Floating

Rating:
Summary: Not quite This Side of Paradise
Review: Ms. Troy, undoubtedly, has a unique and vibrant voice. The prose is elegant. However, the novel, itself, tends to float too much for its own good. Conversations are brief and although they are relatively realistic, they are overshadowed by the deluge of descriptive passages. In collusion with this lack of human interaction, I found the character's actions difficult to understand. These characters are almost more capricious than believable. More characters than human. All of these points could have been nullified if the ending had been a definite, poetic moment, with some sort of clear meaning. But ultimately, the extended (and not exceedingly relevent) metaphor of floating dominates the book and leads to meaningless oblivion, not far from the senselessness of action which Ms. Troy seems to be trying to convey. Why do these people do these things? Why are they attractive (is this the vapidness of the Marlboro man, etc...)? Why WAS this 220 page book written? A good first work? Sure. But worthy of inordinate amounts of praise? No. I hope Ms. Troy continues to work and perhaps we shall see great things of her. Writing is more than talent. Writing should meliorate the mind and spirit.

Rating:
Summary: I'm in love.
Review: Robin is obviously one of the most talented authors to emerge from the parched American literary landscape in quite a long time. She paints a picture purer than Picasso. There's nothing like feeling right there in the trailerpark with them. Plus, judging from the promo shots I've seen of her on MTV, I'd gladly come off the interstate to find her. yeehaw.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK!
Review: Robin Troy definitely knows how to describe things in great detail. I had to read a book for a book report and I am glad I chose this one. I couldn't put the book down sometimes. I recommend this book to anyone!

Rating:
Summary: Bootiful, bootiful, bootiful, bootiful, bootiful, boots
Review: Robin's writing gives me the warm fuzzies, ooooooh. Let her give you the warm fuzzies, toooooo. She makes me dizzy in a good way without the use of pharmaceuticals. Know what I mean? Hug me!

Rating:
Summary: Looking for Robin
Review: Robin, are you out there? I've lost track of you and just wanted to say that I always knew you could do it! Write to me at [e-mail] -- I need the update! I miss you! Love Heather

Rating:
Summary: Yuck!
Review: This book was horrible with boring characters and a boring story. I hate to say it but I was very unhappy with this book. I want to spare other people the disappointment I went through. Please don't buy this book if you are curious about the story borrow it from the library!

Rating:
Summary: This book will make you want to beg for another.
Review: This book was truly excellent, I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading books that help you ask questions about yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Good writing but dragging plot and unlikable characters
Review: This is a well written book, and I think Ms. Troy is very talented, but, GAWD! The book does indeed float- the plot drifts all over the place, until my attention is on a much BETTER book. What is this thing about, anyway? I can't tell. All the characters are what I would call trailer park trash. . .uneducated, boring people who are incredibly unlikable. I guess it's fortunate that I can't relate to any of these people. I think I'll go back to James Joyce.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This was a great little book...my only wish was that it was longer. I look forward to the next one from this new author..she seems to be on the right track to something great.

Rating:
Summary: Yuck!
Review: We all know that New Mexico and Arizona are warm states, but if you want to be sure, read this. The powerful descriptions of the intense heat in these places are incredible. I found myself reading slowly and getting sleepy while reading this. You can actually feel this heat the author talks about. However the storyline lacks severely. It;s a love story that is far too drawn out and ends up unresolved. Toward the second third of the book, it gets slightly interesting, but then again it slows, I felt the book moved much too slowly and the intense heat described didn't help matters much.