My book Review of ‘Blotto’ by Ted Smith

(Purchase link at the end of the review)

NB. This is not a paid review and nor was the book gifted in return for a review. It is my honest opinion and of course as such is subjective.

One never knows what to truly expect from any book – and to those of us that at some point got hooked on thoughts transcribed, that’s part of the allure. The author gives us clues; usually the title and cover being the most obvious ones. Now I may be dim, but all the way through reading Blotto, I kept asking myself, ‘why that title?’ 

Yeah, I know. I AM dim. Of course there is more to it than at first glance. As with the story and the characters within, all unfolds in its due time and season.

This little acorn requires a little patience before it emerges as a grand old trusty oak. Because Ted, like all good writers, knows his craft and he makes us, the readers, work for the story.  What he’s written could be told in half the words. But would it have the same impact? No. 

He invites you to get to know the characters and the places, the circumstances as if he has met these people himself. No doubt he has in some way. A story like this cannot be written without an astute ability to appraise the human condition and a significant level of lived experience. But he gives us a little something extra – himself.

All along I felt the writer’s presence in the story. It feels personal. Like he wrote it because these subjects and personality types aren’t just from some far far away alien galaxy. He knows what he’s on about. He’s walked in those shoes maybe. Wanted that car. Wanted that woman. That beer. That lucky break. He gives us the lingo, He gives us the raw and the real deal. Challenges us to face characters that could be seen as not that likeable.  And along with the congruent there is a heavy dose of the surreal here.

It feels like someone’s pipe dream. Or the rocking chair test of someone projecting into old age. A dose of the what if’s and the coulda, shoulda, would’ves. It’s an extremely Anglo book. And it doesn’t hide it. A spade is a spade. Yet there’s room for everyone. 

My only complaint would be that just a few more surprises and a little less cliche might have raised it to a slightly higher level. Even so, I read it all the way to the end and quickly too. It’s a book I would recommend if you appreciate quality story telling.  

I hope you’ll give it a try.

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