The Thousands

Chuck Klosterman somehow grew up one pop-savvy-motherfucker in early 80s North Dakota, the place setting for his first novel, Downtown Owl. The book is about ho-hum people in a ho-hum place, but it manages to be involving, funny, and carefully drawn; with a subtle message, ‘it doesn’t matter where you are; it barely matters who you are.’

While there is no direct autobiographical stand-in for Klosterman, the three main characters share his very distinct voice. The dust jacket claims, "They don’t really have pop-culture (in Owl), unless you count grain prices and alcoholism." Despite that bold claim, Klosterman cannot help but constantly make references to Van Halen, Lou Reed: Metal Machine Music, and even acts that have not yet have come to pass. Like, The Pixies.**If you are a fan of the brilliant essays, interviews, and periodical work that have comprised his career up to this point then this is not a detriment, as you’re no-doubt waiting for these nuggets to drop. Downtown Owl is reminiscent of other classic entertainments about modern small town life, specifically: Breaking Away, The Last Picture Show, and The Straight Story. It’s a quick read that will make you feel smarter and more nostalgic than you really are.