This is a recitation by the author/composer of an excerpt from the chamber novel when it was still in progress four years prior to its publication in 2018.
JAGDLIED is available for purchase at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GJ1RDQJ?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=MSG0PEQ0MH7G5SKCFES4
LISTED BY AMY'S BOOKSHELF REVIEWS AS ONE OF THE TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2018
"Many elements make Jagdlied a unique title that defies easy categorization as a novel, thriller, or other singular genre accomplishment. While it's all of the above, it's also a performance piece, a literary roller-coaster, a "musically and graphically enriched chamber novel", a satire, a work of art, and a psychological striptease. One might not expect the seriously dirty, cruel element of the story line; but this too is one of the many pieces that make Jagdlied fairly indefinable.
First of all, readers should keep a dictionary close at hand. This is no whimsical romp, but holds language that is dense, paradoxical, and satisfyingly educational for readers who fancy themselves wordsmiths: "Appreciating these "fun facts" about our beauteous young demigoddess, our besotted young aristo - the disconsolate, lachrymose, and wretchedly heartsick young wooer publicly known by the sobriquet "Threwer in the Sewer" (whose solo Dutch act, on Melody's behalf, had inspired a wave of solitaires all across the country and abroad) - had written her the following ditty, as a kind of sympathetic ode, if thou wilt, to the aforesaid barb in her side..."
As poetry, black and white and color illustrations, and scathing satirical observation permeate the story of a coddled rich girl's questionable ethical and moral standards, readers will find the complex descriptions, wordplays, and scenarios to be both demanding and entertaining, all in one: "Suffice it to observe here that, seeing as our castigated cokitten found herself arched over in such an impertinently conciliatory posture, this publicly transgressive perscrutation of her backslice didn't unfail to forgo the kankerdort of consternating her profusely." (Note: this book is offered in both color and black and white versions - the black and white one is considerably less expensive.)
By now it should be obvious that this tour de force is a thriller of linguistic acuity designed to delight a genuine aficionado of the English language. From the neo-heroine heiress Melody's position of power and layers of exploitative behaviors to her come-uppance, fostered by those who have suffered her slings and arrows, Jagdlied is at once indefinable because of its mercurial approach and satisfyingly whimsical and unique in its scathing presentations.
Love and hate, revenge and redemption, and a diamond-studded thriller atmosphere that demands much from its readers while rewarding its audiences with a compelling, sassy set of characters and conundrums make for a read that is hard to put down.
Whether it's passive-aggressive behavior in front of a judge or a "commiserable coquette" who falls from grace and finds herself immersed in situations beyond her control, Jagdlied offers a lovely synthesis of graphic illustration, music, and a powerful, satirical hand heavy on the written word that creates a lively romp. Because the author has embedded over a hundred YouTube videos into the text, readers will ideally have their headphones powered up to absorb the musical interludes and references.
Readers will want to allow plenty of time to absorb both its captivating descriptions and the underlying nuances of Melody's encounters in a story that is especially recommended for literary readers of experimental writings and thrillers which are quite a notch above the standard formula fare."—DIANE DONOVAN, Senior Reviewer of MIDWEST BOOK REVIEWS (April, 2019 edition)
“...a psychological thriller charged with dark humor, erotica, and thought-provoking philosophical questions ... unlike anything I have ever read ... you get immersed and entirely consumed by the events ... a roller-coaster that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Questions and discussions on philosophical topics, life, love, democracy, Marxism, the types of brain, and the struggle of the worker against machinery add depth to the prose. Musically and graphically enriched, the prose was a feast that satiated my mind, eyes, and ears ... an extraordinary reading experience ... Reading this book will take you on an epic visual-auditory adventure, and is bound to keep you glued to your seat till the very end.” —ONLINE BOOK CLUB
“...monumental ... farcical story evolving around the adventures of a spoiled teenage entitlement princess ... a huge undertaking ... [the author] also composed all of the music and masterfully performs the majority of it ... Perils of Pauline on steroids— modernized, more exaggerated, highly extravagant, and decadent ... lavishly illustrated with drawings that have a sixties Haight- Ashbury summer of love feel to them ... He proves himself a master cartoonist that can create a tapestry of masterfully detailed and storytelling images with an astonishing diversity of style and creativity. There is a satirical edge to most of his drawings that profoundly helps convey the harrowing, tragic, and juicy stories. The book’s inherent drama is expressed vividly in the multitude of graphics that show the characters with unique faces, attitudes, and emotions ... full of villainous cut-throats who masquerade as Melody’s friends ... many comic scenes and eccentric personalities, which play an integral part in both the plot and the theme ... Much of the dialogue is copiously enriched with words that are inventions of [the author’s] ... a colorful cast of characters consisting of eccentrics, beautiful damsels, the unsophisticated and everything in between ... [Landon’s] narrative sweep is so great and so strange that it lends itself readily to graphic depictions and to ... musical accompaniment. His work is masterful, stylistic and complex. This is a huge book ... uniquely entertaining and truly worth experiencing.” —AUTHORSREADING
“The author has skillfully crafted a tale of sour love, questionable characters, jealousy and revenge ... told vividly and imaginatively ... a thrilling literary ride through the protagonist’s experiences as a princess whose castle is falling apart by the brick. On one hand, you feel bad for her but on the other you would rather not bother. This quality leaves the reader so gloriously torn between the characters of the book. Not to mention glued to the pages as the story unfolds ... The readers will find themselves quite easily drawn into the story. The unusual tone and a touch of simplicity for the complex plot are welcoming and appealing. They beg the reader to read just one more page. To find out what happens next and then next. The term ‘page turner’ was coined for this book ... To the intrigued reader, beware, this book is quite a dirty sex crazed romp. Conservatives better brace themselves, keep a bible handy, and an open mind because you will hate how much you enjoy the erotic quality of this book. Rarely does a book possess so many winning qualities. Humor, drama, erotica, tragedy and much more. All delivered with expert craftsmanship and a generous dose of thrill ... a very enjoyable and entertaining ride.”
—LITERARY TITAN (WINNER OF THE LITERARY TITAN BOOK AWARD)
“...a multifaceted novel about a wealthy heiress, socialite, and trust-fund diamond-digger debutante named Melody. Intending for Jagdlied to be acted out and enjoyed with the accompanying illustrations and musical scores, Landon’s alter egos—Gary Lloyd Noland and Lon Gaylord Dylan—contributed to Landon's satirical and (aptly) self-described “chamber novel” with symphonic compositions and comic-strip style images. Throughout, Landon writes a narrative that follows Melody, the protagonist and anti- heroine, as she navigates everything from business to broken hearts, and courtrooms to carnivals ... The links to the author’s original music compositions on YouTube are also provided and ... made the scores easy to play on cue. My personal favorite ... was Mumbo Gumbo (Op. 71, No. 1), which gave me the biggest smile ever with a Ragtime meets Flight of the Bumblebee rhythm. Jagdlied is everything it sets out to be and the creative genius of Landon is delivered at full throttle. In short: I loved this book. It’s a wholly unique concept but I was able to grasp it easily and look forward to any opportunity to act this out with my most open-minded friends; those who have the same scruples as myself ... No scruples, whatsoever. Highly recommended!” —JAMIE MICHELE, READERS’ FAVORITE
“...am flabbergasted ... by the magnitude (bigger than Our Bodies, Ourselves) ... by the multi-media Gesamtkunstwerk ambitions ... by the Joycean wordplay ... exuberant code-switching, diction-mixing, blending of disparate linguistic ingredients into previously unknown harmonies and cacophonies. Like Finnegans Wake or The Anatomy of Melancholy ... I look forward to dipping into it for years to come” —CHRISTOPHER MILLER (AUTHOR OF SUDDEN NOISES FROM INANIMATE OBJECTS & AMERICAN CORNBALL)
“...creative genius ... unique ... thought-provoking ideas and language ... memorable and enjoyable. I highly recommend this creation as an experience not to be missed!” —GOLFWELL.NET
“...a thriller novel unlike any other. Its words lead you on a journey that gives a unique literary style ... I was curious and lost within the pages immediately. The plot was complex. Dolly Gray Landon knows how to write in a way that [piques] one’s interest and holds it until the end ... There was a combination of styles poured into this book ... a rich, fun, and ... epic read.” —URBAN BOOK REVIEWS
“...a work of arts-based literary fiction ... [it] provides the opportunity for artists, creators, performers, musicians and the like to expand on the story and present it in much more theatrical terms. The tale itself is a wild ride where a wealthy young woman finds her undoing, but the plot goes far beyond this single girl, ranging between sick-lit, grotesque, surrealist and absurd themes
definitely kept me reading! I think the concept of treating the plot of Jagdlied with a wider artistic series of tools is an excellent idea, and I could certainly see the wild and absurd moments of the story enticing and inspiring spontaneous performance ... a niche read for artists of all kinds looking for something unexpected to create ... an explosive collection of content that will certainly get creative minds going ... not for the faint of heart.” —K.C. FINN, READERS’ FAVORITE
“...a stunning piece of literature that enthralled, entertained and enchanted me from the very first page! ... will captivate readers from all genres thanks to the many themes that are interwoven between the pages ... brilliant! ... took my breath away ... impossible to put down ... unforgettable ... if you are a reader who is tired of reading the same old books that are lackluster and forgettable then take a chance with this one ... you will not be disappointed! This incredible book gets Five Stars from me!”
—AIMEE ANN, RED HEADED BOOKLOVER
“...a chamber novel that reads like a comic thriller complete with musical sidebars and graphics. The princess, more of a teenage heiress who thinks she is entitled to a huge inheritance, is about to be brought down to earth with a very large bump. Follow Melody on a ... farcical journey as she learns some hard truths about life, love and whatever comes in between ... Jagdlied was one of those ‘oh my gosh!’ books ... entirely colorful and strangely eclectic mix of words ... totally outlandish ... genius ... incredibly complex ... creative ... no denying the cleverness....” —ANNE-MARIE REYNOLDS, READERS’ FAVORITE
“...Remarkably creative ... simply magnificent ... this is the first ‘chamber novel’ that I've read ... wonderfully put together. The graphics were vibrant and storytelling ... unique and powerful ... I truly never read anything like it before. The story was filled with satire, darkness and embarked many different aspects about life and human behavior. I enjoyed the entire story and how it all came together, making sense of the wondrous mind of Landon....”
—AMY’S BOOKSHELF REVIEWS (listed as one of the TOP 10 BOOKS of 2018)
DESCRIPTION
Suffused with scathing satire from cover to cover, this award-winning “chamber novel” is a deeply unsettling, intellectually probing, neurotically supercharged, musico-graphically enriched psychological suspense thriller about the artfully revengineered conspiratorial undoing of a complacent, over-coddled, trust-funded teenage entitlement princess who is possessed of an eminently questionable code of ethics and morals. The book’s anti-heroine is a beautiful young heiress, socialite, and sugar-daddy-seeking subdebutantilizer called Melody whose inheritance comprises an immense fortune amassed through shareholder investments in the world’s largest employment recruiter: the multi-national temp agency behemoth known as the Pleasant Peasant Corporation. Insidiously sly on the uptake, Melody is quick to abuse her position of power for the purpose of tipping the inequitable scales of the socioeconomic system to her pecuniary advantage not only at the calamitous expense of those who are thousandfolds less privileged than she is but also to the grave detriment of rich and powerful sugar daddies who are, despite their social standings, vulnerable to the sexual machinations she sets in motion by dint of her coquettish charms with an eye to beguiling them out of their monetary assets in conjunction with prickteasing them into granting her unmerited favors to advance her career. She is under the smug delusion that she is achieving her aims by exploiting what she perceives to be their Achilles’ heels—i.e., their psycho-emotional impotence to resist her come-hither cajoleries. It is the age-old story of the filthy rich topfeeding from the pockets of the poor as well as that of a bewitching young seductress manipulating powerful men to achieve her nefarious ends. In the course of a 36-hour timespan our star-crossed heroine learns some rude lessons about life once the tables are turned in her disfavor, whence she experiences sharp vicissitudes of fortune and finds herself in the position of being bountifully force-fed outsized mouthfuls of a Reality Sandwich fixed in her honor by her exploitees and their vigilous cohorts.