Bobby Hall, more commonly known as the rapper Logic, isn’t just in the hip-hop game. Get this: he’s also a fiction writer.
Over the summer, I was perusing in Barnes and Noble when my eye was caught by a bright red book with the words “Supermarket” on the front. They were having a buy one, get one 50% off sale (and I was already buying a copy of “Practical Magic”), so I took a chance and bought it. It wasn’t until after I got home that I realized Logic was the author, which made me super excited to read it. I’m not an avid listener of his music, but I appreciate when musicians branch out into other forms of media. It’s a great way to get to know them as a person and as an artist.
Let me just say that “Supermarket” was one of the trippiest books I’ve ever read. I’m going to try to avoid spoilers the best I can, but just know that the novel is hard to describe fully without giving the entire plot twist away. The book takes place in a small Oregon town and centers around our main character, Flynn, a young tortured writer. After finally getting a publishing deal following months of post-breakup depression, he decides to take up a job at a supermarket in search of inspiration for the plot of his new book. There, he meets characters that inspire and disturb him; most specifically his coworker, Fred, a ridiculous and dark anarchist. While balancing anxiety, manic creativity, and love, Flynn’s mind is revealed to be more complicated than he originally thought.
The novel tackles topics like mental health and creative blocks, which made me wonder if the narrative of “Supermarket” reflects some of Logic’s own creative struggles. Overall, it’s a great balance between witty and dark. You can’t help but fall in love with Flynn and his earnestness. The way the book sequences events and ties up at the end is CRAZY. Think of a “Black Mirror” episode translated into 267 pages, and then you can kind of get the feeling. If I said anymore I would give too much away, but it’s definitely worth reading. The only thing I didn’t love about “Supermarket” was how it seemed a bit corny at times, especially during Flynn’s dialogue with his love interest, Mia. Other than that, I recommend it highly to anyone looking for a quick, interesting read.
– DJ Butter
