Dawn Marie Reviews

ANOTHER ROADSIDE ATTRACTION:
    I am not sure, but  i do not think this was the first TR book
writen or published.  But, my TR knowledge is lacking at present.
  What i can definitely say is that this book is fantastic, a bit
muddling, and one of the most thought provoking books i have ever read
(this is coming from a compulsive reader...)

  THE GOOD:  TR builds character in a very interesting way, more
through example than telling you.  It's more intelligent that way (I
think)...  All the vignettes of characters lives give you a clear, if
undefinable sense, of who these people are.
     Lots of different points of view are represented - the cynics are
there (see Plucky), the mystics (Amanda, and mystic is NOT meant
pejoratively), scientists (Marx, who does his best), and the others
(John Paul Ziller)...  each of these views is well written.
   The writing is humorous, but not without depth.  After I finished
reading this book (at 5:30 am) I ended up sitting up for another hour
just thinking about several of the issues brought up.  this didn't help
in my 8:30 the next morning, though.
   The writing is also beautiful in an exotic way.  TR has a wonderful
method of expression... he loads on metaphors and then closes a
paragraph with one sliver sharp metaphor that catches the whole feeling
in a way that conventional English can only have subconscious longings
about.  The man is a god of description.  Careful though, he can make
you want to run out and live your life like Amanda. you've been warned.
   Finally, TR has a flair for dealing with incredibly sensitive
issues.  The Second Coming of Christ isn't exactly traditional humorous
fare, but in TR's hands it is hilarious.
   And, after finally, this book can last as long as you want it to
(which I have found to be true for his other books as well).  The words
flow, so you can take this book in quickly, if you so desire.  but if
you want to think about and/or savor his literary musings, you can.

THE THINGS THAT MIGHT ANNOY YOU:  Even though TR is a god of
description and writing in general, there are a few things that i found
MILDLY irritating.  Just mildly, though.
  - he doesn't identify the author until about 30 pages after you
figured out who it was.  The third person storytelling works really
well though.
   - some people may find the disjointed time frame annoying.  this
isn't a typical this happened, then this, then this, kind of story.
It's more of a: this happened, this happened, this happened (but was
related to the first happening indirectly), etc.  It may take a while
to get used to.
   - if it's really late at night, and you're tired, put the book down.
 trust me.  you want to read it when you can really enjoy it.  The
second time you read it, try some parts late at night b/c you might
have more revelations that way.

The final disclaimer: this is the collection of a couple of people's
opinions.  :)  We might not be right.

But we are right about one thing: READ IT!

                                          dawnmarie

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