Book Review: Butthole Surfers’ Gibby Haynes introduces fantastical realm with debut novel, Me and Mr. Cigar
Austin area punk rocker, Gibby Haynes, of Butthole Surfers fame, initiated his career as a Young Adult (YA) novelist with his debut novel, Me & Mr. Cigar. The book was released in January by YA publishers Soho Teen, just in time for an era of the coronavirus pandemic shelter-in-place directives when folks have extra time on their hands. This debut novel by a well-known Central Texas rabble-rouser fills the time well.
Haynes’ story does not in any way disappoint. There lies a fantastical element, developing a sense of mysticism to a story that otherwise feels realistic and relatable.
What would one expect from a YA lit release written by a former psych-punk rocker? Well, Haynes’ story is one so bizarre and fantastical that it closely emulates the lyrics of his musical releases.
Mr. Cigar is a surprisingly insightful tale of a boy, Oscar, facing many common obstacles that any teen may face, growing up in modern North Texas. Oscar is joined by several of his friends, one whom has top-secret access to state-of-the-art tech and his magical, clairvoyant dog, Mr. Cigar.
Though it is a young adult literature release, some of the content may not be recommended for those on the younger end of the YA reader spectrum. There is some heavy drug reference, adult language and violent imagery. That said, the story does indeed convey many common themes of popular YA releases and should be left to parent’s discretion.
The story of Oscar, Mr. Cigar and friends will leave any reader wanting more. There are several unanswered questions and any reader might suspect there to be a follow-up to this intriguing work.
Me & Mr. Cigar is a quick read. With a 257 page count, the short, concise chapters make for an accessible and engaging read that could be completed in an afternoon or two. And you can read it with your age-appropriate children for further discussion around the dinner table.
Overall, Haynes has released a beyond-solid first novel, displaying signs of a very strong future as a novelist and storyteller. I can say for myself that his next release will be on my nightstand once it’s available.
