Sommelier of Deformity

A young man’s world is upended by the unexpected force of friendship in this uneven, id-fueled debut. Narrator Charles “Buddy” Hayes is built to offend with grotesque humor, self-aggrandizement, and sexual perversions. He revels in his fear and hate of the world, but takes refuge in his mother’s love, his grandfather’s mentorship, his booming email marketing business, and an array of anonymous sexual encounters. Suffering from scoliosis and standing at 4’9” (scoliosis-related pain is never mentioned, oddly), Buddy describes himself as “Quasimodo,” “visually poisonous,” and a “gremlin.” He is also a petulant housemate, self-avowed racist, and “connoisseur of the unwanted,” cultivating in himself sexual desire for women he believes other men pointedly ignore. Enter Terrence Johnson, an empathetic black nurse whose role caring for Charles’s mother threatens Buddy’s sense of self-sufficiency and staunch prejudices. Terrence drags an unwilling Buddy into the real world, and Buddy begins a raucous discovery of self and solidarity with his new friend. Throughout, Buddy tells his story with the affect of a well-aged alcohol spokesperson in a smoker’s jacket. “She had large dark eyes; thick, Athenian brows; a strong, slightly aquiline nose. Her mouth was my greatest challenge.” His loyalty and sense of wonder make Buddy engaging, but Yetto’s toying with problematic language and tropes seems meant to simply offend and soils that enjoyment, resulting in a bizarre, disconcerting buddy comedy. (July)