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Winged Creatures
Shots ring out in a local fast food restaurant. Teenager Anne Hagen and her best friend Jimmy hide under a table, watching a suicidal gunman randomly murder her father and others. Winged Creatures tells the stories of the survivors...
Struggling to understand her father's death, Anne develops a religious hysteria. Jimmy becomes mute, protecting a secret that he and Anne share until it nearly destroys him and his already fractured family. Grazed by a bullet, driving instructor Charlie becomes obsessed with pressing his luck at a casino. By dangerous degrees, restaurant cashier Carla loses her ability to care for herself and her infant son. Dr. Laraby, an ER physician who failed to revive the shooting victims, turns to his wife as someone to "save," while psychologist Ron Abler tries to counsel the witnesses, but meets suspicion and resistance.
Winged Creatures intimately depicts the inner lives of five people driven by secret torments and dangerous compulsions, in flight from their own memories and dreams, as they struggle to regain their trust in the ordinary world.
ROY FREIRICH is a screenwriter and songwriter living in Malibu, California. Winged Creatures is his first novel.
Struggling to understand her father's death, Anne develops a religious hysteria. Jimmy becomes mute, protecting a secret that he and Anne share until it nearly destroys him and his already fractured family. Grazed by a bullet, driving instructor Charlie becomes obsessed with pressing his luck at a casino. By dangerous degrees, restaurant cashier Carla loses her ability to care for herself and her infant son. Dr. Laraby, an ER physician who failed to revive the shooting victims, turns to his wife as someone to "save," while psychologist Ron Abler tries to counsel the witnesses, but meets suspicion and resistance.
Winged Creatures intimately depicts the inner lives of five people driven by secret torments and dangerous compulsions, in flight from their own memories and dreams, as they struggle to regain their trust in the ordinary world.
ROY FREIRICH is a screenwriter and songwriter living in Malibu, California. Winged Creatures is his first novel.
- GenresFiction
295 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
7 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
About the author
Roy Freirich
4 books38 followersBorn in New York and educated at Beloit College in Wisconsin, author Roy Freirich has been Associate Editor for the nationally renowned "Beloit Poetry Journal," and for the national desk of "The New York Times."
He received a Master’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Michigan, where he wrote and co-directed "Persona Non Grata," an Ann Arbor International Film Festival prize winner.
As a screenwriter, Roy wrote "City of Silence" for DreamWorks, "Frontin'," with his wife Debrah, for Fox Searchlight, and the screenplay for the Sony release, "Fragments," adapted from his own novel, "Winged Creatures."
“Fragments" stars Forest Whitaker, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning,, Guy Pearce, Jennifer Hudson,, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Josh Hutcherson.
Reviews for "Winged Creatures".:
"...stark, impressive debut... a tightly knit ensemble drama... emotionally charged."
-- Publisher's Weekly
"A riveting debut novel about the aftermath of a mass shooting in a fast food restaurant. The author achieves the amazing feat of following an utterly disparate cast of dramatis personae through the vicissitudes of their lives as they are irrevocably scarred and changed forever. A sure-fire page-turner and, without question, has great movie written all over it, vividly reminiscent of Atom Egoyan's great The Sweet Hereafter."
-- Rex Pickett, author of SIDEWAYS
A lone gunman enters a fast-food diner, kills two patrons, and then turns the gun on himself. From that depressingly familiar scenario, first-novelist and veteran screenwriter Freirich spins a highly emotional story of how the survivors deal with the tragedy... As the narrative flashes between the survivors’ desperate attempts to cope and the fateful events of that day, Freirich employs a hyper, pop-culture-obsessed narrative voice to home in on the fleeting nature of existence. Soon to be made into a film, which will raise its visibility, this well-crafted debut packs an emotional wallop.
-- Joanne Wilkinson, on BookList
“When a life is shattered, what is left to hold onto? Roy Freirich’s group portrait of the aftermath of a random shooting delves into areas of the psyche rarely explored with such precision and delicacy. A relentlessly suspenseful and mesmerizing novel from a brilliantly original writer. Winged Creatures is an astounding debut.”
-- David Angsten, author of DARK GOLD
He received a Master’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Michigan, where he wrote and co-directed "Persona Non Grata," an Ann Arbor International Film Festival prize winner.
As a screenwriter, Roy wrote "City of Silence" for DreamWorks, "Frontin'," with his wife Debrah, for Fox Searchlight, and the screenplay for the Sony release, "Fragments," adapted from his own novel, "Winged Creatures."
“Fragments" stars Forest Whitaker, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning,, Guy Pearce, Jennifer Hudson,, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Josh Hutcherson.
Reviews for "Winged Creatures".:
"...stark, impressive debut... a tightly knit ensemble drama... emotionally charged."
-- Publisher's Weekly
"A riveting debut novel about the aftermath of a mass shooting in a fast food restaurant. The author achieves the amazing feat of following an utterly disparate cast of dramatis personae through the vicissitudes of their lives as they are irrevocably scarred and changed forever. A sure-fire page-turner and, without question, has great movie written all over it, vividly reminiscent of Atom Egoyan's great The Sweet Hereafter."
-- Rex Pickett, author of SIDEWAYS
A lone gunman enters a fast-food diner, kills two patrons, and then turns the gun on himself. From that depressingly familiar scenario, first-novelist and veteran screenwriter Freirich spins a highly emotional story of how the survivors deal with the tragedy... As the narrative flashes between the survivors’ desperate attempts to cope and the fateful events of that day, Freirich employs a hyper, pop-culture-obsessed narrative voice to home in on the fleeting nature of existence. Soon to be made into a film, which will raise its visibility, this well-crafted debut packs an emotional wallop.
-- Joanne Wilkinson, on BookList
“When a life is shattered, what is left to hold onto? Roy Freirich’s group portrait of the aftermath of a random shooting delves into areas of the psyche rarely explored with such precision and delicacy. A relentlessly suspenseful and mesmerizing novel from a brilliantly original writer. Winged Creatures is an astounding debut.”
-- David Angsten, author of DARK GOLD
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 30, 2011
I kept reading this thinking the secret was something huge. When I learned what it was my response was "are you kidding me? this is what they were keeping secret?" I didn't like or care about any of the characters. I really wanted more info on the shooting and why that happened. Every time Anne started talking I wanted to skip ahead. Poor writing, bad storytelling. I definitely would not recommend.
August 18, 2008
Okay, and now it's time for a rant. When I read a book, I am attempting to read A BOOK. Not an advertisement laden, made for Hollywood, improbable piece of pulp lacking in creativity. Frielich cannot seem to go more than a page without ad placement for HP or Costco, Gap, Ford, Dodge, McDonald's, and even yes, U2 and that "Irish Bono" who's out saving the world. Of course, the name of the fast food joint in which the whole book centers is fictional, because, as my husband said, naming it Wendy's or BK or KFC would of course be bad PR.
And maybe such a habit would be acceptable if it were the habit of one character (all are written in third person), but when the whole stinking book is narrated as such, I began to lose patience. I considered not finishing it, already feeling sleazy, as if I was some kind of junkie for the products the author advertises, finally deciding that I would finish it only because it came from the library, and I had not spent one red cent on Frielich's freshman effort at novel writing. My advice for the reader. . . unless you like to be assaulted by the barrage of Coke, Shrek, and Maybelline, and thus have your intelligence insulted, skip this book. And my advice to Mr. Frielich-- go back the the silver screen, from whence you came, and leave the books for those who actually know how to read.
And maybe such a habit would be acceptable if it were the habit of one character (all are written in third person), but when the whole stinking book is narrated as such, I began to lose patience. I considered not finishing it, already feeling sleazy, as if I was some kind of junkie for the products the author advertises, finally deciding that I would finish it only because it came from the library, and I had not spent one red cent on Frielich's freshman effort at novel writing. My advice for the reader. . . unless you like to be assaulted by the barrage of Coke, Shrek, and Maybelline, and thus have your intelligence insulted, skip this book. And my advice to Mr. Frielich-- go back the the silver screen, from whence you came, and leave the books for those who actually know how to read.
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June 29, 2014Long, overly wordy, and confusing to boot! Trying to read this and care about the characters, all the while going back and forth, back and forth, is like a ramble through a Hall of Mirrors. Endless repetitions, and memory loops with characters--not one of whom I actually cared about--had me confused throughout. This book should have been a third of its size. You'd think the author could create one credible, full-bodied character. NOT!!!
Reader, steer clear!
Reader, steer clear!
June 25, 2008
I had a hard time connecting to the characters in this book and I have a feeling it was because there was very little introduction to their personalities before the main traumatic event. It's hard to have compassion for a group of people when all you see of them is behavior that would be uncharacteristic.
I really tried to get into it, but was unsucessful.
I really tried to get into it, but was unsucessful.
October 22, 2009
I liked the premise of this book. Lots of potential and a great storyline, but it ended up being a let down for me. The author is a screenwriter and it shows - this book was totally written for the Hollywood big screen. The character development was really lacking, and just never reached the depth I expected. Too many characters with superficial development. I haven't seen the movie, but suspect that most of book is captured on screen. Something else that really annoyed me was Freirich constant brand name dropping. The book read like a commercial at times.
May 9, 2008
In the end, this novel was an author's great idea that was shallowly executed. The more I read, the less I cared about the characters and perhaps the only thing that kept me reading was a grim interest at how deep their descent was. I couldn't empathize with anyone except for Carla's baby and found it easier to skim entire chapters. I didn't even bother with the last few pages.
August 2, 2008
It's got moments of great writing, and it's ambitious for sure, but my biggest struggle with this book is that we spend the first two-thirds watching the characters do exactly what the back cover says they're going to do.
And the problem's not that the cover blurb is a spoiler, but that ultimately the book feels like too much setup and not enough conflict and resolution.
And the problem's not that the cover blurb is a spoiler, but that ultimately the book feels like too much setup and not enough conflict and resolution.
March 29, 2015
If I could give less than 1 star, I probably would. I did not like the characters or plot. I did not get the "winged" motif, and actually did not really notice it until the end. I did keep reading, because I thought something interesting was going to happen at the end. It did not. Apparently this was made into a movie. I won't be seeing it.
March 12, 2011
a very engaging look at the aftermath of a random act of violence
well written
well written
December 3, 2012
I could not get into this book at all
February 3, 2008
Loved this book. So interesting, different and thought provoking. I really like his writing style.
January 15, 2021
This was satisfying read in an interesting format. The author takes a single event and reveals four stories about the reaction to it by several characters; cut them all up into little snippet yes and mix them together. Sometimes the lines cross linking the stories together. At the end I was satisfied but not profoundly. 3 stars for me means “a good book to read” but not a “must” read.
October 4, 2018
The gambling person's decisions in this movie drove me nuts.
November 4, 2008
In the past few decades, America has seen the rise of a strange phenomenon: the random shooting. Every time a shooting happens, the media shows up, records the pain and shock in front of them, and then leave, as if that were all of the story there was to tell. So much of our culture focuses on the actual event; every minute, tiny detail is taken and replayed over and over on our television screens. Less frequently we study the time leading up to the tragedy, magnifying motives and reasons. While works concerning this are certainly necessary, in Winged Creatures, we have a new perspective entirely. This book shows us what happens when America moves on, and the victims are left alone with their thoughts.
Anne, whose father was killed, becomes both a zealot and a martyr to his memory. Her friend Jimmy is struck completely mute from fear of Anne, and the truth of what happened to her father. Dependable family man Charlie survives a scraped bullet wound to the head and decides that he is lucky--lucky enough to gain a better life for his wife and daughter by betting all of their savings in a Las Vegas casino. Carla slowly disconnects from what she loves most in the world, and becomes lost in an escapist fantasy involving Laraby, the doctor who failed to save Anne's father's life, and who has now developed an obsessive complex with saving the "sick".
It's a very dark book, as the subject matter calls for, but is handled with a precision and care that could almost be described as loving-- each character is delicately, compassionately displayed, and yet their progressing sicknesses are raw and candid. Real, I think would be the word to describe this story. This book is real.
I would recommend it to any survivor of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as it rings absolutely true. Anyone should read it, though, to be honest. I haven't read a book this intimate, touching, or poignant in a very long time. It teaches compassion. I think it does so beautifully.
Anne, whose father was killed, becomes both a zealot and a martyr to his memory. Her friend Jimmy is struck completely mute from fear of Anne, and the truth of what happened to her father. Dependable family man Charlie survives a scraped bullet wound to the head and decides that he is lucky--lucky enough to gain a better life for his wife and daughter by betting all of their savings in a Las Vegas casino. Carla slowly disconnects from what she loves most in the world, and becomes lost in an escapist fantasy involving Laraby, the doctor who failed to save Anne's father's life, and who has now developed an obsessive complex with saving the "sick".
It's a very dark book, as the subject matter calls for, but is handled with a precision and care that could almost be described as loving-- each character is delicately, compassionately displayed, and yet their progressing sicknesses are raw and candid. Real, I think would be the word to describe this story. This book is real.
I would recommend it to any survivor of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as it rings absolutely true. Anyone should read it, though, to be honest. I haven't read a book this intimate, touching, or poignant in a very long time. It teaches compassion. I think it does so beautifully.
February 20, 2009
The murder of several men in a fast food eatery by an anonymous gunman rips apart the lives of several families in a small Michigan town. Although those involved truly need grief counseling, they all avoid the state-funded psychologist sent to meet them at the hospital. This denial leads each survivor to his or her own tragic breakdown.
It was especially painful to read the account of the survivor who heads to a casino to gamble away his family's entire life savings.
Favorite quote:
Page 162 provides insight on the disregard often given to mental health care:
Abler understands the waffling; he knows enough from his studies to realize his field meets the same resistance its exact subject meets; the emotional pain of others will always be a chore to fathom, because to understand it one must empathize with it, which is to say feel it as well, a prospect which for most is always at least unpleasant and preferably avoided. Despite all the "we feel you pain" hand-wringing after the latest natural or otherwise disaster, the very idea of a money-costing program devoted to exactly that remains deeply unpopular at every administrative level, particularly in these days of runaway deficits and the bipartisan hue and cry for fiscal accountability.
It was especially painful to read the account of the survivor who heads to a casino to gamble away his family's entire life savings.
Favorite quote:
Page 162 provides insight on the disregard often given to mental health care:
Abler understands the waffling; he knows enough from his studies to realize his field meets the same resistance its exact subject meets; the emotional pain of others will always be a chore to fathom, because to understand it one must empathize with it, which is to say feel it as well, a prospect which for most is always at least unpleasant and preferably avoided. Despite all the "we feel you pain" hand-wringing after the latest natural or otherwise disaster, the very idea of a money-costing program devoted to exactly that remains deeply unpopular at every administrative level, particularly in these days of runaway deficits and the bipartisan hue and cry for fiscal accountability.
June 9, 2009
The novel begins with bodies being brought into an emergency room from a random shooting at a local restaurant. The young doctor on hand is unable to save the life one man and his life dramatically changes course. The cashier at the restaurant is unharmed, but finds herself unable to take care of her baby. A young girl whose father is shot in front of her finds God and wants to spread the word. The friend that hid beneath the table with her is silent and will not speak of the incident or anything else. All of these stories intersect and lead to a dramatic ending. A good read. The narrative changes from one character to the other, so the story moves along quickly and fluidly.
March 11, 2010
Well, I really didn't love this book - I think my expectations were too high. It wasn't by any means a bad book - it was extremely well-written. It just wasn't all that engaging. The suspense built over the course of the novel fell a bit flat by the end. And while the premise, of following survivors of a random act of violence, was original, the book lacked sympathetic characters. I am still intrigued by the fact that it was so quickly made into a film (although I did waste time casting the movie in my head).
September 11, 2008
Pretty quick read.
It was all about Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. In that regard, it was a good book.
Other than that, I thought it was pretty lame.
It bounced around so much and you never had any idea of what was going on - but it wasn't in a a good way, like a hang on the edge of your seat way.
Anyway, if you like books that wrap up nicely with everyone going home happy at the end (I'm looking at you Dustin), then this book is for you.
It was all about Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. In that regard, it was a good book.
Other than that, I thought it was pretty lame.
It bounced around so much and you never had any idea of what was going on - but it wasn't in a a good way, like a hang on the edge of your seat way.
Anyway, if you like books that wrap up nicely with everyone going home happy at the end (I'm looking at you Dustin), then this book is for you.
December 2, 2008
IT IS OFFICIAL!!! I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED THIS!!!fyi its depressing at the end but most books like that end that way. i can see why it was an adults book cuz it is kinda confusing because it jumps from different characters (with different plots in their life and different ppl in their life and different wants/needs and different emotions)overall though it was good and i hope that the movie coming out in 09 will be just as good :)
August 17, 2009
I love the way this was written but found it very depressing. I wasn't sure I wanted to continue to the end because I couldn't see anything positive happening to any of the characters. I agree that the only character I could feel anything for was Carla's baby ~ none of them were really fleshed out at all before the incident. I'm just glad that the worst things I had imagined for the ending didn't happen. That would have been more depressing than the reading experience was.
February 4, 2011
I enjoyed this as it was beautifully written and the characters for the most part well-illustrated and interesting. The schtick of forcing us to wait until the end to have the flashbacks explain "what really happened" was a bit annoying and ultimately anti-climactic. Several terrible typos distracted from the flow of the narrative, and there was an awful lot of Jesus-thumping, but all in all not a terrible read.
May 15, 2008
Well, this was a disappointment. It sounded like such an interesting story and got really good reviews on Amazon, but I found it rather boring. I didn't care about the characters and had trouble understanding the reasoning behind their actions. It was good enough to finish, and the ending did redeem it somewhat. I'd give it 2 1/2 stars if I could, but I can't give it 3.
March 12, 2009
By the synopsis, I thought this book had potential to win me over. Unfortunately, I can't connect with the characters or the story at all. The language is not even that hard (compared to some of the books I have read), but it feels like the words are swimming over my eyes without any meaning. I just can't wait to finish then throw it aside. Sorry, but the book just doesn't work for me.
August 9, 2008
This book was brought to my attention by a colleague. They are making a film based on it with a great cast. On it's own, the book was very good. I enjoyed it and found it to be a fast read. It is about a random shooting in a fast food restaurant and the people who survive it. Very detailed. Give it a try.
August 21, 2009
Roy Freirich is a wonderful author, and yes, the plot was amazing, so props to that. But to me, the characters didn't end up anywhere NEW. Metaphorically, anyway. Like, they're lives changed, but I didn't really see how. Maybe I didn't appreciate this book because I read it when I was thriteen, but I remember not liking it one bit.
February 7, 2011
What happens to a person when they witness something terrible? How does that change you? These are interesting questions. Interesting book. I am trying to read 100 books in 2011 and this is number 1 for me. I've lately been having a hard time keeping my interest in a book but this one kept my interest and then some. Highly suggested..
May 20, 2014
Oh good grief! I kept reading, hoping that this book would finally settle down into something that made some sense.
It never did.
This is just a jumble of mixed up boring, disjointed and ultimately boring…. What?
This might’ve been a decent short story but I’m not even sure about that.
Sorry… I’m left speechless.
It never did.
This is just a jumble of mixed up boring, disjointed and ultimately boring…. What?
This might’ve been a decent short story but I’m not even sure about that.
Sorry… I’m left speechless.
August 17, 2016
This book was just okay. I thought we would learn who the shooter was. But it's just small stories about everyday people with everyday issues. Yes, the shooting was traumatic but outside of that, no one was living a perfect life. Incident really only affected Anne & Charlie. I'm not sure how this got made into a film.
March 21, 2008
I skipped to the end in this book, mostly because I wanted to know what terrible secret the teens were hiding. I was hoping that it wasn't a certain scenario, but it was, and that pretty much ruined it for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews