Marvin Mart Mart itibaren Aziory, Belorusija itibaren Aziory, Belorusija

Easy and entertaining read. The book is written mainly how Artie talks, which I find very refreshing. It reads as the much softer New York accent of North Jersey-ites living near larger cities, like Newark. These Jersey-ites often leave out conjugated verbs. In contrast, the North Jersey SUBURBS have a much better education system and these Jersey-ites hardly have any accent at all. Unless, they leave the Tri-State area. Then all bets are off. YOU ARE FROM JERSEY or NEW YORK! I come from out West and am an Air Force Brat, but have lived here most of my life and I get crap from the Natives here for my Oregon/AFB accent AND when I go back West, I get crap for my NY/NJ accent. I usually tell people I'm from Canada and I get left alone. Funny. Back to the book, I was surprised that Artie's parents look so good! No insult intended, but I got the idea from what Artie says on Howard that his Mom was a plump-ish Italian American mom and his Dad was a big guy like Tony Soaprano. I was wrong, they're pretty cool looking in the pictures(you just read a North Jersey 'Burbs accent). The book jumps around a bit, time-wise, but you catch on quick. Artie is a smart guy but you'd never know it unless you hear him pull out something amazing about history or whatever. Then you're floored, because he comes off as a dumb guy and he is not! He is at once a total sweetie with an enormous heart and then a total waste-oid slacker who doesn't give a shit about anybody but Artie. The book is as much amusing as it is sad, but I like it.

It was sweet and simple but since it was only 44 pages I'm not going to complain too much. Unlike some of the short stories I've read this one had a beginning, middle and end. And in such a small space the story was actually well done.