Rating: 
Summary: What's in a Name?
Review: The polydactyl protagonist of this exceptional novel is working hard to evade everyone, not least himself. He is a masterful teacher, and this book will take you into the art of false identification (at least I take the book as a valid description) from passports, to birth and death certificates, and all the myriad of data points that converge to define an individual in the modern world. One of the published reviews on this web site claimed that it suffered from a lack of plot, but I think the review somewhat misses the driving force in this novel -- it is not trying to save his girlfriend, Keara, nor is it trying to trick the "evaluator,"; rather, he's trying to evade himself. We are in the world of "head games" here, so it's a bit wide of the mark to compare this to a Tarrantino action/plot drive. In this handbook, it is the self on contorted display.
Rating: 
Summary: Clevenger Twists a Winner - but not for grandma
Review: The title and cover art grabbed my attention over the numerous new releases on the front table. Picked it up, read only half of the first page before I closed the book - and walked to counter to slap down the cash (...). Hooked via our main man and leading character "Johnny"- a brilliant bit of work by the author, I sprinted through this one in two sittings. That's fast for me and my A.D.D. Granted, the plot deserved a bit more attention but The Contortionist is really about the maneuverings of character. And the ways in which Johnny twists, and manipulates and suffers in his longing for love and connection will not be forgotten. Buy it or borrow it, but definitely read it.
Rating:
Summary: surprising and gripping
Review: The world of John Vincent is gripping -- we are taken everywhere from hospital ward to juvinelle hall to the streets of LA. Clevenger artfully weaves his tale, giving us details on how to change a birth certificate and social security card, and then letting the reader glimpse the heart of the real John Vincent. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever wanted to chuck it all and start over.
Rating:
Summary: Truly unique, haunting and memorable...
Review: This book captivated me from the opening scene, where the protoganist lies on the floor of his apartment after a near fatal painkiller overdose. From there on we are thrown into the world of John Dolan Vincent, forger, liar, and man running from his past. From hospital, to prison, to the underworld of L.A., "The Contortionist Handbook" is written with such a brilliant style that mere sentences will stick with you. I would sometimes come to a chapter where a paragraph was so damn good, I just had to read it over at least 3 times. A lot of people who enjoy books by Chuck Palahniuk always go looking for a new author afterwards that can match the experience of one of his novels. Craig Clevenger matches if not far suceeds this goal. I finished this book last week and already I want to read it again.
Rating:
Summary: almost perfect
Review: this book definitely hooked me in right away. one of those books you wish you could read straight through ignoring the rest of your life for awhile. i found it very very well-written. there were weaknesses: i agree with another reviewer that the love story part was a bit sappy as well as the crime-mob dialogue. but i found the character himself really intriguing. that line "sometimes i can be so smart and sometimes i can be so stupid" sums him up. i really did feel like i was privy to the thoughts of this incredibly intelligent man who is missing some really really obvious stuff. he's devised the most complicated solution possible to his problem but he WORKS that solution so well, is so focused on that solution that its never occurred to him to try a different angle. and really his adopted solution makes perfect sense with respect to his background. i was a bit disappointed that he actually did break out of his one-track view at the end. i think it would have been a more interesting ending if he had stayed on his complex little hampster-wheel...
anyway.. definitely a promising writer. i'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: This book is really strange, grabs you and [pulls] you in. Read it quickly and then reread it and take your time. The second time around is even better than the first. I gave it to several friends who each passed it on to others. ...
Great read, looking forward to his next.
Rating:
Summary: On my top 5 list now
Review: This is a read! If you like to think and immerse yourself in a character and great story then this is your book. The dialogue is compelling and moves the story forward without turgid details. The monologues are honest, moving and interesting albeit dark in some sections. The characters are well developed, introduced well and true to their nature. I'm not an avid reader of modern fiction ... find the stories to be the same old regurgitated soup with the same old bread and stale crackers ... THIS BOOK IS GOOD. If you've come this far, don't cheat yourself, buy the damn thing. You will not be disappointed. Fantastic book Craig ... I can't wait for the next installment!!
Rating: 
Summary: Great writer - weak book
Review: This is a talented writer who creates strong characters, imaginative environments and makes cutting social commentary, but unfortunately wraps it up without a coherent story line. It starts strong but ultimately peters out into nothingness. I finished it more from my compulsiveness than on merit of interest.
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