Book Challenge (Week 1 review)

Hello again all and welcome back to my self imposed book challenge.

First up, thoughts on week 1, The Last Juror...

I think it was a good choice as a start to this challenge because I really liked this story.



Main things I enjoyed:

His use of the time period and characters within it was impressive. I especially liked how he used a main plot-line, the lead character and his growing newspaper, to introduce a number of side stories, like the controversy over the Vietnam war and the support/opposition of integration, both big issues in the early 70's. It gave some historical aspects to the story and I do love reading about history.

The character development was also interesting and since it encompassed 10 years time, it didn't feel rushed or fake. Character-wise the book is about Willie, a young 23 yr old northerner, who's sort of thrown into this small southern town where he has to prove himself to the people to be fully accepted as a citizen, and you get to read your way through that process. Early on, while working on a feature story, he makes friends with a woman across town who, through the years, becomes a mother figure to him as he's also adopted into her large family. It's this unlikely friendship that is a main underlying focus of the book but is also the biggest emotional part of it.

Side-note: Willie buys a blue seersucker suit and I think that's something every guy should own.

Pro's:

• The prose was good as was his ability to describe a scene without prattling on and giving too many thesaurus-like descriptors. 
• Long time-line gave it growth so you could really feel the story and the people of the town.
• Most of the story focuses on the happenings of the town which was a good way to make you feel like you're there.
• Murder trial. Who doesn't love a good book with legal action as a focus?
• The chapters were smallish so it was easy to read in free time without getting too focused in wondering what happens next.

Con's:

• Everyone had their given name and a nickname and sometimes both were used in the same paragraph which made things quite confusing at times.
• The middle of the book seemed very long because there wasn't much action or any interesting side story happening.
• The trial itself came and went so quickly I would have liked a bit more of it.

Overall, in my opinion, a good book by a good author, and I look forward to reading more his work this year.

For week 2:

According to The Waiter, eighty percent of customers are nice people just looking for something to eat. The remaining twenty percent, however, are socially maladjusted psychopaths. Waiter Rant offers the server's unique point of view, replete with tales of customer stupidity, arrogant misbehavior, and unseen bits of human grace transpiring in the most unlikely places. Through outrageous stories, The Waiter reveals the secrets to getting good service, proper tipping etiquette, and how to keep him from spitting in your food. The Waiter also shares his ongoing struggle, at age thirty-eight, to figure out if he can finally leave the first job at which he's truly thrived.

I've read his entire blog 3 times through and laughed hysterically the entire time so I'm very much looking forward to reading this. I predict much laughter and agreement to his thoughts.

Until next week....happy reading!