Why Aren’t You Smiling? by Alvin Orloff
A teenage outsider in the 1970s sheds his boring dweeb persona and starts hanging in the park with the cool burnouts.
He's taken under the wing of a handsome charismatic Jesus-Freak-turned-cult-leader.
Orloff barbeques the 70s New Age culture with one zinger after the next, while still showing sympathy for the yearnings and aspirations of any young kid trying to be cool.
Alvin, the author, has been the manager of the beloved Dog-Eared Books on Valencia St. in San Francisco's Mission District for years. He was the lyricist for the San Francisco punk band the Hairdryers and used is locally beloved as the founder of the greatest City club of all time, (IMHO!) Klubstitute.
I was floored to find out he was a writer, and such a good one.
Narrated with droll tenderness by Jake Lewis.
--Willow Pennell and Susie Bright
