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Niagara Motel
Set in the early 1990s, Ashley Little's follow-up to her award-winning novel Anatomy of a Girl Gang introduces readers to unforgettable eleven-year-old Tucker Malone--the only child of a narcoleptic touring stripper--who believes his father is Sam Malone from Cheers. He and his mother move from motel to motel until, one night in Niagara Falls, his mother is hit by a car after falling asleep in the street.
Tucker is sent to live in a youth group home where he meets Meredith, a pregnant sixteen-year-old with more than her fair share of family problems. They bond over slurpees and a shared love for literature and he convinces her to "borrow" a car to go to Boston to find his father.
Their cross-country search becomes an epic depiction of mid-90s America as Tucker comes face to face with some of the most notorious criminals of the time: The Oklahoma Bomber; Lorena Bobbitt; the boys responsible for the Columbine High School massacrew; O. J. Simpson; and Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.
Told in spare, straightforward prose, Niagara Motel is a biting chronicle during the rise of mass-media in the decade that defined the MTV Generation, and the bittersweet story of a young boy forced to learn brutal lessons on his way to becoming a man.
Tucker is sent to live in a youth group home where he meets Meredith, a pregnant sixteen-year-old with more than her fair share of family problems. They bond over slurpees and a shared love for literature and he convinces her to "borrow" a car to go to Boston to find his father.
Their cross-country search becomes an epic depiction of mid-90s America as Tucker comes face to face with some of the most notorious criminals of the time: The Oklahoma Bomber; Lorena Bobbitt; the boys responsible for the Columbine High School massacrew; O. J. Simpson; and Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.
Told in spare, straightforward prose, Niagara Motel is a biting chronicle during the rise of mass-media in the decade that defined the MTV Generation, and the bittersweet story of a young boy forced to learn brutal lessons on his way to becoming a man.
296 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2016
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160 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 20, 2021
Most of this book is an entertaining road trip with a wild cast of characters. Unfortunately, the last quarter loses it’s way and the ending was not appreciated at all. Matter of fact, the ending knocked a whole star off for me!
October 17, 2016
“Niagara Motel”, by Ashley Little is a strangle little tale. Narrated by Tucker, an eleven year old son of a narcoleptic stripper, it recounts the road-trip he takes with pregnant sixteen-year-old Meredith, to find his father, whom he believes to be Sam Malone, Ted Danson’s character from “Cheers”. Uh-huh. As Tucker and Meredith make their way across the US (in 1992), they meet various characters based on real people, and the journey culminates in a horrific true-life event. In many ways, the story is similar to “Forrest Gump” with its mix of fact and fiction.
It’s a quick read filled with quirky characters, and Tucker will tug at your heart-strings.
It’s a quick read filled with quirky characters, and Tucker will tug at your heart-strings.
March 21, 2018
11 year-old Tucker hitch-hikes across America with his best friend Meredith, because his mother is in hospital after yet another fit of catalepsy and he believes his real dad is the TV character Sam Malone from Cheers and sometimes you just gotta get outta Dodge, right? While Tucker isn't particularly innocent, his child's heart is our guide through every beauty and violence America has to offer. With an absolutely breath-stopping climax, this novel is not for the faint of heart. But neither is life, eh?
June 23, 2017
Originaltitel: Niagara Motel (Canada)
Autorin: Ashley Little
Genre: Drama
Seiten: 272 Seiten
Verlag: Rowohlt Verlag
Kaufen? Paperback: 16,99€ / Ebook: 14,99€
Klappentext:
Tucker Malone ist elf Jahre alt. Zusammen mit Mutter Gina zieht er kreuz und quer durch Kanada, von Motel zu Motel. Tucker hat schon mehr von der Welt gesehen als die meisten Erwachsenen. Als Gina nach einem Unfall im Krankenhaus landet und Tucker im Jugendheim, beschließt er, dass nun der Zeitpunkt gekommen ist, endlich seinen Vater zu finden. Zusammen mit Meredith, sechzehn und schwanger, macht er sich auf die Reise in die USA, denn dort vermutet Tucker seinen Vater. Auf dem Highway Richtung Süden begegnen ihnen Glücksritter, Verrückte und Beladene. Und alle sind sie auf der Suche... (Quelle: Rowohlt Verlag)
Meine Meinung:
Ein eher unbekanntes Buch, das vielleicht auch ein wenig unscheinbar wirkt, aber meine Neugier erweckt hat und damit auch nicht enttäuscht!
Das Cover ist echt wunderschön! Mit den Silhouetten im Sonnenuntergang sieht es echt toll aus und zeigt natürlich auch die Beziehung der beiden Hauptprotagonisten zueinander.
Tucker reist mit seiner Mutter, die Stripperin ist, durch ganz Kanada. Doch wegen einer Krankheit, die einen Unfall auslöst, muss er in ein Haus, voll mit verhaltensgestörten Jugendlichen. Dort findet er eine Verbündete, Meredith. Zusammen mit ihr beginnt er die Suche nach seinem Vater zu suchen. Sie reisen per Anhalter und treffen dabei auf die schrägsten Typen...
Das Buch ist aus der Sicht von Tucker geschrieben und vermittelt so das Bild von dem leicht Kindlichen, aber auch der Last, die er als 11-Jähriger schon mit sich trägt. Das hat mir unglaublich gut gefallen!
Reingekommen bin ich ziemlich schnell. Little hält sich auch nicht lange mit drum herum reden auf und verfolgt einen direkten Schreibstil, der immer wieder gut zur Geltung kommt. Die Geschichte entwickelt sich durch den Unfall von Tuckers Mutter echt schnell, fängt sich danach aber, als er in das Jugendheim kommt und sich erst mal selbst in der neuen Situation zurecht finden muss. Doch als beide zum großen Abenteuer aufbrechen, geht es alles wieder ziemlich schnell und ist auf insgesamt 272 Seiten ziemlich rasant durchgepokert. Mir persönlich hat das nichts ausgemacht, da die Autorin keine ewigen Szenerien erschafft, sondern alles mit Hilfe von kindlicher Kurzlebigkeit beschreibt. Das Buch ist voll mit tollen kleinen Geschichten, die interessant und mit viel Lebe zum Detail, verfasst sind. Es ist nicht vorhersehbar und vor allem das Ende hat es meiner Meinung nach ins sich!
Tucker Malone ist ein 11-Jähriger Junge, der zuerst ziemlich erwachsen wirkt. Er kann Autofahren und kümmert sich um seine Mutter, wenn ihre Krankheit sie in die Knie zwingt. Doch man merkt auch deutlich seine (auf Deutsch gesagt) primitive Ansicht von Welt und Werten. Und genau das hat für mich einen großen Ausschlag gegeben. Es ist kein Buch über ein Kind, dass schon übernatürlich reif ist, sondern immer noch eine Zauberwelt in sich hat. Das hat super gepasst!
Meredith ist 16 und, obwohl es äußerlich nicht so wirkt, ein treue Seele. Natürlich ist sie nicht perfekt und lässt sich dummerweise auch noch schwängern, aber ich bewundere ihren Mut und dass sie sich mit einem 11 Jahre alten Jungen auf eine Reise durch die USA einlässt.
Ashley Little findet einen schönen Schreibstil durch Tuckers Gedanken. Er ist flüssig, schnell, findet aber in den richtigen Momenten Tiefe. Ich würde gerne wissen, ob sie einige der Mitfahrgelegenheiten selber kennengelernt hat, oder ob sie nur ihrer Fantasie entsprungen sind.
Fazit:
Niagara Motel beschreibt eine Reise von zwei Kindern nach dem Glück und ihren Platz in der Welt. Er ist ehrlich, wirkt aber durch die Führung eines kleinen Jungen, wie ein Märchen mit intensivem Ende!
Note: 1
Autorin: Ashley Little
Genre: Drama
Seiten: 272 Seiten
Verlag: Rowohlt Verlag
Kaufen? Paperback: 16,99€ / Ebook: 14,99€
Klappentext:
Tucker Malone ist elf Jahre alt. Zusammen mit Mutter Gina zieht er kreuz und quer durch Kanada, von Motel zu Motel. Tucker hat schon mehr von der Welt gesehen als die meisten Erwachsenen. Als Gina nach einem Unfall im Krankenhaus landet und Tucker im Jugendheim, beschließt er, dass nun der Zeitpunkt gekommen ist, endlich seinen Vater zu finden. Zusammen mit Meredith, sechzehn und schwanger, macht er sich auf die Reise in die USA, denn dort vermutet Tucker seinen Vater. Auf dem Highway Richtung Süden begegnen ihnen Glücksritter, Verrückte und Beladene. Und alle sind sie auf der Suche... (Quelle: Rowohlt Verlag)
Meine Meinung:
Ein eher unbekanntes Buch, das vielleicht auch ein wenig unscheinbar wirkt, aber meine Neugier erweckt hat und damit auch nicht enttäuscht!
Das Cover ist echt wunderschön! Mit den Silhouetten im Sonnenuntergang sieht es echt toll aus und zeigt natürlich auch die Beziehung der beiden Hauptprotagonisten zueinander.
Tucker reist mit seiner Mutter, die Stripperin ist, durch ganz Kanada. Doch wegen einer Krankheit, die einen Unfall auslöst, muss er in ein Haus, voll mit verhaltensgestörten Jugendlichen. Dort findet er eine Verbündete, Meredith. Zusammen mit ihr beginnt er die Suche nach seinem Vater zu suchen. Sie reisen per Anhalter und treffen dabei auf die schrägsten Typen...
Das Buch ist aus der Sicht von Tucker geschrieben und vermittelt so das Bild von dem leicht Kindlichen, aber auch der Last, die er als 11-Jähriger schon mit sich trägt. Das hat mir unglaublich gut gefallen!
Reingekommen bin ich ziemlich schnell. Little hält sich auch nicht lange mit drum herum reden auf und verfolgt einen direkten Schreibstil, der immer wieder gut zur Geltung kommt. Die Geschichte entwickelt sich durch den Unfall von Tuckers Mutter echt schnell, fängt sich danach aber, als er in das Jugendheim kommt und sich erst mal selbst in der neuen Situation zurecht finden muss. Doch als beide zum großen Abenteuer aufbrechen, geht es alles wieder ziemlich schnell und ist auf insgesamt 272 Seiten ziemlich rasant durchgepokert. Mir persönlich hat das nichts ausgemacht, da die Autorin keine ewigen Szenerien erschafft, sondern alles mit Hilfe von kindlicher Kurzlebigkeit beschreibt. Das Buch ist voll mit tollen kleinen Geschichten, die interessant und mit viel Lebe zum Detail, verfasst sind. Es ist nicht vorhersehbar und vor allem das Ende hat es meiner Meinung nach ins sich!
Tucker Malone ist ein 11-Jähriger Junge, der zuerst ziemlich erwachsen wirkt. Er kann Autofahren und kümmert sich um seine Mutter, wenn ihre Krankheit sie in die Knie zwingt. Doch man merkt auch deutlich seine (auf Deutsch gesagt) primitive Ansicht von Welt und Werten. Und genau das hat für mich einen großen Ausschlag gegeben. Es ist kein Buch über ein Kind, dass schon übernatürlich reif ist, sondern immer noch eine Zauberwelt in sich hat. Das hat super gepasst!
Meredith ist 16 und, obwohl es äußerlich nicht so wirkt, ein treue Seele. Natürlich ist sie nicht perfekt und lässt sich dummerweise auch noch schwängern, aber ich bewundere ihren Mut und dass sie sich mit einem 11 Jahre alten Jungen auf eine Reise durch die USA einlässt.
Ashley Little findet einen schönen Schreibstil durch Tuckers Gedanken. Er ist flüssig, schnell, findet aber in den richtigen Momenten Tiefe. Ich würde gerne wissen, ob sie einige der Mitfahrgelegenheiten selber kennengelernt hat, oder ob sie nur ihrer Fantasie entsprungen sind.
Fazit:
Niagara Motel beschreibt eine Reise von zwei Kindern nach dem Glück und ihren Platz in der Welt. Er ist ehrlich, wirkt aber durch die Führung eines kleinen Jungen, wie ein Märchen mit intensivem Ende!
Note: 1
November 15, 2016
Niagara Motel by Ashley Little is a quirky, sometimes heartbreaking, but strangely charming story of an eleven-year-old boy set in1992. It's highly recommended.
Tucker Malone, 11, is the only child of Gina, an unreliable narcoleptic mother whose occupation is stripper and, occasionally, escort. For his whole life, the pair has been moving constantly from one place to another in Canada. After making their way to Niagara Falls, they stay at the run-down Niagara Motel. Gina is sure this will be her big break - until she falls asleep in the street and is hit by a car. Tucker manages to find her at the hospital, but, due to Gina's long recovery for her injuries, he is put into Bright Light, a group home for teens - the only place that has room for him.
There he meets Meredith, a pregnant 16 year-old. The two decide to secretly go on a road trip to Boston to find Tucker's father. Tucker believes that Sam Malone, the bar tender on Cheers, is his father; obviously, this is not true. Then, after the car they "borrowed" breaks down, the two decide to hitchhike to California to meet Ted Danson, the actor who plays Sam Malone. Their travels put them in contact with a motley group of people, many of whom you'd recognize as infamous during this time period. They arrive in Los Angeles just as the Rodney King riots are unfolding.
The story is written through Tucker's point-of-view in a straightforward, matter-of-fact manner that is indicative of a preteen boy. Tucker is a great character, positive, and accepting, despite the struggles he has encountered in his life. His inner strength is resolute. His cherished possessions are in a shoe box. He and his mom travel light. His beloved little plastic dog broke my heart (I teared up just typing this). The ending is a bit unbelievable, but so is his road trip in general, so I just rolled with it.
There is something in this novel that just appealed to me. It is well-written, well-paced and compelling. I like Tucker. Little had me caring about Tucker and wishing the best for him. The people he meets on his trip are a bizarre assortment of characters that you should recognize, many for their future evil deeds. Tucker's firm belief that he can find his father is touching. The end of the book, during the riots, is horrifically violent.
Disclosure: My advanced reading copy was courtesy of the publisher/author.
Tucker Malone, 11, is the only child of Gina, an unreliable narcoleptic mother whose occupation is stripper and, occasionally, escort. For his whole life, the pair has been moving constantly from one place to another in Canada. After making their way to Niagara Falls, they stay at the run-down Niagara Motel. Gina is sure this will be her big break - until she falls asleep in the street and is hit by a car. Tucker manages to find her at the hospital, but, due to Gina's long recovery for her injuries, he is put into Bright Light, a group home for teens - the only place that has room for him.
There he meets Meredith, a pregnant 16 year-old. The two decide to secretly go on a road trip to Boston to find Tucker's father. Tucker believes that Sam Malone, the bar tender on Cheers, is his father; obviously, this is not true. Then, after the car they "borrowed" breaks down, the two decide to hitchhike to California to meet Ted Danson, the actor who plays Sam Malone. Their travels put them in contact with a motley group of people, many of whom you'd recognize as infamous during this time period. They arrive in Los Angeles just as the Rodney King riots are unfolding.
The story is written through Tucker's point-of-view in a straightforward, matter-of-fact manner that is indicative of a preteen boy. Tucker is a great character, positive, and accepting, despite the struggles he has encountered in his life. His inner strength is resolute. His cherished possessions are in a shoe box. He and his mom travel light. His beloved little plastic dog broke my heart (I teared up just typing this). The ending is a bit unbelievable, but so is his road trip in general, so I just rolled with it.
There is something in this novel that just appealed to me. It is well-written, well-paced and compelling. I like Tucker. Little had me caring about Tucker and wishing the best for him. The people he meets on his trip are a bizarre assortment of characters that you should recognize, many for their future evil deeds. Tucker's firm belief that he can find his father is touching. The end of the book, during the riots, is horrifically violent.
Disclosure: My advanced reading copy was courtesy of the publisher/author.
September 13, 2024
Two-point something stars rounded up to three. Overall, the book had some good points but the main drawback was a major drawback for me.
There were parts that, for me, were a bit draggy, which was a relatively minor concern. The big concern, however, is that I am also unsure how I feel about the inclusion of the 'famous criminals', but I am more negative than not about it, a concern worsened for me because the last of these were Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.
Yeah, I was a teenager in Scarborough when Paul Bernardo was out assaulting women with the help and approval of Homolka. One of my coworker's twin sister was one of his victims, an assault which Bernardo committed (as with many of his other assaults) less than a block from where I worked. All of us lived in terror for years while they were active - our teenagehoods were dramatically, negatively impacted and circumscribed by their activities. All of us were three or fewer degrees of separation from at least one of his victims. Yes, he assaulted that many women. And, he will never be tried for those crimes. Homolka is already out of prison and has been for almost 20 years, and also will never be tried for her role in these assaults. One of my friend's fathers was on Bernardo's murder-trial jury - he got PTSD from the experience, and years later was not fully recovered even after taking advantage of the mental health services provided by the courts to help jurors recover from the experience. I can't imagine how someone would feel picking up this book and discovering Timothy McVeigh making a surprise appearance if that reader also lost someone in the Oklahoma City bombing...
In that light, it just seems wrong to me to publish a novel featuring these characters as a thought experiment. Little seems to have forgotten that for many of us these characters were real people who had genuine impacts on our lives. Having them just show up gratuitously and unexpectedly in a novel because the author is trying to be all deep and clever and symbolic is a disservice to those of us for whom these 'characters' were real people in our real lives.
That said, it is probable I'll read other work by this author. I doubt I will go out looking for it. But, I also am unlikely to avoid it if I come across it at the library.
There were parts that, for me, were a bit draggy, which was a relatively minor concern. The big concern, however, is that I am also unsure how I feel about the inclusion of the 'famous criminals', but I am more negative than not about it, a concern worsened for me because the last of these were Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.
Yeah, I was a teenager in Scarborough when Paul Bernardo was out assaulting women with the help and approval of Homolka. One of my coworker's twin sister was one of his victims, an assault which Bernardo committed (as with many of his other assaults) less than a block from where I worked. All of us lived in terror for years while they were active - our teenagehoods were dramatically, negatively impacted and circumscribed by their activities. All of us were three or fewer degrees of separation from at least one of his victims. Yes, he assaulted that many women. And, he will never be tried for those crimes. Homolka is already out of prison and has been for almost 20 years, and also will never be tried for her role in these assaults. One of my friend's fathers was on Bernardo's murder-trial jury - he got PTSD from the experience, and years later was not fully recovered even after taking advantage of the mental health services provided by the courts to help jurors recover from the experience. I can't imagine how someone would feel picking up this book and discovering Timothy McVeigh making a surprise appearance if that reader also lost someone in the Oklahoma City bombing...
In that light, it just seems wrong to me to publish a novel featuring these characters as a thought experiment. Little seems to have forgotten that for many of us these characters were real people who had genuine impacts on our lives. Having them just show up gratuitously and unexpectedly in a novel because the author is trying to be all deep and clever and symbolic is a disservice to those of us for whom these 'characters' were real people in our real lives.
That said, it is probable I'll read other work by this author. I doubt I will go out looking for it. But, I also am unlikely to avoid it if I come across it at the library.
December 30, 2021
The premise is odd: Tucker, a precocious and wise 11-year-old, goes on a cross country road with Meredith, a pregnant 16-year-old, from his group home in search of his father, who he believes is Sam Malone from the 1990s Cheers sitcom. Did I mention he also has an endearing narcoleptic stripper mom? But somehow Ashley Little's beautiful prose and utterly believable dialogue make it all work. I belted myself in for the ride (which I probably wouldn't have done back in the 1990s when it's set) and kept my eyes glued to the page as Tucker and Meredith hitch ride after ride with a motley parade of characters right up to the shocker end. Little is strong on creating memorable personalities in striking scenes, and while I had a few moments where my credibility was strained, I rooted for Tucker and Meredith's improbable heartbreaking journey to the end.
April 28, 2018
This story about an eleven-year-old boy and a sixteen-year-old girl hitch-hiking across America was a nice idea, but was never believable. There really were no stakes and nothing much happening for the first half. They just keep getting picked up by different types of people. Then, they get to California, and the ending is way too melodramatic and unearned. Overall, while I appreciated it, I can't recommend it.
November 6, 2017
I just loved Tucker and Meredith and their story as they traveled across the US in hopes of finding Tucker's dad. There are some great little cultural easter eggs from the '90s that resonated hard with me since I was about Tucker's age back then as well. This was a very fast read, and it warmed and broke my heart all in one go. 4.5 stars.
April 2, 2023
An interesting story about a young boy put into short term care when his single mother becomes I’ll. The ending is a little wild compared to the rest of the novel but otherwise a good read.
Enjoyed the subtle references to mainstream things.
Enjoyed the subtle references to mainstream things.
November 8, 2025
Just finished listening to the audio version and loved it! Good company during my own (far less exciting) road trip. The narrator was great; my only quibble as a Canadian was the way he mispronounced a few Canadian words: Regina, Sudbury, and toque. Someone should've caught that!
September 23, 2017
This book had a really interesting juxtaposition of adult themes with a juvenile main character. I really enjoyed it.
January 15, 2019
Great story from the point of view of an eleven year old. I love that it was set in the 90's and crosses the continent.
August 1, 2020
3.5 rounded up. I find myself compelled to up-rate Canadian authors.
June 29, 2021
I love how she perfectly can portray the child's voice. She has the skill to make you laugh and rip your heart out on the same page, sometimes the same sentence. This is an underrated masterpiece.
July 7, 2021
Started out nicely but ended as a nightmare. Uneven story, uneven writing.
December 22, 2021
this was actually a pretty okay/good book! the last 60 pages were such a TWIST tho! this was definitely a roller-coaster.
March 6, 2022
Good, but did not like the ending.
Read
May 15, 2022Characters lacked depth, some of the criminals seemed almost glorified, almost went on my dnf list.
Read
November 24, 2022Good book! But didnt understand who the notorious criminals were?
December 3, 2016
(3.5 stars) Well that took an EXTREMELY unexpected turn.
March 23, 2017
So much heart in this book. And such a page turner!
September 7, 2017
Meine Meinung:
Selten fiel mir das Rezensieren eines Buches so schwer wie bei diesem.
Gina war noch eine Jugendliche als sie Tucker auf die Welt brachte. Um sich über die Runden zu bringen strippt sie. Einen festen Wohnort haben sie nicht und reisen von Ort zu Ort. Seinen Vater kennt Tucker nicht, sondern nur die bunten Geschichten, die seine Mama ihm erzählt hat.
Als Gina nach einem Unfall aufgrund eines Narkolepsieanfalls im Krankenhaus landet, macht sich Tucker auf die Suche nach seinem Vater, denn im Jugendheim geht es ihm nicht gut. Begleitet wird er von Meredith, die ihre eigenen Dämonen mit sich herumträgt.
Gemeinsam mit Tucker begibt sich der Leser auf eine abenteuerlustige Suche, die von Kanada in den Süden der USA und dann nach Los Angeles führt. Auf dieser Reise treffen wir die abenteuerlustigsten Figuren: von Truckern über alleinerziehende Mütter bis hin zu den typischen Hippies. Diese Vielfalt an Menschen hat das Buch sehr bunt gemacht.
Der Schreibstil hat mir gut gefallen. Die Geschichte wird kurz und knackig und dennoch mit allerlei Details erzählt. Da das Buch aus Sicht eines Kindes geschrieben ist, ist es sehr direkt und in großteils kurzen Sätzen verfasst.
Auf den ersten Blick wirkt das Buch recht oberflächlich, denn weder zu den beiden Hauptcharakteren Tucker und Meredith, noch zu den vielzähligen Roadtrip-Figuren konnte ich wirklich eine Verbindung aufbauen. Den Figuren fehlt es einfach an Tiefgang und auf die knappe Seitenzahl gemessen, trifft man einfach zu viele verschiedene Gesichter.
Gegen Ende des Buches fährt das Buch dann die großen Geschütze auf, denn die Wahrheiten der beiden Protas kommen ans Licht. Doch nicht nur diese gingen mir ganz nahe, auch die Tatsache, dass die Autorin noch eine reale Geschichte eingebaut hat. Welche werde ich nicht verraten, denn diese hat für mich einen bewegenden (und sehr aktuellen) Twist in die Geschichte gebracht.
Fazit: 3,5/5
Niagara Motel ist ein ganz besonderer Roman, der besonders am Ende zum Nachdenken anregt und ein beklemmendes Gefühl hinterlässt.
Aufgrund der fehlenden charakterlichen Tiefe bis fast ganz zum Ende muss ich jedoch etwas von der Gesamtbewertung abziehen.
Selten fiel mir das Rezensieren eines Buches so schwer wie bei diesem.
Gina war noch eine Jugendliche als sie Tucker auf die Welt brachte. Um sich über die Runden zu bringen strippt sie. Einen festen Wohnort haben sie nicht und reisen von Ort zu Ort. Seinen Vater kennt Tucker nicht, sondern nur die bunten Geschichten, die seine Mama ihm erzählt hat.
Als Gina nach einem Unfall aufgrund eines Narkolepsieanfalls im Krankenhaus landet, macht sich Tucker auf die Suche nach seinem Vater, denn im Jugendheim geht es ihm nicht gut. Begleitet wird er von Meredith, die ihre eigenen Dämonen mit sich herumträgt.
Gemeinsam mit Tucker begibt sich der Leser auf eine abenteuerlustige Suche, die von Kanada in den Süden der USA und dann nach Los Angeles führt. Auf dieser Reise treffen wir die abenteuerlustigsten Figuren: von Truckern über alleinerziehende Mütter bis hin zu den typischen Hippies. Diese Vielfalt an Menschen hat das Buch sehr bunt gemacht.
Der Schreibstil hat mir gut gefallen. Die Geschichte wird kurz und knackig und dennoch mit allerlei Details erzählt. Da das Buch aus Sicht eines Kindes geschrieben ist, ist es sehr direkt und in großteils kurzen Sätzen verfasst.
Auf den ersten Blick wirkt das Buch recht oberflächlich, denn weder zu den beiden Hauptcharakteren Tucker und Meredith, noch zu den vielzähligen Roadtrip-Figuren konnte ich wirklich eine Verbindung aufbauen. Den Figuren fehlt es einfach an Tiefgang und auf die knappe Seitenzahl gemessen, trifft man einfach zu viele verschiedene Gesichter.
Gegen Ende des Buches fährt das Buch dann die großen Geschütze auf, denn die Wahrheiten der beiden Protas kommen ans Licht. Doch nicht nur diese gingen mir ganz nahe, auch die Tatsache, dass die Autorin noch eine reale Geschichte eingebaut hat. Welche werde ich nicht verraten, denn diese hat für mich einen bewegenden (und sehr aktuellen) Twist in die Geschichte gebracht.
Fazit: 3,5/5
Niagara Motel ist ein ganz besonderer Roman, der besonders am Ende zum Nachdenken anregt und ein beklemmendes Gefühl hinterlässt.
Aufgrund der fehlenden charakterlichen Tiefe bis fast ganz zum Ende muss ich jedoch etwas von der Gesamtbewertung abziehen.
February 18, 2017
Niagara Motel is a lovely little book mostly because of its wonderfully unique narrator, Tucker. Tucker is an 11 year-old boy who has moved around constantly throughout his short life with his mother, Gina, who sometimes dances, sometimes strips and sometimes escorts. The way that Tucker spoke and saw the world reminded me a little bit of Elsa in My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry. I can see some people criticizing the book because the child narrator is a little too precocious at times but I am a total sucker for them, every time. I just imagine in my mind that people with that criticism haven't spent much time with kids who've really been through some things. Sometimes they can distill the world down into the most intelligent nuggets of truth I've ever heard and I felt like Tucker did that and always brought with it a little piece of his precious heart.
Gina ends up in an accident and hospitalized. This prompts Tucker to eventually go in search of his father who he believes to be Sam Malone from Cheers. He is accompanied on his journey by Meredith, a secretly pregnant girl living in the same group home as Tucker at the time. Along their journey, the two run into quite the cast of characters.
I enjoyed the way that Little took what was going on in the world at the time of the story's telling and famous people and events were woven throughout the story. There were so many that I am very sure I missed a few. Might make a good book to read with another person and discuss later to collaborate on the cultural references throughout.
Due to outside circumstances my reading of this one was quiet spread out. I think I'd like to take another read back through later one when I could read it all in one or two sit downs. I'd also keep a notebook near by because there were some phrases and scenes that found their way into my heart and I'd like to keep them around on a piece of paper too. (The scene with Tucker, Meredith and Charlie the dog???? Come on.) This was certainly not a difficult, serious or highly literary read but I am glad to have read the story Little wanted to tell and I'll be pursuing the rest of her books for other interesting options.
Gina ends up in an accident and hospitalized. This prompts Tucker to eventually go in search of his father who he believes to be Sam Malone from Cheers. He is accompanied on his journey by Meredith, a secretly pregnant girl living in the same group home as Tucker at the time. Along their journey, the two run into quite the cast of characters.
I enjoyed the way that Little took what was going on in the world at the time of the story's telling and famous people and events were woven throughout the story. There were so many that I am very sure I missed a few. Might make a good book to read with another person and discuss later to collaborate on the cultural references throughout.
Due to outside circumstances my reading of this one was quiet spread out. I think I'd like to take another read back through later one when I could read it all in one or two sit downs. I'd also keep a notebook near by because there were some phrases and scenes that found their way into my heart and I'd like to keep them around on a piece of paper too. (The scene with Tucker, Meredith and Charlie the dog???? Come on.) This was certainly not a difficult, serious or highly literary read but I am glad to have read the story Little wanted to tell and I'll be pursuing the rest of her books for other interesting options.
February 2, 2017
Nice fast read and what a helluva ride - I could relate to most every mile of the journey! I highly recommend it for everyone who likes a book that grabs you, throws you into the back seat and doesn't let you go - then blindsides you a couple of times along the way! Warning: there will be tears!
May 4, 2016
Told in straight up prose, this novel captivates right from the beginning. Learning hard lessons on the way through childhood.
October 25, 2016
It's a simple god read! Probably won't change lives or win awards but fun story and well told!
April 9, 2017
Eleven-year-old Tucker Malone and his mother, Gina, were born in Paris, Ontario. She was a teenage unwed mother who has been traveling back and forth across the country since he was born looking for work as an exotic dancer or escort. In the early 1990s, they head across the country from British Columbia to Niagara Falls, ON, where she hears there is lots of work.
Gina has narcolepsy and is hit by a car one night after falling asleep on the road. Tucker has no family or friends and can't stay at the Niagara Motel, their home, alone so is put in a group home for older teens. He becomes best friends with Meredith, a pregnant 16-year-old hooker. His mother has never told him who his father is and he has always assumed it was Sam Malone from the TV show, Cheers. He convinces Meredith to take him to Boston so he can find Sam, who will instantly realize that Tucker is his son, perhaps marry Gina, and they will all live happily ever after. Unfortunately things don't turn out has he hoped.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. Tucker knew wasn't deal with the best of hands in life but he went along because he this was his life as he knew it. It was obvious that he and Gina had a strong relationship and really cared about each other. Tucker believes that the only thing missing from his life is his father. It is written in first person perspective in Tucker's voice. I sometimes find children in books annoying but Tucker wasn't. I liked the writing style and could definitely hear Tucker's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing.
As Tucker and Meredith hitchhike across the USA, they are picked up by strangers. It wasn't until the end when he is picked up by a infamous Canadian couple that I thought maybe the strangers in the States weren't actual strangers but I didn't get the references (and I didn't go back to Google them when I was done). Tucker and Meredith get caught up in the violence right after the Rodney King beating and the author didn't sugar-coat it.
I look forward to reading others by this author.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/04...
Gina has narcolepsy and is hit by a car one night after falling asleep on the road. Tucker has no family or friends and can't stay at the Niagara Motel, their home, alone so is put in a group home for older teens. He becomes best friends with Meredith, a pregnant 16-year-old hooker. His mother has never told him who his father is and he has always assumed it was Sam Malone from the TV show, Cheers. He convinces Meredith to take him to Boston so he can find Sam, who will instantly realize that Tucker is his son, perhaps marry Gina, and they will all live happily ever after. Unfortunately things don't turn out has he hoped.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. Tucker knew wasn't deal with the best of hands in life but he went along because he this was his life as he knew it. It was obvious that he and Gina had a strong relationship and really cared about each other. Tucker believes that the only thing missing from his life is his father. It is written in first person perspective in Tucker's voice. I sometimes find children in books annoying but Tucker wasn't. I liked the writing style and could definitely hear Tucker's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing.
As Tucker and Meredith hitchhike across the USA, they are picked up by strangers. It wasn't until the end when he is picked up by a infamous Canadian couple that I thought maybe the strangers in the States weren't actual strangers but I didn't get the references (and I didn't go back to Google them when I was done). Tucker and Meredith get caught up in the violence right after the Rodney King beating and the author didn't sugar-coat it.
I look forward to reading others by this author.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/04...
April 26, 2017
ASHLEY LITTLE IS A HERO AMONG HUMANS
April 30, 2017
Man, this woman can write! She creates powerful characters and scenarios that break your heart. Fun (scary) allusions in this one, so it has a Forest Gump vibe, though eerier.
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