15 years ago). I remember absolutely loving it. A bleak, dystopic novel of just… going forward. Always moving forward. Always going. One foot in front of the other.

And I do find myself like Cormac McCarthy. I loved No Country for Old Men, and All the Pretty Horses. But, on re-reading this just before going to Atlantic City for the AC Beer and Music Fest, I found myself…. having conflicting thoughts on it. At first, it felt like I was re-reading a favorite old book, but further I went through it (and its a super quick read), I found myself… not caring. Not loving it anymore. Some of it is the style, I know a lot of people are put off by the writing style of the book, the bleak isolated speech, the poor punctuation, grammar, the screenplay like dialogue but without directions, etc. And on my first read, it worked, I liked it, and at the start of re-reading it – I too liked it, but then it grew tiresome on me. And I think, all the more because it all just feels ‘pointless’.

When I looked up my GoodReads initial rating of it, I gave it ***** (5 out of 5). Crazy. But that was definitely in my phase of “Everything is either 5 stars or 1 star” mindset of looking at things. Not so much due to naïvety of thinking everything was either a classic or not, but just for simplicity sake when using the app. I tended to be the same with Untappd and other similar rating apps. Also in the fifteen years since, I think I got a bit more nuanced in my own thoughts, appreciation, and love for reading. I’ve been a voracious reader ever since middle school, and I typically for the last half dozen years have been reading about a hundred books per year. So I’ve certainly grown some since my initial reading of this.

I think some of my biggest take-aways is also a thing of growth in myself as a person, because the entirety of the book feels like a “why bother” now. With how absolutely bleak it is, it feels just pointless. Existentially pointless. For all intents and purposes humanity is done for. And thats ultimately the point of the novel, to drive home just how bleak it is, but that the Man keeps pushing onward, even when his wife couldn’t, even when his Son doesn’t think he can,  you ‘have to’. But I even question the point of thinking ‘you have to’ in a world like this. What do you live for? Its not really tackled in the book outside of the “because you have to’ omnipresence behind each page. Its not even directly stated. Characters don’t state things like that in the book. The Man just has the vague sense of ‘you must always keep moving no matter how bleak and horrible and terrible it is’, but its never explicitly said – not that it HAS to be explicitly said, I can draw inferences, but, a discussion, some character, some growth, some introspection, something would be interesting or nice or at least add substance to this. I can draw the inference of ‘you must always keep moving’ by page 10, so the remaining 276 pages are like a footnote to the initial thought.

I feel like my review will come off as extremely harsh, and probably far harsher than I even intend it to be. There is still a part of me that enjoys this work – but I think its for the overarch of it, not for the actual writing, prose, or the book itself. Its my interest and intrigue in the genre, its the way the story gets my mind to drift and think of how I would write a similar dystopic novel; so my interest and enjoyment of this (on the re-read) is more based on how I vaguely feel as a ‘whole’ to the entire process, to what I feel deep down, and not so much to the writing itself. I want to still really enjoy it, I want to dive deep into the book, but I’m afraid its not deep, its a shallow dive into a pond that looks deep from up high. Maybe thats where my frustration grows, and why I give a scathing review here. I genuinely think I’m being a bit too harsh on Cormac McCarthy here, and for his fans and lovers, I apologize for that. Maybe its just in re-reading this and what I remembered and feeling let down as an older man. Maybe its reading too many other book reviews and my critique level is so much higher than it was before. Maybe I’ve grown away from him. I still have No Country for Old Men on my “to re-read” list for the year. So who knows when we get to that, and if my opinions will change.

Cormac McCarthy

Cormac McCarthy in 1973 (photo courtesy of Wikipedia).

Cormac McCarthy (born Charles Joseph McCarthy Jr.; July 20, 1933 – June 13, 2023) was an American writer who authored twelve novels, two plays, five screenplays, and three short stories, spanning the Western and postapocalyptic genres. His works often include graphic depictions of violence, and his writing style is characterised by a sparse use of punctuation and attribution. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American novelists.^[1][2][3]

McCarthy was born in Providence, Rhode Island, although he was raised primarily in Tennessee. In 1951, he enrolled in the University of Tennessee, but dropped out to join the U.S. Air Force. His debut novel, The Orchard Keeper, was published in 1965. Awarded literary grants, McCarthy was able to travel to southern Europe, where he wrote his second novel, Outer Dark (1968). Suttree (1979), like his other early novels, received generally positive reviews, but was not a commercial success. A MacArthur Fellowship enabled him to travel to the American Southwest, where he researched and wrote his fifth novel, Blood Meridian (1985). Although it initially garnered a lukewarm critical and commercial reception, it has since been regarded as his magnum opus, with some labeling it the Great American Novel.

McCarthy first experienced widespread success with All the Pretty Horses (1992), for which he received both the National Book Award^[4] and the National Book Critics Circle Award. It was followed by The Crossing (1994) and Cities of the Plain (1998), completing The Border Trilogy. His 2005 novel No Country for Old Men received mixed reviews. His 2006 novel The Road won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction.

Many of McCarthy’s works have been adapted into film. The 2007 film adaptation of No Country for Old Men was a critical and commercial success, winning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The films All the Pretty Horses, The Road, and Child of God were also adapted from his works of the same names, and Outer Dark was turned into a 15-minute short. McCarthy had a play adapted into a 2011 film, The Sunset Limited.

McCarthy worked with the Santa Fe Institute, a multidisciplinary research center, where he published the essay “The Kekulé Problem” (2017), which explores the human unconscious and the origin of language. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2012.^[5] His final novels, The Passenger and Stella Maris, were published on October 25, 2022, and December 6, 2022, respectively.^[6]

Cormac McCarthy – Wikipedia Article

Book Review: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Back of cover blurb, as per GoodReads:

A searing, postapocalyptic novel destined to become Cormac McCarthy’s masterpiece.

A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.

The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, “each the other’s world entire,” are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation.

The Road – GoodReads Back of Cover Blurb

Uncle John’s Beer-Topia

Uncle John’s Beer-Topia: A Frothy Adventure Through the World of Beer

If you’ve ever wondered about the intricacies of the craft beer world, from its ancient origins to the latest trends in hop varieties, then “Uncle John’s Beer-Topia” is the perfect read to satisfy your curiosity. Published by Portable Press, this hardcover book serves as a treasure trove of beer-related facts, stories, and oddities, all presented with the trademark humor and approachability you would expect from an “Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader” series book.

“Uncle John’s Beer-Topia” is not your typical beer encyclopedia. Instead, it offers a lively tour through the vast landscape of beer, making stops at historical milestones, quirky anecdotes, and the technical minutiae of brewing. This format is well-suited for readers who prefer bite-sized pieces of information that are as entertaining as they are educational. Each chapter is self-contained, allowing readers the freedom to dip in and out of topics as they please, which makes it a perfect companion for a lazy afternoon with a beer in hand.

One of the standout features of the book is its deep dive into the history and evolution of beer. The reader is taken on a journey from the ancient Sumerians, who are credited with the first recorded brewing activity, to the craft beer revolutions sweeping across the globe today. These historical insights are complemented by profiles of key personalities who have shaped the industry, from pioneering brewers to innovative hop farmers.

The book also excels in uncovering the lesser-known aspects of the beer world. For instance, did you know about the role beer played in the voyages of the Mayflower, or how different yeast strains impact the flavor profiles of beers? These details not only enrich the reader’s understanding but also add layers of depth to the simple act of enjoying a pint.

“Uncle John’s Beer-Topia” also addresses the craft of brewing, with sections dedicated to explaining the nuances of different beer styles, the importance of water quality, and the modern techniques used by brewers to push the boundaries of taste and aroma. For the aspiring brewer, these insights are invaluable, providing a foundation of knowledge that is both practical and inspirational.

However, what truly makes this book a delightful read is its humorous and light-hearted tone. The pages are peppered with puns, jokes, and playful illustrations that make the technical information feel more accessible and engaging. This approach not only makes learning about beer more enjoyable but also reflects the fun and communal spirit of the craft beer culture.

In conclusion, “Uncle John’s Beer-Topia” is a must-have for anyone with even a passing interest in beer. It is informative, entertaining, and visually engaging, making it as much a conversation starter as it is a reference guide. Whether you’re a seasoned beer connoisseur or a curious newcomer, this book offers a wealth of knowledge that will deepen your appreciation for this beloved beverage.

My GoodReads Rating: ***
My LibraryThing Rating: ***
Global Average Rating (as of 4.11.24): 3.78

GoodReads Blurb

The back of the book blurb according to GoodReads:

For more than 25 years, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader has helped readers amazing things they didn’t know (and amazing things you didn’t know you didn’t know). Now, Uncle John’s tackles one of the world’s best loved and — fastest growing interests — beer.

Pull up a stool and chug a pint of Beer-Topia , a rich, deep-bodied keg of beer knowledge, beer trivia, beer history, and beer fun. In recent years, beer has evolved from the swill your uncle drank at the bowling alley to the explosively-popular “microbrew” culture. There’s a lot to explore about the beer phenomenon, and Beer-Topia will plumb the depths.

What’s on
• The histories and origins of all the different styles of beers
• Interesting (and weird) beer flavors
• The science of beer, and how it’s made
• Crazy beer-related news stories
• Beer terminology
• Funny microbrew names
• And lots, lots more!

Uncle John’s Beer-Topia – GoodReads

Other Book Reviews

• Book Review: The Greatest Beer Run Ever (John Chick Donohue and J.T. Molloy)

• Book Review: Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors (Amber Share)

• Book Review: Courage is Calling (Ryan Holiday)

• Book Review: The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity (Carlo M. Cipolla)

• Book Review: Brewed in Japan (Jeffrey Alexander)

• Book Review: The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life (Armand M. Nicholi Jr.)

• Book Review: Family Reins (Billy Busch)

• Book Review: The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World (Riley Black)

• Book Review: The Wit and Humor of Oscar Wilde (Oscar Wilde)

• Book Review: Create Dangerously (Albert Camus)
• Book Review: The Road (Cormac McCarthy)
• Book Review: The Donnie Darko Book (Richard Kelly)

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

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You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

The Donnie Darko Book by Richard Kelly

Donnie Darko

A cult classic, Donnie Darko has been on the radar for mostly teens ever since it came out in 2001. I remember watching it roughly 2001 or 2002 on DVD (Director’s Cut), and I remember getting this book soon afterwards from a nearby library book sale (either Hershey’s or Hummelstown’s or Middletown’s), because I was – as a typical high school teen – very intrigued by all the pseudo thought and intellectualism that I thought was in the movie. Similarly Matrix captivated me around that time for how it felt so much deeper than it was.

Rereading it now, as a 38 year old, I feel like I might be due for a re-watch of the movie… but at the same time, the screenplay didn’t exactly fill me with much joy at the idea of it. It vastly feels like it shoots above its mark, and it has that fake ‘deeper than it is’ symbolism we all view a lot of movies with as teenagers. This was an era where I was watching The Matrix, Fight Club, Donnie Darko, Star Wars, and lots of other ‘cult classic’ style movies that felt deeper and darker and more intriguing that I now suspect many aren’t.

GoodReads Blurb

‘Extraordinary . . . Film of the year.’ Sleazenation
‘Magnificently bizarre . . . Wonderful.’ Empire
‘Unlike anything you’ll have seen before . . . Honestly mind-blowing.’ BBC Radio 1
‘Stunning . . . Totally original.’ Time Out
‘Dazzling . . . Demands a second viewing.’ Total Film

The critical and audience response made Donnie Darko the cult film of the year – one whose dark ambiguities caused audiences to go back to the film again and again trying to fathom its mysteries.

This book brings its readers further into the world of Donnie Darko and its creator Richard Kelly. Contained within these pages are an in-depth interview with Richard Kelly who recounts the gestation of the film; the screenplay; photos and drawings from the film and artwork inspired by it.

Donnie Darko will never surrender up all its mysteries, but this book will be an indispensable guide into its intriguing world.

The Donnie Darko Book (by Richard Kelly) – GoodReads

Book Review

In the vast landscape of film companion books, “The Donnie Darko Book” by Richard Kelly, the director and writer of the cult-classic film “Donnie Darko,” stands out as a compelling deep dive into one of the most enigmatic movies of the early 2000s. For fans of the film—a dark, twisting tale of teenage angst interwoven with elements of psychological thriller and science fiction—this book offers an invaluable behind-the-scenes look and enriches the viewing experience with profound insights and intriguing details.

The book is neatly divided into two main sections: the screenplay of the film, and an interview with Richard Kelly conducted by Kevin Conroy Scott. Accompanied by an introduction by Jake Gyllenhaal (who played Donnie Darko), the book not only provides the screenplay but also delves into the complex layers and artistic vision behind the movie’s creation.

Reading the screenplay is an illuminating experience. It gives fans the opportunity to relive the movie in a raw and unfiltered form. Kelly’s writing reveals the intricacies of each scene and dialogue, shedding light on the enigmatic symbols and themes that the film explores. This part of the book is particularly enjoyable for those who seek to understand how the film was crafted from script to screen, including the subtle cues and visual symbolism that might be missed on first viewing.

The interview section is where the book truly shines. Richard Kelly offers extensive insights into his thought process, the challenges he faced during production, and the philosophical underpinnings of the film. His discussions cover a range of topics from the influences of other media and personal experiences that shaped the narrative, to his interpretations of the film’s ambiguous elements. This conversation is not just an interview; it’s an introspective journey into Kelly’s creative mind, revealing how deeply personal and yet universally resonant “Donnie Darko” is.

What is perhaps most striking about “The Donnie Darko Book” is how it addresses the myriad interpretations and theories that have surrounded the film since its release. Kelly discusses these various perspectives without definitively stating one “correct” interpretation, thereby inviting readers to explore their own meanings in the layered storytelling.

The book is also sprinkled with black and white stills from the movie, which add a visual element that complements the textual content. While these images are a nice addition, readers might find themselves wishing for a bit more—a few more behind-the-scenes photos or sketches might have added an extra layer of depth to the visual storytelling.

In summary, “The Donnie Darko Book” is an essential read for fans of the film. It not only enhances the understanding of the movie’s complex narrative and thematic elements but also serves as a testament to the enduring impact of “Donnie Darko” on contemporary cinema. Whether you’re a longtime admirer or a new fan, this book is a fascinating exploration into one of the most compelling cinematic puzzles of our time.

My GoodReads Rating: ***
My LibraryThing Rating: ***

I ping-ponged back and forth on my rating, debating if I wanted to go with a 2 star rating or a 3 star rating, and a 2.5 rating on LibraryThing (where it lets you do halves unlike GoodReads), but decided I would be generous and keep it at 3 stars. My angsty teenage self had left two rating reviews for the book (but no written review) and they were both 2 stars and 3 stars. And interestingly enough, I feel the same way. Wonder why I felt like 2 and 3 stars was what it deserved back then compared to now… perhaps I even had the same thoughts, not quite sure.

Global Average GoodReads Rating: 4.19 (as of 3.21.24)

Other Book Reviews

• Book Review: The Greatest Beer Run Ever (John Chick Donohue and J.T. Molloy)

• Book Review: Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors (Amber Share)

• Book Review: Courage is Calling (Ryan Holiday)

• Book Review: The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity (Carlo M. Cipolla)

• Book Review: Brewed in Japan (Jeffrey Alexander)

• Book Review: The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life (Armand M. Nicholi Jr.)

• Book Review: Family Reins (Billy Busch)

• Book Review: The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World (Riley Black)

• Book Review: The Wit and Humor of Oscar Wilde (Oscar Wilde)

• Book Review: Create Dangerously (Albert Camus)

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)