Slap Magazine Review 2004
Slap Magazine: Left-Handed Stories Book Review 2004
*reviewed by Rudy Bazorda
I spent my birthday in the city again this year, and I was browsing around FTC when the SF Masher’s first book called out to me. I traded the guy a copy of my own Manifesto for it and quickly dove in. Skateboarders are incredibly creative, and this little gem makes a nice addition to my collection of skater-authored works that now totals less than ten titles. I was especially drawn to Travis’ book upon learning it was self-published. Not many writers have the dedication or follow through to complete such a monumental task, so applause is in order.
Aside from the eerily ironic fact that my right wrist was broken from skating thus forcing me to read Left Handed Stories with my left hand, this was an easy and entertaining read that really translated the difficult path of growing up as a skater. I really loved the descriptions of the city as a smelly armpit that pulls one in. My favorite line came from the freaked-out character getting off the MUNI contemplating a grandiose public suicide: I know it looked a little weird, but not as weird as I’d looked walking down the street with a shotgun. The drug test story in particular was very well written in terms of structure and securing the readers interest. It was really visual and visceral and could easily become a screenplay; it kept you turning the pages. I also got gnarly visuals off the story of warring preteen campers utilizing critters of the dark as their ammo. Hank the trumpet player was quite a character. The other ones that stood out were the baseball card treasure trove that could’ve been and the revenge that pulls one down. Even the impromptu soft porn stories were interesting! (I probably would have gone cross-country with JoAnne, but hey.)
With a second title forthcoming, the Masher is obviously just getting started. I guess the only negative was that one or two of the stories lacked whatever it is that pulls the reader in, yet they’re all really cool documentations of the extremities of city life as experienced by a skateboarder. There are also cool sketches and photos by notables such as Chris Pastras and Jeremy Fish as well, and all these elements combined mean you should support independent writers, the Masher and skateboarding. Buy Left Handed Stories from your local skater owned and operated shop or off Travis’ website: www.sfmasher.cjb.net
