Puddles

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Summary: Review By Author, Eleanor Aspin
Review: "PUDDLES", gutsy as the best of soap operas moves right along and will hold the attention of any reader, from the first sentence to the last, proving to never be boring. Ms. Barry manages to uncover the relationships and innermost feelings of a family and intermixes their busy life within a circle of community friends. A piece of "American Pie" becomes melodramatic as some of Ms. Barry's colorful characters are revealed as less than upstanding citizens. Bringing out the woes and worries that every good mother has with the burden of raising her children in an imperfect world, Susan, the protagonist, cannot necessarily rely on others. As she leans on her love, faith, and prayer, she sees herself through episodes of nurturing and protecting her loved ones. "PUDDLES" is scattered with episodes of adultery, temptations, philandering, homosexual secrets, and perverts. Will Susan manage to balance her psyche and familylife throughout this conglomerate of ongoing disasters? Never fear, for the entire extent of the tale the reader will be entertained to the hilt, while a smile, a tear, a gasp, and a giggle escape from your vocal chords. BRAVO, Lynn Barry, who isn't afraid to splash in a puddle!
Author, ElAspin

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Summary: The REAL lowdown on Soaps!
Review: Being a man I was surprised to find myself sympathizing and even identifying with Susan as she struggles to understand her friends and family. It's easy to feel like you are a part of the family.
Reminiscent of 'Payton Place', her life really does resemble the afternoon soaps she loves to watch.
Puddles is a completely believable, smooth flowing account of ordinary, and not so ordinary, life.
It reminded me of Erma Bombeck's 'The Grass is Always Greener over the Septic Tank', but with more substance.
A wonderfully moving story with never a dull moment, where love and faith conquers all. And, Mrs. Barry has accomplished this without bludgeoning the reader with crude or distasteful language.
I highly recommend 'Puddles' to anyone who wants to be entertained and titillated.

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Summary: Have fun jumping in "Puddles"
Review: Have you ever stepped into a puddle for fun and found it was deeper than you thought. In today's busy age many people want a book that is relaxing while enriching their spirit and challenges their thinking and Barry accomplishes all.

Puddles is a delightful read, particularily recommended for vacations, because of Barry's relaxing and easy to read prose. At first you think you have stepped in a shallow puddle but as you get further into the problems faced by Susan, as she tries to raise her precocious teenage daughter while her husband is commuting weekly to a high profile job in another town, you realize the puddle was deeper and more enjoyable than you thought.

Joan DeMarle-Oberlin
Soul Language:Recognizing the Voice in My Heart
www.publishedauthors.net/joandemarle-oberlin

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Summary: imaginative and fictitious
Review: I could not wait to open up the book "Puddles" when it arrived. First seeing the cover design, then reading the synopsis- I thought "Why not read a couple of chapters and then read later when I have more time".
Well, More time never came. I started reading and had a hard time putting it down. Each chapter holding my interest to the point that even when I finally tore myself away, I rushed back as quickly as I could to read more.
What I found inside of this book was an imaginative and fictitious look at Susan and the life of secrets she wanted no one to reveal. When the other reviewers state that "Puddles is like a Soap opera"-they were not kidding. One of the best Soap Operas in fact. The book is a bit racy and yet stays away from the edge. It is emotional and deep. The story pulling you in to it's grasp before you realize it-only to find that several hours have past since moving from the spot you have been sitting in.
Ms. Barry does well with this wonderful book. I highly recommend this fictitious book for all to read.

Rating:
Summary: imaginative and fictitious
Review: I could not wait to open up the book "Puddles" when it arrived. First seeing the cover design, then reading the synopsis- I thought "Why not read a couple of chapters and then read later when I have more time".
Well, More time never came. I started reading and had a hard time putting it down. Each chapter holding my interest to the point that even when I finally tore myself away, I rushed back as quickly as I could to read more.
What I found inside of this book was an imaginative and fictitious look at Susan and the life of secrets she wanted no one to reveal. When the other reviewers state that "Puddles is like a Soap opera"-they were not kidding. One of the best Soap Operas in fact. The book is a bit racy and yet stays away from the edge. It is emotional and deep. The story pulling you in to it's grasp before you realize it-only to find that several hours have past since moving from the spot you have been sitting in.
Ms. Barry does well with this wonderful book. I highly recommend this fictitious book for all to read.

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Summary: Life isn't a bowl full of cherries!
Review: Life isn't a bowl full of cherries! Lynn Barry's first novel, "PUDDLES" is more than just a glimpse at life, it is truth in action. Susan, the matriarch of the family, is embroiled with every woman's nightmare-growing pains of run amok hormones in her daughter Natalie. At age fifteen, Natalie's quest for pushing the envelope is more than Susan can bear. To quell her suspicious nature, Susan tries to establish a relationship with her daughter. Susan's husband Jeff, a principal in another town's school system is unable to assist Susan. In order to escape losing her mind, Susan sinks into crosswords and soaps. From a wonderful lesbian friend, a child porn freak, police, death and infidelity, Susan emerges. Is Susan willing to settle as a part time wife? Will Natalie ever grow up to be an adult?
Will the police nab the porn freak who preys on students? Who dies-will it be the turning point in Susan's life or will Susan forever be caught up in the everyday humdrum of soap operas? Lynn Barry's, "PUDDLES" brings the reader into the present day format of life. Jump into "PUDDLES", you will be pleasantly surprised.

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Summary: All is not what it seems in the neighborhood!
Review: Meet Susan the homemaker. As the story opens up, Susan is the typical Mrs. Urban America that has the task of attempting to connect with her daughter Natalie who is in the difficult teen years where peer pressure and hopes of a first love, that may or may not exist, call her away from common sense. If only that were the only problem she would have to deal with, she would have been happy. However, as the story continues on, we discover that there are hidden secrets at ever corner of her life. Secrets that she never knew or never wanted to know. Either way, they soon start to raise their ugly heads at the least convenient of times.

To complicate life some, her husband has the job of his dream but it calls for him to be away from the family. The message sent is that everything comes with a price and sacrifice. Susan and Jeff realize this only too well as they can only enjoy their weekends together. Unfortunately, while they attempt to fill that time with love, the conversation and attempts to resolve all the problems that have accumulated each week during his absence seem to trump everything else. In retrospect, maybe it was always Susan's unloading on Jeff about the occurrences in her life that blocked out the problems that Jeff had to deal with during the week alone. A middle-aged man who loves his wife dear and yearns for her company is put to the test when a young, attractive, shapely lady working as his secretary makes her intentions of looking for a good time known. Week after week of this puts his love and faith to the test.

Natalie has problems of her own. The teenage daughter of Jeff and Susan, she has to deal with a boy she loves that suddenly becomes distant and uncaring once he convinces her to demonstrate her love for him. The boy shows his true colors that leaves both his friendship with his best friend as well as his relationship with her damaged. Along the way, Natalie cannot understand why her mother can't be more understanding of her needs. The generation gap is too big to bridge at times.

The author has used a very effective dialogue style for this book. Little time is lost in elaborate details as most scenes are left to the imagination of the reader. I believe that is part of the success of this story. It permits the reader to place the conversation in the world they can most relate with.

I enjoyed this book and felt for Susan as she witnessed her world spinning out of control around her. Still, her ability to place faith in her own beliefs and remain true to her values permit her to overcome even the most trying obstacles that arise. The book will demonstrate to you that even in the darkest hour, all is not lost if one truly believes in themselves. I highly recommend this book for reading. Enjoyable, entertaining, and able to teach you a thing or two about life in our suburban world.

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Summary: Puddles by Lynn Barry
Review: Puddles is a fast moving, often hilarious look at everyday life. The reader is quickly drawn into Susan's life. Poor Susan has many things to contend with. She has a rebellious daughter, difficulties with a husband with cheating on his mind, and a friend "with a past." In spite of it all, Susan moves through her life with an open heart and a love for others.

This story has a dark humored approach to a simple life being turned upside down. I found Puddles to be a quick, easy read with a lot of dialogue. I thought it was very enjoyable and I especially appreciated the comparison of Susan's life and a "soap opera." Well-written and entertaining.

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Summary: Simple Pleasures
Review: Remember the simple joy of childhood pleasures like finding images in clouds and jumping in puddles? That's where Lynn Barry got the title for "Puddles" and it's the feeling you get as you read it. Although the characters are facing some pretty big problems, the story has such an underlying sense of faith and appreciation for the little things in life that are really important, you can't help feeling uplifted as you read.

The plot is compelling and uncluttered with flowery prose that gets in the way of the action, and all the subplots come together for a satisfying ending. The characters are realistic and so varied that readers of all ages and genders should relate to at least one of them and empathize with the others.

This is a book that reminds us to laugh at ourselves and enjoy those occasions when we're so busy living we walk right into one of life's puddles.

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Summary: Life 101
Review: The wonderful thing about this book is simple - you know all the characters. You've met Susan before. You've met Jeff. You've met their children and each of their friends. Chances are, you've even met the woman interested in seducing Susan's husband. They are, in essence, a slice of America we've all encountered. Puddles takes you behind the scenes in their lives, exposes their vulnerabilities and puts on display how outward appearances can and usually are, quite deceiving. That doesn't mean what one might perceive as good is not good, nor does it mean that what one perceives as bad is not bad. It means that the grass is not always greener on the other side. It means that the Smiths don't necessarily need to work harder to keep up with the Joneses'. It means that we all have our triumphs and our demons to contend with, hoping that in the end, things will work out all right for ourselves and for the ones we love. Puddles embraces that facet of the human spirit, reconfirming the notion that we do not need to be perfect as human beings in order to be happy.
As a connoisseur of both the horror and thriller genres, Puddles was an excursion outside my realm of comfort. Puddles is a book reminiscent of Sunday afternoon gossip after church has let out for the day, or perhaps a phone call from a good friend where discussion involves what is happening with other friends and acquaintances - some of it dirt, most of it not. Perhaps the most refreshing point of Puddles is the unabashed display it provides of the human spirit.
Good things come to those who are true to their hearts. Sometimes, bad things do happen to good people. Strength of mind and fortitude of soul can and do overcome all obstacles, given time and persistence. Not everyone who gives a pleasant appearance is a good and trustworthy person. Even when you think you know your friends, there may still be surprises lurking beneath the surface. Treating others the way you'd like to be treated isn't always an easy thing to do, even if you know it's the right thing to do. These are all pervasive themes throughout the book but I believe the main theme is a much more simple one - try your best to do good and no matter what, love those who you claim to love. It's a good message, it's a pertinent message and it's delivered effectively in this book.
Read this book to reaffirm the notion that not everyone has to be a super-man or woman in order to have a full life. Love each other as best as you're able. Forgive others for their faults and most of all - forgive yourself for not being perfect. Puddles will help you feel good inside and you just might walk away from this book feeling as though you've come to understand a new friend.