"The truth of life is that every year we get farther away from the essence that is born within us...People lose their way, for one reason or another. It's not hard to do, in this crazy world of mazes...you don't know its happening until one day you feel you've lost something but you're not sure what it is...When I was twelve years old, in 1964, Zephyr held about fifteen hundred people. There was the Bright Star Cafe, the Woolworth's, and a little Piggly-Wiggly grocery store...My hometown was probably a lot like yours."
Cory Jay Mackenson of Boy's Life
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
Imagine this scenario.
Chris has just returned from a cross country bike trip with his best friend, Win. He goes on to orientation at Georgia Tech but his best friend never checks in at Dartmouth.
As it turns out, the two got separated at the end of their tension-filled journey. Chris assumed Win went on to Seattle where he was to meet an Uncle. Except the uncle was fictional. That's one of many lies Win told.
Win also claims to be broke when he actually had $19,000 in cash on hand.
The FBI come to Chris's college and expect him to know where his friend went. Only he has no idea. Everything he thought he knew about his friend and his life has just shifted.
That's the conundrum Chris finds himself in Jennifer Bradbury's 2012 novel, Shift.
When the boys go on their road trip, for the first time, they feel cool. Win's father is rich yet he doesn't feel supported or loved. The bike trip gives him purpose.
Girls respond by sending both of them postcards. Some of the postcards, however, are signed "Tricksey."
Chris does not know who the mysterious Tricksey is though its pretty easy for readers to guess.
One of the best scenes has Win wrestling with Chris, reminiscent of the wrestling match Jacob had with the angel in the Bible.
This is a novel about new starts and about saying goodbye. A powerful debut.
Chris has just returned from a cross country bike trip with his best friend, Win. He goes on to orientation at Georgia Tech but his best friend never checks in at Dartmouth.As it turns out, the two got separated at the end of their tension-filled journey. Chris assumed Win went on to Seattle where he was to meet an Uncle. Except the uncle was fictional. That's one of many lies Win told.
Win also claims to be broke when he actually had $19,000 in cash on hand.
The FBI come to Chris's college and expect him to know where his friend went. Only he has no idea. Everything he thought he knew about his friend and his life has just shifted.
That's the conundrum Chris finds himself in Jennifer Bradbury's 2012 novel, Shift.
When the boys go on their road trip, for the first time, they feel cool. Win's father is rich yet he doesn't feel supported or loved. The bike trip gives him purpose.
Girls respond by sending both of them postcards. Some of the postcards, however, are signed "Tricksey."
Chris does not know who the mysterious Tricksey is though its pretty easy for readers to guess.
One of the best scenes has Win wrestling with Chris, reminiscent of the wrestling match Jacob had with the angel in the Bible.
This is a novel about new starts and about saying goodbye. A powerful debut.
Additional Jennifer Bradbury books:
Wrapped.
A Moment Comes.
Monday, February 19, 2018
All sorrows
All sorrows can be borne if you put them in a story or tell a story about them--Isak Dinesen.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)