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nationofkim's review against another edition
3.0
i definitely recommend his newer stuff, not so much into this one.
fromtheyellowchair's review against another edition
2.0
I had high hopes for this after reading The Boy Detective Fails but I was disappointed. The characters and story (which didn't really get started till about 100 pages in) were interesting but the uneven writing was distracting. All the imagery and motifs (birds, eyes, red hair) felt forced and disconnected from the rest of the book and they added nothing. The point of view shifted in ways that made no sense at all- how did Luce know what Junior was dreaming about?
I think this could have been an amazing book but the writing just wasn't strong enough to carry whatever lofty message it was meant to deliver.
I think this could have been an amazing book but the writing just wasn't strong enough to carry whatever lofty message it was meant to deliver.
jdsatori's review against another edition
4.0
A funny, bleak look at how two ex-cons make it on the outside -- or don't -- as they realize that their crimes will never be forgiven.
kkayleen's review against another edition
3.0
hella repetitive and completely unrealistic but interesting character takes plus i love jailbirds
theteenidol's review against another edition
3.0
I have a read a few of Meno’s other novels (Hairstyles of the Damned being one of my all-time favorites) and this one might be my least favorite of the bunch.
Luce is a man who accidentally ran down a baby carriage while escaping a robbery he committed. He’s a criminal, even he’ll admit that, but he’s not a killer. Meno does an excellent job expressing Luce’s sorrow and regret for killing the baby, but I’m still curious as to why Luce resorted to robbery in the first place.
Luce and his friend Junior did the time for the crimes they committed, but they are still burdened with the leftover guilt and it keeps them locked in this sad emotional and physical state and when things start to look up for them, it gets taken away from them. The people in town, however, constantly remind them of their past, making even harder for them to move on.
How can we repent for our past mistakes when we’re not given the acceptance? The book is saying: We are ready to move on. Are you ready to accept us?
It’s written in the first person, but I feel like I didn’t get enough of Luce’s internal thought process. There’s also a few scenes where the POV shifts that I thought were kind of jarring.
The book is set in a small, rural, Illinois town. I like in Illinois and have driven through a bunch of towns like this and Meno (also, an Illinois resident) hits the nail on the head describing the atmosphere and locals.
I gave it 3 stars, but it’s closer to a 3.75 star read for me. It doesn’t change my opinion on Joe Meno. He’s still a great writer and I still plan on reading the rest of his work.
Luce is a man who accidentally ran down a baby carriage while escaping a robbery he committed. He’s a criminal, even he’ll admit that, but he’s not a killer. Meno does an excellent job expressing Luce’s sorrow and regret for killing the baby, but I’m still curious as to why Luce resorted to robbery in the first place.
Luce and his friend Junior did the time for the crimes they committed, but they are still burdened with the leftover guilt and it keeps them locked in this sad emotional and physical state and when things start to look up for them, it gets taken away from them. The people in town, however, constantly remind them of their past, making even harder for them to move on.
How can we repent for our past mistakes when we’re not given the acceptance? The book is saying: We are ready to move on. Are you ready to accept us?
It’s written in the first person, but I feel like I didn’t get enough of Luce’s internal thought process. There’s also a few scenes where the POV shifts that I thought were kind of jarring.
The book is set in a small, rural, Illinois town. I like in Illinois and have driven through a bunch of towns like this and Meno (also, an Illinois resident) hits the nail on the head describing the atmosphere and locals.
I gave it 3 stars, but it’s closer to a 3.75 star read for me. It doesn’t change my opinion on Joe Meno. He’s still a great writer and I still plan on reading the rest of his work.
anna's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. I had read "Hairstyles of the Damned" and decided to read another book of Meno's. While I loved "Hairstyles", I loved this book even more. It's a well-written story that takes you into a mind of a criminal and may even teach you not to be so judgmental.
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