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Beautiful Sky Beautiful Sky
High school senior David Tinker is a failed former second-string linebacker, a wannabe rock star, a pothead, a writer, and a bit of a jerk. It’s his final semester at North High and he’s beyond ready to be done with school. Wendy, his once-compliant girlfriend, expects too much of him. His ever-shrinking circle of friends is testing his patience. And his insult-slinging father is increasingly impossible to endure. And then there’s the choir director, Mr. Halston, who wields the power of graduation and isn't above a little blackmail. When David’s world suddenly spins out of control, he finds himself searching for the one thing he didn’t know he was missing: hope.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2019
2 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 7, 2019
Overall: 4/5 Stars
Characters: 3.5/5 Stars
Believability: 4.5/5 Stars
Personal Opinion: 4/5 Stars
This is the kind of story that is heavily layered, the kind that takes a little time for those layers to start building and before they become visible.
There were pieces here and there early on that I found running along some really offensive lines, but I had to stop and take in the fact that this is very much an honestly representative piece for the time it was set in. As someone that grew up in the 70's and 80's, sometimes it isn't pleasant to confront the ideas and attitudes and prejudices of that time and how easily they slipped off the tongue or into the mind back then. There are many times where you come face to face with those less than stellar aspects of that era in this book. It is an incredible look from that aspect of things to see how far we have come as a society and how far we have yet to go. As a child of that time, it makes me look at myself and how I've managed to grow since then.
Because this is set in 1980, you also get this amazing flood of music and cultural references to balance out some of the ugly. It is kind of this trip down memory lane for the senses of your mind in that respect. I'm not often tempted to listen to music while reading, but I almost wish this had a playlist at the beginning just so I could do that along the way. All of the songs referenced do this amazing job of setting the tone for many different scenes in the book and plays a huge part to the overall story. Because music tends to be so tied into emotions, it was a bit of a minefield for me, but I loved it.
One scene in particular sort of reached inside and ripped me apart because it could have been written based on my own personal history. Having already been primed with the setting and all the musical and cultural references, it was like hearing the words for myself all over again. This was an incredibly hard bit to read, but it was so much a product of this time period and attitudes, especially towards girls and women. So, yes, I absolutely connected with a certain character in particular.
If I had to pick an overall tone for this story, I'd say it is very heavy. The overall subject matter throughout is on the harsh, ugly side of things, but it has that tiny thread running through it to give it a little light. It is layered and complex. I can easily see this being the kind of book that people spend lots of time talking about and picking apart to analyze on a deeper level. I don't often enjoy books like that, but this one is definitely going to be one that sticks with me for a long while.
I will note that there are some potentially sensitive subjects dealt with and discussed in this book, many only a mention, but they are still there. Things like racial stereotypes, homophobia, depression, suicide, drug use and sexual assault.
Characters: 3.5/5 Stars
Believability: 4.5/5 Stars
Personal Opinion: 4/5 Stars
This is the kind of story that is heavily layered, the kind that takes a little time for those layers to start building and before they become visible.
There were pieces here and there early on that I found running along some really offensive lines, but I had to stop and take in the fact that this is very much an honestly representative piece for the time it was set in. As someone that grew up in the 70's and 80's, sometimes it isn't pleasant to confront the ideas and attitudes and prejudices of that time and how easily they slipped off the tongue or into the mind back then. There are many times where you come face to face with those less than stellar aspects of that era in this book. It is an incredible look from that aspect of things to see how far we have come as a society and how far we have yet to go. As a child of that time, it makes me look at myself and how I've managed to grow since then.
Because this is set in 1980, you also get this amazing flood of music and cultural references to balance out some of the ugly. It is kind of this trip down memory lane for the senses of your mind in that respect. I'm not often tempted to listen to music while reading, but I almost wish this had a playlist at the beginning just so I could do that along the way. All of the songs referenced do this amazing job of setting the tone for many different scenes in the book and plays a huge part to the overall story. Because music tends to be so tied into emotions, it was a bit of a minefield for me, but I loved it.
One scene in particular sort of reached inside and ripped me apart because it could have been written based on my own personal history. Having already been primed with the setting and all the musical and cultural references, it was like hearing the words for myself all over again. This was an incredibly hard bit to read, but it was so much a product of this time period and attitudes, especially towards girls and women. So, yes, I absolutely connected with a certain character in particular.
If I had to pick an overall tone for this story, I'd say it is very heavy. The overall subject matter throughout is on the harsh, ugly side of things, but it has that tiny thread running through it to give it a little light. It is layered and complex. I can easily see this being the kind of book that people spend lots of time talking about and picking apart to analyze on a deeper level. I don't often enjoy books like that, but this one is definitely going to be one that sticks with me for a long while.
I will note that there are some potentially sensitive subjects dealt with and discussed in this book, many only a mention, but they are still there. Things like racial stereotypes, homophobia, depression, suicide, drug use and sexual assault.
May 27, 2020
A coming-of-age novel that takes a few turns. I found myself wanting to read more because I wasn't quite sure where the story might be headed, and this is a good thing. The main character makes friends with a young woman, and it works without any tension. I smiled a lot reading this story.
October 18, 2019
‘Dissonance is a dark energy’
Colorado author Stephen Parolini works as a freelance editor and has written three books to date – DUCK, STOLEN THINGS and now BEAUTIFUL SKY BEAUTIFUL SKY. A master storyteller, Stephen imbues his novels with careful and intricate examinations of youths as they confront the obstacles of life – a fine way to bring to our attention a sense of history in the entire spectrum of good to evil.
One of the many wonders of this exceptionally well written novel is the mental and emotional transfer to the era of the 1980s – a time of change, disruptive thought processes that linger, unique creativity in music, art, literature and communication, together with the aspects of human relationships that not only surfaced but were also critically examined, subjects such as sexual abuse, racism, homophobia, suicide, et al.
Stephen weaves these elements into a story about young people, relating it in a fashion that recalls the idioms and expressions and modes of thinking of that time. The opening of his book suggests the tone as he introduces his main characters, David and Wendy: ‘Perfect pitch is a bitch. Wendy Howard hummed along with the music filling her boyfriend’s room as she traced her index finger over the words that David had just written in a permanent marker across the back of her history textbook. The last leg of the “h” stretched all the way to the spine. That had been her fault when she snatched it from him. Too late to save it from being defaced. “Jerk,” she’d said. Then, “What does that mean, anyway?” He shrugged and walked over to the stereo to reset the needle on the spinning disc. “Heroes,” began playing. “Again? Really?” Wendy sighed. David ignored her, picked up a pencil from his desk and started singing into it as if a microphone, mimicking his namesake to perfection…’
Inserting the plot summary aids the discussion of the merits of this novel: ’High school senior David Tinker is a failed former second-string linebacker, a wannabe rock star, a pothead, a writer, and definitely a smartass. It’s his final semester at North High and he’s beyond ready to be done with school. Wendy, his once-compliant girlfriend, expects too much of him. His ever-shrinking circle of friends is testing his patience, and his insult-slinging father is increasingly impossible to endure. And then there’s the choir director, Mr. Halston, who wields the power of graduation and isn't above a little blackmail. When David’s world suddenly spins out of control, he finds himself searching for the one thing he didn’t know he was missing: hope.’
The richly colorful manner in which Stephen embraces the music of that era as he unfolds this story is but one of the many attributes that make this such a significant novel. Extraordinary character development makes his examination of David Tinker (and all youths…) not only credible but involving, encouraging us to re-think the problems faced and reconstitute our attitudes and beliefs – all the while delivering a well-sculpted story. This is the work of a major literary figure. Highly recommended.
Colorado author Stephen Parolini works as a freelance editor and has written three books to date – DUCK, STOLEN THINGS and now BEAUTIFUL SKY BEAUTIFUL SKY. A master storyteller, Stephen imbues his novels with careful and intricate examinations of youths as they confront the obstacles of life – a fine way to bring to our attention a sense of history in the entire spectrum of good to evil.
One of the many wonders of this exceptionally well written novel is the mental and emotional transfer to the era of the 1980s – a time of change, disruptive thought processes that linger, unique creativity in music, art, literature and communication, together with the aspects of human relationships that not only surfaced but were also critically examined, subjects such as sexual abuse, racism, homophobia, suicide, et al.
Stephen weaves these elements into a story about young people, relating it in a fashion that recalls the idioms and expressions and modes of thinking of that time. The opening of his book suggests the tone as he introduces his main characters, David and Wendy: ‘Perfect pitch is a bitch. Wendy Howard hummed along with the music filling her boyfriend’s room as she traced her index finger over the words that David had just written in a permanent marker across the back of her history textbook. The last leg of the “h” stretched all the way to the spine. That had been her fault when she snatched it from him. Too late to save it from being defaced. “Jerk,” she’d said. Then, “What does that mean, anyway?” He shrugged and walked over to the stereo to reset the needle on the spinning disc. “Heroes,” began playing. “Again? Really?” Wendy sighed. David ignored her, picked up a pencil from his desk and started singing into it as if a microphone, mimicking his namesake to perfection…’
Inserting the plot summary aids the discussion of the merits of this novel: ’High school senior David Tinker is a failed former second-string linebacker, a wannabe rock star, a pothead, a writer, and definitely a smartass. It’s his final semester at North High and he’s beyond ready to be done with school. Wendy, his once-compliant girlfriend, expects too much of him. His ever-shrinking circle of friends is testing his patience, and his insult-slinging father is increasingly impossible to endure. And then there’s the choir director, Mr. Halston, who wields the power of graduation and isn't above a little blackmail. When David’s world suddenly spins out of control, he finds himself searching for the one thing he didn’t know he was missing: hope.’
The richly colorful manner in which Stephen embraces the music of that era as he unfolds this story is but one of the many attributes that make this such a significant novel. Extraordinary character development makes his examination of David Tinker (and all youths…) not only credible but involving, encouraging us to re-think the problems faced and reconstitute our attitudes and beliefs – all the while delivering a well-sculpted story. This is the work of a major literary figure. Highly recommended.
October 18, 2019
Beautiful complexity
This is on of the best character-driven novels I’ve read in a long time. Though the main character is deeply flawed (read very real and very human) you still cheer for him throughout. There are lots of layers supporting the overall structure. There are also unfinished stories. These unfinished stories bring a good bit of reality to the work.
Though the book is character-driven, that’s not so say that the setting is lacking. Parolini does a wonderful job of bringing you right back to 1980, even if you’ve never been there before.
This book gives you much more than a good read.
This is on of the best character-driven novels I’ve read in a long time. Though the main character is deeply flawed (read very real and very human) you still cheer for him throughout. There are lots of layers supporting the overall structure. There are also unfinished stories. These unfinished stories bring a good bit of reality to the work.
Though the book is character-driven, that’s not so say that the setting is lacking. Parolini does a wonderful job of bringing you right back to 1980, even if you’ve never been there before.
This book gives you much more than a good read.
Want to read
November 11, 2019Thank you for the opportunity to review this book as a giveaway recipient. I am excited to read it and will update my thoughts on this book soon!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews