John Lauricella

I won this book in exchange for an honest review, so thanks to the powers that be over at LibraryThing and to the author John Lauricella.

I have never heard of John Lauricella, much less his book, however reading over a brief description, I became intrigued. Everything I thought this book was gonna be it was not. Do I mean that in a bad way??...No. It just was not what I was expecting at all. For starters, the title...thought it had to do with a time in history so very long ago...was thinking it was referencing "Uncle Sam". How surprised I was to find it was referring to something completely different. This book is a story of the lives of people..neighbors, post September 11. At first it appears to be ordinary mundane lives but over time you start connecting with the characters...you start getting to the bulk of the matter. The author has a way with really getting into the thoughts of these people. Thoughts we all might have from time to time but we don't ever really mention out loud. Gritty..chaotic..brash..honest..angry..bitter and confused feelings and in his characters cases, feelings exacerbated by the way 9/11 has left so many people thinking and feeling. Bitter neighbors with scores to settle..something most of us can relate to and that's just what this book is, relate able. It's the lives of people if their brains spoke out loud. Was I expecting more??...maybe I was. But am I disappointed??...No. It's just different. It's a good different. John Lauricella's writing style is superb and that's what made me keep going to the end. He really knows what people think and how and why they think it.

This is not the most exciting book in terms of plot but it's worth a read. Wanting something interesting, real, able to relate to on some level?? This book does that.… (altro)

I really really wanted to like this book, but alas I did not. :( Before requesting it from the Members Giveaway I read the other reviews and author's note...I was stoked when I was selected to receive this book from the Members Giveaway. But once I got into the book, I felt that I did not care about the characters or their stories. I was well aware that the book was sort of a "mish-mash" of the stories and didn't think it would bother me, but it did. I did not feel any connection with any of the characters or their story lines. Had any one of the stories been fully developed with the others being sub-stories and intertwined better, I think I would have enjoyed the book more. By mid-point I was already just wanting the book to be over with. I'm one of those folks who cannot not finish reading, so I read to the end. I felt that the book was exasperating to read and was very glad when I was done. The endings of the stories were "meh." I will keep an eye on this author, to see what else comes forth.… (altro)