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joyful24's review
4.0
DRIVE FAST AND SERVE A LOT!
this is the second d'souza novel i've read (whiteman was the first). so far he gets two thumbs up. i'm rereading linden hills so it was nice to juxtapose that journey into dante's inferno with this tale about a middle class white dude's descent into a drug ring from california to florida. the first person narrative and omniscent narration sucks you into the plot. it was like being a fly on the wall in the house of usher. especially enjoyed this passage:
"because why?"
"because you let me do the drives."
silence. time. the birth of a chasm.
"because i let you do what you wanted to do?"
"because you let me take those risks."
"because you didn't make me stop."
a sundering.a mitosis. the division of a continent.
"this isn't my fault."
"i know that."
"i've never felt as awful as i do right now."
"i've been sorry every moment since."
we lay there a long time. time did not make it better.
i would have to say that the only part of the novel i did not enjoy would be the ending. things hurried up and ties were too neatly (yet ironically bloody & violently) dispatched. it left me not wanting to know more about what happens after the last time we watch james into his car. it might be nice to know that kind of life his children grow up having, but i'm really not all that interested in the actual main character. the author just went too far left. i wonder what the resolution was like in earlier drafts....never the less, this read was awesome.
this is the second d'souza novel i've read (whiteman was the first). so far he gets two thumbs up. i'm rereading linden hills so it was nice to juxtapose that journey into dante's inferno with this tale about a middle class white dude's descent into a drug ring from california to florida. the first person narrative and omniscent narration sucks you into the plot. it was like being a fly on the wall in the house of usher. especially enjoyed this passage:
"because why?"
"because you let me do the drives."
silence. time. the birth of a chasm.
"because i let you do what you wanted to do?"
"because you let me take those risks."
"because you didn't make me stop."
a sundering.a mitosis. the division of a continent.
"this isn't my fault."
"i know that."
"i've never felt as awful as i do right now."
"i've been sorry every moment since."
we lay there a long time. time did not make it better.
i would have to say that the only part of the novel i did not enjoy would be the ending. things hurried up and ties were too neatly (yet ironically bloody & violently) dispatched. it left me not wanting to know more about what happens after the last time we watch james into his car. it might be nice to know that kind of life his children grow up having, but i'm really not all that interested in the actual main character. the author just went too far left. i wonder what the resolution was like in earlier drafts....never the less, this read was awesome.
asquareclaire's review
Lost me in the beginning, with the girl nonchalantly smoking weed while she's pregnant & no one seeming to mind. I may pick it up again sometime, or maybe not. Can't say I much care.
ilzedempsey85's review
3.0
Just standard great American author writing. Descriptive without losing itself in narration, poignant, but not arrogant.
jrpoole's review
3.0
Stay tuned for the forthcoming review at http://friendsofatticus.wordpress.com/.
kristenlopez8's review
3.0
Really engaging book that plays on all the great "guy turned to crime stories." It's more lighthearted than typical drug dealer books but also focuses on the motivations behind turning to crime, in this case the need for money in our current economy. The main character is a good man who just wants to provide, a relatable concept for anyone. The story takes a bit to actually ramp up, over 100 pages, but once it does it's a great read that never lets up!
timeunspun's review
4.0
I could envision this as a movie. Very tense, flowed easily, the character was fun to read and though his arc made sense it never felt stale.
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