Synopsis/blurb.....
Welcome to Clover, Kansas, a small town sitting in the middle of America’s Heartland. It's a peaceful community, until the night that high school student Jeremy Rogers accepts an invitation to party with the “cool” older kids. After things go irreparably wrong, and Clover is thrust into the national spotlight, Jeremy keeps his involvement a secret. As the town heals from the tragedy, Jeremy falls into a psychological abyss from which he cannot escape, until he encounters the monster from his past and has an opportunity to redeem himself. A novella.
A fairly quick read here with Travis Richardson's Lost in Clover which documents the lead-up to, the execution of and the aftermath of a small town American shooting through the eyes of Jeremy Rogers.
Rogers and some drinking buddies, have a few too many beers and with a bucket-load of dutch courage, decide to pay Crazy Eddie Cooper - a much younger bully and someone who has inflicted some injury on each of them at one time or another - a visit to teach him an unforgettable lesson. Jeremy bails at the last minute and escapes the tragedy that unfolds physically, but emerges from it far from unscathed emotionally.
One boy's story and almost a coming-of-age tale, an American tragedy, multiple deaths, small town, Kansas thrust into a media glare, town rage, survivor guilt, enhanced because of a certain amount of complicity in the act that unfolded, a court case, more media headlines, a flash lawyer and a more considered appreciation of events, fear, memories, a childhood birthday party and Crazy Eddie's family, PTSD, withdrawal, isolation, ennui, an inability to care, a separation from family and friends, falling grades, prom night, college, an inability to act, the girls who got away, the passage of time, mower boy becoming mower man, a life on hold..... then Crazy Eddie gets parole.
Enjoyable, thoughtful, considered, but not without a few laughs here and there, and a positive ending which delivers an ending to Jeremy's lethargy .
4 from 5
Travis Richardson's recent short story collection - Bloodshot and Bruised: Crime Stories from the South and West sits waiting on the kindle
Read in January, 2019
Published - 2012
Page count - 198
Source - purchased copy
Format - paperback
Not sure this one's for me, particularly not when I already have so much to read (no end to that!). Glad you enjoyed it, Col. You're the book barometer!
ReplyDeleteCheers Prashant. Maybe you'll grab his short story collection once I've done a post on it! (A wee while away yet)
DeleteThis sounds really interesting, Col. I'm especially interested in the fact that it explores what happens after this sort of tragedy, and what happens to people as a results. Hmmm...I may have to look this one up.
ReplyDeleteIf you do find time to try it Margot, I'd be keen to get your opinion on it.
DeleteI very much like the sound of this, although at 198 pages it doesn't seem to be a novella, whatever the publisher might say!
ReplyDeleteOff to the library I go . . .
I did enjoy it. I did wonder if it was maybe a YA novel, but on reflection I don't think so. I think it's too long to be classed as a novella really.
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