| Title | : | The Same Deep Water as You: A Dark Coming of Age Novella |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 122 |
| Publication | : | First published January 11, 2019 |
The Same Deep Water as You: A Dark Coming of Age Novella Reviews
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In 1990-1993 I was a skater girl groupie. I wore high-top Converse sneakers, ripped jeans, a flannel shirt tied around my waist and garage band tees. After school and on the weekends, the boys would skate and a few other girls and I would watch. They let us sit on their old boards and we would smoke weed or cigarettes and laugh when the boys ate it and cheer when they landed something.
We listened to The Dead Kennedys, NOFX, the Sex Pistols and the Pixies (theme song: “Where is My Mind”). So when I say that I could immediately relate to Chad Lutzke’s coming-of-age novella, The Same Deep Water As You, it is because I lived that lifestyle and in that same era.
The style and momentum of Chad’s writing in Deep Water reads like a personal diary—reminiscent of his recent release, Skullface Boy. It’s instantly accessible, readable, engaging and authentic. Chad breathes so much life into his narrator, Jex. He feels like a boy I knew. A boy all of us knew or know or could know, because that’s what Chad does so well. He writes like a man possessed by his characters—characters who need to bleed out their story on the page. And not just the narrator Jex, but Jessica’s story and Toni’s story…all of their stories. The teenagers here have vulnerabilities, struggles, confessions and insecurities that Chad draws out of them; plumbing their depths like a deep, deep well.
The reader has a gut-wrenching invitation to either fully engage with the text and risk utter emotional ruin and heart breakage, or tap out. Of course, I never tap out and the result is that I finish with all these feelings and tears and the daunting task of knowing that I will write how much I love these tales with nothing but words.
But I can try. I can try to impress upon you that in just over one hundred pages, Lutzke takes a little ball of yarn and unravels it one chapter at a time revealing a little more, and then a little more of what is nestled in the very center of the fuzzy, yarn ball. Young love, bad decisions, tragedy, comedy, hope, fears, lust—all these threads spooling out into a pile at your feet. Then, towards the end, it all comes together—Chad’s message that was there all along. He just needed your participation along the way so that when the message is delivered, you feel it. This one hurts (just like so many of Chad’s little stories) but it’s what we all keep coming back for—this paper package of humanity with a pretty cover and a poetic title and the name Chad Lutzke. -
This was a sequel to Slow Burn on Riverside. We follow Jex as he continues to navigate a very haphazard lifestyle with his friends. They just spend all their time engaging in high school drama, breaking the law, and drinking. Like the old joke about Seinfeld being 'a show about nothing,' that's how this came across. The plot leaves little to the imagination, but there are plenty of things to potentially read into. But the magic here comes from Chad Lutzke's ability to write so incredibly well, and how he breaks down these characters. They are simple and relatable. You feel what they feel and hope they find their way, avoiding almost certain disaster. But this is just a very grounded premise. I didn't necessarily love the content, and am having an internal debate as to whether Riverside needed a sequel. However, I love experiencing this author's writing. That is the big selling point here.
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I'll start simple: I love me some Chad Lutzke!
THE SAME DEEP WATER AS YOU is yet another tale from the author I view as the one most able to make me cry. If there was a ribbon for that, he would take blue for first place.
As always, Chad put together an intimate story where his writing is top notch. The language is plain but the words are put together in such a way that they make you feel. They're like tiny little word arrows shot into your heart.
" You can put life on hold for a whole year dating someone, getting to know them, and then it all falls apart. Your heart is broken and you can’t do shit for another half a year without thinking of them, missing them, missing all that wasted time. I suppose with each one we walk away learning something about ourselves, about life, about how to love. Maybe we’re all just stepping stones for each other. We’re all helping somebody get somewhere. From here to a better there."
While I did enjoy this novella, I didn't feel the same poignancy that I normally experience when reading Chad's work. I've been thinking on it and I've come up with this for the reason why: the time period in which it's set. I came of age of with ACDC, Motley, Judas and Ozzy. I'm pretty sure The Cure came after that?? That means that all references to them went right over my head, (other than those to their most popular songs.) Being more familiar with the band and their music would probably have provided that extra connection or nostalgia I felt I was missing.
This is still Chad Lutzke though, so it's all good. It's still a story that grabs you and makes you think. It still has phrases put together in such a way that they touch your heart. It still builds into a satisfying tale in the end and what more could you ask for?
Recommended! Get your copy here:
https://amzn.to/2D8PUrD
*I bought this book with my hard earned cash. * -
Well, in this novella you see Jez growing up. His friends, one of them dies, they are in the skater scene, his girlfriends, one of them jealous after he picks up a new one, drinking, partying, enjoying youth. In the end things get serious. Jessica doesn't want to loose him for Toni... even though it was very well written there didn't happen too much. It was quite a slow burner with a hard ending. Not bad but with regard to the author's talents not his very best. Recommended for those who like The Cure, skating, dark romance and are in their early twenties...
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I've really enjoyed the short horror work I've read from Chad Lutzke in the past. His clear trademark of fear and tragedy makes a lovely combination that I was immediately fond of, and I was hoping for more of the same in The Same Deep Water As You. While he does deliver that on a level, it wasn't quite what I was expecting, and I'm incredibly sad to report that it never quite "clicked" with me.
I definitely think this is one of those times where it's the reader, not the book, because this novella is undoubtedly going to resonate with so many members of its audience—unfortunately, I'm just not included in that number. That said, while the plot never drew me in the way I wanted it to, the writing was still lovely and haunting and easily reminded me of why I'm looking forward to my next Chad Lutzke read.
Thank you so much to Chad Lutzke for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review! -
I sincerely hope that Lutzke continues to write for a very long time, because I will automatically read anything he writes. He's just that damn good.
This one, while I wasn't a huge Cure fan, this one struck a cord with me. In the Gratitude section at the back of the book he mentions the year 1990, and I was 15 that year. I think I was either 13 or 14 when I had my first real boyfriend and my first real kiss. And he was a skater kid from my neighborhood. It didn't last long; we were from different circles and went to different schools, but I'll never forget him. So for one summer I lived in the world of the skaters. This book brought all of that back for me.
Lutzke's characters are much older, but the nostalgia is still there. And again, this one has some serious jaw dropping, gut punching moments. Lutzke draws you into his world, and then leaves you devastated. I was totally wrecked last night after I finished this one. How does he write like this? How does he know exactly how to elicit such a strong response to his stories? I think it's because they are so raw and real. He doesn't sugarcoat anything. His stories are dark and ugly at times, but also beautiful and uplifting. They almost read like a diary.
If you still haven't discovered Lutzke, or you are waiting to pick up one of his books for whatever reason, I urge you to drop whatever and give him a read. His novellas are easily single sitting experiences, and I have been wowed every single time. I also urge you to look into his Patreon. You get exclusive content and you're helping out on of my new favorite writers in the process. This sounds like an endorsement, but I'm mentioning it not because the writer asked me to, but because readers should get the most out of his work. I cannot recommend him enough. -
"Maybe we’re all just stepping stones for each other. We’re all helping somebody get somewhere. From here to a better there."
God, Lutzke sure knows how to play with my feelings. And I hope he never stops. I should start by saying that, while Chad Lutzke's other books are considered horror in one way or another, The Same Deep Water as You isn't. Sure, it does contain some downright shocking twists and dark themes, but it is simply a coming of age story.
The story is told from the perspective of Jex, a 19-year-old skateboarder who hangs out with his friends day after day, living what seems to be an easy, laid back lifestyle until things begin to spiral.
While the simple plot of Deep Water isn't my favorite of Lutzke's, he still found a way to make me connect to characters I would have had no relation to growing up. I was a complete loner as a teen, one who always had his nose in a book and had no friends; I wasn't exactly the type who skateboarded with like-minded people. But Chad wrote his characters in a way that made me understand and care for them, especially Jex, who is trying his hardest to be the best person he can be.
In the end, The Same Deep Water as You is a tragic love story of complex emotions and learning how to move on after everything has changed. This is deep water, indeed. -
First book of 2020.
As with everything I read by Chad Lutzke, I do not feel worthy of reviewing this book. I’m going to chew on it for a few days and then try. -
Review first published on Sci Fi and Scary:
“The melodies conjure the surroundings, and the memories they bring are both joyful and somber. I just put the record on and I’m there. You get it. You’ve got your own soundtrack" (18).
Man, this novella is something else. I just finished it five minutes ago and knew I wanted to get my thoughts down before they flitted away, like so many of the best ones tend to do. I listed the genre above as “coming of age/horror/literary” but, honestly, I have no idea. And I am okay with that. What it IS will be different for every reader that experiences this story. Yeah, yeah, “every read is different for every reader”…I know. I teach that. It is difficult to avoid platitudes when they hold true.
The characters in this book are in that weird stage of life that happens just after high school and before “real life”. This isn’t something that I can say everyone experiences, but for me, hell yeah it did. The way a friend and I drove around, the way music became intertwined with my memories of people, places, smells, LIFE. There are so many other points in this book that I could list and say “that happened to me too!”, but I can’t – this is a book you need to discover for yourself. This is my fourth book by Chad Lutzke and he has this way of reaching out and finding some way to connect with a huge range of readers.
I realize that little of this discusses the plot, characterization, world-building, or other such standard review points of The Same Deep Water as You. There is no need. Grab some of your favorite music from your late teens/early twenties…pick up a copy of this book…and see if it doesn’t take you on a ride similar to mine. Need music suggestions? You can’t go wrong with The Cure. -
This was the fifth work of Chad's I've read, and although it's my least favorite, that's not a bad thing. I still highly recommend it. He has the ability as a writer to connect readers to his characters with such ease it feels as if you've known them for years. Even though I wasn't as drawn into the plot of this story as the previous ones, I still read it all in one sitting, felt that character connection, and will continue to read whatever he puts out.
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** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Chad Lutzke is having an indie author moment. It’s great to see. He’s a nice dude and can write his behind off. He’s frequently featured in Instagram book photos and his books are receiving a ton of praise.
It’s great to see and can only elevate the genre as a whole.
Except ‘The Same Deep Water as You’ doesn’t fall into the horror genre.
Some people could try and justify it does, maybe create a category of “life horror” or something like that, but otherwise, let’s be upfront and state – this isn’t a horror story.
For the purposes of ensuring no spoilers, this review will actually be done in two parts. Part one will be a general take on it. Part two will feature some spoilers for sure, so I’ll make sure to tell you when to stop reading.
Part 1 – Spoiler free
I felt so underwhelmed with this book.
I think Lutzke was trying to write a stoner type tale told through bit and pieces with minimal details, as though he was sitting in a chair in a haze remembering a summer that changed his life. That’s the only way I can work to appreciate what I read. Lutzke had a line in the book, and I’m really bad at remembering quotable lines, but it said something along the lines of “it’s interesting how the passage of time can change how we remember things.”
The book read like I was watching the music video for “1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins. Some kids get together, go to some places, hang out, go do some other stuff and some stuff happens.
That really is the gist of the book.
I found a number of the characters to be annoying and whiny. As though they were created specifically to make us like the main character more. I don’t know, maybe it has to do with where we all grew up? But I grew up in the middle of nowhere. This was tailor-made for Steve to relate to it.
I felt at times like I was skimming over a newspaper article, looking for the good bits of the story. Just didn’t resonate with me like I’d heard it had with others.
Part 2 – A Few Spoilers ahead! Small Spoilers abound!
STOP READING HERE!
GO NO FURTHER!
Ok – so here’s a bit more of an in-depth look at a few plot points that Lutzke has within that I found underwhelmed me.
The story follows skater Jex and his rag-tag group of friends. From a description midway through the book, Jex says he needs to get a job and get off of welfare, so I believe they were early twenties, though for most of the story I thought they were late teens, 18-20 or so.
Throughout the first third of the story we get random hints of rapes happening. Three in total, all against prostitutes. At first I didn’t know if the prostitute detail was to try and make the rapes less important, or to imply that they were lesser members of society. I found it an odd parallel that we were supposed to believe the prostitutes were lesser while this group didn’t work, lounged around all day and drank and smoked pot. For the time period this appears to be set in, this group would firmly be viewed as lesser members of society. So I found it an odd detail.
Then we get to a moment with their friend, first name starts with R. BIG TIME SPOILER HERE – YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!!!!
Ok R (I’m still trying to be spoiler free haha!) at one moment believes he can jump from a ledge into a pool. The gap is wide, someone says more than twelve feet wide, but R has hit wider gaps skating so this shouldn’t be a problem. To prove this he dives head first instead of just jumping.
R dies.
We move on. Lutzke’s talented, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, but they just move on. They cry that night and then the next bit is them hanging around and just doing nothing. Listening to music.
Then along comes a bit with M.
M. tells Jex that he’s the rapist. M. makes a point of saying that it didn’t matter because they were just prostitutes. Call’s them whores. See my previous point above. So what? Rapes rape. A part of me wondered if we were going to get some back story about how poorly raised these kids were or something, trying to justify their casualness to this story line.
Jex is torn. M’s dad is gone. M’s mom would be alone, and M says if Jex tells anyone he’ll kill himself.
So Jex just keeps going on with life, hating M. but just not telling anyone.
Until he does.
Then we move on. He avoids everyone. He’s found a new girl, Toni and they hang out, falling in love and just ignore everyone else.
The ending, I think was supposed to be a metaphorical passing of one phase of Jex’s life to the next, but by then I was just frustrated with the glossing over of major things in life and major details.
Traumatic stuff happens. This book is filled with a number of moments that would mess a normal person up, but in this book the group just continues on, looking for the next bowl to hit, the next rail to grind, and I just longed for so much more.
As I said previously – this one will resonate with some folks in a number of ways. I’ve taken a look at some of the reviews as well, and this book appears to fall in the love it or underwhelmed by it categories, not much in-between.
Lutzke’s got talent – no doubt there, but at the end of the day ‘The Same Deep Water as You’ fell flat for me. -
I don’t know how he does it, but another 5 star read from @ChadLutzke. I’m covered in goosebumps, emotionally drained, wondering what the hell im going to follow this up with. He just gets better and better. If you haven’t read him yet, what are you waiting for?
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I had the pleasure of reading ‘Slow Burn On Riverside’ recently which is the prequel for ‘The Same Deep Water As You’ and I’m glad I read them this way around - as when I turned that first page the distinct voice of Jex poured from the pages and it was like returning to a dear friend and hearing them talk to me about what’s been going on.
But speaking with Chad on a recent interview he’d said that you can enjoy these books in whatever way you discover them. So go discover them!
What I loved about ‘The Same Deep Water As You’ is the nostalgia and the character work, I was never part of the skating crowd, I was more on the periphery as my friends skated, jumped, railed and whatever else they did.
I’d sit there and watch their possession of those boards that seemed attached to their feet in awe. But I was in association part of that scene, we’d sit around and listen to music, smoke, relax and then run when the police or security turned up to kick us out of wherever we were - so the nostalgia and what Chad puts on the page are so powerful at pulling you in, taking you back and drawing those thoughts and feelings out of your brain.
But the character work in this book (as was also the case with Slow Burn on Riverside) is truly masterful - as said already, jumping back in and journeying this next part of Jex’s life was brilliant. I’d missed him. And then Chad also populates this story with Jessica, Toni, Maurice and Rocco (as well as many others) these for me were the stories I wanted to know more about and where I fell under Lutzke’s spell.
Some are heartbreaking, some are stupid, some are just crazy - but that’s what life’s like right / the good with the bad, the crazy with the mundane - and Chad gets that and his books peel back those layers and bare them to us, and in his words, in his characters we find ourselves and our friends and our families beneath the husks of these fictional characters.
This is at its heart a story of love, a story of discovery, an expose on friendship and growing up. What I loved about this book were the references to music, which there are many, but I loved Chad’s prose and how he talks about music, how music can transport you, in hearing a note from a song it can almost help you travel in time and bring those memories to the front, and in that moment the world flickers and all those feelings rush back.
Again with Chad’s work there’s elements that pull this wonderful story into the dark and the horror, but it’s subtle and not full blown, it’s an eerie creeping, a burning at the edges - but there is enough to make this a quite haunting tale, with a conclusion that dredges the deep waters of despair!
‘The Same Deep Water As You’ is a mixtape of wondrous prose, memories and lives under the microscope - it’s a soundtrack to lives that beg to be heard. -
Another Chad Lutzke book. Another 5 star review. I seriously love everything I have read by him so far and he is absolutely going to be an author I continue to seek and recommend. While this book is not as "horror-y" as other books, there are some shocking dark elements at work and it will be a book that haunts you and resonates deep down as well. This is a coming-of-age story... and it is one that will gut you by the end. Lutzke is a great storyteller and he knows just how to set the stage and build his characters. He knows what the reader wants and he delivers. Every single time. 5 stars!
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This book destroyed me.
The subject material hit very close to home, and at first, being back in my past wasn't easy for me, but knowing how well Chad impacts the heart at the end of the book I had to continue on!
If you hung around a bad crowd or had a hard upbringing, or maybe a little of both, this novella will hit you in the feels. If you are curious to see what that may have looked like, read this. The partying, the craziness being completely normal, the messed up occurrences, and the love in between, it's all very obscene being a misfit teen.
This novella may have trigger warnings for some: self-harm, suicide, rape. The good news is there's no super gory, make me gag, details! Chad keeps his writing simple and classy. As classy as these things can be. I really honored the positive life-affirming disclaimer at the end.
This is the second book I've now read by Chad Lutzke, and his books hit me right in the twisted heart EVERY SINGLE TIME. Bawled my eyes out at the end of 'Same Deep Water As You.'
As always he has perfected horror with heart. I look forward to collecting this author's entire works. Novellas are short, easy to read, and gives you an idea if you will like an author's style! I like how quick and IMPACTFUL these works have been!
I purchased this book straight from the author so I could get a signed copy, I got a personalized message instead! That was really cool! I'll cherish that forever! Thanks, Chad! All reviews and opinions are my own and voluntary. -
Left Speechless
What do you say after reading a novella like this? My god, what a punch in the gut. This story is about people, relationships, the stupid things we do - both intentionally and accidentally. It’s about tragedy, friendship, family, growing up, learning about yourself. It’s about being alive.
It’s a short read and well worth your time. -
"This love/lust thing was kicking my ass. All I'd figured out was that one was worth pursuing and the other wasn't, and differentiating the two was hard as hell."
In this coming-of-age story there is a lot occurring. A group of friends living life the only way they know how to, because when you are young, you are just trying to figure out what you are going to do with it. Relationships are confusing, choices made that are not always the best to be made. But, it's life! And life is just big and messy!
This young group enjoys skateboards, music, and having fun when they can, hanging out, just like anyone else. Maybe drinking too much, smoking too much, but inside their inner selves, they are struggling with their emotions. Trying to figure out relationships, jobs, friendships, and finding out how choices impact everyone, and just how to keep going.
The majority of this story was resonating and relatable. Things you see people experience or things people have shared. There were elements in here that I felt were a bit obscure, leaving me feeling if not a bit frustrated, then a bit opinionated and not liking the way a certain aspect was handled. Of course I can't say what that was, because I sincerely dislike spoilers. Reading between the lines and feeling humanity is what I felt was really important while reading this one.
Because.....
"Maybe we're all stepping stones for each other. We're all helping somebody get somewhere. From here to a better there." -
Another 5 star read from Chad Lutzke. If you haven't read any of his books you don't know what you are missing. I hope there are more Jex books coming soon.
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I’m no stranger to Chad Lutzke’s writing, but each time I read something new of his, I’m blown away. His horror is usually extremely emotional and impactful, and while this little novella doesn’t have the same elements of “horror” that some of his other works do, the emotional punch is just as gutting.
It feels like it was written about the author’s own past, as if he were relating a totally factual story that had happened to him years before. I don’t know if any of it is based on fact, but it just goes to show how great his storytelling is that I feel as if I could be sitting next to a friend with a drink, hearing all of this from his point of view.
Lutzke’s writing is haunting and nostalgic, creating an atmosphere tinged with the sort of lens flares and fade out effects you’d expect from a disposable camera in the early 90s. The story is told from the perspective of 19-year-old Jex, who is very relatable. All the characters are developed and realistic, and some reminded me of other kids I’d known in high school. I loved how perfect Lutzke’s depiction of kids from this age was – this would especially work as a short film, the disillusioned youth thing working alongside an amazing soundtrack curated by Lutzke himself.
Throughout the story are also little photographs, which I liked – it’s fun having different things in a book for me, and little extra stuff like this is really cool. Speaking of cool, the cover is also one of my favorites of the entire year so far – how gorgeous is the artwork? It’s ghostly and beautiful and ethereal, very much like Lutzke’s story itself. Very fitting!
Definitely check this one out, or any of Lutzke’s other books! He’s got such a talent for creating raw, heartbreaking stories, and I’m keeping him on my insta-buy list for sure. -
I'm a huge fan of this author's work and the way he approaches a simple story from a unique angle. It doesn't matter what the plot is because the characters are so fully-formed you want to read more and more about them. The twists and turns of the actual plot will leave you laughing, crying and every emotion in between. Yeah, this is that good.
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Thanks so much to Chad for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Kindle edition is available for pre-order starting January 7th, and you can get the paperback as well as Kindle edition when both officially drop January 11th over on Amazon.
I had no idea what to expect from this, it being my first ever Chad Lutzke book, and also not having read the synopsis.. (because I usually don't care to) what I wasn't expecting was to be transported back to my youth and filled with overwhelming waves of nostalgia and a longing for the past; when things were somehow less and more complicated all at once.
The Same Deep Water as You is a coming of age short which focuses on the main character and his group of friends. If you take the movie KIDS, and mix it with Dazed and Confused, add a dash of Mid90's, and a drop of SLC Punk.. you've more or less got the vibe of this book.
The characters were so real that I found myself wondering more than once if it was based on true events. The struggle as someone in that limbo between teen and adult to figure out who they are, what love is, what they're going to do with the rest of their life and realizing the way they're living now isn't going to work forever was so fantastically done. Not to mention the way Chad subtly but very accurately captures what it's like when you finally start that new chapter, and start to let go of your youth. You won't always like the same things, habits fade and new ones replace them... You grow and continue changing into the person you're meant to be. I could be overanalyzing all of this, but the entire story was just insanely beautiful and bittersweet to me, and I would and DO recommend it highly. -
3.5
This coming-of-age story had characters whose relationships seemed very lived in. Jex spends a hazy summer skateboarding and drinking beer with his friends. Tragic events along with reports of a serial rapist loose in the city punctuate their experience. Jex's voice had a little bit of a Sallinger-esque angst that I found wistful and effective. I think some of the events and reveals might have hit me harder if we had a little more time to get to know the characters.
I didn't relate to the characters as much as I would have liked to, but that might be more the fact that I have always been a rule-following ball of anxiety and thus didn't have this Lords of Dogtown experience as a teen. Lutzke has a great voice in in this writing and I definitely plan to check out his other work. -
What an amazing novella!! Chad knows how to take real horrors and play with your emotions for characters in as little as 100 pages ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this coming of age story. 😃
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Thank you Chad Lutzke for providing me a copy of The Same Deep Water as You in exchange for an honest review!
Please Note: This is a review copy, meaning any quotes used in this review may not be the same as in the final copy of The Same Deep Water as You.
So, I purposely waited to read The Same Deep Water As You by Chad Lutzke until the first of the year, because I wanted to finish all of my CURRENTLY READINGS & just start on a fresh slate. & I’m now realizing my mistake, because WOW THIS SET A PRETTY HIGH BAR FOR THE REST OF 2019.
I had no idea how much this novella was going to wow me, even when I started reading it, I found myself saying ‘okay — yeah this is fine — cool, whatever.’ But then I kept going & I found myself diving deeper and deeper into this hour-long story & guys, I STRONGLY recommend this read. & since I’m strongly recommending this book, I should mention some possible triggers: rape, suicide, death, alcohol & drugs.
I’ve complained a lot about the way that other books have handled rape, but I felt perfectly comfortable with it being a part of The Same Deep Water As You. It did not deter me away from the reading whatsoever & it was so subtle, but also such an important concept to the story. & it’s only mentioned in dialogue, and doesn’t show any scenes of it happening.
Chad Lutzke’s writing was absolutely stunning in The Same Deep Water As You. Its read as a true COMING-OF-AGE classic & I would not be surprised whatsoever if this novella won some sort of award. Along with feeling like a classic, it reminded me of the movies I loved growing up (such as Dazed & Confused, as mentioned in the novella’s pitch). & gosh, there’s so much meaning weaved into every word, every paragraph, The Same Deep Water As You is perfectly crafted.It’s moments like that, harmless ones, that helped me cope that year. Memories no one should be without. I mean, what’s living if you’ve got no stories to tell?
The characters all seemed so realistic; in fact, I could probably compare almost each one to someone I went to high school with. This was basically a throwback to my teen years, but without me having to deal with what Jex had to throughout the read. Shout out to second-hand nostalgia.
Speaking of nostalgia, THE MUSIC REFERENCES. Wow. This entire novella used The Cure as inspiration, and each chapter is labeled with a Cure song title.I mean, if we’re not searching for someone to make us better people, to excel in life, then what in the hell are we doing?
I would love nothing more than to keep going about every single thought I had & to establish why I loved this & why I loved that, but I think it’s only right for you to experience it firsthand. As mentioned, it’s just a novella & I probably only clocked in one hour of reading time. Please get your hands on a copy when it’s released January 11th, 2019! -
"You get it. You've got your own soundtrack. One for each year."
The Same Deep Water as You is the second novella I've read from Chad Lutzke, and this one is a coming-of-age story. Chad's books are always haunting and well-written. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with this one. There were a few large / dramatic moments throughout the story, and I just didn't feel anything when I felt like I was probably supposed to. It's a character-driven story, and I didn't personally feel a connection to the characters. This book is written like someone is sitting with you & telling you the story of a particular summer in their lives - I think the slow-burn format worked well for the story that was being told, but I just wasn't the right reader for this one. -
Beautifully written with a strong sense of nostalgia. I was once again impressed at how much emotion Chad Lutzke can elicit in such a short story. Looking forward to reading more from him. I heard Cameron Chaney refer to Lutzke's writing as melancholy horror and it struck me as the perfect description.
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No words needed!!!
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Well he did it again! I sat down today. Opened this beautiful Novella with The Cure on low in the background (yes, I am that nerd)
And let me just tell you what happened.
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I got smacked in the face by a mixtape of emotions and nostalgic memories from when I was a teenager in the 90's.
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These characters were so much like my own friends that helped shape who I am today. They will always remain a part of me.
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It brought me back to the days when I would kiss the decks of my buddies skateboards for good luck and cheer them on from the sidelines along with my best friends. We would watch to see if they would land that trick they tried so hard for repeatedly while betting on who was going to bust their balls next on the rails. Or that time my buddy broke his deck on a wall in a parking garage and was furious while we were all heartbroken for him.
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It was moments full of laughter, driving around with no place in mind, listening to music, smoking cigarettes, hacky sack in parking lots, learning from bad decisions, and sneaking my buddies into the backdoor at the movie theater I worked at in the mall for late night showings filled with acoustic sessions and maybe a little weed.
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If you want to read a story that will evoke emotions in you, then I recommend picking out something by @chad_lutzke He is a master at it.
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Tragedy~Lust/Love~Coming of Age~Engaging~Nostalgic~
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"Maybe we're all just stepping stones for each other. We're all helping somebody get somewhere from here to a better there." -
I have come to learn the need to have a box of Kleenex ready when starting a Chad Lutzke book.
Chad has given us a heartbreaking tale of friends, love and loss that I dare anyone to finish with dry eyes. THE SAME DEEP WATER AS YOU is another Chad Lutzke masterpiece. He just has a way of drawing you into a story and keeping you there until the end. As with all his books, this just feels so real. This could be you and your friends going through the events in this story.
The character development is top-notch. You become vested in the crew quickly and come to the point where you are feeling what they are experiencing. We follow Jex as he deals with life on a daily basis, his lost love, friends, skateboarding, music and hanging out. The cast of friends changes as the story progresses, but the core tight knit group remains.
What the author does so well is to make everyday life into a captivating story. While not really a horror story, he does convey the true horror that can force its way into someone's life unexpectedly.
I don't want to give anything away that will spoil this story for the reader. Just pick this book up and enjoy a master at work.
And while you're in a Chad Lutzke mood, I would recommend also picking up STIRRING THE SHEETS. A book that is guaranteed to bring the strongest man to tears.
