Book Review: Bitin’ List by Damien Casey
Bitin’ List by Damien Casey is one of the most singular and courageous books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I don’t think it’s a title that’s for everyone, but in a landscape of viral marketing where everyone is trying to one up one another with gimmicks, this was exactly the sort of refresh that I needed to pull me out of the little reading slump I had fallen into.
Casey wrote this experimental chapbook and published the rough draft.
If you’re someone who likes your stories to be polished, tangent free, and without error, then then this is probably not the place to jump in. (Casey has some other wonderful books that I might recommend to you instead, so long as you enjoy strange creatures.) The pacing is erratic, there are typos, and the entire plot is rough around the edges.
What I loved best about the book (aside from the very heartfelt introduction about creative burnout and general weirdness) was that it did feel like reading a rough draft. The story was raw, vulnerable, and offered a lot of insight into Casey’s mind both as a person and a storyteller.
The book itself has a little bit of everything you could want: zombies, the end of the world, strong characters, a unique style, and pop culture references galore. I don’t doubt it would have been an enjoyable read as a final draft as well, because it is a story that feels right up my alley at a conceptual level. Being able to peek behind the curtain was even better for me though, and it feels like one of those books that found me at just the right time.
If you’re looking for a story that is as interesting on a crafting level as it is in execution, or just something that will inspire you to write for yourself and not to market, this really would be my go-to.
Review by Cat Voleur
Instagram: @catvoleur
