Careful: A Novel

by Randy Anderson, Patrick Robert Fox (Narrator)

For two decades Tyler Gibbons has been keeping a secret from his family. At the tender age of sixteen, Tyler embarks on a student exchange program. Sent to the Andean city of Ambato, Ecuador, he finds daily adventure as he tries to fit in at school, connect with his host family, and navigate through a world of beaches, volcanoes, and jungles. But tucked deep inside this year are events so profound, so unexpected, they forever shape the man he will become.

Now, 25 years later, his mother pulls these soaring tales from her son, exposing, for the first time, the source of a deep unhappiness. While these memories contain the wounds of an unresolved past, they also possess the power to heal his painful present.

Thoughtfully crafted and boldly told, Tyler’s journey takes the reader on a wild South American adventure, while illuminating a mother’s unyielding power to heal her child.

Genres: Book Club

Audible Audio

First published April 28, 2014

About the author

Randy is the author of five books. He began his literary adventure when he self-published his first book, On Making Off: Misadventures off off Broadway, a memoir of making theatre in New York City. His second book, Careful is a coming-of-age tale set in Ecuador. In 2016 he launched a time travel series called Time Phantom. The first two books, Amsterdam and Copenhagen are currently available. The third will be released later in 2017. His fifth book is the incendiary political novella, Divisible.

He is currently working on a literary trilogy where each book is a collection of short stories. This epic journey follows a disheartened baby boomer pastry chef through the second half of the last century.

Before writing books, Randy ran a small New York theater company from 1999-2004. During this time he produced over three-dozen productions and events. He was a co-producer of The Unconvention, a political theater festival during the 2004 Republican National Convention. Plays he's written include; New Year's Resolutions, Homelessness Homosexuals and Heretics, Testing Average, Kill The President, Armor of Wills, and The Dwelling.

Reviews

[LAWonder10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Careful is a story of the reminiscing of an estranged son with his mother when confronted with tragic circumstances. It is a story of a youth's coming of age rites of passage, facing one's "demons", and reuniting with loved ones.

The author's development of characters were very fitting, diverse and portrayed well. The evolving situations were clearly defined and easily visualized. The reader was effectively "brought into" the tale.

Although the story is filled with profanity and other foul language, plus a few crude sexual terms, it was well written and steadily flowed except for one spot near the beginning of the book which felt totally out of place and disconnected. However, near the very end the story the disconnected sit was finally "brought to light". The Book Cover is an effective attention getter but not very fitting to the story content...Nor was the Title a great fit. It was a stretch of the imagination to see the connection between the story and the Title.

I was a very interesting story, but I would never recommend it for YA reading because of the literary content.

[Sara Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

**A Book Review by my Aspie Girl Vix; these are her own words, with some very minor punctuation editing by me. Careful does contain some LGBT themes and adult language but is written for teen’s. Vix, really enjoyed the book and I also read it and enjoyed it as well, I found that it did open the door to have some great conservations. This is a spoiler free review**

Careful By Randy Anderson
I really enjoyed Careful by Randy Anderson.
I love the characters and the overall appeal of the book. I feel the book is more directed to a more mature audience as it does include some not so nice words. And some themes that are not really appropriate for younger readers.
I did find that switching between Spanish and English made to book hard to follow. Tyler (the main character) lives with his host family in Ambato, Ecuador. Tyler lives with a host family as part of an exchange program where a group of teenagers goes and stays with a host family in another country. Tyler’s host family consists of Patricia (his host mom), Jaime (his host dad), along with Enrique and Jose (his host brothers).
Tyler embarks on a very interesting journey while in Ecuador. He gets to visit the Amazon, climb a volcano, and even go to Columbia to see a lunar eclipse.
While a great story, tragic things happen throughout the book. Tyler tells this story while spending time with his sick mother Peggy, who is in the hospital. As he is retelling her his story, he comes to understand why he is the way he is. And how our childhood can shape who we become as adults,
He is retelling her his past, but it makes the book very interesting. Overall I truly enjoyed the book and I think many readers will enjoy the book. While there is some very tragic events that happen in this book, the outcome is good.

**I received this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review with no promise of a favorable review on my behalf**

[Joelene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Randy Anderson! When I first read what the book was about it seemed interesting enough even thought it isn’t something that I’ve read on a regular basis but I am very glad I got to read it myself. It wasn’t at all what I expected, but it was definitely more then that, it was an amazing book. It was very well written and the characters where developed very well, I was in love with a lot of them. This book drew out very strong emotions and kept me wanting more even when I had to put it down for a while. I really enjoyed learning about other cultures and things that are seen and done in places around the world and I really enjoyed how all the characters had their own special thing about them and they all dealt with things differently but yet bonded so strongly. I also loved how the bond between mother and son got stronger and how she helped him heal even without him really realizing it. I enjoyed watching Tyler go from a boy to a man and how he learned and grew with many others. I really felt like I was there and part of the story. Even though there are some tragic events in the story that brought about a few tears to the surface, I absolutely loved this book, because lets face it, it’s real life, nothing is ever perfect in real life and tragedies happen, it’s all how you deal with it and how you help other’s through it as well.

All and all, this is a very beautiful story and I will definitely be recommending it to others!

[Jennifer Clausen-greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected, but in a good way. The book draws on your emotions to move the story forward,as opposed to alot of actions that you might expect. I really enjoyed getting to take a glimpse into the different cultures that are presented in this book and watch how the kids handle new situations and grow from experiences. Great character development with lots of intrigue throughout. I kept wanting to keep reading to find out all the secretes that were being kept and to see if I was right on what they were. The book was not really suspenseful, but it kept you engaged and curious all the way through. I can easily recommend this book for anyone looking for a great short read.

Disclaimer:
I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of Goddess Fish Promotion Crew.

[Joshua Flenniken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Careful is an ambitious novel that sets out to intertwine a coming of age story, a travelogue, and two family sagas. Any one of these would make for a self-sufficient read by itself but Anderson weaves them all together- and succeeds. Through a combination of flashbacks and present day interactions, Tyler pieces together the events that occurred while on a teenage student exchange trip to Ecuador that impacted himself, his host family, and his family back home. Tyler spends the rest of his life making sense of (and amends for) those events and it is not until the looming death of his own mother that he finally provides context for his own family. Poignant, sad, funny, and sometimes disturbing, author Randy Anderson masterfully laces together a compelling story of loss, discovery, guilt, and redemption. I read the first half of this novel a chapter at a time. I read the second half in a single sitting because I could not put it down.

[Elizabeth Alsobrooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Careful is a coming of age story. Tyler Gibbons, from whose point of view the story unfolds, went on a journey. When he was 16 he became an exchange student to Ecuador. The reader discovers the experiences, human interactions and inner turmoil the teen encounters through flashbacks. The vehicle for these flashbacks is a revelation Tyler finally grants his mother. 20 years after his visit to Ecuador he reveals the life-altering secrets that turned a 16 year old boy into a man.

A literary piece, Anderson tells this story with clarity and an unvarnished exploration of the human spirit. The prose demonstrate good flow though the pace lags here and there. Overall a good book.

Book Bling gives this novel 4 STARS!

[Katrina Roets · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first chose this book to review, I went back and forth because I just wasn't sure that it was going to be something I enjoy. I'm happy to report that my choice was a good one! This book is wonderfully crafted. While it changes between the present and the past, there's not one ounce of confusion as to which time you're in. Watching the bond between Tyler and his mother grow even stronger pulled at the heart strings and I confess to tears more than once. Each character is well developed and the writing amazingly easy to read while not feeling like it's been dumbed down. All in all, well worth the read and the late night because I couldn't put it down.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Careful – A Novel by Randy Anderson is a book meant for young adults. The novel is about a 40-year-old guy, Tyler Gibbons who is compelled by his dying mother Peggy to narrate the happenings during his stay in Ambato, Ecuador. Tyler goes and stays in Ambato for a year as a part of a High School Exchange program when he was 16 years old. The secrets he has been guarding for 25 years has created a wound in him. His mother’s last wish is to heal the undying sadness within him by making him profess everything to her.

Read more at http://chennaifocus.in/2015/04/06/rev...

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poweful story about Tyler who is an exchange student send to Ecuador, where he tries to fit, he is carrying a backage that hasn't be dealt with, The author takes us back an forth between present and past, where you will get a picture of it all. In his time you ill meet several other students and ther family. it is a story that will gve you a cry, a laugh. It is an emotinal heavy book but very enjoyable to read and the end makes it all worth it!

Loved Tyler, and other characters they are well developed and I loved the writing style, can't wait to read more from this author.

[Jae R · Rating 3 out of 5]

There isn't much to say about this book. I don't really know whether it is good or bad. It is very sad and averagely heartfelt. What happened in the book isn't what I expected, which also could be good and bad. I feel like the book is missing something. Something that would make it not an average book. It might be missing action. Though it is very in touch with your emotions. So I would recommend this book to people who are looking for an emotional ride, not too much but not too little.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Really, a solid little book.

This book reveals all of the unspoken fears you may have of the ultimate student exchange, but at the same time it was enriching and meaningful. A beautiful story I believe will resonate with anyone whom has ever gone or wanted to go to a new country on student exchange.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from a giveaway and I thought it was great. It definitely wasn`t what I expected and I had never read a book like it before. I would recommend this, it was a wonderful story.

[Selina Tropiano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Careful was a smart coming-of-age novel. It's easy to find an empathy for the main characters perspective and to gain an interest for the story within the story. It's a great read.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! You’re transported to the past and present, from a wild youthful adventure in Ecuador to a sad hospital room in anywhere USA.

Though the events of the book are extraordinary which truly makes it a page turner, the characters are tender and relatable. It’s a well done coming-of-age story that make you remember the wonder and folly of youth. I appreciated how the author kept you wanting more, hinting at what was to come, yet took the story in surprising turns. Danger was everywhere and nowhere. Very well-written. Highly recommend!

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moment I picked up this book I knew it would pull at my heart strings. It was clever and the foreshadowing is incredible. As someone who has backpacked around South America, I deeply connected with the main character. By the end of the book, I was balling on the train ride home but couldn’t stop reading. 10/10. I’d recommend this book to everyone.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep with it , a very moving story ..a little close to my heart

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Careful by Randy Anderson opens with Tyler returning to his tiny hometown in the Pacific Northwest after his father calls to tell him that his mother’s in the hospital, but refusing to say why. This sets the tone for the entire story, populated with characters who can’t say what’s uppermost on their minds.

At his mother’s request, Tyler begins to recount what happened on his high school exchange trip to Ecuador. Mother and son have never discussed this trip, although it’s a turning point in Tyler’s life, so as the story unfolded, I was tensely wondering if each scene would reveal the Very Bad Thing that had happened to teenage Tyler.

Read the rest (mild spoilers, nothing major).