Becky A

• Rated 5 stars

“Yes, this book is mine. :-) I just turned in the final manuscript this past weekend after three years of work. It has been one heck of a ride, from the first shaky little draft about which people said, "great characters, but where's the plot?" to my last red-eyed revision, where I plunged ahead with a final surge of ideas and a driving need to make the book as good as it could possibly be.

This book is about a group of teenagers standing on the brink of adulthood, all coworkers at a ramshackle theme park but as wildly different as any eight kids can be-- nine, if you count the one who turns up on a mission from God. Each is eager to shake the weight of their hometown from their back and make their way in the world: Danielle, the wannabe-pro-snowboarder, but also Ben, whose complex family drama has filled him with rage as well as loneliness, and Sophie, eager to follow the rainbow via her too-slick brother's dubious directions. Then there's Adam, the shy Dungeons & Dragons geek who wants one thing and one thing only, and will have it at any cost: Sophie.

As these and the rest of the teenagers work their way through the summer after graduation, they find their lives unexpectedly intermeshed by love-- by tragedy-- by decisions that can't be undone and, occasionally, by a bit of luck or grace that changes everything. On the market it will be a "mystery," but it began as a coming-of-age story and a meditation on love, in all of its many manifestations. I'm very pleased with the way it's turned out-- full of story questions and ever-higher stakes, but still true to the characterizations that for me are the heart of writing.

It has been an adventure, and I look forward to sending my poor hapless teenagers out into the world: August '09 :-)
”

Becky A wrote this review Tuesday, January 27, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“An interesting look into the lives of an insular group, the Satmar Hasids. I found the insights into the community and the struggles of its fringe members to be pretty fascinating, and it was definitely a worthwhile read. The one area of frustration was its focus on a single member, Yossi, above the others, I assume because Yossi offered Ms. Winston more access to his life than anyone else did. But Yossi's meandering story lacked immediacy for the most part, and I was most curious about the women who appear in the opening chapter but who are not seen again on any significant level. Ms. Winston wrote this book as part of a doctoral thesis, so I can understand it was not intended to be all-encompassing, and what is present is good material.”

Becky A wrote this review Saturday, November 22, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 0 stars

“Ordinarily I would never review a book I didn't finish, but I think it's worthwhile to say that after reading over one-third of this very long book, I didn't feel hooked at all, and gave up. This is a shame, because I thought "Bonfire of the Vanities" was great and was really looking for Wolfe's take on this fish-out-of-water college story. To be fair, I'll call the characters "archetypal" rather than "stereotyped." The problem is that after 253 pages, none had shown one iota of character development and the same plot points from page 60 were still being rehashed, as though the book were in a 200-page holding pattern. Also, I had yet to stumble upon a likable character: not the angry geek, certainly not the jock, and not Charlotte, who plays her role as innocently as Amy Adams as the princess in "Enchanted," but without the sense of farce that made that extreme naivete engaging.

Where Wolfe does well is in developing a world-- as he did in "Bonfire," giving the reader the sense of the breadth and scope of his characters' world while painting the small details with great accuracy. I appreciate that, but I've been to college and I'm not fascinated by the finer points of a kegger party. I really wanted to follow Charlotte, but there's nothing to grasp with her-- no edge, no wit, nothing to relate to or even, due to her sense of her own superiority, particularly cheer for. After a while it's not very enjoyable to read a novel where you'd like to see every last character get their comeuppance, especially when their sins aren't very interesting in the first place.”

Becky A wrote this review Sunday, August 10, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“I enjoyed this book, but it's tough to say if it really had a plot. It talked about ideas more than it told any kind of linear story-- ideas like how one deals with their relationships with their parents, how relationships affect people's lives over years or even generations, how sense of place affects all of that. The characters were likable, for the most part, and the way Reiken used the trope of New Jersey as simultaneously beautiful and pedestrian was well done and interesting. I'm glad I read it, although I was happy to pace myself doing so-- didn't feel a compelling need to race to get through it :-)”

Becky A wrote this review Sunday, August 10, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“A really interesting look at an aspect of New York City-- and human life, for that matter-- that you'd never otherwise consider. Jennifer Toth actually went underground to get to know the people and understand their experience as best she could. The book gets a bit dry and academic in some areas-- an obvious, though reasonable, effort to make sure the work is seen as credible and not just voyeuristic-- and her style can be a bit monotonous and tight. Still, she should be commended for doing the research for such a book and shining a light, so to speak, on the experiences of these individuals. This book will give you a new perspective on your own life and a better understanding of the human experience.”

Becky A wrote this review Wednesday, April 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“This book makes its reputation on its self-absorbed heroine and "horny" (I quote) plot. Those things it has indeed. This is self-actualization '70s style: finding oneself through exploring one's sexuality. If you buy the idea that this is the route to greater self-knowledge, this book will be profound for you. If you don't, it gets obnoxious, although it has its charming and funny moments. Most of all, it's a great insight into its time. ”

Becky A wrote this review Monday, March 17, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Like reading stereo instructions, but hey, it's Martha doing what Martha knows best. This book is nothing if not thorough. If you're looking for inspiration, look elsewhere; looking for a reference book, here you go.”

Becky A wrote this review Monday, March 17, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“This book has a terrific premise and a lot of stylistic issues. On a basic level, it can be kind of grueling to read all the dialogue with not a single quotation mark to be found-- you have to mentally punctuate the whole thing. As a writer I can understand that, but as a reader it's a lot of work. Overall I thought the story was well-written, well-paced, and at times enchanting. The setting details are top-notch, highly evocative. My biggest issue with this book is the ending-- David, you let me down, dude. It felt like he got to the 100,000th word and realized he had no idea how to wrap the story, so he came up with something that doesn't do justice to the first 9/10ths. I'd still recommend it, but read it for the journey, not the destination.”

Becky A wrote this review Monday, March 17, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“I heard wonderful reviews for this book and was very excited to read it to my daughter. While the first third is terrific, the characters well-drawn, and the whole story filled with charming, very realistic details of how family life really goes, I have to admit I was disappointed as the story moved along. It focuses on some not-terribly-exciting story threads, and some of the best action (i.e., arguments) happens 'offstage.' An 8-12 year old probably won't mind, but as an adult reading it to a child, I felt especially impatient for the last third. If there's a sequel, though, I think the characters and style hold a lot of promise.”

Becky A wrote this review Monday, March 17, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Set at a fascinating point in history and with a very unique protagonist, this book was captivating from the very beginning. The narrator's voice is very unique, really capturing her time and place. The setting is beautifully evoked, not just physically but also mystically, in terms of the 'feel' of the time and the sense of lurking danger and the unknown. I felt a bit distanced from the story toward the end, but in retrospect the ending was well-done and if I had looked at it differently I would have been better connected with what was going on. All in all, a great read.”

Becky A wrote this review Tuesday, February 5, 2008. ( reply | permalink )