All the Sweet Prettiness of Life by Cody Sexton
The past is never as dead as it looks.
Colin’s review
I whizzed through this graphic short story from the mind of Cody sexton, in about 40 minutes. A very easy read for someone who was once a teenage boy, as it delves into the fantasies of the adolescent mind. With a couple of warped twists, there appears to be no end to your imagination as this story could lead anywhere.
Editor’s note
Cody Sexton isn’t just a powerhouse of talent through literature. This is a man who excels in all the forms of artwork I’ve discovered of his. That Which Hell Promises is a great example of this and splays out Sexton’s haunting imagery page by page. This is also the creator of one of my favourite zines and indie presses, A Thin Slice of Anxiety and Anxiety Press. For transgressive authors and those like myself who choose to write as close to the bone as we dare, Sexton has created a “safe” place for likeminded individuals. Through Cody Sexton I have found a community of huge talents and great folk.
In regards to All the Sweet Prettiness of Life, I was gripped just as much as Colin. The main protagonist’s sexual awakening sums up a lot of frustrations and unknown desires for the typical adolescent young man. But these misplaced emotions are short lived when you realise the impact of sexual abuse that takes place. A high school lad’s fantasy about, say their teacher, is exactly where it should stay – a fantasy. Sexton hits on far much more than that though, which for a book less than 100 pages is amazing in itself. The corruption of religion and the abuse of power that is an unfortunate associate really leaves one on the reader.
I’m a big fan of Cody Sexton the writer, the editor, the human and the friend. I highly advise this book or any of Sexton’s work to anyone. Be gripped.
– James Jenkins
Urban Pigs Press 
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