You would have to be young and insane not to love this book. As an author from the High Fidelity and Rock n' Roll High School of thought, talented author and teacher, Peter Bognanni, has written a book that is as rife with confidence, hurt, friendship, and tender heartache, as it is with teenage angst, and balls-out Punk Rawk! This new novel is called, "The House of Tomorrow".
Teenager Sebastian Prendergast lives with his architect Nana in their environmentally-friendly, and see-through, Geodesic Dome. Nana offers tours of the Dome in relation to the futuristic teachings of R. Buckminster Fuller, while Sebastian runs the Dome's gift shop for locals and intrigued passersbys in North Branch, Iowa. Having been homeschooled since childhood with only his Nana for company--Sebastian's lonely and insular world is rocked on the day that his Nana has a stroke; right in the middle of a tour with Janice Whitcomb and her son Jared.
"He wore a leather jacket with straps, buckles and snapped epaulets. And under the jacket, there was a T-shirt made to resemble the front of a tuxedo. He had skinny black jeans and frayed canvas sneakers. He was even skinnier than I was and wore squarish glasses. A thick lock of uncombed dark hair hung over the top of the frames like a dirty wave. Tiny headphones were buried in his ears." (Peter Bognanni, excerpt from The House of Tomorrow)
Jared Whitcomb is a teen loner with afflictions of his own who turns Sebastian on to music for the first time as they wait together in the hospital, outside of which he eventually fills the boy's heart with the music of the Misfits, Buzzcocks, Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys, and The Ramones. The two teens eventually form a band they call, "The Rash". Punk rock music forms a tenuous and fragile bond which grows between the two teens that neither a beautiful but nagging sister, a worrying mother, or an ailing and strict grandmother could have ever imagined.
Live Review: The Rash, live at Immanuel Methodist Church Annual Talent Show (xxLiving in North Branch Sucksxx, comic and fanzine, issue 3, volume 1)
Baton twirling opener Holly Halverson gave the same performance as last year; Holly--God called, and he wants his baton back and a new performance already, so stop sucking up. And, what was with the magic show by Wayne? Although sadly entertaining; these were the weirdest live talent show openers we've seen all year. Finally, anticipation was high as The Rash made their debut! The unsettled crowd that rushed into the Immanuel pushed 8-yr. olds and grannies aside at the last moment and were yelling for free beer! This was turning into the most exciting talent show ever as the crowd began chanting; prematurely (and thankfully) ending magician Wayne's lame-ass cup-trick while yelling, "We Want The Rash! WE WANT THE RASH!".
As the new punk duo made their way onto stage to amp their guitars, Jared Whitcomb on guitar and vocals, and Sebastian Prendergast on bass and backing vocals--the crowd began to feel their cold sweat. Either the crowd would have them, or The Rash would have us. Formed in Washington, D.C. (apparently they are now based in North Branch), these two punk kids came out of nowhere to rock our faces off! The opener was a jagged guitar riff that began with a wall of feedback and had Jared yelling something about a "Stuuuupid School", but the second song was better: "Up In My Room" (a girl named Meredith told us the song title) had the bespectacled singer Jared writhing on the floor while Sebastian backed him up! In a total punk rawk move, Sebastian and then Jared ran off stage into the crowd at the end. What a finish! If anyone has any leads on when The Rash are playing next; give us a call! Apparently, those stupid ass-hats that work at The Record Collector have promised to track down and carry their first 7" limited release single; we're hoping we won't need I.D. to buy it. Thanks for nothing, Mom!
Peter Bognanni's outstanding book "The House of Tomorrow" is set to be released on March 4th, 2010 through Amy Einhorn Books (a subsidiary of Putnam/Penguin). We sincerely hope that Peter eventually gets a movie option, but to continue the journey: you can read more here, or here (after you've ordered and read the book, of course).
Peter Bognanni - author site / amy einhorn books
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