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輕塵往事
人生裡，只有出生、死亡和時間是確定的
時間只能單向行進
由生而死，一路向前、永不回頭
一個關於愛與生命、夢想與希望的動人故事。揮別純真的青春紀事，面對真實人生的勇敢告白。
20世紀60年代的美國，人類首度登陸月球，一個看似無所不能，充滿希望的時代；但摩登華麗的表象之下，盤根錯節的傳統牢不可破，蠢蠢欲動的社會風暴，即將掀起狂風巨浪……
11歲的J.J與艾爾生長在美國紐澤西的中產階級小鎮，生活中最大的冒險不過是偷抽爸媽的香菸、偷看情色雜誌，小鎮以外的一切，都只是電視和報紙上的新聞鏡頭，遙遠而不真實。
罹患白血病的艾爾，最大的心願是去看太平洋，J.J誓言要讓朋友完成心願。但是，人生的發展，誰也無法預期。
隨同J.J父親到南卡羅萊納的一場公路之旅，讓兩個年輕男孩走出安樂窩，見到真實的人生景況：貧富差距、種族歧視、社會對立。而無意間目睹了一樁謀殺案，更讓他們的純真青春提早結束……
時間只能單向行進
由生而死，一路向前、永不回頭
一個關於愛與生命、夢想與希望的動人故事。揮別純真的青春紀事，面對真實人生的勇敢告白。
20世紀60年代的美國，人類首度登陸月球，一個看似無所不能，充滿希望的時代；但摩登華麗的表象之下，盤根錯節的傳統牢不可破，蠢蠢欲動的社會風暴，即將掀起狂風巨浪……
11歲的J.J與艾爾生長在美國紐澤西的中產階級小鎮，生活中最大的冒險不過是偷抽爸媽的香菸、偷看情色雜誌，小鎮以外的一切，都只是電視和報紙上的新聞鏡頭，遙遠而不真實。
罹患白血病的艾爾，最大的心願是去看太平洋，J.J誓言要讓朋友完成心願。但是，人生的發展，誰也無法預期。
隨同J.J父親到南卡羅萊納的一場公路之旅，讓兩個年輕男孩走出安樂窩，見到真實的人生景況：貧富差距、種族歧視、社會對立。而無意間目睹了一樁謀殺案，更讓他們的純真青春提早結束……
298 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2016
4 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Mark Thompson
1 book11 followersRaised in Stockton-on-Tees, England, the author spent many years living in London before moving to Andalucia in southern Spain. He has travelled extensively throughout the United States over many years, harvesting material for writing both literature and songs. He plays guitar in a rock band, and now lives happily in York with his partner Liz and three wonderful children, two rabbits and a tortoise.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
January 29, 2018
4.5 Stars
”When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No I won't be afraid
No I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
“If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me”
-- Stand By Me, lyrics by Ben King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
”We lay on our backs for what seemed like an eternity and guessed at shapes while the sun beat down and the long dry grass shimmered in the faintest zephyr of a breeze. Crimson tissue poppies bobbed back and forth with the motion of well-wishers waving handkerchiefs on a distant railroad station.”
This coming-of-age tale begins the summer that J.J. Walsh and his friend Tony ‘El Greco’ Papadakis are ten years old, living in New Jersey. As time has its way of moving forward, and never backward, so does the story of JJ and El Greco. Way leads on to way, and time passes as they maneuver through these pre-teen years. There are bumps in the road that are not insignificant.
”…things rolled on calmly into the seasonal changes that marked the passage of time, and softly erased the scars of life, like the smoothing action of waves on cliffs.”
This story places you firmly in the history of this era with references to the Watts riots, racial tensions, the space race, the printing of the last edition of the Saturday Evening Post, Vietnam, Nixon, which teams won or lost World Series / Super Bowls, there are also the stories of the family and neighborhood shared. Annoying older brothers just waiting to smack you around when no one is looking. Mothers whose lives revolve around their families. Fathers who are good, and some who are not. The sense of time passing permeates these pages.
”Early in life, my grandfather told me that only three things were certain: birth, death and time. And time only ticked one way: it went forward and never back. It came to be a recurring wish with me, the desire to turn back the clock, to undo what I had done. Always wishing for the impossible, my feet stuck firm in the molasses of the present, unable to shrug off decision I had made and their unforeseen or disregarded consequences.”
This isn’t much like the movie ‘Stand by Me’ (based on Stephen King’s ‘The Body’), at least story-wise, but there is an element of that story in this one. The world of these young men seems so insular, as though it’s almost a world apart from the one in which the “adults” in this story abide. They float through these days as though they are untouchable, not without fear when trouble rears its head.
Never believing they, too, will, one day, be seen as reminiscing old men – that is, if they’re lucky.
This reads somewhat like a well-written, polished up, well thought out journal of those magical last years of childhood through those almost adult years, sprinkled throughout with some lovely prose – but it is, at heart, a somewhat wistful story about growing up during the 60’s, and the loss of innocence that comes with the passing of these years.
Published: 08 Sept 2016
Many thanks for the ARC provided by RedDoor Publishing
”When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No I won't be afraid
No I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
“If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me”
-- Stand By Me, lyrics by Ben King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
”We lay on our backs for what seemed like an eternity and guessed at shapes while the sun beat down and the long dry grass shimmered in the faintest zephyr of a breeze. Crimson tissue poppies bobbed back and forth with the motion of well-wishers waving handkerchiefs on a distant railroad station.”
This coming-of-age tale begins the summer that J.J. Walsh and his friend Tony ‘El Greco’ Papadakis are ten years old, living in New Jersey. As time has its way of moving forward, and never backward, so does the story of JJ and El Greco. Way leads on to way, and time passes as they maneuver through these pre-teen years. There are bumps in the road that are not insignificant.
”…things rolled on calmly into the seasonal changes that marked the passage of time, and softly erased the scars of life, like the smoothing action of waves on cliffs.”
This story places you firmly in the history of this era with references to the Watts riots, racial tensions, the space race, the printing of the last edition of the Saturday Evening Post, Vietnam, Nixon, which teams won or lost World Series / Super Bowls, there are also the stories of the family and neighborhood shared. Annoying older brothers just waiting to smack you around when no one is looking. Mothers whose lives revolve around their families. Fathers who are good, and some who are not. The sense of time passing permeates these pages.
”Early in life, my grandfather told me that only three things were certain: birth, death and time. And time only ticked one way: it went forward and never back. It came to be a recurring wish with me, the desire to turn back the clock, to undo what I had done. Always wishing for the impossible, my feet stuck firm in the molasses of the present, unable to shrug off decision I had made and their unforeseen or disregarded consequences.”
This isn’t much like the movie ‘Stand by Me’ (based on Stephen King’s ‘The Body’), at least story-wise, but there is an element of that story in this one. The world of these young men seems so insular, as though it’s almost a world apart from the one in which the “adults” in this story abide. They float through these days as though they are untouchable, not without fear when trouble rears its head.
Never believing they, too, will, one day, be seen as reminiscing old men – that is, if they’re lucky.
This reads somewhat like a well-written, polished up, well thought out journal of those magical last years of childhood through those almost adult years, sprinkled throughout with some lovely prose – but it is, at heart, a somewhat wistful story about growing up during the 60’s, and the loss of innocence that comes with the passing of these years.
Published: 08 Sept 2016
Many thanks for the ARC provided by RedDoor Publishing
March 14, 2018
Dust is an accomplished coming-of-age novel, that we'll make you long for simpler times, which for most of us, existed during our childhood.
The narrator of this novel is JJ, who lives in a small town in New Jersey, with his parents and annoying older brother. His best friend is Tony Papadakis, whom JJ calls El Greco. The two boys are very tight, and they are doing what probably many boys used to do in the 1960s and in later years - wonder aimlessly, explore, smoke cigarettes, climb trees etc. There was no over-parenting back then. A child's worldview is pretty narrow, but it seems to be more concentrated. Seemingly small events, gestures become important.
The story is somewhat familiar, nevertheless, it's told beautifully by Mark Thompson, whose writing is of the highest calibre. Some of the descriptions were absolutely breath-taking.
If you enjoy road-trips and coming of age novels, you'll love Dust.
I was impressed with the writing, so I'm interested to read more by this author.
I've received this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, RedDoor Publishing, for this ARC.
The narrator of this novel is JJ, who lives in a small town in New Jersey, with his parents and annoying older brother. His best friend is Tony Papadakis, whom JJ calls El Greco. The two boys are very tight, and they are doing what probably many boys used to do in the 1960s and in later years - wonder aimlessly, explore, smoke cigarettes, climb trees etc. There was no over-parenting back then. A child's worldview is pretty narrow, but it seems to be more concentrated. Seemingly small events, gestures become important.
The story is somewhat familiar, nevertheless, it's told beautifully by Mark Thompson, whose writing is of the highest calibre. Some of the descriptions were absolutely breath-taking.
If you enjoy road-trips and coming of age novels, you'll love Dust.
I was impressed with the writing, so I'm interested to read more by this author.
I've received this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, RedDoor Publishing, for this ARC.
January 21, 2018
"Early in life, my grandfather told me that only three things were certain: birth, death and time. And time only ticked one way: it went forward and never back. It came to be a recurring wish with me, the desire to turn back the clock, to undo what I had done." from Dust by Mark Thompson
For as long as I can remember, part of me has faced backward, tied to the past by nostalgia and longing. When I read Maria Rainer Rilke's advice in his Letters to a Young Poet that one's childhood "treasure house of memories"* offers the creative artist a wealth of inspiration I knew it was true.
I share this to explain why I so enjoy writing that is turned backwards, considering a childhood's treasure house. The newness, the first contact, the adventure of life--and its sorrows and disappointments and questions--always has a poignancy for me.
Mark Thompson's slim debut novel Dust about the friendship and adventures of two eleven-year-old boys growing up in New Jersey in the late 1960s. It is full of lyrical nostalgia as J. J. Walsh recounts his last summer with his best friend Tony 'El Greco' Papadakis.
The boys still imagine sticks are swords, but they also sneak Kent cigarettes and drink coffee black. They imagine the larger world, planning a trip to see the Pacific Ocean. In a freedom rarely allowed today, the boys get into trouble and have misadventures, and they come to terms with death and pursue knowledge of sex. Details of American life offer a deep sense of time and place.
Near the end of summer, Mr. Walsh takes the boys to see his hometown of Savannah, GA, whose exotic beauty enchants JJ. During their travels, the boys experience the Jim Crow South with its poverty and division.
Dust is a love song to the endurance of love, love of a boyhood friend, a wife, a son.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
November 10, 2017
J.J. and Tony, or El Greco, are best friends. They live in a small town where nothing seems to happen. They spend their time smoking cigarettes and getting into trouble they can usually talk themselves out of. They are slowly growing up while speaking about women, sex, cigarettes, murder and more. Even though their town is far from dynamic there are some things that make their daily routine a lot more exciting.
J.J. and El Greco are inseparable and they would love to go on an adventure. They get the chance when J.J.'s father takes them on a road trip. Of course this is an excellent opportunity to find out how much trouble they can get into. However, being away from the protected small town life brings a lot more challenges and not every kind of trouble is innocent and easy to get out of. This trip will change J.J. and El Greco's worldview forever.
Dust is a beautiful story about an incredible friendship. J.J. and El Greco aren't bad kids, they're bored and they're regular boys making the mischief that goes with being in one's early teens. I loved them immediately. They have a special bond, they're clueless in some ways, they're kind in essence and they see everything life has to offer as a chance. I loved their antics, their easy camaraderie and their lust for life. Mark Thompson skillfully writes about what's important when you're trying to kill time and do something cool in a small town at that age. I loved how well he understands his main characters, which makes the story a brilliant read.
Dust isn't just a lighthearted book about two boys and their pranks, it goes much deeper than that. The story has multiple emotional layers, deals with heartbreaking issues and gives a good idea of what people's days would have been like at the end of the sixties and beginning of the seventies of the twentieth century. The story is filled with surprising twists and turns and ends in a fantastic moving way. Mark Thompson has written a really impressive book, a story that will stay with me for many years.
J.J. and El Greco are inseparable and they would love to go on an adventure. They get the chance when J.J.'s father takes them on a road trip. Of course this is an excellent opportunity to find out how much trouble they can get into. However, being away from the protected small town life brings a lot more challenges and not every kind of trouble is innocent and easy to get out of. This trip will change J.J. and El Greco's worldview forever.
Dust is a beautiful story about an incredible friendship. J.J. and El Greco aren't bad kids, they're bored and they're regular boys making the mischief that goes with being in one's early teens. I loved them immediately. They have a special bond, they're clueless in some ways, they're kind in essence and they see everything life has to offer as a chance. I loved their antics, their easy camaraderie and their lust for life. Mark Thompson skillfully writes about what's important when you're trying to kill time and do something cool in a small town at that age. I loved how well he understands his main characters, which makes the story a brilliant read.
Dust isn't just a lighthearted book about two boys and their pranks, it goes much deeper than that. The story has multiple emotional layers, deals with heartbreaking issues and gives a good idea of what people's days would have been like at the end of the sixties and beginning of the seventies of the twentieth century. The story is filled with surprising twists and turns and ends in a fantastic moving way. Mark Thompson has written a really impressive book, a story that will stay with me for many years.
September 23, 2016
GNA I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Mark Thompson, and RedDoor Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, for sharing this work with me.
Dust is an excellent coming of age novel, set in the 1960's, mostly in New Jersey. The tale is told in first person by JJ. JJ and Tony - El Greco - are as close as brothers, lovable, mischievous, and 11 years old. Both depend on JJ's dad for male parental guidance, and both of their mom's are stay-at-home - empathetic, kind, ideal 1960 mom's. Tony's dad, when present in his life, is a piece of work. Tony is smart as a whip, and reads his encyclopedia every night at bedtime. JJ is easily entertained, and his choices are usually those of - say, an 11 year old.
This novel folds together the day to day minutia of life that made the 1960's unique. Men on the Moon, the Vietnam War,the Nixon troubles, the opening of the first Burger King Fast Food restaurant. The Red Sox almost winning the World Series. And the pictures painted are so descriptive of those times that you may need to call home. The language of the boys, and the maturity, evolves as the days go by and they experience life bit by bit.
The culmination of the novel is a Road Trip with JJ's Dad to Savannah, Georgia when the boys are 14 or 15. Their journey though the American South of 1967 is so poetically described you will love Charlotte and Savannah if you didn't already, and the social mores they encounter remind you of just how much progress we have made with equality in America. And how far we still need to go.
This does not read like a debut novel. Mark Thompson has a way with words. He grabs your mind and heart at the git-go and leads you through his story. This is a book I would recommend to all BabyBoomers, but younger readers will enjoy it as well. I could not put it down.
Not available at B&N
Dust is an excellent coming of age novel, set in the 1960's, mostly in New Jersey. The tale is told in first person by JJ. JJ and Tony - El Greco - are as close as brothers, lovable, mischievous, and 11 years old. Both depend on JJ's dad for male parental guidance, and both of their mom's are stay-at-home - empathetic, kind, ideal 1960 mom's. Tony's dad, when present in his life, is a piece of work. Tony is smart as a whip, and reads his encyclopedia every night at bedtime. JJ is easily entertained, and his choices are usually those of - say, an 11 year old.
This novel folds together the day to day minutia of life that made the 1960's unique. Men on the Moon, the Vietnam War,the Nixon troubles, the opening of the first Burger King Fast Food restaurant. The Red Sox almost winning the World Series. And the pictures painted are so descriptive of those times that you may need to call home. The language of the boys, and the maturity, evolves as the days go by and they experience life bit by bit.
The culmination of the novel is a Road Trip with JJ's Dad to Savannah, Georgia when the boys are 14 or 15. Their journey though the American South of 1967 is so poetically described you will love Charlotte and Savannah if you didn't already, and the social mores they encounter remind you of just how much progress we have made with equality in America. And how far we still need to go.
This does not read like a debut novel. Mark Thompson has a way with words. He grabs your mind and heart at the git-go and leads you through his story. This is a book I would recommend to all BabyBoomers, but younger readers will enjoy it as well. I could not put it down.
Not available at B&N
August 22, 2016
El Greco, aka Tony, and JJ Walsh are more than just best friends. Growing up together in small town America during the late 60's, with all of its trials and tribulations, has made them blood brothers. What JJ lacks, El Greco more than makes up for, and together they create trouble and havoc around them. Throughout this story, we learn about life and all of its complexities - death, sadness, abandonment, illness, heartbreak - as the two young boys face their emotions and disappointments. When they travel on a road trip with JJ's father, they unearth a new world, one outside of their usual restrictions, and while its beauty and novelty enamour them, the harsh reality of US history at the time is brought to light through the eyes of these children. And at times of tragedy, the ever-burning question of God and humanity comes to light. But through all of their highs and lows is the dust, constant in its existence.
DUST by Mark Thompson is a powerful novel centred around two young men who are both at different crossroads in their lives. JJ, who longs to be more like his best friend, questions everything and yearns for more from life. El Greco believes that they will all have to face a test in their lives and that that will determine everything. Through highs and lows their friendship remains strong, and through their actions, we, as the readers, get to see American life come alive at that time - in all of its beauty and viciousness. DUST by Mark Thompson left an impact on me. He is a gifted storyteller and after I turned the last page I could not get the imagery and the characters out of my mind, and I found myself re-reading parts of the story. DUST is a truly special book and one that everyone should read.
*Book received from Publisher in exchange for an honest review
DUST by Mark Thompson is a powerful novel centred around two young men who are both at different crossroads in their lives. JJ, who longs to be more like his best friend, questions everything and yearns for more from life. El Greco believes that they will all have to face a test in their lives and that that will determine everything. Through highs and lows their friendship remains strong, and through their actions, we, as the readers, get to see American life come alive at that time - in all of its beauty and viciousness. DUST by Mark Thompson left an impact on me. He is a gifted storyteller and after I turned the last page I could not get the imagery and the characters out of my mind, and I found myself re-reading parts of the story. DUST is a truly special book and one that everyone should read.
*Book received from Publisher in exchange for an honest review
August 28, 2016
So I'll be honest. I requested to be one of the people chosen to read this book before its publication through NetGalley simply because of the cover. I glossed over the description of the book but assumed that because it was a dilapidated barn and the title was "Dust" I figured it had to have something to do with the Dust Bowl. I was wrong and it turns out that it was okay for me to be wrong! Before reading this book start thinking "Stand By Me" and you'll be in the right mind frame for the book. Mark Thompson did a great job writing this "shorter than average" (in my opinion) story about two young boys and their beginning journey into manhood. Puberty/sexuality, murder, illness, and everything else you can imagine happens to these boys and interestingly enough it was a fun read. I took away one star only because I sort of felt as though the ending just happened. I understand, after reading the book, why the ending was written the way that it was but it kind of felt as though it was rushed and just ended.
I definitely recommend reading this book to anyone interested in a story about the innocence of young people journeying into adulthood! Thanks for the opportunity, NetGalley!
I definitely recommend reading this book to anyone interested in a story about the innocence of young people journeying into adulthood! Thanks for the opportunity, NetGalley!
October 10, 2016
I've travelled around the USA a little, but I'd have found 'Dust' mesmerising even if I'd never set foot outside Norfolk. Two kids growing up in small-town New Jersey, making their own entertainment, unshielded from the periodic horrors of the adult world. This could so have been an overly worthy bit of creative writing, but it holds together as a narrative simply because you care so much about these boys; the author takes you with him, is confident enough not to ice the cake too much, and isn't afraid of kicking you in the face when you don't expect it. I'd love to read more one day, but perhaps some of the best stories leave you hanging.
June 28, 2020
Another literary fiction book which I was not expecting to like and then it completely blew me away.
In this book, JJ and Tony are 10 year old boys living in New Jersey in the 1960s. We follow them for three years as they start to grow up, discover more about the world is like and deal with grief. I was absolutely not expecting this at all.
When this book started off, I was very dismissive of the first few pages because it felt like the kind of pretentious, overly metaphoric style which seems to be considered 'literary' and the reason I say I don't like literary fiction. But then the book settled into this easy writing style as we follow JJ's POV as he interacts with the world around him and his family, but most of all, his best friend, Tony, who he calls 'El Greco'. If we ever get an explanation for the nickname, I must have missed it. They're pretty much allowed to run wild in their small town and we get a swing between them being interested in what we think ten-year-old boys should be interested in (sweet things, rough play, records) and things we wouldn't expect children this young to be interested in (sex, cigarettes, coffee). Sometimes, I felt like JJ's POV didn't feel like a kid but then we would get to a part where they were obviously trying to be very adult despite their thoughts to the contrary and you could see what kids they were.
But the winner of this book for me was the friendship between the two boys. Tony is indisputably the leader in their friendship and JJ unashamedly looks up to him as a 'wise sage', despite being the same age. Normally, when we get that kind of dynamic, we would see it get twisted over the course of the book until it becomes unhealthy and traumatic. But that did not happen in this book, the two of them remained supportive of each other throughout and you could see why they were such good friends. They balanced each other out and it was a delight to read.
The roadtrip part was actually a very minor part of the book and it's centred around Tony and JJ coming up against far more overt racism and discrimination than they had ever encountered. I liked how it was included and what JJ's thoughts were on it (especially with the national events in the 60s surrounding race) but it wasn't a main part of the book and I think talking about it as if it were is misleading.
But I would recommend this book, even for someone who doesn't normally like literary fiction.
4.5 stars!
In this book, JJ and Tony are 10 year old boys living in New Jersey in the 1960s. We follow them for three years as they start to grow up, discover more about the world is like and deal with grief. I was absolutely not expecting this at all.
When this book started off, I was very dismissive of the first few pages because it felt like the kind of pretentious, overly metaphoric style which seems to be considered 'literary' and the reason I say I don't like literary fiction. But then the book settled into this easy writing style as we follow JJ's POV as he interacts with the world around him and his family, but most of all, his best friend, Tony, who he calls 'El Greco'. If we ever get an explanation for the nickname, I must have missed it. They're pretty much allowed to run wild in their small town and we get a swing between them being interested in what we think ten-year-old boys should be interested in (sweet things, rough play, records) and things we wouldn't expect children this young to be interested in (sex, cigarettes, coffee). Sometimes, I felt like JJ's POV didn't feel like a kid but then we would get to a part where they were obviously trying to be very adult despite their thoughts to the contrary and you could see what kids they were.
But the winner of this book for me was the friendship between the two boys. Tony is indisputably the leader in their friendship and JJ unashamedly looks up to him as a 'wise sage', despite being the same age. Normally, when we get that kind of dynamic, we would see it get twisted over the course of the book until it becomes unhealthy and traumatic. But that did not happen in this book, the two of them remained supportive of each other throughout and you could see why they were such good friends. They balanced each other out and it was a delight to read.
The roadtrip part was actually a very minor part of the book and it's centred around Tony and JJ coming up against far more overt racism and discrimination than they had ever encountered. I liked how it was included and what JJ's thoughts were on it (especially with the national events in the 60s surrounding race) but it wasn't a main part of the book and I think talking about it as if it were is misleading.
But I would recommend this book, even for someone who doesn't normally like literary fiction.
4.5 stars!
May 20, 2021
Coming-of-age novel set in NEW JERSEY
YOU TUBE REVIEW: https://youtu.be/X1WC7ZprYIc
Every once in a while a book comes along that proves to be something just a bit special. And this is one of those books. It is a debut, published back in 2016 and it is written with skill, creativity and humour, with just enough sharp edge to keep it feeling very real.
JJ and El Greco are best buddies, aged 11, and the book opens as they are sitting by the local cannery smoking Kent cigarettes. They are essentially shooting the breeze but their caper of starting small fires balloons into a fully fledged conflagration which sees the nearby senior residence come under threat. The fire fighters arrive, the police sirens wail. They get away with not being caught by just a whisker. This is the first of several boyish escapades.
They hang out together over one summer, as the dust swirls and the sun beats down. Cecil, aka Adolf, makes JJ’s life a misery, as only an older brother can. El Greco’s father is AWOL, a good time Charlie who is pretty much always absent. They build their friendship, they cope with life and things are pretty OK. And then illness strikes, shattering the kids’ easy living….
Down the line there is a road trip with JJ’s father to Savannah, driving through the heart of America and the story just continues to flow, transported by the four wheels of the car. The author vividly conjures up quintessential America just through small observations and encounters, lingering in places along the route, savouring the essence of setting.
This is a really strong debut that is set against the backdrop of the Vietnam/American War and the escalating racial tensions. It is a beautifully written story of easy friendship, it is poignant and full of banter and wit and it blew me away.
YOU TUBE REVIEW: https://youtu.be/X1WC7ZprYIc
Every once in a while a book comes along that proves to be something just a bit special. And this is one of those books. It is a debut, published back in 2016 and it is written with skill, creativity and humour, with just enough sharp edge to keep it feeling very real.
JJ and El Greco are best buddies, aged 11, and the book opens as they are sitting by the local cannery smoking Kent cigarettes. They are essentially shooting the breeze but their caper of starting small fires balloons into a fully fledged conflagration which sees the nearby senior residence come under threat. The fire fighters arrive, the police sirens wail. They get away with not being caught by just a whisker. This is the first of several boyish escapades.
They hang out together over one summer, as the dust swirls and the sun beats down. Cecil, aka Adolf, makes JJ’s life a misery, as only an older brother can. El Greco’s father is AWOL, a good time Charlie who is pretty much always absent. They build their friendship, they cope with life and things are pretty OK. And then illness strikes, shattering the kids’ easy living….
Down the line there is a road trip with JJ’s father to Savannah, driving through the heart of America and the story just continues to flow, transported by the four wheels of the car. The author vividly conjures up quintessential America just through small observations and encounters, lingering in places along the route, savouring the essence of setting.
This is a really strong debut that is set against the backdrop of the Vietnam/American War and the escalating racial tensions. It is a beautifully written story of easy friendship, it is poignant and full of banter and wit and it blew me away.
August 16, 2016
Strong, oppressive and at times melancholy, Dust put me very much in mind of Stand by Me in the feel of the writing and, although there are only the two boys in Dust, their relationship struck me as very similar to that of the boys in that story, and the central theme of a ‘coming of age’ is put across well.
I was initially drawn to the novel by the evocative cover image which, when I got really into the book, was perfect to capture the feel of a carefree summer with endless days of heat and boredom as told by central character JJ.
1960s New Jersey is vividly painted, down to the breeze off the water at the old cannery that the boys visit to smoke and cuss away from grown-up eyes, and the contrasts of their home to different parts of the country on their roadtrip is an education in those vast differences that occur in such a large country as the US. At points it’s easy to forget that this is not a contemporary novel, but the episode where the boys wander into a black neighbourhood brings it back with a jolt.
Aside from the strong relationship between JJ and El Greco, JJ forms important bonds with adult members of the community, Mr Taylor in particular, and they act as a subjective sounding board, allowing JJ to make sense of his world, a world where Vietnam and Woodstock are not just a matter for the history books.
In terms of plot, the novel is introspective and relaxed, not driven by a surging, action-packed narrative and this definitely makes it a book to think about. As a debut novel it is really excellent.
I was initially drawn to the novel by the evocative cover image which, when I got really into the book, was perfect to capture the feel of a carefree summer with endless days of heat and boredom as told by central character JJ.
1960s New Jersey is vividly painted, down to the breeze off the water at the old cannery that the boys visit to smoke and cuss away from grown-up eyes, and the contrasts of their home to different parts of the country on their roadtrip is an education in those vast differences that occur in such a large country as the US. At points it’s easy to forget that this is not a contemporary novel, but the episode where the boys wander into a black neighbourhood brings it back with a jolt.
Aside from the strong relationship between JJ and El Greco, JJ forms important bonds with adult members of the community, Mr Taylor in particular, and they act as a subjective sounding board, allowing JJ to make sense of his world, a world where Vietnam and Woodstock are not just a matter for the history books.
In terms of plot, the novel is introspective and relaxed, not driven by a surging, action-packed narrative and this definitely makes it a book to think about. As a debut novel it is really excellent.
October 29, 2016
Dust by Mark Thompson
See the American dream through the ten-year old eyes of JJ and El Greco. This well researched, entertaining and entirely believable first novel from Mark Thompson is well worth a read. The zeitgeist of 1960’s America is captured beautifully, including (but not limited to), politics, music and racism through those youthful eyes. Thompson has found JJ’s voice perfectly and reports on, but offers no judgement on his world. Part bio-fiction, part road novel with a bittersweet ending, this is an assured and well written first novel. You need to read it.
See the American dream through the ten-year old eyes of JJ and El Greco. This well researched, entertaining and entirely believable first novel from Mark Thompson is well worth a read. The zeitgeist of 1960’s America is captured beautifully, including (but not limited to), politics, music and racism through those youthful eyes. Thompson has found JJ’s voice perfectly and reports on, but offers no judgement on his world. Part bio-fiction, part road novel with a bittersweet ending, this is an assured and well written first novel. You need to read it.
December 27, 2016
I was lucky to win this as a Good Reads giveaway.
I read it in a day and it made me both laugh and cry.
The vibe was very much a mixture of Stand By Me and The Wonder Years with a dash of To Kill a Mockingbird.
I really enjoyed it.
I read it in a day and it made me both laugh and cry.
The vibe was very much a mixture of Stand By Me and The Wonder Years with a dash of To Kill a Mockingbird.
I really enjoyed it.
December 2, 2016
Beautiful story and a beautiful cover design to match...
February 13, 2019
Reading more like a memoir or a journal, Dust follows two boys over a three year period in 1960s New Jersey. It shares their life experiences and events that change them or have somewhat of an impact on them. They are friends with a curious innocence and I absolutely loved it. It touches on race, slavery, of being black and white, what this meant during that time, historic events, parental relationships and so much more. The boys' friendship was strong and the warmth between them was envious. I have tabbed a lot of it too. It's thought provoking and was read in a day. The language flows wonderfully. It has a message about everyone in life having a test, big or small, and how we deal with that.
As a debut novel, it is right up there with a solid plot, loveable characters and equally, some who you really don't like, but with valid reason. This was again one of the oldest books on my shelf and I am finding out that these "old" ones are turning out to be pure gems. That's an awesome feeling.
Rating: 4.5🌟
As a debut novel, it is right up there with a solid plot, loveable characters and equally, some who you really don't like, but with valid reason. This was again one of the oldest books on my shelf and I am finding out that these "old" ones are turning out to be pure gems. That's an awesome feeling.
Rating: 4.5🌟
January 28, 2018
The friendship between 2 young boys in New Jersey in the 1960s is the basis for this beguiling and tender debut novel. J J and Tony, or El Greco as he is usually called, are firm friends and have all the adventures together you might expect. The first half of the book is well-observed and demonstrates much understanding of how a young boy’s mind works. My problem with the book was the 2nd half when J J’s father takes the boys on a road trip to the southern states of the US, where they see a very different world to the one at home and I felt that their voices became too knowing and adult. I doubt very much if such young boys would be aware of the social and political situation, or even be interested in it.
So I didn’t find this otherwise very enjoyable and readable novel totally convincing but nevertheless it’s a pleasant enough tale, and an interesting portrait of 1960s America.
So I didn’t find this otherwise very enjoyable and readable novel totally convincing but nevertheless it’s a pleasant enough tale, and an interesting portrait of 1960s America.
August 1, 2022
4.5 Stars
July 20, 2022
The fact that an author who lives in York, England, can write so authentically about America in general, and the Deep South specifically, is a testament to the giftedness of Mark Thompson. Having lived through those turbulent times in the South, I could feel, hear, and even smell the world of JJ and El Greco. "Dust" was a wonderful novel about coming of age, friendship, innocence, and enduring love. I cannot wait until Mark’s next book arrives in September.
January 13, 2019
Es ist 1968. J.J. ist zehn, und er hat einen besten Freund: Tony Papadakis, den er „El Greco“ nennt. Die beiden machen alles zusammen und, falls mal etwas schief läuft, wie zum Beispiel die Auswirkungen einer heimlich gerauchten Zigarette, dann halten sie zusammen wie Pech und Schwefel. Echte Freunde, Buddies, die Art, die man nur einmal im Leben hat.
El Greco liest viel, und er hält J.J. immer mit kleinen Fakten auf dem Laufenden. Der wichtigste Fakt ist, dass der Pazifische Ozean so groß und herrlich ist, dass der Atlantik, den sie von ihrem geheimen Treffpunkt aus sehen, wie eine kleine Pfütze scheint. Den Pazifik zu sehen, da ist er sicher, wäre das Tollste, was ihm im Leben passieren kann.
Die beiden teilen kleine Nöte, wie unfaire Brüder, oder große Nöte, wie unfaire Väter miteinander. Und wenn einer von ihnen in Schwierigkeiten ist, tut der andere alles, um ihm zu helfen. So müssen sie so manche Prüfung bestehen und Probleme überwinden.
Dann, eines Tages, steht eine große Sache an: ein Road-Trip nach Savannah, bei dem die beiden viel von ihrem Land sehen und wo ihnen die Augen geöffnet werden über die Probleme, die das Land beherrschen. Aber nicht nur das bekommen sie zu sehen, auch die Sch��nheiten des Landes werden offenbar. Am Ende sind sie etwas erwachsener geworden, die beiden Jungs, die sind wie Pech und Schwefel. Und haben doch noch so viele Prüfungen vor sich.
„El Greco und ich“ ist ein kleines Schmuckstück. Der Roman, aus der Sicht des zehnjährigen J.J. erzählt, bleibt in der Perspektive und der Erlebniswelt eben dieses Jungen. Die Freundschaft der beiden, die unbedingte Loyalität, die kleinen und großen Schwierigkeiten, alles wird hautnah an den Leser herangetragen.
Man fühlt sich in seine Kindheit zurückversetzt, als man an heißen Sommertagen im Gras lag und den Wolken hinterherschaute, als man noch große Pläne hatte und die Zukunft unendlich schien. Kleine und große Ereignisse, eigentlich machte alles fast gleich viel Eindruck, war wichtig und aufregend und schwierig und irgendwie absolut.
Und so fiebert man mit den beiden mit, hofft, dass sie davon kommen, wenn sie Mist gebaut haben, hofft, dass sie durchstehen, was ihnen an Prüfungen auferlegt werden und freut sich, wenn ihre Freude sie beherrscht. Und am Ende, ja, da muss man vielleicht eine große Träne verdrücken. Ich bin froh, die beiden nun in meinem Leben zu haben, da man manchmal überlegen sollte, ob das Kleine im Leben wirklich klein und das Große wirklich so groß ist, oder ob wir im Verlauf der Jahre unsere Prioritäten nicht vielleicht ein wenig in die falschen Richtungen verschoben haben.
Und selbst wenn man dies nicht tut, hat man immer noch eine spannende Geschichte über zwei Jungs, die in einer spannenden Zeit leben, eine Geschichte, die bestens unterhält und einen oft glücklich in sich hineinlächeln lässt.
1001buecher.wordpress.com
El Greco liest viel, und er hält J.J. immer mit kleinen Fakten auf dem Laufenden. Der wichtigste Fakt ist, dass der Pazifische Ozean so groß und herrlich ist, dass der Atlantik, den sie von ihrem geheimen Treffpunkt aus sehen, wie eine kleine Pfütze scheint. Den Pazifik zu sehen, da ist er sicher, wäre das Tollste, was ihm im Leben passieren kann.
Die beiden teilen kleine Nöte, wie unfaire Brüder, oder große Nöte, wie unfaire Väter miteinander. Und wenn einer von ihnen in Schwierigkeiten ist, tut der andere alles, um ihm zu helfen. So müssen sie so manche Prüfung bestehen und Probleme überwinden.
Dann, eines Tages, steht eine große Sache an: ein Road-Trip nach Savannah, bei dem die beiden viel von ihrem Land sehen und wo ihnen die Augen geöffnet werden über die Probleme, die das Land beherrschen. Aber nicht nur das bekommen sie zu sehen, auch die Sch��nheiten des Landes werden offenbar. Am Ende sind sie etwas erwachsener geworden, die beiden Jungs, die sind wie Pech und Schwefel. Und haben doch noch so viele Prüfungen vor sich.
„El Greco und ich“ ist ein kleines Schmuckstück. Der Roman, aus der Sicht des zehnjährigen J.J. erzählt, bleibt in der Perspektive und der Erlebniswelt eben dieses Jungen. Die Freundschaft der beiden, die unbedingte Loyalität, die kleinen und großen Schwierigkeiten, alles wird hautnah an den Leser herangetragen.
Man fühlt sich in seine Kindheit zurückversetzt, als man an heißen Sommertagen im Gras lag und den Wolken hinterherschaute, als man noch große Pläne hatte und die Zukunft unendlich schien. Kleine und große Ereignisse, eigentlich machte alles fast gleich viel Eindruck, war wichtig und aufregend und schwierig und irgendwie absolut.
Und so fiebert man mit den beiden mit, hofft, dass sie davon kommen, wenn sie Mist gebaut haben, hofft, dass sie durchstehen, was ihnen an Prüfungen auferlegt werden und freut sich, wenn ihre Freude sie beherrscht. Und am Ende, ja, da muss man vielleicht eine große Träne verdrücken. Ich bin froh, die beiden nun in meinem Leben zu haben, da man manchmal überlegen sollte, ob das Kleine im Leben wirklich klein und das Große wirklich so groß ist, oder ob wir im Verlauf der Jahre unsere Prioritäten nicht vielleicht ein wenig in die falschen Richtungen verschoben haben.
Und selbst wenn man dies nicht tut, hat man immer noch eine spannende Geschichte über zwei Jungs, die in einer spannenden Zeit leben, eine Geschichte, die bestens unterhält und einen oft glücklich in sich hineinlächeln lässt.
1001buecher.wordpress.com
August 23, 2016
There is nothing better for a book reviewer than to come across a new writer and his debut novel and Mark Thompson’s debut Dust is another fine example of the quality of new writers that have emerged during 2016.
With the backdrop of New Jersey in the later part of the 1960’s we follow the two friends J.J Walsh and Tony ‘El Greco’ Papadakis over the three-year period as the two boys share the experiences and life changing events. This is the era of the Vietnam War, the racial divide through America and a time that man stopped looking in wonder at the moon and actually walked on its surface as the world watched.
We see everyday life through the eyes of two 10-year-old boys who share a very special friendship a bond in fact as they face the everyday challenges that the late 1960’s could throw at them. The ongoing Vietnam War overshadows the lives and is heartbreaking at times. But the two boys have to overcome many things and J.J can see the ‘El Greco’ is having a traumatic time with his personal life. Racial prejudices are never far away in this story. The two boys are different than most 10-year-old’s with their cynical view of modern life. Two young boys and their young lives and having to deal with everyday things that many 10-year-old’s should not have to cope with.
Dust is a story that moves along at a steady pace and the focus of this story is very much on the two boys and is very much written in a style that many will recognise from other similar books of this time. It is beautifully written and one that many who discover Mark Thompson’s writing will come to love. One of those rare timeless books that people will discover in years to come and wonder why they never read it first time around.
A story that quietly captures the reader’s attention and imagination and never wavers from its undramatic stance. Quite simply this is an extraordinary novel and one where you feel the empathy for two young boys and the loss of some much not just the innocence of their years.
I am not just recommending Dust to you the reader I am hoping that you go and buy a copy on publication day and discover the story of JJ and ‘El Greco’ growing up quickly in suburban New Jersey. One story I will not forget in a hurry.
Thank you to Authoright and Red Door Publishing for the advanced review copy.
With the backdrop of New Jersey in the later part of the 1960’s we follow the two friends J.J Walsh and Tony ‘El Greco’ Papadakis over the three-year period as the two boys share the experiences and life changing events. This is the era of the Vietnam War, the racial divide through America and a time that man stopped looking in wonder at the moon and actually walked on its surface as the world watched.
We see everyday life through the eyes of two 10-year-old boys who share a very special friendship a bond in fact as they face the everyday challenges that the late 1960’s could throw at them. The ongoing Vietnam War overshadows the lives and is heartbreaking at times. But the two boys have to overcome many things and J.J can see the ‘El Greco’ is having a traumatic time with his personal life. Racial prejudices are never far away in this story. The two boys are different than most 10-year-old’s with their cynical view of modern life. Two young boys and their young lives and having to deal with everyday things that many 10-year-old’s should not have to cope with.
Dust is a story that moves along at a steady pace and the focus of this story is very much on the two boys and is very much written in a style that many will recognise from other similar books of this time. It is beautifully written and one that many who discover Mark Thompson’s writing will come to love. One of those rare timeless books that people will discover in years to come and wonder why they never read it first time around.
A story that quietly captures the reader’s attention and imagination and never wavers from its undramatic stance. Quite simply this is an extraordinary novel and one where you feel the empathy for two young boys and the loss of some much not just the innocence of their years.
I am not just recommending Dust to you the reader I am hoping that you go and buy a copy on publication day and discover the story of JJ and ‘El Greco’ growing up quickly in suburban New Jersey. One story I will not forget in a hurry.
Thank you to Authoright and Red Door Publishing for the advanced review copy.
August 23, 2016
El Greco and J.J. are ten year old best friends, they do everything together… smoke, drink black coffee, use curse words, cause trouble..
The friendship between the two boys is not just your every day run of the mill friendship. They face all the problems normal ten year old boys do, things like wishing for a better bike or the birthday present you asked for but didn’t get. However, these things are overshadowed by other everyday problems they have to face: death, illness, racism and the Vietnam War and its heartbreaking effects all weaving their way through the story making it easy to forget that you are reading about two ten year old boys, two very cynical adult-like ten year old boys. All of these factors contribute towards making their friendship a heartwarming, sometimes comedic and sometimes saddening story to read.
Dust is really beautifully written. Thompson uses wonderful language and metaphors to set the scene throughout the story. I especially liked that as the story went on and J.J. got older the narrative seemed to sharpen. At first the story reads like a child’s train of thought, sometimes scattered, but always connected to the original thought, which I loved. Towards the end of the story J.J.’s thoughts seem to be more coherent and ordered. Although only twelve or thirteen at the end of the story, it felt like every incident in J.J.’s life had helped him mature and see the world differently, and this is reflected in his narrative.
This book was by no means a fast paced or overly plot driven, it mainly details the daily life of the two boys, the mischief they get into to and how they deal with the issues that ten year old boys shouldn’t have to deal with. But, all in all Dust is a beautiful debut novel about the lessons of childhood, friendship and growing up. I highly recommend it!
The friendship between the two boys is not just your every day run of the mill friendship. They face all the problems normal ten year old boys do, things like wishing for a better bike or the birthday present you asked for but didn’t get. However, these things are overshadowed by other everyday problems they have to face: death, illness, racism and the Vietnam War and its heartbreaking effects all weaving their way through the story making it easy to forget that you are reading about two ten year old boys, two very cynical adult-like ten year old boys. All of these factors contribute towards making their friendship a heartwarming, sometimes comedic and sometimes saddening story to read.
Dust is really beautifully written. Thompson uses wonderful language and metaphors to set the scene throughout the story. I especially liked that as the story went on and J.J. got older the narrative seemed to sharpen. At first the story reads like a child’s train of thought, sometimes scattered, but always connected to the original thought, which I loved. Towards the end of the story J.J.’s thoughts seem to be more coherent and ordered. Although only twelve or thirteen at the end of the story, it felt like every incident in J.J.’s life had helped him mature and see the world differently, and this is reflected in his narrative.
This book was by no means a fast paced or overly plot driven, it mainly details the daily life of the two boys, the mischief they get into to and how they deal with the issues that ten year old boys shouldn’t have to deal with. But, all in all Dust is a beautiful debut novel about the lessons of childhood, friendship and growing up. I highly recommend it!
November 17, 2016
Received as a goodreads giveaway.Never would have discovered this book on my own and I loved it. It had a charm, it made you feel with your heart and it was well written (maybe a tad too many similes for some) but not for me. It's 'messages' were not hammered home just dropped in gently.I was astonished to discover the author was not American as it had such an authentic feel for time and place. In fact I discovered after I had read the book he had been born and brought up in my home town.It had a slightly dark side and a sad and melancholy air but was also at times very funny. The boys and all the peripheral characters were well drawn and all those who were meant to be engaging were. There was not really a plot as such just the story of a very deep friendship between two young boys and the day to day life around them; one wise beyond his years the other gradually losing his innocence and naivety about the world both hoping for future excitement and adventure outside of their small town existence.For me this had echoes of another of my five star books this year 'The summer that melted everything' but the style and writing are very different and this one is much more subtle and gentle and I think the better for it.
October 23, 2016
Dust is a great debut which was recommended to me by a friend. It is a sweet and moving story, set in the late sixties, about friendship and ultimatily about loss. It is written from the perspective of young boy. JJ is often wise and perceptive beyond his years, but also very much a child still, absorbed in the daily mischief that boys get up to. There are many beautiful descriptions in the book, which makes you want to savour many pages. Especially towards the end of the book, when JJ's father takes the two boys on a roadtrip from New Jersey down to Savannah, in the deep South. The way he describes the charm of the southern towns and countryside is on one hand very evocative and alluring, but he doesn't avoid to describe the great disparity and racial tensions.
At times I felt that JJ's observations were too mature for an eleven year old, which made it hard for me to fully identify with him as a child. The narrators voice, of JJ as an adult, often removes you from life experienced by JJ as a child.
Still, overall an impressive debut.
At times I felt that JJ's observations were too mature for an eleven year old, which made it hard for me to fully identify with him as a child. The narrators voice, of JJ as an adult, often removes you from life experienced by JJ as a child.
Still, overall an impressive debut.
August 26, 2016
Learning and losing; growing and changing, all through the eyes of a boy and his best friend. They encounter race, inequality, mourning and murder over the course of a hazy few years. This book had a languid pace, slow in just the right ways. I didn't find this book particularly sad, but it is a melancholy read; a kind of reminder that the past isn't always as sweet and we think it was, and childhood not as easy as we might like to remember. I enjoyed this book, especially the pacing and the smooth writing. Was a one-sitting read. Would enjoy more by this author.
This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2019
Evocative is a good description. Mark is a wordsmith of the finest order. His descriptions and comparisons are perfect and really take you there alongside our young anti-heroes and their world worn father. Moments of high drama are few but they leave their mark, and the 13 year old sage is well worth meeting. A great book which is out of the norm for me but a wonderful read none the less. It would make a great travelogue film, if only you could find the period sets and props. I have a feeling that on one of his journeys Mark has seen those sets. I feel they probably still exist in some part of America.
November 20, 2016
A stylishly written novel that relies on the quality of the writing and not the all action plot of other sensationalised novels. This is a book full of beautifully painted pictures of the life of two young boys as they find their way through life’s ups and downs. The story keeps you engaged from start to finish. I could see this novel as a future ‘must read’ for students of literature. As a first novel, it sets a fantastically high bar. A great book for a holiday read by the pool or a stocking filler for Christmas.
November 16, 2016
This was a very good coming of age book mainly two young boys and their travels together in the process. I would have given a five star but there was so much foul language that distracted me in points. I enjoyed the travels that these young boys had and the adventures they had. I was provided a promotional e-book from Net-Galley in return for an honest opinion
October 10, 2016
A wonderful debut novel so beautifully written A coming of age story two young boys an emotional page turner,
August 15, 2017
Great read.
November 16, 2016
Brilliantly written insight into the mind of young boys growing up, very relatable and a great debut!
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