Ruin Creek

Rating:
Summary: Another wonderful Payne book.
Review: A terrific novel by David Payne, author of GRAVESEND LIGHT ... a poignant story told from three different voices within the same family ... I'm a big David Payne fan so I wasn't surprised at how fast I was hooked by this novel ... a kid struggles with the evolving estrangement between his parents and learns a hard lesson ... "a time may come when a person has to let go of what he loves in order to save himself." The Denver Post wrote: "Masterful ... somewhere between Faulkner and Conroy" ... Knucks agrees ... Payne presents characters not always comfortable living in their own skin but they endure nevertheless. Bravo, Mr. Payne ... another book of yours I couldn't put down...

Rating:
Summary: an undiscovered gem
Review: David Payne is one of the most brilliant and insightful students of family at work in this country today. The prose is lapidary; the three first person narrators-- husband, wife and 12-yr.-old Joey-- authentic and distinct. This book is a stirring, if unnoticed masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable read
Review: I found Ruin Creek to be an exceptional read about the complexties of family life. The story is told from each characters perspective dealing with their own trials and tribulations. As the little boy in the story tries to hang onto what is left of his family he leans on the only secure member left his grandfather. David Payne is able to touch upon a family in turmoil and a little boy trying everything he can to hang onto all that children have, which is their his family.