Publisher: Anchor Canada
Page Count: 400
Source: Won through a contest
Publication Date: November 20, 2007
Goodreads Synopsis:
For twenty years, Alex Chapman has been at war with his great-uncle James, popularly known as “The Tyrant.” Disillusioned and ill-tempered, Alex believes James has destroyed his chances in life when things do not “turn out” for him. He especially resents his great-uncle for ruining his chance at happiness with his one true love, Minnie, who married another. Alex seems destined never to amount to anything more than an embittered dreamer, until the night he runs into the simple mechanic Burton Tucker. When Burton says he has just sold James Chapman a winning lottery ticket worth thirteen million dollars, Alex immediately knows that his uncle must never see the money.
My Review:
I found this book a little slow in the beginning but I am glad I pushed through the first 20 or so pages. I found the story to be very intriguing. I enjoy that the book opens up describing the characters and then you get the background story on Alex to understand why he is such an unlikeable character. In the beginning I found myself sympathizing with Alex until I got to know him better.
At times I felt that I wanted to yell at the characters in the book, just because of how their line of thought worked. I found myself thinking that if I was having a conversation with the characters while they were trying to justify their actions I would be yelling at them and telling them how stupid they were. (I actually found myself talking out loud at one specific part while I was on the subway on my way home from work...) Usually I don't find myself getting into a book with so many characters that just do not have some likeable characteristics, but this book kept me interested. I kept wanting to know what the characters would get themselves into next. I found myself thinking that if I was having a conversation with the characters while they were trying to justify their actions I would be yelling at them and telling them how stupid they were.
The one drawback I found with this book was the I found information being repeated a few times over throughout the book. For instance one character decides he wants to be called Bourquey, I found it continually being mentioned. I feel that after the first instance a writer does not need to keep reminding a reader about that. But it is not prominent in the book and only happens a few times.
I fund this story really showed ethical dilemmas at their height and how the morals of people can determine life or death. David Adams Richards writing keeps readers entertained and questioning until the end. I read that there was mystery involved and couldn't understand where the mystery came in, until the end when he keeps you wondering what happened to the characters.
I would give this book a 4/5 stars.
Other books by David Adams Richards:
Mercy Among the Children
Nights Below Station Streets
The Friends of Meager Fortune
At times I felt that I wanted to yell at the characters in the book, just because of how their line of thought worked. I found myself thinking that if I was having a conversation with the characters while they were trying to justify their actions I would be yelling at them and telling them how stupid they were. (I actually found myself talking out loud at one specific part while I was on the subway on my way home from work...) Usually I don't find myself getting into a book with so many characters that just do not have some likeable characteristics, but this book kept me interested. I kept wanting to know what the characters would get themselves into next. I found myself thinking that if I was having a conversation with the characters while they were trying to justify their actions I would be yelling at them and telling them how stupid they were.
The one drawback I found with this book was the I found information being repeated a few times over throughout the book. For instance one character decides he wants to be called Bourquey, I found it continually being mentioned. I feel that after the first instance a writer does not need to keep reminding a reader about that. But it is not prominent in the book and only happens a few times.
I fund this story really showed ethical dilemmas at their height and how the morals of people can determine life or death. David Adams Richards writing keeps readers entertained and questioning until the end. I read that there was mystery involved and couldn't understand where the mystery came in, until the end when he keeps you wondering what happened to the characters.
I would give this book a 4/5 stars.
Other books by David Adams Richards:
Mercy Among the Children
Nights Below Station Streets
The Friends of Meager Fortune
This sounds like a bit on the heavy side, but definitely intriguing - I will see if I can get a copy at a library. Not something I would usually read, but hey, who knows, sometimes it's worth to get out of your reading comfort zone and try something new ;D Thanks for a great, thorough review, sweets! :)
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