Booktails — “Supermarket”

“F*** the literary world. I wanted to write something I’d want to read. And isn’t that what art is about, anyway? Expressing yourself the way you want to. Maybe that’s why I had been so scared to actually finish and release a book.”

Some of you might be familiar with Logic the rapper, but did you know he’s also written a novel? Bobby Hall (A.K.A. Logic) published Supermarket in 2019. After releasing a dystopian concept album, he was looking for a new project and wanted to try something a little different. Although Hall doesn’t consider himself a huge reader, he says Indiana Jones books and H.G. Wells’s “The Time Machine” inspired him to write this unique story. Supermarket’s simplistic red cover caught my eye during a Target run and quickly became a favorite of mine due to the story’s voice and inventiveness.

Supermarket takes place in a small Oregon town and centers around our protagonist, Flynn.

Flynn is a young, troubled writer who, after a significant post-breakup depression, secures a book deal with a publishing agency in New York. He then returns to his small town with newfound motivation to pursue his dream.

As research for this book, Flynn gets a job at the local supermarket. There, he meets a handful of coworkers who inspire and disturb him. One of these coworkers, Frank, is an over-the-top anarchist who becomes the model for Flynn’s main character. With the plot of his book figured out and an exciting work romance flourishing, Flynn’s world seems to be getting brighter every day.

But nothing at the supermarket is what it seems. The novel quickly takes twists and turns while addressing issues such as depression and anxiety.

*Spoilers ahead! Proceed with caution!*

As the story continues, we begin to notice some interesting details. From the lack of interaction other characters have with Frank to the looks Flynn receives from strangers while walking his dog, clues are sprinkled in, making us realize that Flynn’s mind might not be entirely rooted in reality.

There are two parts to this novel.

The first half follows Flynn as he works on his book and ends with the catalysing event that lands him in a mental institution. The second half follows him as he struggles to overcome his delusions and escape this supermarket loop he’s been stuck in for years.

Although the story itself is a touch predictable, I was immediately drawn into the world Hall creates and enjoyed the way he presents mental health. His description of panic attacks is highly realistic, and the way he describes derealization felt natural and effortless.

If you’re a fan of The Catcher in the Rye or One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, I highly suggest giving this book a try. Even though Flynn’s story is extreme, Hall has done a fantastic job talking about depression and anxiety, and I believe his book can help many of us escape our own loops.

*Next month we’ll be reviewing The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He. Pick up a copy now, or follow @beniciabooktails on Instagram for a chance to find one during our treasure hunt.