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Treacle Mountain
Growing up in a bad neighbourhood – just trying to get by and survive without support or love from any family or friends is all Annie has ever known.
Can she now at the age of 17 make any difference and clean up the area she lives in when surrounded by drug dealers, prostitutes and generally the scum of society. Against all these odds will she ever be able to climb Treacle Mountain or always remain hidden away in the shadows crying alone?
Everyone has a bit of Annie in them: some choose to fight, some choose to lurk in the darkness and fly under life’s radar. Can Annie’s inner courage win and make a real difference?
Will a mysterious stranger change her life forever?
Set mainly in New York - Bronx
Contains adult content/language
Can she now at the age of 17 make any difference and clean up the area she lives in when surrounded by drug dealers, prostitutes and generally the scum of society. Against all these odds will she ever be able to climb Treacle Mountain or always remain hidden away in the shadows crying alone?
Everyone has a bit of Annie in them: some choose to fight, some choose to lurk in the darkness and fly under life’s radar. Can Annie’s inner courage win and make a real difference?
Will a mysterious stranger change her life forever?
Set mainly in New York - Bronx
Contains adult content/language
Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2013
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 11, 2014
Annie is an orphan in the Bronx who lives in a slum with people who’ve essentially reached the end of the line in life (which is curiously where Annie is starting hers). She dreams of things any girl would want, but Annie is in such a hopeless situation that it’s incredible that she could even dare to hope for the same. She works at the local soup kitchen and survives off of the charity of others who probably see her as being like a pitiful stray cat. She has her spats with other girls who have begun to succumb to their environment, but she doesn’t stop being her.
While this novel is not extremely explicit in the actions described, it is not intended for young readers. A young adult would certainly find a lot in common with Annie. In some ways, this story reminded me some of Catcher in the Rye or Moby Dick to a lesser degree. The environment is a big focus right alongside the characters as opposed to a central line of action.
Pinkerton is trying to explore Annie’s psyche to the deepest level. Pinkerton though manages to keep things moving at a brisk page while still examining the environment and characters at such a level. I would personally classify this novel as a Drama because of the focus on issues at a personal level and the feeling of sadness that seems pervasive in Annie’s life. Everything feels like it’s decaying with little glimmers of hope in small actions by the characters. It feels crazy that the main character would still imagine hopeful things like going to law school, having expensive clothes, or anything like that when her environment is developed to be so… sad. That’s where I started to think about Catcher in the Rye, how Holden was so disconnected from what was going on around him. Annie is not nearly as unaware of her environment, but she does have a childlike hopefulness.
When I was reading this book, I was looking for seeds that would indicate where the plot was headed. I was expecting something on a grander scale like Godzilla attacking the Bronx or something, but I felt like I was being pulled in several directions. Annie does actually want to make a difference, but think smaller and more personal. She does nice things for her neighbors, looks out for people, and tries to make the right decision for herself and for the people she cares about. Though understanding that certainly made this book make more sense to me, I do think the story could stand to be tightened up some.
As far as the writing goes, I think it’s fairly easy to see that Pinkerton has a clear image in his mind of what the characters are like, what their environment feels like, and what he wants the reader to take away. It’s also good to see an author who is very clearly excited about their own story. At the same time, there were run-on sentences and a handful of instances where one statement about the character contradicted another. These contradictions were not things core to the story, but were noticeable. On a whole, I was able to understand where the author was going and wasn’t thrown off from getting a clear indication of intention.
While this novel is not extremely explicit in the actions described, it is not intended for young readers. A young adult would certainly find a lot in common with Annie. In some ways, this story reminded me some of Catcher in the Rye or Moby Dick to a lesser degree. The environment is a big focus right alongside the characters as opposed to a central line of action.
Pinkerton is trying to explore Annie’s psyche to the deepest level. Pinkerton though manages to keep things moving at a brisk page while still examining the environment and characters at such a level. I would personally classify this novel as a Drama because of the focus on issues at a personal level and the feeling of sadness that seems pervasive in Annie’s life. Everything feels like it’s decaying with little glimmers of hope in small actions by the characters. It feels crazy that the main character would still imagine hopeful things like going to law school, having expensive clothes, or anything like that when her environment is developed to be so… sad. That’s where I started to think about Catcher in the Rye, how Holden was so disconnected from what was going on around him. Annie is not nearly as unaware of her environment, but she does have a childlike hopefulness.
When I was reading this book, I was looking for seeds that would indicate where the plot was headed. I was expecting something on a grander scale like Godzilla attacking the Bronx or something, but I felt like I was being pulled in several directions. Annie does actually want to make a difference, but think smaller and more personal. She does nice things for her neighbors, looks out for people, and tries to make the right decision for herself and for the people she cares about. Though understanding that certainly made this book make more sense to me, I do think the story could stand to be tightened up some.
As far as the writing goes, I think it’s fairly easy to see that Pinkerton has a clear image in his mind of what the characters are like, what their environment feels like, and what he wants the reader to take away. It’s also good to see an author who is very clearly excited about their own story. At the same time, there were run-on sentences and a handful of instances where one statement about the character contradicted another. These contradictions were not things core to the story, but were noticeable. On a whole, I was able to understand where the author was going and wasn’t thrown off from getting a clear indication of intention.
August 13, 2016
Mainly taking place in the Bronx of New York City is the story of seventeen year old Annie, an orphan who strives to help clean up the area she lives in. Now, I know what you're thinking, but not that Orphan Annie! She is, however, just as likable. F.W. Pinkerton did a fantastic job of crafting this story, with those small little twists and the view you get into Annie's head... well that's just wonderfully done. This book is one of those few that you can recommend to a wide array of people. Like Thrillers? Read Treacle Mountain. Like Tear-jerkers? Read this one and I dare you not to cry at least once! A heartbreaking read in it's honesty(so real the characters just leap off the pages) this suspenseful tale should definitely be finding it's way onto your To Be Read List!
If you're anything like me you will be rooting for Annie from the start. The life she has lived is just not fair, and to come out on top by still, for the most part, being a good person is just so amazing. I've, of course, never been in Annie's position living on the streets with no place to call home or family to go home to, but I'd like to think that this is a pretty accurate portrayal and the story just has that way of gripping you and not letting go. I know that I'd read more from F.W. Pinkerton, his style of writing is one that I really respond well to. When I read the synopsis of Treacle Mountain I truly did not expect to be swept into the book as much as I was. Yes, I thought I liked the sound of it, but it did no justice for the great read I was in store for. So, next time you're going on a One-Click spree on Amazon, you might want to keep this one in mind!
*I received this book for review from the author, but this in no way affected my thoughts expressed in this review.*
If you're anything like me you will be rooting for Annie from the start. The life she has lived is just not fair, and to come out on top by still, for the most part, being a good person is just so amazing. I've, of course, never been in Annie's position living on the streets with no place to call home or family to go home to, but I'd like to think that this is a pretty accurate portrayal and the story just has that way of gripping you and not letting go. I know that I'd read more from F.W. Pinkerton, his style of writing is one that I really respond well to. When I read the synopsis of Treacle Mountain I truly did not expect to be swept into the book as much as I was. Yes, I thought I liked the sound of it, but it did no justice for the great read I was in store for. So, next time you're going on a One-Click spree on Amazon, you might want to keep this one in mind!
*I received this book for review from the author, but this in no way affected my thoughts expressed in this review.*
January 28, 2014
I was given a copy of this book to review honestly and so I shall!
Treacle Mountain immediately grips you in it's fist and won't let go, with the main protagonist being a girl just like that little orphan Annie who gets dealt the hard knocks in life. This Annie also has red hair but she dyes it dark, hardly bathes, and rarely speaks up for herself, all in an attempt not to stand out and bring attention to herself.
Living in the Bronx, Annie is just trying to survive against the bad hand she was given. She doesn't know who her parents are, she works in a soup kitchen run by a self-pampered, thieving hag, and the only friend she has might be something more but how can Annie know? She doesn't know people, she's never touched, and now she has this list of lowlifes she wants to avenge herself upon.
But its not all bad. She has a chance at something more, something real. A family. People who care about her. But can Annie play it straight or will her need for revenge get in the way of the only good thing she has ever known?
Treacle Mountain really stood out for me but I'm not a good judge on street life or the Bronx itself. I don't know how accurate the portrayal is but I felt the author did a fantastic job with her character, Annie, and the everyday grind to survive on the streets. Its pitiful, sad, pathetic, heart wrenching, and upsetting to the bone and when things start to go right for Annie, you find yourself pleading with her not to mess it up.
Treacle Mountain immediately grips you in it's fist and won't let go, with the main protagonist being a girl just like that little orphan Annie who gets dealt the hard knocks in life. This Annie also has red hair but she dyes it dark, hardly bathes, and rarely speaks up for herself, all in an attempt not to stand out and bring attention to herself.
Living in the Bronx, Annie is just trying to survive against the bad hand she was given. She doesn't know who her parents are, she works in a soup kitchen run by a self-pampered, thieving hag, and the only friend she has might be something more but how can Annie know? She doesn't know people, she's never touched, and now she has this list of lowlifes she wants to avenge herself upon.
But its not all bad. She has a chance at something more, something real. A family. People who care about her. But can Annie play it straight or will her need for revenge get in the way of the only good thing she has ever known?
Treacle Mountain really stood out for me but I'm not a good judge on street life or the Bronx itself. I don't know how accurate the portrayal is but I felt the author did a fantastic job with her character, Annie, and the everyday grind to survive on the streets. Its pitiful, sad, pathetic, heart wrenching, and upsetting to the bone and when things start to go right for Annie, you find yourself pleading with her not to mess it up.
November 17, 2013
Wow talk about a cliffhanger of a great novel this is the one I would choose. Rags to riches love story from the get go. You just never know who is out to get you and who to trust and not trust. The characters flow well and is written so well that you get lost in the pages. Thank you FW for your labor of love. Now to the important question Where is the next in this wonder series?????? Happy Reading
January 15, 2014
Great book! I prefer the fantasy/paranormal worlds but I honestly had trouble putting Treacle Mountain down to get anything else accomplished. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone. It was very enjoyable. The author did a great job at grabbing my attention right from the very start. You should definitely add this book to your TBR and not put off reading it for too long.
December 30, 2013
I was given a copy by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Characters: The novel is in the point of view of Annie, a poor girl living in the Bronx. Other characters include Destiny, her best friend/lover, the Kims, a family that takes her in, and a mysterious figure that seems to be following Annie.
Plot: Annie is a poor girl living in the Bronx trying to tackle each day of her grim life. She works at a soup kitchen run by a pair of nasty girls who are involved in some shady business. As Annie tries to get back at them for treating her badly, she runs into a guy that keeps turning up everywhere and claiming he's her "friend." Turns out he actually is a friend, but that part comes later. The story is interesting, especially the end, but the characters except for Annie and the Kims are not very developed. The events were realistic and they were strung together nicely.
Writing: This is the area that brought my rating down. Pinkerton's sentence structure and vocabulary are great, but his grammar and punctuation needs some help. It was distracting and took away from the good things like the well-developed plot. Also, the setting is in the Bronx, but the characters all spoke and thought with British words and phrases. An editor or another set of eyes and a dictionary of American slang would have enhanced this unusual and entertaining story.
Characters: The novel is in the point of view of Annie, a poor girl living in the Bronx. Other characters include Destiny, her best friend/lover, the Kims, a family that takes her in, and a mysterious figure that seems to be following Annie.
Plot: Annie is a poor girl living in the Bronx trying to tackle each day of her grim life. She works at a soup kitchen run by a pair of nasty girls who are involved in some shady business. As Annie tries to get back at them for treating her badly, she runs into a guy that keeps turning up everywhere and claiming he's her "friend." Turns out he actually is a friend, but that part comes later. The story is interesting, especially the end, but the characters except for Annie and the Kims are not very developed. The events were realistic and they were strung together nicely.
Writing: This is the area that brought my rating down. Pinkerton's sentence structure and vocabulary are great, but his grammar and punctuation needs some help. It was distracting and took away from the good things like the well-developed plot. Also, the setting is in the Bronx, but the characters all spoke and thought with British words and phrases. An editor or another set of eyes and a dictionary of American slang would have enhanced this unusual and entertaining story.
May 23, 2014
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite:www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
The main character in the book Treacle Mountain is Annie Doe, she's living in the projects lucky to have a roof over her head, she lives in a run down hovel with a low paying job working in a soup kitchen, but she's thankful for it, it's better than being on the other side of the serving hatch, but the pays not enough to survive, and most days she only just has enough to eat.
The author has focused on the issues of how Annie and the sub characters cope with living with poverty, despair, drugs and prostitution. The Author describes the environment and atmosphere quite well, you really get into the plot. I liked how Annie tried to be inherently good in her actions and nature, although I did love her way of dealing with the people who ended up on her very long Naughty List!
Annie is not unaware of her situation, but she tries to be positive and clings to that little glimmer of hope.
As I read the book ( I tend to read a book blind most of the time, it makes for more of an interesting adventure) and I was thinking that the plot would go in a certain direction, but the Author has the plot going in a few different directions. But the main focus is on Annies daily life and how she tries to make a difference, in the people she knows, she tries to do nice things for her neighbors, looks out for people, and tries to choose the right path for herself and for few people who are kind to her in her dreary world.
As to the writing style I think the author has put a lot into describing the environment and the characters, but sometimes I wondered where it was all leading to… Lots of what's happening now, this happens that happens...But where's it all leading too??? ITS only at 98% into the book do we finally start to get some answers to why Mr Denim Jacket man is keeping an eye on Annie.
I was just getting into the story as he starts to reveal his intentions and the plot starts to lead on to why he befriended her and was so intent in helping her and BAM it ended, and at this point there is a statement that then makes a small snippet of information garnered about Annies past earlier in the book, that suddenly made sense, but then this wasn’t developed, as I read on I got the feeling that the information was just being told, it felt rushed and I feel it spoiled the rest of the book which I had up to that point enjoyed reading.
And by this, I mean the outline of this ending had the bones of being a good end, but it should have been given more depth, like the rest of the book, but instead it was quickly despatched to the reader in 8 and a half pages (on my iPad in portrait viewing). SERIOUSLY I kept flicking my Kindle app confused to why the next page wasn’t appearing...and then it twigged… that was it, it ended on that last quick paragraph… In conclusion I guess that the author plans on this being a series but for me I feel this was not the place to end it, instead of me being keen to get my hands on the next installment it left me feeling confused.
So to end this review I give the book - 3 stars (which means I liked it - and I did I just didn’t like the last 8.5 pages)
The main character in the book Treacle Mountain is Annie Doe, she's living in the projects lucky to have a roof over her head, she lives in a run down hovel with a low paying job working in a soup kitchen, but she's thankful for it, it's better than being on the other side of the serving hatch, but the pays not enough to survive, and most days she only just has enough to eat.
The author has focused on the issues of how Annie and the sub characters cope with living with poverty, despair, drugs and prostitution. The Author describes the environment and atmosphere quite well, you really get into the plot. I liked how Annie tried to be inherently good in her actions and nature, although I did love her way of dealing with the people who ended up on her very long Naughty List!
Annie is not unaware of her situation, but she tries to be positive and clings to that little glimmer of hope.
As I read the book ( I tend to read a book blind most of the time, it makes for more of an interesting adventure) and I was thinking that the plot would go in a certain direction, but the Author has the plot going in a few different directions. But the main focus is on Annies daily life and how she tries to make a difference, in the people she knows, she tries to do nice things for her neighbors, looks out for people, and tries to choose the right path for herself and for few people who are kind to her in her dreary world.
As to the writing style I think the author has put a lot into describing the environment and the characters, but sometimes I wondered where it was all leading to… Lots of what's happening now, this happens that happens...But where's it all leading too??? ITS only at 98% into the book do we finally start to get some answers to why Mr Denim Jacket man is keeping an eye on Annie.
I was just getting into the story as he starts to reveal his intentions and the plot starts to lead on to why he befriended her and was so intent in helping her and BAM it ended, and at this point there is a statement that then makes a small snippet of information garnered about Annies past earlier in the book, that suddenly made sense, but then this wasn’t developed, as I read on I got the feeling that the information was just being told, it felt rushed and I feel it spoiled the rest of the book which I had up to that point enjoyed reading.
And by this, I mean the outline of this ending had the bones of being a good end, but it should have been given more depth, like the rest of the book, but instead it was quickly despatched to the reader in 8 and a half pages (on my iPad in portrait viewing). SERIOUSLY I kept flicking my Kindle app confused to why the next page wasn’t appearing...and then it twigged… that was it, it ended on that last quick paragraph… In conclusion I guess that the author plans on this being a series but for me I feel this was not the place to end it, instead of me being keen to get my hands on the next installment it left me feeling confused.
So to end this review I give the book - 3 stars (which means I liked it - and I did I just didn’t like the last 8.5 pages)
June 12, 2014
Okay, so I must admit that this book seemed like two different stories. One a coming-of-age story of a girl who is trying to change the dark world she lives in to one of safety and stability. And the other a thriller about a girl suddenly thrust into a plot of smuggling and drugs. A plot that just seems to thicken with every turned page. By themselves, I can see how both stories would definitely make for good books, but together, to me it was just too much. I kind of wish that the author would have stuck more to the thriller aspect for this particular book. It seemed that it had a bit more substance to it. And also, I kind of did not like the person the main character was turning into when she was making the world she lives in “better.” I guess I should probably explain the quotes around better.
Annie, our main character, lives in a rundown place with a failing marriage behind one wall and a constant demand for pleasure behind the other. She absolutely hates the situation she is in. Hates it to the point where of course she wants to change it. But she goes about it, in my eyes, the wrong way. She basically delves into the terrible world she wants to get away from and uses it to her advantage. The advantage being she can get back at those who have pissed her off, such as a local drug dealer, the man who lives in the apartment beneath her, and at one point, even her supposed best friend/lover. I mean, every single thing she did was almost mind-blowing to me. Not because of what she did, but because of her justifications behind it. It just didn’t seem…right, I guess is the word?
And also, the author hints at various times throughout the story about an incident from Annie’s past. Supposedly it had haunted her for years. But it didn’t seem that way. I kind of wish the author had started the story with a flashback of the incident. And also, along with that, written in the character Fred’s point of view. Because he is very important to the thriller aspect of the story and is found to be indirectly connected with the incident from her past. Along with the whole plot of smuggling and drugs that Annie is suddenly thrust into, everything would have connected in some way. Because that is something I really did not get from this book the way it was written, a connection. Like I said before, this seemed like two stories instead of one. And neither really felt part of the other.
While in the end I did enjoy the story, I wanted more development.
Annie, our main character, lives in a rundown place with a failing marriage behind one wall and a constant demand for pleasure behind the other. She absolutely hates the situation she is in. Hates it to the point where of course she wants to change it. But she goes about it, in my eyes, the wrong way. She basically delves into the terrible world she wants to get away from and uses it to her advantage. The advantage being she can get back at those who have pissed her off, such as a local drug dealer, the man who lives in the apartment beneath her, and at one point, even her supposed best friend/lover. I mean, every single thing she did was almost mind-blowing to me. Not because of what she did, but because of her justifications behind it. It just didn’t seem…right, I guess is the word?
And also, the author hints at various times throughout the story about an incident from Annie’s past. Supposedly it had haunted her for years. But it didn’t seem that way. I kind of wish the author had started the story with a flashback of the incident. And also, along with that, written in the character Fred’s point of view. Because he is very important to the thriller aspect of the story and is found to be indirectly connected with the incident from her past. Along with the whole plot of smuggling and drugs that Annie is suddenly thrust into, everything would have connected in some way. Because that is something I really did not get from this book the way it was written, a connection. Like I said before, this seemed like two stories instead of one. And neither really felt part of the other.
While in the end I did enjoy the story, I wanted more development.
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