Review: Cheeseland, a Tale of Life
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 13, 2012
Cheeseland by Randy Richardson is the story of three friends, Danny, Lance, and Marty, who grew up together; and the secrets and lies, which permeated their existence to the point where none of the three could breathe any longer.  Written as a first person narrative by Danny, one of the childhood friends; this tale speaks to a reader like a high school friend.  It could be said that this is a story of teen suicide and its effects on those left behind, but that would be an over simplification.  This is a tale of life, death, and all the messy happenings in between those opposite ends.It is well written, yet straightforward and easy-going, like hanging out with best friends and having a long talk about all those things that no one outside the circle knows.  Sometimes those people on the outside of the circle wish to be included, but more often than not, those same people would be glad of their position on the outside looking in, if he or she only knew what those within the bond knew.  The characters are vivid and alive, through action more than description, but descriptions, where it may be lacking, is never missed.  A reader will feel the missing party with him or her throughout the entire work, just as the other characters feel the presence.The plot is uncomplicated, yet has no problem pulling a reader into the story and giving them a fly-on-the-wall view of the lives unfolding.  A note to anyone expecting this to be a nice, simple, clean-cut, rated G version of life up until the "bad parts", such a person would be way off base.  The plot may be written in an uncomplicated manner, but the lives involved are anything but clear-cut simplicity.  To all those out there fighting to leave the past where it belongs, this is a tale of the choices presented and what the repercussions are if one does or does not succeed.