The Résumé by Simon L. Read

You can debate my expanding
waistline but you do not
question the résumé!

Firstly, I must disclose that I read this at the behest of someone who may or may not be the author. I assume he is, although it's not clear. It was made available for free in return for a review of equally ambiguous nature.

"The planet had become a giant sheet of framed paper, unquestionable."

So relates the unreliable narrative of Tedwin torX Jnr, detective and possessor or the titular résumé. It is one of many shallowly profound statements that ping around this surreal concept novel, a time-travelling parody of a police procedural and dated futuristic Dada-esque nonsense piece. The forward, by a fictitious film historian, places this as a novel written in 2016 that somehow influences a film of the same title released in 1994, the references to which seep into the public consciousness and become ubiquitous in the years that follow. The action kicks in straight away with the archetypal 'chief' chewing out our narrator before unloading a shotgun into his own face. From there it gets a little weird. Or more weird. Ted torX is on the trail of a serial murderer, all the while taking great care to keep his résumé updated, and all that stuff from the book blurb.

It's hard to know what to make of such absurdity, other than to recount, truthfully, an emotional reaction. With some evident humour and intelligence, as well as a frisson of sexual ambiguity, it was very enjoyable to read, and if you don't put too much effort into wondering what is anagram, what is obtuse reference, and what the fuck it all means, then it's a pleasing diversion, an afternoon's delight. This may not assist you with your decision-making, but at the time of writing it's only £2.99 so why not make up your own mind? If it makes a difference, this is currently the most helpful review on Amazon.

Enough said.

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