Review: This is an impressive novella, a great first book
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 3, 2012
This is an impressive novella, a great first book about twenty-eight year old Jackson Reilly's struggle. He is a bouncer and biker and his struggle is about personal change. I like the tone and atmosphere created by the author's writing. It is simple and concise. You can feel the tension and collision between Jackson's old life and the new life he is heading towards. Some readers may feel uncomfortable when reading the first few pages of the book, but these pages - the language used and the wretchedness of the situations described - are essential if one wants to appreciate Jackson's dilemma. I liked how the author managed to add, often with just a few sentences or paragraphs, aspects of Jackson's past: his painful relationships with his mother and father. And there are two important women in Jackson's life. You would like to meet them, believe me, especially the older one. But I won't give anything away. I liked this book. It has weaknesses of course like many first novels and novellas. Some of the events described are not totally credible. I didn't always feel the depth of emotions of the characters in the book. The ending of the book is powerful and satisfying. Is this a four or a five star book? If the author were an established writer, I would say four stars. But this is his first book, it is well written - five stars. Reviewed by the author of Travelling with Maria.