Simon Lazarus

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful story!
Review: I've been around a few years, and I can't say how many times I was told to buy or check out a book in the library only to be utterly disappointed. What ever happened to just telling a plain, good story? I can't say this about many of the books that have come out over the past ten, twenty years, and so many get all this praise, but when it came down to it, there was a sagging ending and a weak story line. Well, not so with Simon Lazarus. This is a helluva read and I am telling my friends about it! (of course, the last part of the book takes place in New Orleans, my favorite city!) But it's a good story with lots of love and funny stuff and just good story-telling. (Not so up on the rock music stuff, but I can always ask my kids!) Read it and tell a friend!

Rating:
Summary: Travels of the Soul
Review: In this first novel, author M. A. Kirkwood addresses a young man's journey into manhood in a wonderfully entertaining and well-paced narrative populated with a host of colorful characters along the road. In a society that has forgotten it's rituals, this extremely modern yet ancient story reminds us of the need for men to connect with and understand their past. Kirkwood's Simon is funny, sensitive, vulnerable, awkward and sometimes even unlikeable; in other words every bit a very real and believable modern young man; but it is his searching self as Kirkwood draws Simon out and us in that keeps us coming back to his story. Like Simon, we don't really know what lies at the end, we only know we can't wait to find out. You'll hate saying good-bye to Simon as his travels come to their somewhat startling conclusion. We readers can only hope that one day soon Kirkwood will let us know what happens to Simon next as he continues his life's journey. Pick this one up for a delightful summer read whether you are a man or woman, young, middle-aged or older, Simon Lazarus speaks to all of us.

Rating:
Summary: Si is no guy
Review: This book is centered around Simon Lazarus, or Si, and he's supposedly this great feisty character like Holden from Catcher in the Rye, but what he is is a girl. He's no guy. And what I mean by this is that he doesn't think like a guy thinks. He doesn't have true male thoughts or experiences. As if M.A. Kirkwood the author was just guessing. Anyway, that's my complaint. Si is no Holden, who was sensitive yes but still tough with edgy thoughts, and Si is no Huck Finn either for that matter for the same reasons. Forget the comparisons. Don't believe it.

Rating:
Summary: An ongoing adventure known as life
Review: This is a rare glimpse into the inner world of boys and men. That, in itself, deserves an additional commentary-for the courage of this author to take us there-for the sheer truthfulness of its depictions through the perceptions of this young guy, Si and the other males (and the characters
are mostly male here) that make up this novel. Though it is a contemporary story, it feels old and wise-and that's what makes this novel so exceptional.
For those that have scoffed at the favorable commentaries here,
they have obviously not read this remarkable tale. It is replete with the richness one expects from great fiction and since we rarely get that these days, others are quick to judge and criticize-without really reading this work.
I read this book on a suggestion by a friend. I had not heard
much about it, nor did I really care to know---never do I question this person's judgement. And, as usual, she was right. There's a unique voice at work here-unlike most-and the narrative sings with a liveliness I found hard to resist.
Si makes you shake your head or laugh heartily ---depends on what he's thinking and what he happens to be up to. Boyce, the fellow college students, his "roomies", Lisa, the girl he falls in with-Dad, Andy, and the Great granddad. It's all amazing stuff-and SIMON LAZARUS has the makings of a book that
lasts.
I can say this book falls in with The HARRY POTTER books-though this is for an older age group -maybe 18 on up-and while it is not a fantasy by any means-it is real through and through-but in the sense that many will be wanting to have the story continue by the time this volume comes to an end.
What happens to Simon? Where does he go from this point? Does he learn more? It's truly an original story. And I found myself wanting more.
Highly recommend alongside some of the best in recent years: THE KITE RUNNER, MIDDLESEX, LIFE OF PI -to name a few.


Rating:
Summary: A feel-good-all-over-read!
Review: Wow! From the very first moment I started to read this intriguing story, I felt very drawn into Simon's world. As I further read along, I found it hard to break away from this captivating tale. By the time I finished, I had to leaf back through the sections some. I wanted to pick out the clues I missed as I was so taken in by it all. And so moved.

This story glows in a way I don't often see. And I can't quite categorize it all, either. Yes, it is a bit like "The Catcher in the Rye" (which I last read in high school some 20 years ago), but it's a story all it's own. Holden isn't much next to witty and brainy, 18 year old Si! And that's only a small part of it. This story goes deeply into all of these characters not just Simon! And it's just not an everyday thing. Maybe you can't buy a thrill, but every once in a while, you sure can buy a good read. And that's just what you'll find here! Enjoy! And tell all the book-lovers you know not to let this one slip by!