Das Leben brennt wie grüner Chili

by William Kowalski

With his first novel, Eddie's Bastard, William Kowalski broughtto the literary scene an engaging and original voice in fiction. Henow fulfills that promise in Somewhere South of Here, the tale ofa young man's search for the mother he's never met.

Growing up, Billy Mann's only link to the father who died in Vietnam and the mother who deserted him, was his hard-drinking grandfather, Thomas Mann, who raised him on a diet of fried baloney sandwiches and mythic tales of the Mann family ancestry. With Grandpa now gone, Billy is truly alone in the world. The only clue he possesses to his mother's whereabouts is her last known address, somewhere in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Propelled by hope and heartache, Billy sets off on a cross-country odyssey from his home in upstate New York.

Arriving in Santa Fe, carrying every possession he owns on the back of his motorcycle, Billy takes the first step of an intoxicating Journey of the heart as he courageously completes his rite of passage into manhood. Filled with vividly drawn characters, each of them with secret longings of their own, Billy finds his world suddenly rich with possibility—the chance for love, friendship, and finally, a family to call his own. Somewhere South of Here is a lyrical exploration of the stories that make up our lives, the redemptive power of love, and the faith that compels us to go on.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Book Club

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Alex Hoshor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a serviceable mess. If I hadn’t read Eddie’s Bastard, I probably wouldn’t have scored this one so generously. So read Eddie’s Bastard first, okay? Come into this one with some inertia (if at all). It’s all surface emotion and quirk and subplot that works best when merely skated upon. If one tries to stop and crack into any layers of depth, one will hurt one’s foot when the shovelhead hits a big ole dumb rock. If you don’t care about the rock though, you’ll be all like weeeeeee…that was nice.

To its favor, Kowalski is a good writer, and the book brings some closure to young Billy’s story, which is worthy of it. It also begets some pretty droll characters, especially El Perrero; a flashbacking, shell-shocked Nam vet who, though ultimately a tragic figure, is fun fun fun. Especially if he reminds you of someone who irks you in real life.

To its detriment, the book does two pretty annoying things, aside from anything I’ve already mentioned regarding what it lacks. First, it inexplicably devotes a couple chapters to a character other than Billy. (This would be Consuelo, Billy’s girlfriend. Consuelo, with an “o”. That’s annoying, right? Well, that’s not the half of it. She’s supposed talk with an accent, you see. But the only time it comes through in the dialogue is when she says “Beelee” instead of Billy. Got it? Rosie Perez? Check. Now, moving on from this overlong parenthetical gripe…) These chapters are ostensibly a way of getting to know Consuelo. But honestly, nothing happens later where not knowing her could be a hindrance. Which brings me to the other annoying thing… the ending. Actually, where the book should end, another story begins to spurt forth. Albeit a brief story, it seems merely a last gasp for a breath of thematic irony, to bring it all back upon itself like a well-made bed. Unfortunately, where it all leads is as predictable as a fart. You don’t want to get trapped under the covers with one of those.

Poot.

Okay, it wasn’t all that bad.

[Ian Mapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to the ever excellent eddies bastard, which sees eddie head down to Sante Fe in search of his mother.

I suppose this is the law of diminsihing returns, as this is not as good as its predecessor.

You have to say that the characters, minor and major, are again well drawn... with introductions to his sister, mother, new friend from college and girlfriend, consuela.... and the wry humour is still there.

Things that I didnt like were the way that the chapters were not introduced as they were with the previous book and the alternate chapters that were written in the first person perspective of Consuela.

All trundles along quite well and there is an obvious enough ending when Consuela announces that she is pregnant - which you could see coming a mile off.

Better than a large amount of the tat that I read.... but the author is let down by the worst web site in the world.

[Lesley Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat tepid sequel to the brilliant debut novel 'Eddie's Bastard'.
Nice easy reading but storyline & characters lacking

[Jen Jenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sequel?! I stumbled upon this book at the library and thought it looked good... Which it was. Although it seemed that he was just rambling about things. But I was compelled nonetheless and it reappears in my mind randomly. I'm curious what the other book could be like, since this one really didn't feel like a sequel at all.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere...continues the story of Billy and the search for the mother he never knew. You can feel Billy grow as he heads out into the world to try to find a missing piece of his life.

I would love to read more books about Billy. I really hope William Kowalski will write another.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved loved loved Eddie's Bastard, and after reading that, I'm sure nothing could have lived up to my expectations and hopes for Billy. I only gave this one three stars, but I have high hopes for Mr. Kowalski's future endeavors.

[Gretchen Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A far cry from Eddies Bastard which was fabulous. A good read but not a great read. This one follows on and tells the tale of Billy, the child. Got the feeling the author capitalized on the success of his first novel and it doesn't quite work.

[Tracie Gutknecht · Rating 2 out of 5]

A follow up to Eddie's Bastard. It's just ok. You don't care about the characters. Billy's story from the first book just fizzles out. Not worth the time.

[Loretta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved Eddie's Bastard. This one not so much.

The third star is due to the first book.

The story needed a few more chapters for closure.

[Kerry Clair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a nice continuation of the first book and resolved lots of things that the first book left open. The author also has a very good riding style making his books an enjoyable read.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nach dem Tod seines Großvaters macht sich Billy Mann auf die Suche nach seiner Mutter, die ihn als Baby mit dem Zettel "Eddies Bastard" bei seinem Großvater auf der Schwelle abgegeben hatte.

In New Mexiko angekommen trifft er als Erstes auf einen durchgeknallten Vietnam-Veteranen, der ihn für einen ehemaligen Kriegskollegen hält.

Dies ist nur die erste von vielen skurillen Begegnungen, die Kowalski Billy wiederfahren lässt.

Ich mag Kowalskis Stil und seine verrückten Charaktere sehr und das Buch hat mich von Anfang bis Ende gefesselt!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't crazy about this book like I was it's prequel, Eddie's Bastard... but it was ok. I wondered as I was reading if I'd be enjoying it at all, if some details would have meant a thing, if I would even like the main character, Billy, if I hadn't read Eddie's Bastard.. which I totally loved. Somewhere South of Here was a bit of a disappointment. And I was a little sad because Billy's mom died of ovarian cancer... the same disease that killed my sister :(

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the sequel to Eddie's Bastard which fell short of my expectations.

All in all not a bad book, but I felt like the author ran out of ideas. It was light and nice, but not as meaty as I like.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light and fun to read, but not really memorable. I only remember that it wasn't as good as it's predecessor which can't be a good sign.

[Hannah cowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's a man searching for his identity, and comes to find out that he was missing his soul.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed "Eddie's Bastard" and although this follow-up was readable it didn't excite me in the same way the first book about Billy's life did.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Eddie's Bastard. It wasn't a good by it gave closure to Billy's story. I enjoyed it.

[Velvetink · Rating 2 out of 5]

5o cents!

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as 'Eddie's Bastard. He has lost his 'Steinbeckian Way' of writing, which appealed to me.

[Hollis Fishelson-holstine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by Molly's friend - not fantastic, but good storytelling

[Pat35 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it.. thought provoking .. characters were well drawn

[Bruth George · Rating 2 out of 5]

good reading about several people affected by unusual childhoods, illegitimate baby raised by grandfather, searching for his mother.

[Christy Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

We seek our roots to know ourselves, but soon realize that it is the journey that helps make us who we are.

[Sully Augustine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this over the course of two days, and only rated it with four stars because it's not quite as good as Eddie's Bastard. Read that book first.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd writing technique, some misspellings, and did not like the end.

[Teresa Berman · Rating 4 out of 5]

not as good as Eddie's Bastard (this is the sequel) but still enjoyable

[Caroline Sautereau-Manowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very easy read. Not unenjoyable.