Turn off the news because it’s all going to shit anyway. While I’ve just finished Shithole USA by Mark Zirbel, it got me thinking a great deal about, well, everything, including the news.
Shithole USA touched on American culture as it is today, what life is like, and completely craps on it. It basically insults society and all of its flaws. And let’s face it, we’re all thinking it.
To me, it reads like a guidebook to the perfect rebellion. But that’s just me. I wouldn’t be surprised if this novel becomes a “How-To” book on overthrowing fascist regimes. All we would have to do is force-feed them a bowl of their own feces and watch them throw up, then feed them the throw-up and see if they change their minds about things.
Before I get too far ahead of myself, let’s proceed with the review.
Shithole USA Book Review
Corporate culture is a piece of you know what, not to mention that damn aunt of ours that keeps telling us we’re going to hell because we read too much or do yoga. These are all of the things that Mark Zirbel insults in a very nuanced and metaphorical way, and I loved it. When society needs a mirror, it’s going to be us artists, writers, POC, minorities, the LGBT+ who hold up that mirror, but perhaps that’s for another post.
This page-turner is also well-written, making the pages fly by while including complex visuals you’ll never forget.
What’s the plot?
There’s a cult in one of the worst corners of America: Florida. And their leader has brainwashed them.
They’re worshiping their own feces. But they’re not just worshiping it; they’re eating it, making art from it, and playing games with their diarrhea. No, really. Do you know that porn game where a group of guys surround the cookie, and the last one to finish eats it?
Think of that game but using laxatives and explosive diarrhea.
Meanwhile, a zombie plague is spreading rapidly across a large portion of Florida. You catch it through sexual intercourse, and it makes you into a rabid rapist who just needs a hole.
Are the cult and the zombie plague connected?
That’s what Detective Hank Shatley is there to find out. But does he? Well, you’ll just have to read it and find out for yourself.
It’s outrageous
Shithole USA is gross and outrageous in a good way. It had me laughing so hard at times.
It has shitheads made of real shit, sugar babies (looking for sugar daddies) made of real sugar, magical shit, disgusting shit, and good ol’ monkey shit. Not to mention there are shit terrorists that take water balloons, fill them with their excrement, and fling them to make their statement. I mean, that’s what we should do to ICE agents.
There’s even a part where one of the characters is made to lick the toilet seat! However, for some reason, even the most disgusting parts made me want to read more.
A few snippets that stuck with me
He starts by pushing one of my very own buttons, my utter dislike for corporate culture and the suppressive nature of the alarm clock ringing in your ear. And it takes off from there.
He turns the nastiness knob to 60 right away. There are sex-crazed women who masturbate with their dying babies, vaginal knives to slice a man’s dick off, and as many poop metaphors as you can handle.
I mean, black men’s assholes with logs of crap coming out of them while they receive oral sex and then eating the turd and continuing the oral! Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Although it’s wild and gross, the book is so fun to read. It’s like watching a trainwreck you can’t look away from. And if you’re easily offended, this book is not for you.
I mean, I’m only telling you it’s offensive as a courtesy, but I did not find it offensive one bit. In fact, go out and read it. I dare you.
Some Constructive Feedback
I loved reading Shithole USA. The entire book was a thrill ride. But if there is one criticism I have, it’s that I feel it ended too quickly. I could have easily read another 200 pages of fun, grotesque, shit-filled adventures.
The wrap-up was lightning fast, which confused me for a second because I thought we would get a longer breakdown of the events that unfolded. It was abrupt.
I hope that if Mark Zirbel ever reads this, he doesn’t take this as an insult. I, for one, understand what it’s like to write, sell things online, or even create artwork. And I know how hard it is. So, this is not an insult by any means. If anything, I just want to create a well-rounded article so anyone who wants to pick it up understands what they’re in for.
A Few Final Shit-Filled Words
I do believe that anyone who reads it will be disgusted, in a good way, and find the magic of it all inspiring because, to me, it felt like the Harry Potter of the shit world, and I wanted a lot more.
Although I enjoyed reading this book a lot, I’m giving it a rating of 4 (out of 5). I loved it in a different way from Cyberpunk Zombie Jihad.
Cyberpunk Zombie Jihad is more my style (with the gore and the weirdness), but Shithole USA was weird in an entirely new way I could never have imagined.
Great job on your novel, Mark!
What’s your opinion on Shithole USA? Leave your own star-rated review below.
