Scan barcode
earlyandalone's review against another edition
5.0
All of the main characters in this gripping novel are lost. Lost in a profoundly human way, just trying to find their way in a cold and ambiguous world. Toby is 14, an orphan being raised by his Uncle Neal, a man so deeply disturbed he brews a pitcher of homemade hemlock every week just to remind himself of his choice to keep living. Shelby is a transplant from another part of the country, moved to Central Florida with her father and little sister following her mother's tragic death. She is unlike the other students at Citrus Middle, and she is drawn to Toby's unknowability. Mr. Hibma, a teacher at their school, triangulates the narrative. At 29, he's just as lost as Toby and Shelby, fighting to define what it is he wants from life. All of these characters are struggling with the different facets and longings that dominate their thoughts, pulling them in different directions, trying to turn them into different people with every passing day.
When Toby does something irreparable, he's forced to make the ultimate choice--does he want to be a good person leading a good life, or succumb to the evil impulses he feels are at the core of his being?
Even if you don't know much about the wasteland of Central Florida, this novel is well worth the read for its suspenseful and provoking story.
When Toby does something irreparable, he's forced to make the ultimate choice--does he want to be a good person leading a good life, or succumb to the evil impulses he feels are at the core of his being?
Even if you don't know much about the wasteland of Central Florida, this novel is well worth the read for its suspenseful and provoking story.
soulpopped's review against another edition
4.0
The sequence of Shelby secretly following Toby, unknowingly about to uncover the bunker, is tense as hell!
It took a little while for me to get into this, but I wound up really enjoying it.
It took a little while for me to get into this, but I wound up really enjoying it.
joejoh's review against another edition
4.0
A melancholy book filled with sad, and sometimes deranged, characters. All of the main characters are perfectly drawn human beings with motivations that seem somewhat alien, but understandable. In lesser hands these characters would be unlikeable. Fortunately, John Brandon handles them with care, and even though we don't always like them, we still want to see where they're headed.
carolinereader's review against another edition
2.0
This book was dreary in a monotonous way and full of cheap metaphor and underdeveloped characters. The only reason I gave 2 stars instead of just one is because I managed to finish it, but barely. I would not recommend this book.
bettyvd's review
3.0
3,5 ster. Goed geschreven verhaal over de worsteling met het kwaad in ons. Soms beklemmende sfeer en dus goed gedaan. De plot is dan weer niet heel geloofwaardig.
jmcphers's review against another edition
3.0
Citrus County is a book set in a small town.
If Citrus County were a movie, it would be one of those indie flicks that makes runner-up at a film festival: long, introspective shots of people standing and thinking, processing; a soulful soundtrack by a guy with a sorrowful and gravelly voice; a cast of fundamentally flawed characters who experience tragedies and grow somehow, or don't.
This book is full of interesting people, but they're all almost the same under the covers. Every one of them is trying to answer the same question: whether life happens to you or whether you happen to life. People do some strange things just to prove that they are in charge of their lives, that they are the ones making things happen and are not being carried along by fate or apathy. They do other strange things to prove that they *are* something, that they have some characteristic. It's fiction, but it's what we do every day.
The story somehow manages to be a page-turner, but not for the right reasons. Some awful things happen, and then the author almost seems to have forgotten that they did, and you have to remind him that there's a terrible subplot going on and would he please get back to it because you need to know if things are going to be okay.
If nothing else, this story is truly unique: I have never read anything quite like it. The prose is fresh and confident and full of insight. I liked it.
If Citrus County were a movie, it would be one of those indie flicks that makes runner-up at a film festival: long, introspective shots of people standing and thinking, processing; a soulful soundtrack by a guy with a sorrowful and gravelly voice; a cast of fundamentally flawed characters who experience tragedies and grow somehow, or don't.
This book is full of interesting people, but they're all almost the same under the covers. Every one of them is trying to answer the same question: whether life happens to you or whether you happen to life. People do some strange things just to prove that they are in charge of their lives, that they are the ones making things happen and are not being carried along by fate or apathy. They do other strange things to prove that they *are* something, that they have some characteristic. It's fiction, but it's what we do every day.
The story somehow manages to be a page-turner, but not for the right reasons. Some awful things happen, and then the author almost seems to have forgotten that they did, and you have to remind him that there's a terrible subplot going on and would he please get back to it because you need to know if things are going to be okay.
If nothing else, this story is truly unique: I have never read anything quite like it. The prose is fresh and confident and full of insight. I liked it.
edorend's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
maya_d's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
natesea's review against another edition
3.0
I was a bit skeptical picking up John Brandon's second book, as I wasn't that impressed by his first despite rave reviews. The second time around proved better for me, disturbing and comical as it was. Brandon's sophomore adventure, Citrus County, presents a group of pessimistic, disturbingly antisocial characters in a coming-of-age story that is satirical and funny. It's a quick read that will entertain, but I keep my assessment at 3 stars. If the trend continues, hopefully Brandon's next book will be even better. I love McSweeney's, the books are at least cool to hold/look at even if the content is just OK, probably making them that much better.