DiscoverContemporary Fiction

American Blasphemer

By

Loved it! 😍

A masterful labour of modern honesty, told through the lens of a lonesome soul trying to figure out this world and life... 

John Gillen has put together a series of life encounters; his own bible you could say or even a modern companion to it. Of course that could be classed as blasphemy through the eyes of some but the many references to God and religion is but a metaphoric vessel used to tell these candid stories. That being said through all the events that take place its also about his relationship with religion and not once did I find it preachy or overbearing in that sense. 


From the title you can probably guess it's going to take readers to places of a sordid nature and it does, but that's not for the sake of just telling a story or for the shock factor, its for a deeper meaning that each reader might grasp differently - only a true artist can achieve that. Past the drug taking, the sex and the chaos in these accounts you'll find the real meaning behind it all and an honesty, a pure and raw poetic honesty. This is a modern reflection of America that highlights violence and a historic thirst for war, it doesn't sugar coat anything and even touches themes that are happening right now in the world. 


I found myself unable to look away right from a beginning that introduces John among a dysfunctional family, he knows them well although he isn't like them, he isn't like a lot of people. The many stories might even represent an 'anti bible' because like that text they include similar themes such as charity but with a hope of self gain and even a captivating encounter with temptation and bargaining that leads to something much more sinister. 


For everything that is laid out on the surface, the trials, the tribulations and the misadventures all of which could be even be classed as 'total cinema', it's what you'll find underneath that makes this book well worth taking the time to read.  

Reviewed by

Indie author and book blogger from the UK who works in cutting edge science by day and writes by night. I know the struggle that is indie publishing so my efforts focus on spotlighting fellow authors and contributing to the writing community. I prefer books with a wordcount up to 90k or less

Baked Beans

About the author

John Matthew Gillen has been fired for writing poetry at work, cussed out by the Chief Clerk of the United States Supreme Court, and has spent over $10,000 on tickets to Bob Dylan concerts. In addition to making short films in New York, John's work has appeared in several literary publications. view profile

Published on May 21, 2020

Published by Epigraph Publishing

70000 words

Contains mild explicit content ⚠️

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Reviewed by