John Cotrona

"Having contributed to the quality Cometbus zine as well No Duh, John Cotrona presents his first collection of short stories. Like Aaron from Cometbus, Cotrona writes in a style that is both immediate and entertaining. Maybe it’s the brevity of his language, maybe it’s because his stories revolve around characters who are living on the margins, but the seven stories on offer here are immediately identifiable to anyone who has dreamed of the weekend punk party while working a shitty job. ‘Long Hours and Bad Pay’ features a longhaired cab driver trying to deal with the first day on the job smoking pot with some of his fares and trying not to get held up. The longest piece "Manual" about a smart arse returning to Boston to deal with his past is probably the least effective as some of the language and dialogue comes across as a bit forced compared to the more natural style in the other stories but the overall quality and handy "fit in back pocket while riding the train" size makes Lost Positives a winner."
http://www.fractiouspress.com/lost-positives/screaming-bloody-mess-lost-positive...… (more)