Black Light

Rating:
Summary: Destination Life.......LIVE AND LET LIVE
Review: As an avid fan of short story writing, this is an attention getter. Let this Generation X author take you on a path of morbid destruction then have him lead you back to the inner sanctuary of your soul. A true self-discovery of courage and elightenment. "Destination Life," "Destination Nirvana."

Not what I expected from a USC grad, but the book reads easily, almost as if the book is saying,"Come on Hepner!"

Surreal-YES? My only question.......are the characters for real? Zsatkowski gives you the opportunity to ghost ride in this book, making you realize that this is the perspective you want to watch from.

Stunning first novel....the tone has been set......

Rating:
Summary: I have seen the black light
Review: Black light flows very nicely, and Szatkowski knows how to engage the reader with just the right amount of details without bludgeoning him/her with long, flowery descriptions. Often he finds just the right turn of phrase to describe a character or situation that really gives it an interesting idiosyncrasy or quirk to remember it by. Still, there were some people I wish could have been fleshed out just a little more and a few periphery people who were pretty one-dimensional. That's inevitable with any book, but I felt more connected to characters like Jim--who popped in and out in a chapter--than some people I had seen through most of the novel. Szatkowski does a good job with dialogue and displaying personalities through the way they talk. And even though some short sections I thought were a hair cliche (description of the murder and Tommy and Matthias' reactions to it, for example) other parts were very realistic and insightful, like the acid trip and visits with family. And I think it makes a lot more sense if you know this is only the first part in a series, so I look forward to reading the rest!

Rating:
Summary: An Absolute Pleasure
Review: Black Light was a departure from the style of most books I've read, and I couldn't be happier to have picked up a copy. I'd describe it as an honest, edgy, and occasionally surreal peek at life in the underground scene of L.A. The stories and characters do more than just show you "life" there--you are taken into the depths of their minds and spirits. I sensed that the line between fiction and reality may have been crossed on every page--the solid writing made it difficult to distinguish the two.
The author does an incredible job of creating imagery, from exceptionally lucid exchanges between the main characters to hazy, early-morning rave scenes. I've read it multiple times and seem to see something slightly different with each read.

Rating:
Summary: Modern Fast-Paced Adventure
Review: Christopher Szatkowski has shown in his new book, Black Light, that adventure is where you find it. I felt compelled to read right through the book, because I was so intrigued with the storyline and characters! Great book! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting journey to experience.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully Sane Insanity
Review: I started reading this book, at 8:00 on a saturday night. and finsihed it by 4:00 sunday afternoon with a few breaks. Honestly I could not put the book down. I normally do not read a lot of books, rather I choose to listen to them on cd. I usually read maybe one-two books a year. But Mr. Szatkowski's book Black Light is brilliantly written and keeps you on the edge of your seat as if your watching a blockbuster action movie. This book is an action-packed mind-blowing thrill ride that you will not be able to put down.

Rating:
Summary: High Energy Road Trip
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this author's tale of adventure. The two main characters are particularly intriguing. Credit to the author for capturing their wild, yet naive side so vividly.

Rating:
Summary: A masterful blend of reality and the fantastic
Review: The book takes you through a journey that you hope never ends. It is a breath of fresh air in an industry that has bordered on the dull and mundane. The author, Mr. Szatkowski, must be gem in the rough as his talent is definitely untapped.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic book
Review: This is a truly enjoyable read which combines the classic themes of coming of age with an edgy, gen-x twist. The characters are believable, as in, we all know them. They are the people in our lives that we have grown up with. You can see yourself in all of them.