What do you think?
Rate this book
Parade
Reggie Lauderdale suffers from a crisis of faith. His cousin, Elmer Mott, dreams of becoming their hometown mayor. Both boys are stuck in suburbia trying to be adults… but they aren’t sure how to be themselves yet. When a twist of fate sends them fleeing in a stolen limousine, the cousins escape to Florida where they meet a retired televangelist, who inspires them on a path of glitzy sermons and late night parties. But are the celebrations sincere or deceptive? And who is keeping tabs? Who is watching? Parade is a tour-de-force, comic tale of religion and government.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2015
16 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 15, 2021
This book was fun, with a crazy free flowing plot and a fantastic bunch of characters. Elmer and Reggie are leading dull and stagnant lives, they haven’t really grown up, it takes a moment of tragedy for each of them to wake up and go on an adventure and it is at that point the book comes alive, before that it felt like a sleeping giant waiting for it’s moment to erupt onto the pages. I really liked how the plot flowed, Graves would throw a character into the mix and sit back and watch how the story would evolve, once it had settled he would chuck in somebody else, you’d think this would get confusing but each character is so distinctive that you don’t lose track of who’s who. It is then that the book tricks the reader, you begin to think everything is one big party but bit by bit the book’s heart starts to show (I’d explain more but that would spoil things, just read and experience the revelation). The ending works well and leaves you wandering….could there be more adventures on the way?
One of my favourite things about the book is on one of the first pages, a playlist! I’ve seen that books have mentioned there is a playlist but I’ve not seen one include the list at the front of the book, in my opinion this is a brilliant addition. Graves has gone one step further and created an actual list on SPOTIFY that you can listen too as you read the book.
It’s tricky to describe just what the book is like or who it reminded me of, the best I can do is the writing reminds me of Hubert Selby Jr, Graves has that same ability of taking a misfit that you should be disgusted by and makes you care for them and hope that they come good at the end. As for what the book is like? The best I can come up with is it is like a party popper, the slow pull of the string, an explosion and utter chaos followed by contentment once it’s all over….so if you like party poppers then get yourself a copy of this book.
Blog review (see review for links): https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2021...
One of my favourite things about the book is on one of the first pages, a playlist! I’ve seen that books have mentioned there is a playlist but I’ve not seen one include the list at the front of the book, in my opinion this is a brilliant addition. Graves has gone one step further and created an actual list on SPOTIFY that you can listen too as you read the book.
It’s tricky to describe just what the book is like or who it reminded me of, the best I can do is the writing reminds me of Hubert Selby Jr, Graves has that same ability of taking a misfit that you should be disgusted by and makes you care for them and hope that they come good at the end. As for what the book is like? The best I can come up with is it is like a party popper, the slow pull of the string, an explosion and utter chaos followed by contentment once it’s all over….so if you like party poppers then get yourself a copy of this book.
Blog review (see review for links): https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2021...
January 30, 2021
‘Parade’ is a wild ride of self-discovery, featuring a hugely diverse cast of likable misfits and oddballs. Michael Graves sketches the human experience with an unflinching eye and real heart. A vibrant coming-of-age tale pulsing with raw humanity.
June 8, 2021
PARADE by Michael Graves is a comic tale of religion and government. That's what it says in the synopsis. And for the most part it is. More so at the beginning of the novel than in the second half, I would say. But I really did enjoy this one. It appealed to my twisted sense of humour.
So what are you letting yourself in for here?
Well, the story begins with Reggie Lauderdale who is asleep and dreaming of making love to Jesus Christ. It's an ongoing problem he has.
Yes, you heard that right.
Anyway, I'll leave the rest to your imagination there, but what unfolds is an adventure between two cousins who escape to Florida in a stolen limousine. Then they meet up with a retired televangelist.
Gets madder by the second doesn't it?
But it's not all fun and games here. This book does have its dark moments which I'm not going to spoil. There is a lot of light and shade running throughout. And it works.
So yeah, there are a ton of great ideas in here. I especially loved the recipe book. And the characters are really well written.
The book is tight. My only quibble is that I wished it was a little longer. I wished things played out a little more. Is that a bad thing?
Not really. It was a load of fun. A hugely enjoyable read.
Definitely need to read more by Michael.
For me, this is a solid 4 stars.
So what are you letting yourself in for here?
Well, the story begins with Reggie Lauderdale who is asleep and dreaming of making love to Jesus Christ. It's an ongoing problem he has.
Yes, you heard that right.
Anyway, I'll leave the rest to your imagination there, but what unfolds is an adventure between two cousins who escape to Florida in a stolen limousine. Then they meet up with a retired televangelist.
Gets madder by the second doesn't it?
But it's not all fun and games here. This book does have its dark moments which I'm not going to spoil. There is a lot of light and shade running throughout. And it works.
So yeah, there are a ton of great ideas in here. I especially loved the recipe book. And the characters are really well written.
The book is tight. My only quibble is that I wished it was a little longer. I wished things played out a little more. Is that a bad thing?
Not really. It was a load of fun. A hugely enjoyable read.
Definitely need to read more by Michael.
For me, this is a solid 4 stars.
July 30, 2021
This book is a great piece of escapism, and a fun read. Two young men, Reggie and Elmer, are stuck in their individual ruts. They know they want something, they just don't know how to get it because they don't yet know who they are as people. After a tragic event, the boys leave town - and so the adventure begins.
The beginning of the novel reminded me of Hubert Selby Jr's novels, where the main protagonists are down on their luck but such likable characters that you're rooting for them all the way. There are a lot of big personalities in this novel, and they each have their moments to shine - some more than others. However, Graves introduces each character in a way that the reader gets to know them before moving on to the next. I thought that was a nice touch, and kept the novel forward moving all the way.
This is a coming-of-age yarn that has its dark moments, just like real life, and I think that Graves has addressed the serious issues with the right balance of humour and craziness along the way.
In addition to the "real life" mention, there is also a Spotify playlist that accompanies the novel. I like this idea and I'm away to listen to it again now.
Thanks to the publisher Storgy for sending this to me as part of their roaming reads share group where we read, review and pass on via Twitter.
The beginning of the novel reminded me of Hubert Selby Jr's novels, where the main protagonists are down on their luck but such likable characters that you're rooting for them all the way. There are a lot of big personalities in this novel, and they each have their moments to shine - some more than others. However, Graves introduces each character in a way that the reader gets to know them before moving on to the next. I thought that was a nice touch, and kept the novel forward moving all the way.
This is a coming-of-age yarn that has its dark moments, just like real life, and I think that Graves has addressed the serious issues with the right balance of humour and craziness along the way.
In addition to the "real life" mention, there is also a Spotify playlist that accompanies the novel. I like this idea and I'm away to listen to it again now.
Thanks to the publisher Storgy for sending this to me as part of their roaming reads share group where we read, review and pass on via Twitter.
January 1, 2020
This was a true joy to discover both the book and the writer.
Unapologetically brilliant, raw and with so much heart. Parts of it read like a manifesto - which reminded me of Fight Clubs ‘I’m Jack’s...’ and the concept was like Project Mayhem but with a Truman Capote twist.
Fabulously written and with a story and main protagonists you really care for, in a way that you do for Hubert Selby Jr’s characters in Requiem For A Dream - you don’t want to like them but you can’t help but falling for them!
Unapologetically brilliant, raw and with so much heart. Parts of it read like a manifesto - which reminded me of Fight Clubs ‘I’m Jack’s...’ and the concept was like Project Mayhem but with a Truman Capote twist.
Fabulously written and with a story and main protagonists you really care for, in a way that you do for Hubert Selby Jr’s characters in Requiem For A Dream - you don’t want to like them but you can’t help but falling for them!
March 22, 2016
Graves crafts each sentence of his debut novel with Capote-like precision. Lyrical, humorous, meticulous. You will find no fluff, no filler, no fuss. An enduring tale of growing up and growing wiser, readers will find themselves enthralled with the characters, willingly traveling with them on their journey. Graves makes the reader feel as if they are in the Parade, not standing on the sidelines watching it go by.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews