In Brad Zellar’s “Till the Wheels Fall Off,” main character Matthew Carnap returns to his sleepy (heh) hometown in search of… himself. And through Zellar’s mix of honest and rigid and amiable and heartbreaking descriptions and dialogue that teeter back and forth between then and “now,” we get to piece together this character through his own retrospective dissection.

The narrative is delivered in a way that’s effortless and conversational. And straight-up genuine. While the idea of jumping from one thought to the next with no real systematic outline might, in theory, seem calamitous, the flow of events instead feels distinct and transparent. There’s a very personal element that helps readers both form a deeper connection with and better define Matthew — at the same time he’s figuring things out himself.

This is easily the best thing I’ve read all year. And for that matter, in a long time.

Zellar’s prose is simple yet engaging. His conversational tone gives this story and this character a natural flow and straightforward essence through which I was quickly and immediately immersed. And that his novel is set (mostly) in a roller rink to a soundtrack of impressive and impressionable music taps into nostalgia like a drug — and we’re all a bunch of junkies looking for more.

In fact, I was so engaged that, with about 30 pages left, I almost stopped reading because I didn’t want the adventure to be over. Yes, it’s really that good.

Everyone has an origin story, a defining history through which we’ve traveled from there to here. Whether or not it’s compelling is another matter, dependent on memories and observations and seemingly insignificant moments that instead hold a great deal of meaning to help shape who we become. Composing all of that in a way that resonates with anyone hearing or reading it is what creates the draw. And that’s the trick.

To move people with words is a bona fide gift. And Zellar has it. How do I know? Simple: I read his book. Give “Till the Wheels Fall Off” a spin and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

You have just enjoyed the insights of Movie Addict Mel, a cinema dork and conversational writer. Follow her on Facebook and “like” her page at www.facebook.com/movieaddictmel.