The Legend of Zip Caustic: How I Became a Failure

This book is rather daring for a first ＂novel.＂ It is based on the life of Zip Caustic, but is structurally not a novel with a plot, nor is it fiction. It is also not a diary, nor is it autobiography. It is a continuous paragraph interrupted by original poems that may, or may not, have any bearing on the content. The single paragraph idea represents the mind ＂now,＂ and is always in now, even if now is thinking about the past or the future. The flow of ideas occurs ＂now.＂ Therefore, there are no chapters. Nothing is happening. Nothing is supposed to happen. This is a preoccupied man with many thoughts ＂now.＂ Thoughts range from being an unemployed music professor, to a failed drummer, to being jealous and alone and to being highly neurotic with body dysmorphia. The ideal structure would have been the eternal paragraph lasting 1000 pages, but there are many poems breaking up that paragraph. This is also not a diary; there are no days, hours, or weeks. The thoughts contain music, philosophy, politics, and range from frustration to anger.

Peter Thoegersen earned a BA, MM, and DMA in music, and has written poetry since the age of 11, and has worked as a semi professional drummer, playing jazz in the Los Angeles area in his earlier life.