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A review by henrymarlene
Lucky's by Andrew Pippos
3.0
Like a classical Greek saga, there is a very wide chronological and familial connection that Andrew Pippos builds into “Lucky’s”, from as far back as 1913 to 2002. In such an immense stretch of time, it is hard to believe, as the book begins, that its characters are connected to each other in one way or another. They are connected through failure and regret, and the need to fight what others think of them, and how this perception can filter into their thoughts and keep them stagnant. They are connected through the need for making amends with others and unto themselves. And there are so many elements to each story line, even without the links whether they cross over. Who knew ‘Wheel of Fortune’ could be literally the prize haul of a lifetime, not to mention a metaphor for the value of atonement for a man called Lucky who had lost everything?
This is a dual family saga, connected by a murder, violence, fraud, and Benny Goodman. It is the sum of all these parts that drowns the arrogance of the characters that seem to elevate them to no end at particular points in their timelines. And it is the connections that bind Lucky, Emily and Ian that bring down the curtain of living lives that are not entirely truthful, honest or are feeding off the shadows of others. As for Ian, sometimes repentance can take forever. And Emily’s story is no less sad; an end to a marriage, a loss of compassion from those who should love her the most, and investigating a story to nowhere to find a connection to that very story, as well as the truth about many things that she had sought for so long.
“Lucky’s” was strong on pace, movement and the connection of characters and time with adventure, violence and tragedy abound, and shed just enough light to see how and where emotion, love and hope were sacrificed to protect the fate of future generations.
This is a dual family saga, connected by a murder, violence, fraud, and Benny Goodman. It is the sum of all these parts that drowns the arrogance of the characters that seem to elevate them to no end at particular points in their timelines. And it is the connections that bind Lucky, Emily and Ian that bring down the curtain of living lives that are not entirely truthful, honest or are feeding off the shadows of others. As for Ian, sometimes repentance can take forever. And Emily’s story is no less sad; an end to a marriage, a loss of compassion from those who should love her the most, and investigating a story to nowhere to find a connection to that very story, as well as the truth about many things that she had sought for so long.
“Lucky’s” was strong on pace, movement and the connection of characters and time with adventure, violence and tragedy abound, and shed just enough light to see how and where emotion, love and hope were sacrificed to protect the fate of future generations.