Jack Riggs (1)

From the moment I started this book, I could hear the southern accent in my head. Somehow, the author captures the slow cadence of the southern accent and puts it into writing. I enjoyed the premise of this book - however I found it difficult to believe that Peck would be so understanding and willing to give Cassie her space - even after he figured out what was going on. I'm glad that Cassie grew up a bit over the course of the book, but I wish a bit more time had been spent on the show more relationship with her mother and the subplot of the land. That was wrapped up a little too quickly for my tastes. I also knew what was going to happen to Peck - it was foreshadowed just a bit too much. Even so, I did my fair share of crying at that part of the book. Will I read others by Jack Riggs? Yes - I love low country fiction especially in the midst of winter in the north. show less

Raybert tells of his friendship with Palmer Conroy from when they first meet at the age of six years. His first encounter with his friend being Palmer's appearance on his first day at Raybert's School, the day President Kennedy is assassinated, latter the same day Palmer just walks into Raybert's trailer home and sits himself down, and so their friendship begins. The two boys quickly become best friends, getting up to the typical antics boys will.

But all is not well for the two boys living show more in North Carolina. While Raybert is no doubt loved by his parents, there are problems. His mother has health issues, and his father can't stay around for too long, he is always disappearing and getting himself in fights. Palmer also has family problems, his mother has little time for him, especially since his father died and there is now a new man in her life.

Palmer has a plan to run away, and Raybert promises to go with him. By the time the two boys are twelve years old things are getting so bad that Palmer intends to make their escape earlier than planned, but can they pull it off?

When the Finch Rises is a beautiful story of friendship, but at also a heartbreaking story of the troubled childhood of two very different but very likeable boys. The writing is excellent, with a strong sense of place, well drawn characters, touches of humour even in the face of the heartbreak, making this a most compelling read. show less

The thing I like about both of Jack Riggs' novels is that they aren't tidy. At the end, we aren't presented with the characters' lives neatly wrapped up, issues resolved, and everything moving forward into the happily ever after. That's not life, and Jack does an excellent job of accurately portraying how life really shakes out.I also love books where the characters become real to me, and I found Cassie to be heartbreaking in her "realness." Although Peck was a bit too close to perfect, show more their troubles still resonate with the reader, and anyone who knows teenagers appreciates Kelly's role in the story. The secondary characters are authentic as well.All in all, this is a lovely novel. It's well written and well thought out... I only wish I had a book club with which to discuss it because I think it would be a fantastic story to review in that setting. show less

At first, I thought this was going to be a book similar to ones I've read by Dorothea Benton Frank - set in the low country of South Carolina with a strong, vivid female main character to love. I was wrong about that, but it wasn't a bad thing. Cassie was pretty much anything but strong and vivid, at least throughout most of the story. Her husband, Peck, was the strong, vivid character in this story - a firefighter who just wants to keep his family together but also has the responsibility of show more keeping his community safe.

I loved the contrast between the mountains and the beach, as well as the contrast of the families that belonged to both. The victories experienced by Cassie near the end were fulfilling but quickly diminished by the tragedy. I must admit, the final couple of chapters had me bawling. I'm usually not one for sad endings, but I see how it was part of the story and so could accept it. I just hope that the remaining members of the Johnson family will be able to find peace and happiness, whether in Whiteside Cove or Garden City Beach. show less