Book Jacket

 

rank 3462
word count 111116
date submitted 28.07.2009
date updated 12.01.2011
genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Biogra...
classification: moderate
complete

Memoirs of a Drugged-Up, Sex-Crazed Yippie.

Steve Otto

This book tells of a 1970s counter-culture drug user, Mark Spies. It includes tales from the 1970s drugs, sex, politics and rock and roll.

 

Memoirs of a Drugged-Up, Sex-Crazed Yippie takes the reader through the life of a 1970s counter-culture drug user. Mark Spies goes from casual pot smoking to habitual use of pharmaceutical narcotics and cocaine. Due to the changing sexual attitudes, Spies has several unconventional sexual encounters. The 1970s brought us the "Woodstock generation." There was a sense of idealism that developed at the beginning and died at the end of that decade. Many counter-culture books focus on the 1960s, yet there are plenty of events in the 1970s that deserve attention. Nixon's war in Vietnam and Cambodia dominated the news and affected America's youth. Nixon's war on drugs impacted the counter-culture life style. Then there was punk rock, disco, casual cocaine use and revolutions braking out around the world by 1979. With politics in the background, this book gives the reader a look at drug use and the difficult business of drug dealing. The drugs, sexual attitudes, music and politics made the 1970s what they were. Taken as a whole, this book will give some insight into the people and events of the 1970s counter-culture.

 
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tags

, 1970s, biography, coming of age, culture, drugs, hippies, literature, marxism, rock music, sex

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21 comments

 

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Andrew Burans wrote 525 days ago

You have written a very interesting and unique storyline, which I do like, and created a most memorable main character in Spies. You nicely capture both the spirit and the essence of the 70's. The dialogue is realistic and well written and the pace of your story flows well. All of this along with your descriptive writing makes your work a pleasure to read.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

cat5149 wrote 558 days ago

This is honest and riveting. It drew me in right away. Backed, with pleasure.

Carol

missyfleming_22 wrote 561 days ago

I love books like this and this is set in a time period I am a little obsessed with! The music was at it's best, and so much was happening in our history. I think you've captured that perfectly! I like the way you write, it's fitting for the subject matter. I think a lot of people are going to identify with this whether they lived through these times or not. I've really enjoyed reading your book and I hope someday you upload more, it's exactly the kind of thing I read out in the 'real world'!

Missy

name falied moderation wrote 564 days ago

Dear Steve
Your book cover was the first thing that grabbed me then of course you short pitch shouted at me'read'. I have a suggestion for your long pitch and that is to put in paras. This may be the first read your publisher , and you will get one., will have of your book and it could give the impression of being a little long, when it is not. This is only a suggestion and one that served me well. I do hope you dont take offense. This is a well crafted read, and you have done quite some research i would think
BACKED BY ME FOR SURE
If you would take a look at my book and back it that would be soooo great. if not that is OK also
VERY best of luck
Denise
The Letter

andrew skaife wrote 564 days ago

I am backing this book on the strength of the read which I found impressive enough to back. The problem is that while my Talent spotter ranking sank below one hundred I have been inundated with requests to read. If you require detailed comments please message me otherwise I was proud to back you and will watch with interest. Cheers for now. BACKED.

SusieGulick wrote 564 days ago

Dear Steve, Well, here I am backing your 2nd book. :) I am glad you shared your story - it was hard for me to share mine - weeping & all - mine was bad enough without the war & drugs - my son was in high school during you late 70's. :) Love, Susie :) p.s. Could you please take a moment to back my 2 memoir books? :) Thanks. :)

Burgio wrote 661 days ago

This is a wild story - and a great read. You really caught the flavor of the 70s when getting high seemed like the thing to do and drugs flowed so easily across college and high school campuses. Brought back memories. I’m adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

Melcom wrote 661 days ago

Another book that is not getting the justice it deserves on the site!! I despair at the way Authonomy works sometimes.
This was a really entertaining read that has been wonderfully written. Great detail that feels very raw.
A great read that is worthy of a space on my shelf and many others.

Melxx
Impeding Justice

Barry Wenlock wrote 720 days ago

This is one of the few I'll finish. Great stuff! More than sex and drugs and rock and roll - this is an excellent read.
Backed! Barry (Little Krisna and the Bihar Boys)

JANVIER wrote 877 days ago

Hello Steve,

You have a very true-to-life story written here in a compelling voice that smacks a lot of authenticity. Very descriptive also and in places one gets the true feeling of the drug culture at the time. Well written I would add. Rightly shelved.

All the best.

Janvier (Flash of the Sun)

Steve Ward wrote 879 days ago

Steve
Wow, now that's what I call a memoir! Raw, nitty-gritty detail so real. Reminds me of the 70's. It was a wild, coming out party for young people all over America, in contrast to the hell going on in Vietnam. Some of us were quite lucky to survive. Your writing is excellent, you bring the reader back in time right into the scenes beside you. Well done. Fun read, good luck with it.
Steve Ward
Test Pilot's Daughter: Revenge

Jo Ellis wrote 893 days ago

Intense with vivid description. I found this easy flowing and interesting.

Nothing to pick! :-)

Jo xx

Spoilt

Pat Black wrote 897 days ago

Hello there,

You had me at "Zappa", but this was a terrific view of the golden age of drug-taking. There were strong echoes of Dr Thompson in this, and I loved the simplicity of the lifestyle choices made in the opening chapter... take drugs, get wrecked... and it's not evil. You draw a line between alcohol, the legal and freely available narcotic, and drugs early on. I loved the idea of taking another hit to get through the day at work. If only!

Delighted to shelve. One nit-pick is that you could maybe cut some of the bits where you say "narcotics were my choice", there's some repetition there, but it's a superb and accessible book.

All the best

P

KW wrote 897 days ago

“Kansas, Kansas, Kansas . . . Who would imagine, that they would freak out in Washington D.C. . . . A.C. D.C. . . . No freaks for us, it can’t happen, no, no, it won’t happen here, everybody’s safe, it can’t happen here . . . telling you kids it won’t happen here. . . Suzy Creamcheese, this is the voice of your conscience, baby . . . what’s got into ya?”

Anyone who would start with a quote from “Freak Out” deserves an immediate shelving. Even so, I’ll read on. Frankly, your memoir is one flash from the past. I was 14 in 1969 and turned on just a year before. Actually, I bought a copy of “Life with the Lions” and started cussing when I heard “My Baby’s Heartbeat,” which was just a heart beating. At the time, I wasn’t aware it was recorded for the miscarried baby John and Yoko had at the time, but I felt ripped off (I had bought it because I had thought it was the new Beatles album (Abbey Road) which was slow in being released. I sold that album to a friend for a dollar. Now, the copy is probably valued in the hundreds if not more.

Your memoir reads like a fresh breeze that blows across the empire. “Plastic folks, you know it won’t happen here. You're safe mama, you're safe baby, just cook a TV dinner and you make it up . . . wow wow . . .”

T.L Tyson wrote 901 days ago

Hey otto!
I am returning a read for my friend Patrick while he is away sick.

This is a nutty little story which is intriguing to say the least.
I found that it read too much like facts for me to get really into it. I see where you are going with this and I like the idea but I found that it was very repetative with the 'I's 'we's' and 'nhe's' and she's. A lot of your sentences start with these which is common for first person but it doesn't have to be overdone.
I think you should also look into splitting your first chapter, it is really long. And could be cut into two, maybe three.
Also take note of the long paragraphs, these are hard on the eyes, and since you dont have a ton of dialogue you should keep the paragraphs, short, sweet and to the point, so the reader doesnt get discouraged by the length.
I think you can tell a story for sure, can paint a great picture, like describing the apartment, and defintly know your drug history. (is that a good thing?)
Backed
T.L Tyson-Seeking Eleanor



cara_ruegg wrote 901 days ago

Wow this is crazy... I think you know a little too much about drugs *nudge nudge* lol :p
I liked it so shelved.
-Cara (first, to dream of love)

JohnRL1029 wrote 901 days ago

I wasn't there for the 1970s drug culture, but you really bring it to life on the page. So far, a powerful, disturbing tale of drug use. Shelved.

soutexmex wrote 916 days ago

I am here in regards to our swap read. I read all that you have posted here. Yeah, I can tell the authenticity here. Some of this is your life. It reminded me of a book I came across in SE Asia called The Needle and The Damage Done, no doubt from the Neil Young song.

I would recommend breaking down the paragraphs and redo both those pitches.

SHELVED! I do look forward to your forthcoming comments and possible backing of my book if you have not done so already. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau File

Keith G wrote 918 days ago

Otto,

You need to pull some of the sentences together; probably just the difference in the two systems when you uploaded it on here. Anyway, I read what you have posted here and it reads good; dialogue, characters and chapter endings flow smoothly enough and it's definitely believable. Good stuff and I will put it on my shelf and wish you the best of luck with it in your future literary career.

Peace,

Keith G.

FaithB wrote 924 days ago

Otto - your spare style convincingly evokes the 1970s era - it could almost be a film script. I've read all you've posted straight through and would definitely read the whole book. Thus, on my shelf. Thanks for something really different.

bridgetb wrote 925 days ago

You do a hell of a job describing what life was like in the '70's, and i feel like i lived it as well.
You take the tone of an annoyed teenager like voice and twist it to be unique.
Kudos to you!
Best of Wishes,
Bridget Bergman
(Love's Game)

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