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The Fall To Freedom
Returning from rehab to his privileged life in Los Angeles, Bix Freedman quickly realizes how different things are from when he was Mr. Popular in high school; gone are the hotel parties, women, and attention. Now that everyone is off to college, he is left with his sober self and old druggie pals. Longing for the glory days, he vows to get rich legally before his friends finish school. In the meantime, he gets a job at a local pizza place. Never having worked in his life, everyday tasks give him great angst. Dealing with angry customers, celebrities, and escorts, along with his boss and aloof co-workers, challenges Bix’s ego and causes him to rethink his strategy.
204 pages, paperback
First published August 30, 2012
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Mike Walzman
1 book1 followerMike Walzman's work has been published in several publications such as: BCN Week, We Feel Pretty, Zine Columbia and Feathertale. "The Fall To Freedom" is his debut novel. He lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 2, 2012
Type and Source of Book:
Ebook generously offered for free from the author!!
Thoughts:
***Caution - Some spoilers and coarse language may follow***
I'm not quite sure how to feel about this book since it was a book way out of my comfort zone. I usually read fiction books to escape life but this one seemed too real, so perhaps that's why I was hesitant about it.
I was rooting for Bix the entire book. I think we've all felt like him at some point in our lives; wondering what life is all about and why things may not be going as we planned. I know that I've had a lot of moments where I felt like I wanted things to change - I muster up some energy and courage and hope that THIS time will be the time to actually make a difference. Bix had this drive and it was a character trait that I liked about him.
This was the lifestyle I wanted to earn on my own. I smiled and said, "I'm going to be a fucking millionaire."
Whether we were struggling or in a good place, we were all on a journey and somehow knew it.
Some of the scenarios were much like situations that have happened to me on my own journey... Making vision boards, just wanting to go to bed instead of to a party, getting a spur of the moment idea that can change things, thinking about how life used to be before humans screwed it up... Even a little lesson on love was included (which can translate to other things as well):
"I guess I realized there ain't no 'the one,' only the right time and place. Learned that the hard way."
Bix's journey was very realistic too - not everything comes easily - some things don't turn out and sometimes we backslide. But Bix kept moving on.
Maybe that's all we have to do in life... Keep moving on.
Another quote from the book:
"Isn't this guy amazing!" I said. They roared again. I could have said "penis" and they would have gone wild, so I did. "Penis!" They chanted back, "Penis! Penis! Penis!"
Words I had to look up and their Kobo definition:
Cornet - a valved brass instrument resembling a trumpet in design and range but having a shorter partly conical tube and less brilliant tone
Cotillion - an elaborate dance with frequent changing of partners carried out under the leadership of one couple at formal balls
Ebook generously offered for free from the author!!
Thoughts:
***Caution - Some spoilers and coarse language may follow***
I'm not quite sure how to feel about this book since it was a book way out of my comfort zone. I usually read fiction books to escape life but this one seemed too real, so perhaps that's why I was hesitant about it.
I was rooting for Bix the entire book. I think we've all felt like him at some point in our lives; wondering what life is all about and why things may not be going as we planned. I know that I've had a lot of moments where I felt like I wanted things to change - I muster up some energy and courage and hope that THIS time will be the time to actually make a difference. Bix had this drive and it was a character trait that I liked about him.
This was the lifestyle I wanted to earn on my own. I smiled and said, "I'm going to be a fucking millionaire."
Whether we were struggling or in a good place, we were all on a journey and somehow knew it.
Some of the scenarios were much like situations that have happened to me on my own journey... Making vision boards, just wanting to go to bed instead of to a party, getting a spur of the moment idea that can change things, thinking about how life used to be before humans screwed it up... Even a little lesson on love was included (which can translate to other things as well):
"I guess I realized there ain't no 'the one,' only the right time and place. Learned that the hard way."
Bix's journey was very realistic too - not everything comes easily - some things don't turn out and sometimes we backslide. But Bix kept moving on.
Maybe that's all we have to do in life... Keep moving on.
Another quote from the book:
"Isn't this guy amazing!" I said. They roared again. I could have said "penis" and they would have gone wild, so I did. "Penis!" They chanted back, "Penis! Penis! Penis!"
Words I had to look up and their Kobo definition:
Cornet - a valved brass instrument resembling a trumpet in design and range but having a shorter partly conical tube and less brilliant tone
Cotillion - an elaborate dance with frequent changing of partners carried out under the leadership of one couple at formal balls
September 22, 2012
I absolutely loved this book! Without a doubt, it was a fun read that kept me up long after I normally go to bed, but more than that, I grew to really care about the main character and was rooting for him to find happiness and succeed.
Bix might come from an affluent background but you can see that he is trying desperately to make it on his own and find his own path. He is incredibly self-aware and determined to overcome his demons and that is why it is so easy to root for him. I thought the book left just enough to the imagination to allow the reader to create their own world and the story ends at the perfect place (both as a stand-alone novel and potentially as book one to a sequel---I'm rooting for the latter so that I can see what happens next to this amazing character!)
All in all, I am incredibly impressed by this first-time novelist. The writer clearly knows how to tell a good story and it seems to come effortlessly for him, as you never get that feeling that his prose are "trying too hard."
Buy this book! You won't regret it!
Bix might come from an affluent background but you can see that he is trying desperately to make it on his own and find his own path. He is incredibly self-aware and determined to overcome his demons and that is why it is so easy to root for him. I thought the book left just enough to the imagination to allow the reader to create their own world and the story ends at the perfect place (both as a stand-alone novel and potentially as book one to a sequel---I'm rooting for the latter so that I can see what happens next to this amazing character!)
All in all, I am incredibly impressed by this first-time novelist. The writer clearly knows how to tell a good story and it seems to come effortlessly for him, as you never get that feeling that his prose are "trying too hard."
Buy this book! You won't regret it!
September 6, 2012
From the moment I opened the book, I literally could not put the book down. The pacing is perfect. Walzman gives you just enough information for the reader to see the characters (ohhh, the characters) and landscape. Everything just flowed like a good book should. I laughed, and yes, I even cried. There is a great batch of both tragic and comedic circumstances that to me, ring as something everybody can relate to at some level.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews