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Paradise Salvage
In his tantalizing debut novel, John Fusco marvelously traces the unforgettable trajectory of twelve-year-old Nunzio Paradiso's last summer of innocence. To Kill a Mockingbird depicted such a summer-the last unfettered, wondrous season of youth. Each new wreck towed into Paradise Salvage-where the ferocious crusher presides with its power to reduce luxury automobiles into heaps of twisted metal-is a desultory gift from Fortune. Sometimes it's a handful of loose change or an old copy of Vue magazine with a Betty Page centerfold under the front seat, but on a hot summer day in 1979, in the trunk of an abandoned Pontiac, Nunzio uncovers a secret that will change his life. In the blink of an eye, all evidence is lost to the crusher, and only his older brother Danny Boy believes Nunzio's story. Enlisting the help of his father's renegade cousin, an ex-cop with a dark history of his own, he embarks on a bizarre and dangerous journey. A story of innocence lost and justice found, of ambition frustrated and dreams realized, and the difference between generations of a family struggling to reconcile the traditions of the past with the demands of the present, Paradise Salvage glows with heart and marks the debut of a gifted storyteller.
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First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 14, 2015
The cover is entirely for marketing and tells you diddly about the story. This is not literary fiction, nor should you believe the inaccurate quote about the Sopranos. Compared to the Sopranos, this is very, very tame.
Paradise Salvage is a mystery. Period. It's a story about a boy who sees something he shouldn't. He tries to tell people, but they don't believe him. Finally, his brother believes him, and they start sleuthing around to figure out "whodunnit".
This isn't really a spoiler, but maybe sort of: My only beef was that at the end the boys didn't have to get themselves out of the trouble they got themselves into, which in my opinion, is required of this type of book.
Also, I bought this book without knowing a thing about it, only on the name John Fusco. He wrote Dog Beach, WHICH I LOVED! Dog Beach was a very different kind of book, but there are places you can see the same style shining through. I'll definitely continue to read Fusco's books.
Paradise Salvage is a mystery. Period. It's a story about a boy who sees something he shouldn't. He tries to tell people, but they don't believe him. Finally, his brother believes him, and they start sleuthing around to figure out "whodunnit".
This isn't really a spoiler, but maybe sort of: My only beef was that at the end the boys didn't have to get themselves out of the trouble they got themselves into, which in my opinion, is required of this type of book.
Also, I bought this book without knowing a thing about it, only on the name John Fusco. He wrote Dog Beach, WHICH I LOVED! Dog Beach was a very different kind of book, but there are places you can see the same style shining through. I'll definitely continue to read Fusco's books.
July 13, 2009
A great read if you grew up in Waterbury or have spent a significant amount of time there...
July 9, 2017
Loved this book. I bought it in a sale without reading the back or knowing anything about the author about ten years ago. I always kept it because I thought it was a nugget of gold. Now I'm rereading it and it hooked me again. I love the intricate details of the background stories of Nuzi and his family. Brilliant!
Want to read
September 16, 2007Downloaded from Audible.com 5/14/07
Narrator: Brian Emerson
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks, 2005
Length: 14 hours and 27 min.
Publisher's Summary
In his tantalizing debut novel, Paradise Salvage, at once a taut thriller and a lyrical coming-of-age story, John Fusco marvelously traces the unforgettable trajectory of 12-year-old Nunzio Paradiso's last summer of innocence.
Each new wreck towed into Paradise Salvage is a desultory gift from Fortune, a random opportunity for discovery. Sometimes it's a handful of loose change under the upholstery or an old copy of Vue magazine with a Betty Page centerfold under the front seat. But on a hot summer day in 1979, in the trunk of an abandoned Pontiac Bonneville, Nunzio uncovers a secret that will change his life.
In the blink of an eye, all evidence is lost to the crusher, and only his older brother Danny Boy believes Nunzio's story. Enlisting the help of his father's renegade cousin, an ex-cop with a dark history of his own, they embark on a bizarre and dangerous journey that proves to be as much one of personal discovery as an unraveling of the mystery behind the corpse at Paradise Salvage.
A story of innocence lost and justice found, of ambition frustrated and dreams realized, and the difference between generations of a family struggling to reconcile the traditions of the past with the demands of the present, Paradise Salvage glows with heart and marks the debut of a gifted storyteller.
Narrator: Brian Emerson
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks, 2005
Length: 14 hours and 27 min.
Publisher's Summary
In his tantalizing debut novel, Paradise Salvage, at once a taut thriller and a lyrical coming-of-age story, John Fusco marvelously traces the unforgettable trajectory of 12-year-old Nunzio Paradiso's last summer of innocence.
Each new wreck towed into Paradise Salvage is a desultory gift from Fortune, a random opportunity for discovery. Sometimes it's a handful of loose change under the upholstery or an old copy of Vue magazine with a Betty Page centerfold under the front seat. But on a hot summer day in 1979, in the trunk of an abandoned Pontiac Bonneville, Nunzio uncovers a secret that will change his life.
In the blink of an eye, all evidence is lost to the crusher, and only his older brother Danny Boy believes Nunzio's story. Enlisting the help of his father's renegade cousin, an ex-cop with a dark history of his own, they embark on a bizarre and dangerous journey that proves to be as much one of personal discovery as an unraveling of the mystery behind the corpse at Paradise Salvage.
A story of innocence lost and justice found, of ambition frustrated and dreams realized, and the difference between generations of a family struggling to reconcile the traditions of the past with the demands of the present, Paradise Salvage glows with heart and marks the debut of a gifted storyteller.
October 9, 2015
An entertaining read, something of a "boysown" adventure tale, steeped in the culture of Naples transported to 'l'America'.
The narrator is a twelve year old boy. The story feels like a total fantasy, as in an action flick, but has plenty of substance in the context of the culture of Italian machismo. Typically, male characters are strongly developed whilst female characters have sketchy outlines and serve to fill out those of the males.
The story is engaging and related with a wonderful humour that constantly reminds the reader not to take the book too seriously. Having said that, i finished the book feeling like I'd been steeped in the culture and developed a stronger understanding of the ties that bind.
The narrator is a twelve year old boy. The story feels like a total fantasy, as in an action flick, but has plenty of substance in the context of the culture of Italian machismo. Typically, male characters are strongly developed whilst female characters have sketchy outlines and serve to fill out those of the males.
The story is engaging and related with a wonderful humour that constantly reminds the reader not to take the book too seriously. Having said that, i finished the book feeling like I'd been steeped in the culture and developed a stronger understanding of the ties that bind.
August 21, 2012
There have been several books written from the child's perspective and they are always enlightening. Everyday life seen through the eyes of a child can be astonishingly blunt and honest, and from an adult's perspective, humorous. It is a time when we can look at ourselves and have a laugh! Anyway, Nunzio Paradiso is the son of a salvage yard owner. His father receives a call to tow a car and that is where the fun begins. The central theme is a mystery while all around Nunzio the family, the neighborhood and the life of a second generation American boy transpire. Not exactly Angela's Ashes but good nonetheless!
January 6, 2013
I wanted to be forever immersed and suspended in the world of the Paradiso family as drawn by John Fusco, watching over the fuck-ups they were making of their lives. In the infuriatingly macho all-American/Italian environment where everybody always feels slightly "connected" to the old way of things - even if they are just living a normal American life. So many things that were familiar (and famiglia) to me, which were comfortable and yet humorous in their telling. Italians, intrigue, old cars, adolescent angst, and mystery. Its better, funnier and darker than the Hardy Boys.
April 14, 2011
I really enjoyed this. It's a blend of medium-paced crime thriller with a slow-paced affectionate portrait of an Italian-American community in a fictional industrial town in Connecticut. If your thing is a tale of constant frenzy and action, you won't find it here, but this is the very charm of the book. An unexpected gem. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration by Brian Emerson was just right.
July 19, 2010
'Paradise Salvage' is definitely slow in it's inception, but grows into a well crafted, multi-genre story with fantastic characters and tightly knit character arcs.
It's no surprise it was written by well known Screenwriter John Fusco (Crossroads, Spirit, Thunderheart) who has the experience and heart to craft his own highly enjoyable coming of age story.
It's no surprise it was written by well known Screenwriter John Fusco (Crossroads, Spirit, Thunderheart) who has the experience and heart to craft his own highly enjoyable coming of age story.
July 17, 2007
It's a murder mystery and a coming-of-age story and an exploration of family and culture in a certain time, but it manages to weave it into an interesting story with a kid narrator who is never annoying and always recognisable as a child.
December 22, 2008
This book started off slow and I didn't know what to expect as I have never read from this author before, but it actually gets pretty good. I would recommend it to anyone that can get through a slow begaining
September 25, 2011
I really liked this book. I would give it a little higher than a 4 if I could. It was a coming of age story, relationship between a boy and his brother. Loved reading about "Italy" in America. It was also a mystery.
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March 3, 2012A woman who spends every afternoon drinking tea and reading in my son's Chinese restaurant was reading this one day when I went in to see him. She lent it to me, and while it's not my usual thing it was an interesting departure.
March 17, 2009
Very enjoyable, great characters, and a terrific chase scene!
November 27, 2010
good story
August 26, 2011
"Paradise Salvage" has a great plot line with a well written story. I love a mystery and the mystery thread was throughout along with the wonderful warmth and strong ties in the Italian community.
September 19, 2011
Couldn't get into characters or style. Author has talent, but just wasn't my thing.
October 7, 2014
Engaging story - very rich characters.
April 7, 2015
OK read. If I wasn't Italian I might have enjoyed it less. :)
October 29, 2009
Written by the screenwriter who gave us Crossroads, Young Guns I & II, Hidalgo, Babe, etc.
April 28, 2017
This was an amusing book told from a child's perspective. Kind of like if Ralphie from A Christmas Story grew up in a junk yard setting and stumbled upon a dead body.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews