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The Pursuit of Cool: A coming of age novel set in the 1980s Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 54 ratings

With strong reviews from Kirkus, Midwest Book Review, Writer's Digest and many others, this novel was a Quarter Finalist for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award and Winner of a Next Generation Indie Award.

It appeals to fans of Nick Hornby's High Fidelity, J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, and John Hughes movies. It's the definitive novel about the 80s. It gets past the stereotype, to the way things actually were in the 80s.

"The characters are so well-developed and precise, I am already envisioning which actors would play them on the big screen." --Mamarific

“A skilled writer… A smart account of ’80s college kids… the novel believably summons the ’80s, complete with floppy disks, 9 1/2 Weeks on VHS and R.E.M. cassettes.” --Kirkus Indie Review

"An experience as moving and thought provoking to its reader as it is to its hero." --Literary Inklings
"A splendid job...The lively dialogue is the real music of this novel." --Writer's Digest

"...An excellent job of taking a character and creating his time and place perfectly. A totally enjoyable flashback ride…" --Dew on the Kudzu

"From The Clash to Joy Division to Bauhaus…provides the perfect setting. It centers the reader in that hopeful era of high expectations and jaded reality." --The Book Fetish


Lance Rally is a ragingly ambitious, music and movie obsessed, tragically romantic young man who tries to find "cool" while attending college during the 1980s. He faces pressure to live up to his super-achieving family and is fueled by grandiose ambition. He wants to become a big success, but is prone to distraction. He also has a deeply romantic nature and, though inept, he is sincere and falls in love easily. He discovers emotional complexities as relationships with a beautiful psych major and a feisty goth girl change him. Friendships with a punk rock actor and a subversive scholar challenge his careerist world view. He risks disaster as the clock of academia ticks on. The Pursuit of Cool is an intense and emotional ride through albums covers, dance techniques, all-nighter revelations, and corporate internships gone bad. The story comes alive with music and movies, which give Lance solace as he questions his beliefs and his heart gets crushed. He tries to capture that elusive quality, that magic of youth, the essence that is "cool." Join Lance on his intense ride!

From the Publisher

80s pop culture, coming of age, authentic, deep
Music and movies can pull you through
Lance wanted to feel passionate about something
He falls in love with her
A march toward adulthood made him unhappy

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A splendid job...The lively dialogue is the real music of this novel."--Writers Digest
"The characters are so well-developed and precise, I am already envisioning which actors would play them on the big screen."
--
Mamarific

"An experience as moving and thought provoking to its reader as it is to its hero."
--
Literary Inklings

"An excellent job of taking a character and creating his time and place perfectly. A totally enjoyable flashback ride."--
Dew on the Kudzu
"A skilled writer...A smart account of 80s college kids...the novel believably summons the 80s, complete with floppy disks,
9 1/2 Weeks on VHS and R.E.M. cassettes."--Kirkus Indie Review
"Lance...such a lovable character! The lovable male character who is kind of goofy and different, loved easily, intelligent, but who has depth...I loved it!"--
Novel d'Tales
"From The Clash to Joy Division to Bauhaus...provides the perfect setting. A great debut, and I can't wait to read more from Robb Skidmore."--
The Book Fetish
"Skidmore has skillfully crafted a sympathetic protagonist whom readers root for...and the narration has an understated lyrical quality."--
Watch Me Bounce
"...A novel surrounding college student Lance Rally, as he seeks to rise to the top of the social ladder by finding what cool is, only to be swept into the whirlpool of its many definitions. With plenty of humor and a strong moral on the purpose of youth,
The Pursuit of Cool is a strong pick for general fiction and those who want an original take on the college dynamic."--Midwest Book Review

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B007RZVKEG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ TMiK Press (November 25, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 25, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1477 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 439 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 54 ratings

About the author

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Robb Skidmore
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Robb Skidmore is a novelist who lives in Southern California. He writes upmarket fiction (in between commercial and literary), which combines a literary sensibility with honest and deep characterizations. His critically acclaimed and cult classic novel, The Pursuit of Cool, was a Quarter Finalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest and a Winner of a Next Generation Indie Award. A coming of age story that is full of humor and heartbreak, it follows a music, movie and pop culture obsessed, tragically romantic young man who struggles to find himself while in college during the success oriented 1980s. It has been compared to The Catcher in the Rye and gives a literary voice to Generation X.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
54 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book for its well-written narrative and vivid descriptions. They find the characters relatable and memorable, with a humorous portrayal of human inadequacies. The book is described as an entertaining, compelling read that engages readers deeply. Readers appreciate the author's unique insights and enlightening themes. The musical references are also appreciated. Overall, customers consider it an insightful and worthwhile read that resonates for many reasons.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

14 customers mention "Writing quality"14 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's writing quality. They find it well-written, with skillful use of words and descriptions. They appreciate the rich characterization and powerful narrative. Readers enjoy the perfect phrases, descriptions, and sentences that give them a sense of clarity and simplicity. The author is described as a top talent among serious contemporary writers.

"...generously peppers the book with musical, cinematic, and other pop culture references that provide a totally nostalgic blast from the past, but..." Read more

"...snappy writing, fully-fleshed characters blended with snapshots of pop 1980s culture. It will not only bring you back, but propel you forward...." Read more

"...Author Robb Skidmore seasons the story with many music references, for music was very much a key cultural aspect for we students of the 80's...." Read more

"...It should certainly go down as one of the literary great novels, it is all about a young man's soul-searching to attempt to find out who he really..." Read more

11 customers mention "Narrative style"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the narrative style powerful and engaging. They describe it as a thought-provoking coming-of-age story that is relatable. The book depicts college life in the 1980s with an inventive plot. It captures the confusion of youth and its unfettered potential. Overall, readers find the story entertaining yet insightful.

"...It vividly evokes what it’s like to feel young love, vibrant lust, deep yearning, crushing angst, the exaltation of new ideas, the constant novelty..." Read more

"...Ultimately, The Pursuit of Cool captures the confusion of youth, its unfettered potential set up against the illustrious promises of the world of..." Read more

"This is a Masterpiece!..." Read more

"Robb Skidmore's The Pursuit of Cool is an excellent coming-of-age novel, populated with vividly-drawn characters, especially appealing to anyone who..." Read more

10 customers mention "Humor"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor, sadness, and human inadequacies of the characters. They find the book a great read for atmosphere and character development. The author's skillful portrayal of the characters allows readers to get inside the main character's mind. The lead character Lance is adored by readers.

"...The Pursuit of Cool is smart, funny, authentic, and soulful. I look forward to reading it again...." Read more

"...recommend this book to anyone who loves snappy writing, fully-fleshed characters blended with snapshots of pop 1980s culture...." Read more

"...This really gets inside the main character's mind...." Read more

"...Pursuit of Cool is an excellent coming-of-age novel, populated with vividly-drawn characters, especially appealing to anyone who went to college in..." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They describe it as a well-written, compelling read that deeply engages readers with the characters' lives. The book is described as fun, insightful, and edifying. Readers feel the characters' lively personalities and intense emotions through the characters' interactions.

"...It vividly evokes what it’s like to feel young love, vibrant lust, deep yearning, crushing angst, the exaltation of new ideas, the constant novelty..." Read more

"...But this is no ordinary pop-culture story. With an intensity of both feeling and wit, through the character of Lance Rally, Skidmore creates a vivid..." Read more

"...This book is interesting in that it largely follows the narrator's thought-processes; one gets the sense of a lively, inquisitive, reflective..." Read more

"...Second, Skidmore writes in a way that thoroughly engages his readers with the his characters' lives and concerns, reminiscent of Sallinger's..." Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's value for money. They find it relatable and rewarding.

"...It’s most definitely worthwhile! This novel perfectly captures what it was like to grow up and go to college in the 80s...." Read more

"...It is a very rewarding, entertaining read: and it's all about college in the '80s." Read more

"...These characters WERE 2 of my friends back in the day!!! It's just a great read and I think everyone who is nostalgic for the 80's will thoroughly..." Read more

"Loved this book ~ it really resonates for so many reasons ✨✨" Read more

5 customers mention "Insight"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's unique insights and humor. They find the book entertaining and engrossing, with a constant novelty of new experiences.

"...young love, vibrant lust, deep yearning, crushing angst, the exaltation of new ideas, the constant novelty of fresh experience, and the bewildering..." Read more

"...Skidmore is a very skillful writer, good with the unique insight, and often very humorous...." Read more

"...interesting characters, with humor and almost poetic depiction and insight...." Read more

"...I often re-read paragraphs because they were curious and insightful...I didn't want to forget them. I can't wait for the journey to continue!" Read more

5 customers mention "Music quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's musical references. They say it resonates with them for many reasons, especially the wave/punk/goth genre.

"...It certainly would have one hell of an awesome soundtrack. The Pursuit of Cool is smart, funny, authentic, and soulful...." Read more

"...The music references are fantastic!..." Read more

"I really felt like I was back in the 80's!! The musical references were what really pulled me in...." Read more

"Loved this book ~ it really resonates for so many reasons ✨✨" Read more

4 customers mention "Pursuit of cool"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it relatable and mention it's about finding one's place in life and becoming cool.

"...The Pursuit of Cool is smart, funny, authentic, and soulful. I look forward to reading it again...." Read more

"...The highs and lows of finding adult footing, becoming cool in the eyes of girls, his father, or of the world, are written viscerally to connect us..." Read more

"Cool Book, Cool Times..." Read more

"Fan of the 80s? You'll love The Pursuit of Cool!!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2015
    I immensely enjoyed reading The Pursuit of Cool. It’s fun and entertaining, yet also intelligent and insightful with the edifying qualities one finds in enduring literature. It’s most definitely worthwhile!

    This novel perfectly captures what it was like to grow up and go to college in the 80s. The author generously peppers the book with musical, cinematic, and other pop culture references that provide a totally nostalgic blast from the past, but without resorting to the standard retread of cliches that much later became emblematic of the decade. Skidmore appropriately conveys what it was like to discover and experience different strands of 80s culture firsthand, the way it actually was as opposed to how we’ve come to view it through the lens of post-80s marketing and the predominant surviving memes.

    One of the things that struck me most about this novel was simply the skillful use of words. On the most basic level I found myself enjoying the perfection of certain phrases, descriptions, and sentences. Here is just a sampling of my favorite sentences:

    Embarrassment flared with the intensity of a physical ache.

    His mouth inched open and his eyes shut as ecstatic rhythms pulsed in his skull.

    A pain coalesced behind his lids as his back slid across the grass. Acrid phlegm rose in his throat. ... His other eye bulged, searching about belligerently.

    F*cking, as an activity, sounded violent, impersonal and possibly injurious.

    His voice was a controlled growl, doing violence to the air before his mouth, as though only his collar prevented him from unleashing complete rage.

    With a dogged insularity he put down the plate and ambled over to the grill.

    His nerve endings howled with astonishing greed.

    Inhaling the sweet honeycomb of her hair was like waking from an operation.

    Cold crept under his jacket, prickling at his ribs like carpenter nails.

    Trickles of anxiety fluttered through him like rain on a car’s hood.

    I kept finding word choices, turns of phrase, descriptions, and sentences that struck me as just right. Or at least very interesting. That’s another reason this book was a joy to read.

    The Pursuit of Cool also beautifully captures the intensity with which life is experienced as a young adult. It vividly evokes what it’s like to feel young love, vibrant lust, deep yearning, crushing angst, the exaltation of new ideas, the constant novelty of fresh experience, and the bewildering unknown of an unformed life ahead. Everything seems so important and defining at that age. As someone currently in his 40s (and not for much longer!) I enjoyed recapturing a glimpse of what that was like.

    A recurring thought I had while reading this novel was how easily I could imagine it transferring to the big screen. This book should be made into a movie! It certainly would have one hell of an awesome soundtrack.

    The Pursuit of Cool is smart, funny, authentic, and soulful. I look forward to reading it again. And I believe that Robb Skidmore is proving to be a top talent among serious contemporary writers. I’m definitely a fan!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2013
    Robb Skidmore's novel, The Pursuit of Cool, captured my attention by page 5 with his portrayal of youthful vulnerability in the form of his main character, Lance Rally, on his prom date. From that point on, The Pursuit of Cool stirs up iconic images of the 1980s as we follow Lance Rally to college. But this is no ordinary pop-culture story. With an intensity of both feeling and wit, through the character of Lance Rally, Skidmore creates a vivid portrait of male coming of age in the 80s. The highs and lows of finding adult footing, becoming cool in the eyes of girls, his father, or of the world, are written viscerally to connect us with Lance Rally, even across the decades.

    There's no question the 1980s provide the seasoning flavors of The Pursuit of Cool, complete with references to punk rock, moussed hair and the economic one-upmanship of a decade driven by yuppies. Indeed, the theme of the story pivots on that very pressure, for example, when Lance Rally falls in love with Lynn Van Oster, the most sought-after girl on campus. The balance to please or to be pleased is not just a battle of the sexes, but rather a matter of life choices and the pivotal theme of the book. The world of the 1980s may be the perfect setting for the unraveling of precepts through Lance's musical explorations and personal discoveries, but make no mistake, the story is not confined by the era.

    As Rally confronts the thrilling and perilous business of negotiating relationships, sex and adulthood, the reader will clearly recognize aspects of their own awkward stages of youth or someone they know. We identify with Lance as he grows from innocent awkwardness to a more tempestuous awkwardness, first with the " it girl" on campus, Lynn van Oster and later with riskier trysts with the darker Veronica.

    Skidmore's ability to portray male vulnerability through his main character is brilliant. Ultimately, The Pursuit of Cool captures the confusion of youth, its unfettered potential set up against the illustrious promises of the world of the 1980s. As we follow Lance on his collegiate journey to pursue cool, to be successful, or at the very least have a direction in life, the pursuit transforms. Lance's world pressurizes, eventually forcing him to the realization that uncertainty and the chaos that comes with it is not only OK, but liberating, and that is a message for all times.

    I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves snappy writing, fully-fleshed characters blended with snapshots of pop 1980s culture. It will not only bring you back, but propel you forward. There's no doubt the 1980s influenced us all one way or another, but what we find in The Pursuit of Cool is that these influences go deeper than just the style of a decade.

    This page-turner has you "rallying" for Lance Rally. Admittedly, sometimes, he's not such a likable character. At times he steers perilously close to the callous chauvinist you might have dated in college, but ultimately his story leads us to common ground, the ground of hope where opportunity lies in the unexpected, and where our futures unfurl in jagged half-truths instead of neat little packages delivered in the form of diplomas and referral letters.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Matteo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brillante!
    Reviewed in Italy on March 10, 2014
    Se siete cresciuti negli anni '80, non dovreste perderlo, ci si affeziona presto ai personaggi ed ognuno di noi credo possa riconoscersi nel loro cammino verso l'etá adulta.

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