NO MAD [Kindle Edition]

"No Mad" by Sam Moffie is a non-linear literary adult fiction. Aaron Abrams, a 40-ish high school English teacher and author of two fiction books, gets a call from his agent about a new book deal with a $100,000 advance. Rushing home to share the news with his wife, he finds her and his older brother naked and occupied on a float in their pool. Aaron makes a snap decision, grabs a few items and gets his dog and takes off on a self-discovery journey ending with his daughter's wedding.

Aaron is positive, upbeat, and cynical with a playful nature. One of the plot lines is Aaron's new book. It is called "Yearbook," and is about looking at several college classmates to find out what they were like in college in the seventies and what they were doing now, along with what lessons college had on their life and career choices. This device allows Moffie to inject political and historical commentary. Other topics are hemorrhoids, the proper toilet reading material, erotic sex, drugs, Newman's Own lemonade, empty nest, success, divorce, fatherhood and child raising, air-guitar, softball, the game Jinx, and financial security. Did I say Aaron was a teacher?

This entertaining and easy-to-read book was both humorous and serious. Moffie set up his character and the different sub-plot lines well enough to be able to discuss the many diverse topics along with the socio-political commentary. All felt connected. However, I think if he would have left out the three erotic sex segments the book would stand have a greater appeal. Still, Aaron Abrams is an interesting `hero', and how he handled the situation was unique.

(Review by Steve, my husband)

Sam Moffie takes the reader on an unforgettable road trip that's better than a seven-day-stay at Disney World, but is similar to Disney World's famous ride through America's past, present, and future. The main character is Aaron Abrams, a forty-seven year old English teacher whose life changes in a matter of minutes, after one phone call of good news, and one moment of watching his twenty year marriage go down the tubes. He was informed of an exciting book deal he couldn't refuse, offering him one-hundred thousand dollars in advance to write the "Yearbook" and the bad news was witnessing his wife and brother engaged in sex at his own home. During two moments of his life he will always remember, he decides to act with nonviolent behavior as he grabs his dog, and hits the road. As his road trip begins in Ohio and ends in scenic Niagara Falls, his journey becomes an incredible rambling, funny, and rambunctious trip that the reader will never forget. While driving on Interstate 80, the reader learns that Aaron is a guy who drowns his sorrows by becoming best friends with his golden retriever, how addicted Aaron is to the game Jinx, and his obsession with
hemorrhoids. As the fascinating journey continues, we learn about Aaron's quirk for Newman's Own Virgin Lemonade, the odd characters he meets along the way, and the rediscovery of America seen through his eyes. We learn about the pain he had to bear from the betrayal of his wife, the blow to his head from his brother, and the powerful influence of flashbacks from the 70's music in relation to life's experiences. Before the end of Aaron's voyage, we also learn that he is a nurturing father of three children, a Romeo in new romance, and his thoughts on his daughter's pregnancy and her impending marriage. The adventurous journey continues with sidesplitting sexual encounters, the use of illegal drugs, and aliens. As the reader takes history lessons during Aaron's new found freedom from New York to Boston, and Gettysburg to New Mexico, we are introduced to many bizarre characters. For the icing on the cake, the author creates the amusing events of the Crazy Horse Monument. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an adventure that's heartwarming, and filled with humor. Will Aaron ever find a place he could call home again? What shocking events did Aaron learn, while interviewing his fraternity brothers? Find out the answers in this unique, thought-provoking, fun ride. The author's down-to-earth candor in this fast-paced novel, packed with engrossing stories in a splendid plot will take you to places you've never been to, and make you crave for more. Does Aaron fall in love with his agent's assistant? Where did Aaron meet the nymphomanic, pothead State Trooper? Fasten your seatbelt, and continue this amazing road odyssey down memory lane of the past, and the present. "NO MAD" is as touching as WHERE THE HEART IS, and as funny as NOTHING TO LOSE with
Martin Lawrence, and Tim Robbins.

Sam Moffie's No Mad can be a little difficult to get into, as the writing style resembles stream of consciousness and the mind of the protagonist is one that seems to suffer from ADD/ADHD. One thought leads to another, but eventually the does come back to the story line. It wasn't long, though, before the story itself started pulling me along and the style took a backseat to the plot line.

In No Mad, Aaron Abrams is an author who has just landed his first big book deal. He cuts short his daily errand run and rushes home to celebrate with his wife and after repeated attempts to reach his brother, only to discover the reason that his wife seemed distracted and his brother was unreachable was that they were having sex in the backyard pool (at the bottom of which was his brother's phone). He packs a bag and his dog, then dumps a bucket of ice on the two from the balcony and walks out, beginning a journey that lasts the rest of the book. A journey that covers not only a considerable portion of the United States, but one that ends with Aaron, if not in a state of peace, at least in a position of emotional security (good thing, with his entire family re-united at a wedding, with the kids keeping the warring sides separated).

The humor and style won't be for everyone (a good guide might be your reaction to the movie Superbad). I'd definitely recommend taking advantage of the free sample ability on the Kindle, in fact. There is plenty of adult language and explicit descriptions of adult subjects (some of which I, quite frankly, found a bit disgusting). There is a continuing theme involving the game of Jinx (not just here and there, but with mentions on what seems like nearly every other page). It's hard to believe that someone who grew up in the 60's had never heard of the game until college, as is claimed for Aaron Abrams, but even harder to believe that he would continue to play the game thru his 40's with anyone other than his own kids and then only until perhaps their teens. But, indeed, the game of Jinx, complete with shoulder punching of friends, family, peers and even aquaintances, is featured with such frequency that I felt it detracted from the story. A more positive theme that recurs throughout the book is how Aaron relates to the world thru the music of his youth. There are frequent references to songs and artists from the 70's and 80's, along with quoted song lyrics that illustrate how Aaron feels at the time.

Overall, the book is quite funny, but there are some elements that detract from it being as good a story as it could be, and I'd give it 3.5 stars out of five. I also think the pricing is a bit steep for the Kindle edition. This is Moffie's third book, but he isn't quite at the bestseller level yet.

Jinx! I knew you thinking that, too!