So this is a spotlight – not a review. I mean, I can’t really give an unbiased review, right? But what I can do is tell you about the books I’ve been so terribly fortunate to read and share with all y’all.
Stays Crunchy in Milk, by Adam P Knave, is part surreal buddy novel, part epic quest across cartoon- and action figure-inspired worlds, and if you grew up in an era where Saturday mornings were a sacred ritual defined by sugary breakfast cereals with commercial breaks that promised you the world, you will find yourself in very comfortable surroundings. It’s light-hearted, and while our heroes certainly face their share of dangerous obstacles, it’s not a dark existential slog. Far from it.
Adam handles his brilliantly bizarre, pop-culture-infused world with a sharp, comic-book-pace, but the real magic of the book lies just beneath the surface. Behind the laugh-out-loud absurdity, his book is something much rarer and sweeter: a genuine, big-hearted story about the power of friendship. And those of us identifying as latch-key carrying members of Gen X know all about friendship with oddballs. It’s not just the setting and the snark that resonate with us readers of a certain age.
It’s easy for modern fiction to mistake cynicism for intelligence. Gen X might have a reputation for being detached or ironic, but the truth is, we’ve always had a massive soft spot for stories with genuine sincerity. There’s plenty of dry wit and clever, fast-paced dialogue, but Adam never treats his characters’ feelings as a joke. The affection they have for one another is the real heart of the story. It’s a sweet, empathetic narrative wrapped in a goofy, colourful candy coating.
And God knows all the generations could use a treat like that right now.
