Official Review: Accumulation by Buan Boonaca

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Vickie Noel
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Official Review: Accumulation by Buan Boonaca

Post by Vickie Noel »

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Accumulation" by Buan Boonaca.]
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4 out of 4 stars
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There’s a thin line between imagination and reality.

I’ve always been a lover of creative descriptions; words painting pictures. I finally snagged a book that virtually swept me off my feet in that regard. From the opening sentence in Accumulation, it was evident that Buan Boonaca possessed a gift in the art of verbal expression. His skillful use of figures of speech, merged with colorful adjectives, produced a decorative, witty and downright entertaining read.

Delivered in the third person deep POV for the protagonist while using limited POV for other characters, the story unfolds as Cam gets set to begin his Vegas adventure with closest buddy, T, whose full name will never be known because his teacher punished him for his inability to call it at age 3. After losing all their money at the casino tables, they dejectedly leave that part of the premises only for Cam to hit a jackpot at a lower denomination gaming machine. Excitedly, they gear up to fulfill their lifelong desire of partying like rock stars. Of course, this includes getting drunk and making stupid decisions, one of which changes Cam’s life forever. He gets a tattoo. That’s just about it, right? Wrong. Every so often, someone discovers a new one on a different part of his body that Cam’s never aware of. These aren't fanciful body art or historical markings. They are strange, meaningless arrangements of lines and circles popping up sporadically. As this oddity builds to a crescendo, Cam becomes practically unrecognizable. He struggles to make out heads or tails of his predicament. To make matters worse, “a man in a long black coat with long black hair” is almost always glimpsed leaving the scene after the mysterious appearance of each new tat. Does he have something to do with this strange phenomenon? More importantly, does the nightmare spreading from his skin to his entire life ever end? You’ll have to read to find out!

Realistically developed characters dominate Boonaca’s book, Accumulation. The relationship between Cam and T is typical of male best friends and this reflects on their everyday interactions. Yet, their personalities stand out individually so that I had a hard time deciding if I preferred that to their synergistic energy. Ras, nicknamed after the Russian mystic god Rasputin, is a character straight out of a Shakespearean book. He speaks in such formal tones that my reading pace subconsciously reduces for easier analysis and comprehension. A classic Ras comment reads thus:
“...You must have been aware the artistic engineering of your epidermis would result in continual observation and scrutiny by the excess of simple-minded peons this tavern and the world overflow with.”

Fast paced, Accumulation is fraught with twists and turns that you absolutely don’t see coming. Cam severally teeters along that thin line between the real and the imagined. Using themes of self discovery, tolerance and acceptance, Boonaca explores society’s stereotyped attitude towards people who appear somewhat different from the norm. By means of Cam's experience, he confirms the age-old saying that there are always two sides to a story, even when we think the truth is obvious. Also noteworthy is the author's smooth and relaxed writing style in addition to his effortless application of humor. I found myself smiling, chuckling and out-rightly laughing throughout this breezy read.

Despite these perks, I did spot a handful of errors in this 332-page self published book, the majority of them being comma omissions after prepositional phrases/clauses. Also, there were two instances where the lack of a scene break prevented me from realizing that those particular scenes had ended. It interrupted the flow a bit but I quickly got back on track. As a result, my overall enjoyment of the story didn’t really diminish which is why I rate Accumulation a 4 out of 4 stars.

There’s a bit of mildly described, sexual innuendo however, as well as few swear words and graphic details. One may want to skip a page or two because these parts are neither frequent nor strong enough to warrant total discard of the book. Accumulation is one read that glues your eyes to its pages and I recommend it to all, especially those who have had to deal with intense scrutiny from judgmental eyes as well as any who have taken definitive measures to live life despite such trials. There’s a teeny-tiny window for a sequel, supposing the author deems it fit, and I certainly look forward to reading more from him.

******
Accumulation
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Post by Samantha Simoneau »

I really enjoyed your review and I love the premise of this book. I'm highly interested in what ultimately happens to Cam and what's up with his mysterious tattoos. I'm going to read this one and then I'm going to dig out my old copy of The Illustrated Man because the whole tattoo thing made me remember how good that book is, too. Thanks for the recommendation and the unexpected nostalgia!
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Post by Bobby_brown38 »

This is a really intriguing review.... Longing to read this one and any other books under this genre...Nice work
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Post by crediblereading2 »

I like yourself really enjoy creative descriptions by use of words. Thank you for your splendid review.
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Post by ADP »

life is a matter of choice The decision you take today go a long way to affect your tomorrow! Just like big brother cam. .
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Post by Amanda Deck »

Vickie, when I read, "I found myself smiling, chuckling and out-rightly laughing throughout this breezy read," that added to my interest in this book. And like SamSim, I immediately thought of The Illustrated Man and wanted to reread that too.
This book sounds intriguing. I'm definitely curious about the mystery man, his purpose, and how things turn out for poor Cam caught in his life-altering -- and even life-defining -- situation. It's interesting to read of people's thoughts on "stereotypical reactions" because they reflect changing attitudes to accepting our human biology. We naturally feel more comfortable with the familiar even as our attention is caught by novelty. In modern American society, it's now unacceptable to be uncomfortable with the unfamiliar or even notice it! I've wondered if this is a human attempt to overcome our "animal" biology and be something greater. And I wonder if this is possible or even desirable. I think I need to read this book.
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Post by Vickie Noel »

SamSim wrote: 09 Jun 2018, 08:20 I really enjoyed your review and I love the premise of this book. I'm highly interested in what ultimately happens to Cam and what's up with his mysterious tattoos. I'm going to read this one and then I'm going to dig out my old copy of The Illustrated Man because the whole tattoo thing made me remember how good that book is, too. Thanks for the recommendation and the unexpected nostalgia!
Thanks a lot for your kind words and I'm happy you got that trip down memory lane. I would like to also check out the book you mentioned to note its similarities with this one. Appreciate the feedback!
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Post by Vickie Noel »

Bobby_brown38 wrote: 09 Jun 2018, 10:49 This is a really intriguing review.... Longing to read this one and any other books under this genre...Nice work
Thanks for reading, please let me know if you do try it out!
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Post by Vickie Noel »

crediblereading2 wrote: 09 Jun 2018, 10:57 I like yourself really enjoy creative descriptions by use of words. Thank you for your splendid review.
Then you're in for a thrill, I assure you. Get ready to go full throttle. Also, thanks for reading and commenting.
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Post by MsTri »

As a lover of tattoos - I have seven as of this writing, all well thought-out and on purpose - I've always been fascinated by people who wake up with tats they don't remember getting. It sounds like this book takes that premise and cranks it up ten-fold. I'll definitely read it as time allows... Thanks for the very thorough and thoughtful review.
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Seems like a beautifully written book with an intriguing supernatural element. I love books that really grab you and drag you into the story. Thanks for your informative review!
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Post by tkrapish »

This book sounds very interesting. I really enjoyed your review. I was drawn to this book because I enjoy books that have characters that are seen as different from society's point of view. Thank you for confirming my suspicions when you stated "there are two sides to every story." I can't wait to read the book to see how the story evolves.
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Post by Sahani Nimandra »

A bit of everything makes it a good read. Your synopsis kept my interest on the run. Sounds like a read that will keep you sticked for a long longgggg time. Thank you for a delightful review!
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Post by Vickie Noel »

MsTri wrote: 09 Jun 2018, 17:41 As a lover of tattoos - I have seven as of this writing, all well thought-out and on purpose - I've always been fascinated by people who wake up with tats they don't remember getting. It sounds like this book takes that premise and cranks it up ten-fold. I'll definitely read it as time allows... Thanks for the very thorough and thoughtful review.
Wow, then I'm sure you'll sympathize a lot with Cam, in fact, pretty much become him. I'd love to hear what you think whenever you're through with the book! Thanks so much for your input.
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Post by Vickie Noel »

joshfee77 wrote: 09 Jun 2018, 18:36 Seems like a beautifully written book with an intriguing supernatural element. I love books that really grab you and drag you into the story. Thanks for your informative review!
I'm glad to hear that. The story had me baited like a helpless, little fish :D The author really got crafty with this work. Thanks for reading!
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