Saul reminded me of someone I knew who, while interesting, was hard to stand talking to. I guess a lot of the story came out that way to me- semi-philosophical wandering musings that didn't get to the point and just tell the story or give answers. The ending, specifically that last chapter, seemed like it was trying to prove a point or give a message, but it bothered me. The story was already over- why stick that on? Maybe, as a mom to an 18 month old, I'm too worn out to deal with it, but what I want right now is a story that takes me quickly and doesn't come across as attempting a great metaphor. ( )

Saul and Patsy move from the city to a small town in Michigan, where Saul teaches high school and Patsy works as a bank teller. The book tells their story, including ups and downs and at least one shocking event. None of the characters are very likable, many events are dubiously portrayed (lacking the feel of authenticity) and the book seems disjointed and dated in parts. All of that said, there was some really excellent prose and interesting insights from the author. I was not entirely satisfied with the book, but it did generate a long discussion with my book group, so it must have had some substance, even if it wasn't substance I particularly enjoyed. ( )

The writing was fine but the story was non-existent and weird. I wanted to like Saul and Patsy but they just weren't that interesting or appealing. Maybe the author's point was that there isn't a meaning to life, but if so, it doesn't make for very good reading. Oh, and what 15 month old is just learning to pull herself up? or is just starting to eat solid food (apart from children with delays, which this one wasn't)? ( )

Although the first hundred pages had me evocatively remembering summer '09 (for reasons I can't quite quantify, although I tried to in the big review), the last two-thirds go to something simply good. It's the Midwest, it's the story of a couple and their building of a family - what more could it really be? We've all read so many stories like this, what makes this one different? The thing that makes this one different is the character of Gordy, who only appears for a short while but impacts the rest of the story in a way that I wish... well, I wish Baxter had really taken that plot to its full extension. Instead, there's an attempt to be [b:Stoner|166997|Stoner|John Williams|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320600716s/166997.jpg|1559207] or something like it in the capturing of small-town life... but it's less interesting than it could've been.
Still, Baxter has a way with prose and it was an enjoyable lite read.

Thanks, as always, to The Biblioracle over at The Morning News.

More on the book at RB: http://wp.me/pGVzJ-ph ( )

This is lightweight fluff, masquerading as something deeper. Baxter violates the first rule of fiction: show, don't tell. His main character, Saul, is an urban Jew who takes up a teaching job in "Middle America" (Michigan), and discovers that maybe people are more multi-faceted than he might have at first suspected. Well, duh!

It's shallow stuff, with characters as stage props and scenery as mere backdrop. ( )