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For What It’s Worth
For What It’s Worth follows the adventurous escapades of high school senior Jon Ryan and his friends Hernandez, Fonz, and Weasel. Set in the twilight of their school years, these young individuals are united by a shared aspiration to execute pranks that will secure their legacy as unforgettable characters within their community. They embark on a journey of pranks, guided by a unique set of rules. However, their path is fraught with unpredictability, and not everything unfolds as they expect.
Simultaneously, there is a parallel narrative involving a group of friends who, too, find that their well-laid plans unravel unexpectedly. The story intriguingly juxtaposes these seemingly unrelated events and leads to a compelling climax that leaves the reader questioning whether Jon Ryan and his friends will even make it to graduation.
Pettijohn has created a vivid cast that’s appealing, grounded, and relatable. Jon Ryan, despite his flaws, such as being slightly overweight, indulging in alcohol, and dabbling in recreational drugs, emerges as an engaging protagonist. His friends—Hernandez, Fonz, and Weasel—are well-fleshed-out characters, their antics providing consistent entertainment. The chemistry between these characters and their perfect balance adds depth and texture to the narrative.
The pace is quick, while the setting is artfully described, evoking curiosity about the surroundings and the people in them. The action sequences are meticulous, punctuated with heart-stopping moments that keep the readers on the edge of their seats. Pettijohn’s willingness to explore flawed characters confronted with daunting challenges enriches the tale, encompassing all the components for an exhilarating read. Taking place over a matter of days, I think the narrative’s continual leaps between timelines can, at times, hinder the reading experience, causing a slight disconnect.
For What It’s Worth is a novel bursting with originality, fun, and excitement. The blend of humor, suspense, and character-driven storytelling makes for a compelling read. Although the story’s structure may be a point of contention for some, it doesn’t diminish the overall enjoyment. I recommend this book to anyone in search of a fresh and lively literary adventure.
Pages: 253 | ASIN : B0CC11QDNX
Public Opinion
Public Opinion’s goal is clear. Pettijohn wishes to write an expose on the seedier aspects of the Hollywood elite whilst also writing an entertaining novel. He is one hundred percent successful.
The protagonist, Melvin (or is it Herbert?) is a modern-day chameleon and con man. He claims to be an IT consultant to the Hollywood elite but in reality, he is a grifter and con-man. His specialty is acting as a go-between for blackmail, where he likes to play both sides. He is also a public opinion hit man for hire. Give him a target and he will troll anyone’s good reputation into the dirt. For enough money, he’ll get you sent straight to jail.
Despite his moral reprehensibility, Melvin is a likable protagonist, even if in any other book he would be the villain. He is charming and witty with a worldview that makes a certain amount of twisted sense. He has dirt on everyone and he’s only scamming bad people who deserve it, so what’s the harm? He is also arrogant and selfish. Totally destructive to those he claims to love. Everyone has it coming.
As Melvin’s reputation as a modern-day Mr. Fixit improves he is pulled deeper and deeper into the seedy underbelly of Hollywood. Soon he’s no longer just a petty con-man but someone who helps cover up the worst kinds of crime imaginable. Soon Melvin’s already shaky moral compass is completely lost. Maybe he’s not as good as he thinks he is.
The villains in the book are too many to count but are obviously inspired by modern-day monsters like Weinstein and Epstein. The book is an expose on the ways these powerful men stay in power and those who help them.
Public Opinion is an excellent book but it’s not for the faint of heart. It is salacious and graphic. Pettijohn pulls no punches and certain scenes may upset some readers.
I spent the entire book rooting for Melvin to succeed whilst also rooting for him to fail. He is a protagonist who appeals to our baser urges. When the ending comes, it isn’t really a surprise, but it feels well earned. Any other ending to such a story would have felt false. I enjoyed Public Opinion immensely. Pettijohn knows his stuff and makes a good guide and an even better storyteller.
Pages: 264 | ASIN : B0B1PFWP9X
Being Out On The Road
Travels with Hafa details your exploration of the Pacific Northwest with your dog Hafa. What inspired you to capture this journey in a book?
The trip was pretty impromptu, but along the way I did start writing some notes about the interesting people I met along the way. I really decided to begin writing a book about it in April of 2020 while on lockdown in quarantine, as it enabled me to relive the experiences while stuck at home. In that sense, I wrote this book for selfish reasons to get out of my head and remember what being out on the road was like.
What is one thing that you remember the most from your trip?
The freedom of the road was exhilarating, and my dog felt it as much as I did. I remember the campfires with my dog by my side and watching the stars while unplugged for my technology and society for a short while. Most of my favorite stops were when we were boondocking out on our own, like on a ranch in Montana with 17,000 acres, or at empty parks by ourselves. Having that disconnection from technology and the beauty of nature with my dog was a very special experience.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you before you left?
I didn’t plan very much out or look at the weather during the trip. If I had planned my trip more, I probably wouldn’t have driven into snowstorms that ended up scaring me. I also had about every beginner learning mistake with an RV that you could imagine, but nothing too bad.
Do you plan to do more traveling and writing?
Yes, definitely! I can’t wait to get back on the road soon and hopefully share more stories.
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Travels with Hafa
![Travels with Hafa: In Search of Ourselves by [Nathan Pettijohn]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51eaDD8wR6L.jpg)
Have you ever wanted to pick up and go? Just take a trip, be spontaneous, and not look back? Sometimes, that’s precisely what you need to do, and it can change your life. Nathan Pettijohn decides to take a trip and travels with his faithful German Shepard named Hafa. Though a few people join him on the way, only Hafa is with him the entire time. He uses this time to gain perspective while exploring and seeing just what this trip could offer.
Travels With Hafa takes you on a fantastic journey and I am glad that I got the chance to read this and experience it for myself. As a child staying in an RV on vacation with my papa and noni, I was glad that it reminded me of what that was like. I also appreciated that the story stayed on track. I felt an incredibly bad case of wanderlust when I read this and even considered looking into RV’s so that I could go on a trip myself.
The author was able to piece this story together well. It’s engaging and gripping, which makes it hard to put this book down. I also loved the fact that it seemed that the trip was just as much for Hafa as it was for Nathan himself.
I would give this book top scores. The book has excellent details. Nathan has a great talent for telling a story in such a way that it makes you feel like you are with Hafa and Nathan as it happens. I laughed at parts where Hafa was loving the adventure and running by the lakes or playing. I also loved hearing about places that he traveled to. A fantastic choice for someone who has a severe wanderlust case and wants to see more of the world around them. I will be rereading this, and if I ever do get to take a great trip, this book is coming with me.
Pages: 246 | ASIN: B08G9YCV5W
LITERARY TITAN 