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1971
325 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2021
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6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 21, 2022
A valiant swing but a miss nonetheless. A self-published novel, as evidenced by numerous typos (frivolous to the overall story I admit; the book had way more to worry about than an abundance of typing errors) and most glaringly the lack of proper editing; i.e. character development, dialogue, and readability.
Character development: For instance, the reader gained far more knowledge about a background character, the sheriff, than about one of the protagonists, Bud. Bud was just kind of thrown in there like an actor in a starring role without prior knowledge of the script. I learned way more about Fannie and Bud from reviews given on Amazon & Goodreads than I did from the droning text of the book (most of which are obviously from the author’s close friends and family). Hence, my honest review. Why coax people into buying a 1-2 star book by giving it a 5-star rating? Support your author friend but not at the expense of others.
Dialogue: The dialogue in this story seemed to be the product of one who’s watched far too many “made for t.v. movies.” Most of it was bumbling, irrelevant, and let’s face it … cheesy. It literally felt like I was reading a script from a long since forgotten Lifetime movie starring Meredith Baxter.
Readability: I was able to ignore the many typos but had a hard time with the flow and plausibility. There were so many little mistakes in the story that would've been caught by a freelance editor. One might think a draft was accidentally published instead of the finished copy. A good litmus test for whether a book is “good” or not: ‘Do I care what happens to the characters after 100 pages?’; ‘If I lost the book after reading 100 pages, would I replace it?’ The answer to both of these questions would be (and were) a resounding “no.” I did push through and forced myself to finish and found a predictable “surprise” ending.
The author has potential and latent talent but needs refinement and a good editor. I’m looking forward to seeing improvement from their next novel.
Character development: For instance, the reader gained far more knowledge about a background character, the sheriff, than about one of the protagonists, Bud. Bud was just kind of thrown in there like an actor in a starring role without prior knowledge of the script. I learned way more about Fannie and Bud from reviews given on Amazon & Goodreads than I did from the droning text of the book (most of which are obviously from the author’s close friends and family). Hence, my honest review. Why coax people into buying a 1-2 star book by giving it a 5-star rating? Support your author friend but not at the expense of others.
Dialogue: The dialogue in this story seemed to be the product of one who’s watched far too many “made for t.v. movies.” Most of it was bumbling, irrelevant, and let’s face it … cheesy. It literally felt like I was reading a script from a long since forgotten Lifetime movie starring Meredith Baxter.
Readability: I was able to ignore the many typos but had a hard time with the flow and plausibility. There were so many little mistakes in the story that would've been caught by a freelance editor. One might think a draft was accidentally published instead of the finished copy. A good litmus test for whether a book is “good” or not: ‘Do I care what happens to the characters after 100 pages?’; ‘If I lost the book after reading 100 pages, would I replace it?’ The answer to both of these questions would be (and were) a resounding “no.” I did push through and forced myself to finish and found a predictable “surprise” ending.
The author has potential and latent talent but needs refinement and a good editor. I’m looking forward to seeing improvement from their next novel.
December 21, 2021
An engaging tale set in the Ozarks that also stretches to other parts of the US. The author has a good ear for dialogue. He got the people and the place right. The characters are real and familiar, easy to connect to. The structure of the storytelling is interesting and keeps things moving along.
February 1, 2022
When Fanny has car trouble on a rural road in the Missouri Ozarks, she sends her 13-year-old stepson, Bud, to a distant farmhouse for help. Once Bud disappears from view, Fanny leaves the keys in her 1968 Pontiac Le Mans and hitches a ride with a trucker to Fort Smith, Arkansas.
How could any mother do this? (That’s what I was thinking.)
Well, you see, Fanny is grief-stricken, and she isn’t thinking straight. She needs to see the place where her husband recently died in a military flight-training exercise. And Bud? Well, Fanny didn’t even know Bud existed until after she married his dad.
In 1971, McGowan skillfully draws the reader into the wounded lives of Bud and Fanny, two likeable characters who have both been abandoned in one way or another. The story is perfectly paced; dialog is natural and realistic. 1971 comes complete with a surprise ending that will warm the cockles of your heart.
Don’t miss this book. McGowan’s sparse and powerful writing reminds me of Kent Haruf, one of my favorite authors. I look forward to more from this Arkansas author.
Favorite Quote: She hadn’t noticed the energy it took trying to mitigate another person’s troubles.
How could any mother do this? (That’s what I was thinking.)
Well, you see, Fanny is grief-stricken, and she isn’t thinking straight. She needs to see the place where her husband recently died in a military flight-training exercise. And Bud? Well, Fanny didn’t even know Bud existed until after she married his dad.
In 1971, McGowan skillfully draws the reader into the wounded lives of Bud and Fanny, two likeable characters who have both been abandoned in one way or another. The story is perfectly paced; dialog is natural and realistic. 1971 comes complete with a surprise ending that will warm the cockles of your heart.
Don’t miss this book. McGowan’s sparse and powerful writing reminds me of Kent Haruf, one of my favorite authors. I look forward to more from this Arkansas author.
Favorite Quote: She hadn’t noticed the energy it took trying to mitigate another person’s troubles.
April 25, 2022
This is a real feel-good novel set partly in the Ozarks of southwest Missouri, which is where I live. It has elements of the travel story, coming of age, family dynamics, and even a little mysterious twist. It's an easy read that doesn't take much heavy thought. I could easily see it adapted to film.
October 11, 2025
This is a beautifully written novel. I grew up in this area, and it brought me back to my life growing up. The author has a way of developing his characters that allows the reader to understand who they are. This is a touching novel that takes you on a gentle journey through the lives of people dealing with war,loss,and the everyday pains and love of life.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews