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Virgin Territory
Virgin Territory explores the power of faith and our need to believe in miracles. Sixteen-year-old Dylan Flack is uprooted from his cozy life in New York City by the death of his mother of cancer the night before 9/ll. He finds himself transplanted to Jupiter, Florida, and in the chaos of the move discovers that his father has lost their treasured collection of family photos. Dylan feels that he has begun to lose the memory of his mother's face, and without access to those pictures of their past together, each day stretches darkly into a future without hope. Enter: the Virgin Club, a nomadic group of trailer kids whose mostly single parents drag them all over the country in search of sightings of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Although not looking for membership in any club, Dylan falls in love with their leader, Angela, who believes that change occurs in direct proportion to desire and the willingness to take risks. In a series of misadventures and brushes with the law in what Dylan comes to think of as "virgin territory," she teaches Dylan to risk a future without his favorite parent. Miraculously his newfound courage leads to a long overdue confession from his father that brings them closer together and catapults Dylan into a future that holds more promise.
218 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
James Lecesne
9 books35 followersFor over 25 years I've been telling stories. Whether I'm writing, acting, producing or trying to create social change, it's usually the story that got me involved. But in the process of getting things done and trying to make the world a better place, I've also been telling the story of my life. This website is my best effort to provide the general gist. But my hope is that you find something here that will inspire you to live your life more fully and continue to tell your story.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 19, 2010
This is the first book I've read by Lecesne. Now that I know his first one was a Morris Award nominee, I'll be hoping to read that, as well. This book was rich with metaphors and layered with imagery I enjoyed. That probably makes it seems purply-prosey, but make no mistake, the voice of the book is strongly male, and swift in it's descriptions. I love books that brush up against religion, which this one did, making it seem like setting, but actually being more. If you are a believer in reality and science, don't let that scare you off from reading this. The "religion" aspects are more about finding faith in yourself, your memories, learning to engage with your community, and making truth out of what may or may not be fiction. Really dig this book cover, too.
July 23, 2017
Dylan didn't want to move to Florida from New York City, but after his mom died, his dad made the decision. It was supposed to be temporary but Dylan's grandmother escapes from her nursing home and Dylan's father wants to be close by. Dylan works as a caddy at a local golf course, a golf course that becomes famous for an image of the Virgin Mary in a tree. Now the course is shut down and Dylan makes some new friends, The Virgin Club. He gets sucked in by Angela, the dare devil of the group and soon they're breaking into homes and stealing things. Angela steals the small statue Dylan's grandmother got from the love of her life and getting it back may mean her life.
I did enjoy this book although not much happens. Dylan grows but it's slow-paced. A good realistic fiction especially with a guy as the main character.
I did enjoy this book although not much happens. Dylan grows but it's slow-paced. A good realistic fiction especially with a guy as the main character.
September 7, 2010
Dylan is sort of floating through life…he doesn’t really like where he lives; he’d rather go back to New York City. Ever since his mom died, he and his father have been drifting apart. This summer Dylan’s working as a caddy at a local golf club when an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) is seen in a tree trunk. This sighting brings hundreds of people to town, including Angela, Desiree, and Crispy - the members of the Virgin Club. Through the course of the summer Dylan learns that sometimes taking a risk is the only way to get something that you really want.
Virgin Territory was a very different novel than what I was expecting. To be honest, I was expecting a John Green-ish coming of age story with a quirky protagonist and some odd goings on. Instead, it was about Dylan, a 15 year old guy who is pretty much mad at the world. He has a job he’s not that in to, that he really only got because his dad wanted him to stop wasting his life and “come up with a plan.” Then group of women claim to see the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) on a tree trunk at the golf course where Dylan works and soon hundreds of people descend on Jupiter, Florida.
This part of the story was just okay for me. The teens Dylan meets - Angela, Desiree, and Crispy- sort of represent a cross section of the BVM crowd. I actually grew to like Desiree and Crispy, but Angela got on my nerves quite a bit. It was clear from the start that she was definitely hiding something and not quite telling the truth about why she and her mom are in Jupiter. Of course, Dylan has to have a thing for Angela because she’s the leggy bombshell. So he goes along with all of Angela’s crazy plans. Had Dylan really listened and looked carefully enough, he would have realized Angela was bad news or crazy; which Crispy had been trying to tell him. The whole thing with Angela was too drawn out and really could have been a much smaller part of the story. I know that some of you will probably say, well Dylan is a 15 year old boy, of course he’s going to develop a crush on Angela and agree to all of her crazy ideas. And I get that, I really do. I just didn’t connect with Angela as a character.
My favorite part of Virgin Territory was the story line about Dylan’s grandmother, Marie. She’s part of the reason Dylan and Doug moved to Jupiter. Marie has Alzheimer’s and lives in a nursing home (or the place as Dylan and Doug call it), that she is frequently leaving for adventures. From what Dylan remembers, Maria was larger than life until the Alzheimer’s hit. I would have liked more about this and more of Dylan and his father dealing with Kat’s (Dylan’s mother) death. There was great potential for a whole plot line about the idealized version that people remember about someone they cared for who has died versus who they really were.
The real miracle was that everything that happened over this one summer spurred Dylan and Doug to finally deal with a lot of pent up feelings about Kat. This helped both of them move on; Doug with a job in a field he actually enjoyed and Dylan with life in general. Towards the end, there’s a great scene between father and son, where Doug does a lot of explaining about things that he probably should have talked about with Dylan a long time ago. This scene was the heart of the book, at this point all I could think was “Yes, finally!” and “More of this please! ” The section from the scene prior to this to the last past (from page 187 to the end) redeemed the book in my opinion. The rest of the book was really one long build up to these 30 pages. I’m glad that I stuck it out and read to the end.
Overall, Virgin Territory was a slightly disappointing read. I’m not discounting is completely and there may be other people who will enjoy this story. Give it a shot, especially if you like contemporary fiction.
Virgin Territory was a very different novel than what I was expecting. To be honest, I was expecting a John Green-ish coming of age story with a quirky protagonist and some odd goings on. Instead, it was about Dylan, a 15 year old guy who is pretty much mad at the world. He has a job he’s not that in to, that he really only got because his dad wanted him to stop wasting his life and “come up with a plan.” Then group of women claim to see the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) on a tree trunk at the golf course where Dylan works and soon hundreds of people descend on Jupiter, Florida.
This part of the story was just okay for me. The teens Dylan meets - Angela, Desiree, and Crispy- sort of represent a cross section of the BVM crowd. I actually grew to like Desiree and Crispy, but Angela got on my nerves quite a bit. It was clear from the start that she was definitely hiding something and not quite telling the truth about why she and her mom are in Jupiter. Of course, Dylan has to have a thing for Angela because she’s the leggy bombshell. So he goes along with all of Angela’s crazy plans. Had Dylan really listened and looked carefully enough, he would have realized Angela was bad news or crazy; which Crispy had been trying to tell him. The whole thing with Angela was too drawn out and really could have been a much smaller part of the story. I know that some of you will probably say, well Dylan is a 15 year old boy, of course he’s going to develop a crush on Angela and agree to all of her crazy ideas. And I get that, I really do. I just didn’t connect with Angela as a character.
My favorite part of Virgin Territory was the story line about Dylan’s grandmother, Marie. She’s part of the reason Dylan and Doug moved to Jupiter. Marie has Alzheimer’s and lives in a nursing home (or the place as Dylan and Doug call it), that she is frequently leaving for adventures. From what Dylan remembers, Maria was larger than life until the Alzheimer’s hit. I would have liked more about this and more of Dylan and his father dealing with Kat’s (Dylan’s mother) death. There was great potential for a whole plot line about the idealized version that people remember about someone they cared for who has died versus who they really were.
The real miracle was that everything that happened over this one summer spurred Dylan and Doug to finally deal with a lot of pent up feelings about Kat. This helped both of them move on; Doug with a job in a field he actually enjoyed and Dylan with life in general. Towards the end, there’s a great scene between father and son, where Doug does a lot of explaining about things that he probably should have talked about with Dylan a long time ago. This scene was the heart of the book, at this point all I could think was “Yes, finally!” and “More of this please! ” The section from the scene prior to this to the last past (from page 187 to the end) redeemed the book in my opinion. The rest of the book was really one long build up to these 30 pages. I’m glad that I stuck it out and read to the end.
Overall, Virgin Territory was a slightly disappointing read. I’m not discounting is completely and there may be other people who will enjoy this story. Give it a shot, especially if you like contemporary fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2010
We’ve all heard of the people who find Jesus or The Virgin Mary in a grilled cheese or a slice of toast. We’ve heard of these things becoming internet phenomena, being sold on eBay, attracting millions.
VIRGIN TERRITORY, the latest from James Lecesne, is the story of a guy who gets wrapped up in the latest Blessed Virgin Mary hullabaloo when her face supposedly appears on a tree at the half-rate golf course where he works as a caddy. Of course, Dylan — named for Bob Dylan, his mom’s favorite poet and singer — is confused that so many people from around the country would travel to Jupiter, Florida to see the BVM (as her followers sometimes call her) and ask for a miracle. To Dylan, it’s just a tree with a funny scar on it. But then he meets Angela, a girl unlike any girl he has ever met. And she inducts him into the Virgin Club, a club with two rules: You must “a) want something and b) take a risk.”
Together, Dylan, Angela, Desiree, and Crispy begin a summer of mischief. Which is fine with Dylan — he’s had nothing to do since his father, Doug, took away his computer and with it his internet access, due to certain indiscretions with a much older and sexily screennamed e-pal. And aside from Doug and his grandmother who lives in the place due to her quickly progressing Alzheimer’s, it’s not like Dylan has anyone else to hang out with. He hasn’t heard from his supposed best friend in weeks. So The Virgin Club it is.
Soon, though, Dylan realizes that he’s falling in love with Angela, and Crispy is telling him she can’t be trusted. Dylan’s grandfather, Marie, is escaping the place more often than usual, resulting in city-wide searches for the elderly woman. And Dylan’s boss, a former golf pro just one slip away from his next stint in rehab, is willing to do just about anything to get the “Holy Rollers” off his property so he can get back to business as usual. It’s not long before Dylan starts to empathize with the BVM-followers, realizing that all these people have a story. Remembering his mom, Kat, who died when he was little, changing his life for ever, Dylan has to wonder how their lives would have been different if she were still around.
This is a lovely story, filled with charm and insight, with a fun and eclectic cast of characters who feel like your friends by the time you turn the last page. The setting is brilliant — you can almost feel the humidity of Jupiter, Florida as you read, following The Virgin Club’s antics. Not quite a love story, not quite a family drama, VIRGIN TERRITORY is an entertaining and heartfelt look at a pocket of our culture that so often gets swept under the rug. It’s definitely worth checking out!
VIRGIN TERRITORY, the latest from James Lecesne, is the story of a guy who gets wrapped up in the latest Blessed Virgin Mary hullabaloo when her face supposedly appears on a tree at the half-rate golf course where he works as a caddy. Of course, Dylan — named for Bob Dylan, his mom’s favorite poet and singer — is confused that so many people from around the country would travel to Jupiter, Florida to see the BVM (as her followers sometimes call her) and ask for a miracle. To Dylan, it’s just a tree with a funny scar on it. But then he meets Angela, a girl unlike any girl he has ever met. And she inducts him into the Virgin Club, a club with two rules: You must “a) want something and b) take a risk.”
Together, Dylan, Angela, Desiree, and Crispy begin a summer of mischief. Which is fine with Dylan — he’s had nothing to do since his father, Doug, took away his computer and with it his internet access, due to certain indiscretions with a much older and sexily screennamed e-pal. And aside from Doug and his grandmother who lives in the place due to her quickly progressing Alzheimer’s, it’s not like Dylan has anyone else to hang out with. He hasn’t heard from his supposed best friend in weeks. So The Virgin Club it is.
Soon, though, Dylan realizes that he’s falling in love with Angela, and Crispy is telling him she can’t be trusted. Dylan’s grandfather, Marie, is escaping the place more often than usual, resulting in city-wide searches for the elderly woman. And Dylan’s boss, a former golf pro just one slip away from his next stint in rehab, is willing to do just about anything to get the “Holy Rollers” off his property so he can get back to business as usual. It’s not long before Dylan starts to empathize with the BVM-followers, realizing that all these people have a story. Remembering his mom, Kat, who died when he was little, changing his life for ever, Dylan has to wonder how their lives would have been different if she were still around.
This is a lovely story, filled with charm and insight, with a fun and eclectic cast of characters who feel like your friends by the time you turn the last page. The setting is brilliant — you can almost feel the humidity of Jupiter, Florida as you read, following The Virgin Club’s antics. Not quite a love story, not quite a family drama, VIRGIN TERRITORY is an entertaining and heartfelt look at a pocket of our culture that so often gets swept under the rug. It’s definitely worth checking out!
November 15, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
You've seen the reports on the news -- the figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary appears on a grain elevator or on a grilled cheese sandwich. Well, it has happened on a Florida golf course where Dylan Flack works as a caddy, and the whole thing is about to throw his life into a tailspin.
Dylan and his dad left New York City after his mother's death. It wasn't his idea, but his dad thought it would be good to start over somewhere new. Mr. Flack left his videographer job and now works as a landscaper, perhaps in an effort to bury his problems instead of facing them. Dylan is along for the ride and trying to make the best of it.
Named after Bob Dylan by his poet mother, Dylan has never been very close to his dad. Now, enough time has passed since his mother's death that he is disturbed to realize he is unable to remember her face. The fact that his father left all the family photos behind in New York City hasn't helped their father/son relationship. Dylan's job caddying at the golf course is about the only thing getting him through the summer.
When the figure of the Virgin Mary is discovered in the bark of one of the golf course's trees, everyone begins to descend on the sleepy little town of Jupiter, Florida. That's when Dylan meets Angela. She is one of several teens who arrive in town because their mothers are Virgin Mary groupies. They follow what they call the BVM sightings like roadies following a rock band.
The teens welcome Dylan into their group and use his knowledge of the local area to create interesting entertainment to while away the time until their parents move them to the next location. Dylan is struck by Angela's beauty and drawn by her risk-taking behavior. He has hopes that with her around the summer might offer more than attempting to please his father and helping old guys cart around their golf gear. For him, the appearance of the Virgin on the tree may be a "blessing" of another kind.
VIRGIN TERRITORY by James Lecesne is a quirky tale of one young man's struggle to face his mother's death and form some sort of bond with a father he doesn't really understand. While many are struggling to "see" the Virgin in the tree bark, Dylan and his father are struggling to figure out what's next for them after losing the one connection that held everything together.
You've seen the reports on the news -- the figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary appears on a grain elevator or on a grilled cheese sandwich. Well, it has happened on a Florida golf course where Dylan Flack works as a caddy, and the whole thing is about to throw his life into a tailspin.
Dylan and his dad left New York City after his mother's death. It wasn't his idea, but his dad thought it would be good to start over somewhere new. Mr. Flack left his videographer job and now works as a landscaper, perhaps in an effort to bury his problems instead of facing them. Dylan is along for the ride and trying to make the best of it.
Named after Bob Dylan by his poet mother, Dylan has never been very close to his dad. Now, enough time has passed since his mother's death that he is disturbed to realize he is unable to remember her face. The fact that his father left all the family photos behind in New York City hasn't helped their father/son relationship. Dylan's job caddying at the golf course is about the only thing getting him through the summer.
When the figure of the Virgin Mary is discovered in the bark of one of the golf course's trees, everyone begins to descend on the sleepy little town of Jupiter, Florida. That's when Dylan meets Angela. She is one of several teens who arrive in town because their mothers are Virgin Mary groupies. They follow what they call the BVM sightings like roadies following a rock band.
The teens welcome Dylan into their group and use his knowledge of the local area to create interesting entertainment to while away the time until their parents move them to the next location. Dylan is struck by Angela's beauty and drawn by her risk-taking behavior. He has hopes that with her around the summer might offer more than attempting to please his father and helping old guys cart around their golf gear. For him, the appearance of the Virgin on the tree may be a "blessing" of another kind.
VIRGIN TERRITORY by James Lecesne is a quirky tale of one young man's struggle to face his mother's death and form some sort of bond with a father he doesn't really understand. While many are struggling to "see" the Virgin in the tree bark, Dylan and his father are struggling to figure out what's next for them after losing the one connection that held everything together.
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May 5, 2020Let me just start off by saying I didn't finish this book. I made it to maybe page fifty before I could no longer take it.
I really don't know how to sum up this book, since I didn't experience much of it, but alas, I will attempt... It was boring. The MC, Dylan, was boring. The descriptions were boring. Just boring. I really think this has the potential of being a John Green-esque self discovery novel, but I couldn't connect with it enough to find out.
Let's meet the MC:
Dylan: Rough home life, an asshat of a father, and a mother who's passed on. His thoughts in a sentence, 'My life sucks and so does everyone in it.' AKA, mopey to no end. I get that the dude has a rough home life, but he's portrayed as the kind of person who curses at the Sun for being bright. I really would've liked to stick around and see how he progressed, but I just couldn't stand the kid. Also, I really disliked the way the difference between the relationship Dylan had with his mother and the relationship he now has with his father was presented. When discussing his mother he uses, 'mom' which is normal, but always refers to his father as Doug. 'Doug said this, Doug did that, Doug sucks eggs.' It got to be a bit too much. But, hey, I'm not the author.
Summing it up:
I don't have anything else to say about this really, but that I do plan on returning to this someday. It just wasn't something I was into this week. I wasn't intending on bashing this book or author, it just was not happening for me. Hopefully someone else will adore this story and every word in it.
I really don't know how to sum up this book, since I didn't experience much of it, but alas, I will attempt... It was boring. The MC, Dylan, was boring. The descriptions were boring. Just boring. I really think this has the potential of being a John Green-esque self discovery novel, but I couldn't connect with it enough to find out.
Let's meet the MC:
Dylan: Rough home life, an asshat of a father, and a mother who's passed on. His thoughts in a sentence, 'My life sucks and so does everyone in it.' AKA, mopey to no end. I get that the dude has a rough home life, but he's portrayed as the kind of person who curses at the Sun for being bright. I really would've liked to stick around and see how he progressed, but I just couldn't stand the kid. Also, I really disliked the way the difference between the relationship Dylan had with his mother and the relationship he now has with his father was presented. When discussing his mother he uses, 'mom' which is normal, but always refers to his father as Doug. 'Doug said this, Doug did that, Doug sucks eggs.' It got to be a bit too much. But, hey, I'm not the author.
Summing it up:
I don't have anything else to say about this really, but that I do plan on returning to this someday. It just wasn't something I was into this week. I wasn't intending on bashing this book or author, it just was not happening for me. Hopefully someone else will adore this story and every word in it.
May 16, 2011
I was reading the ARC, so the things I am complaining about may not be the same as what I read.
First off, Dylan seems to have a VERY vivid memory of his mother for someone who was only six years old when she passed away. Maybe my memory isn't all that great, but I can't recall all that much from age six.
There is also a very strange speed up in time halfway through the book. Up until this point, the story moves along at a relatively even pace, but suddenly it skips over what I can only assume are days or even weeks of the Dylan and his friends sneaking into houses. I understand why most of this can be glossed over because it's not too important to the storyline, but then a) why even include it or b) add another fast-paced change in time. This one just seems to stick out too much to me.
It's also strange about how Dylan refers to people. Not that it's uncommon for a child to refer to their parent or grandparent by their first name when speaking about them, but why does he refer to his grandfather as "grandad"? What makes him so special? It can't be because he's deceased (so is Kat) and it can't be because he was Dylan's favorite (he loved Marie too).
Doug's reasoning for hiding the pictures from Dylan is weak. If it was because he wanted Dylan to also remember that Kat wasn't the greatest person on Earth, there should have been some indication throughout the story that things were that way. It just didn't seem plausible to me. Hiding the pictures was an excellent part of the storyline, but the reasoning was not.
First off, Dylan seems to have a VERY vivid memory of his mother for someone who was only six years old when she passed away. Maybe my memory isn't all that great, but I can't recall all that much from age six.
There is also a very strange speed up in time halfway through the book. Up until this point, the story moves along at a relatively even pace, but suddenly it skips over what I can only assume are days or even weeks of the Dylan and his friends sneaking into houses. I understand why most of this can be glossed over because it's not too important to the storyline, but then a) why even include it or b) add another fast-paced change in time. This one just seems to stick out too much to me.
It's also strange about how Dylan refers to people. Not that it's uncommon for a child to refer to their parent or grandparent by their first name when speaking about them, but why does he refer to his grandfather as "grandad"? What makes him so special? It can't be because he's deceased (so is Kat) and it can't be because he was Dylan's favorite (he loved Marie too).
Doug's reasoning for hiding the pictures from Dylan is weak. If it was because he wanted Dylan to also remember that Kat wasn't the greatest person on Earth, there should have been some indication throughout the story that things were that way. It just didn't seem plausible to me. Hiding the pictures was an excellent part of the storyline, but the reasoning was not.
July 25, 2010
So, yeah. I had a really hard time with this book. It sounded like an interesting premise about faith, redemption, love, and longing. That's what it was about, in the end, but the execution was very poor. I felt like the author was trying to make Dylan deeper than he really was and that all Dylan's crazy thinking was just a distraction from the non-story. The tone was so jumpy from one extreme to the next that I had a hard time keeping up. Not to mention that Angela just frustrated me beyond belief!! She was quite shallow and her actions spoke much louder about her motives and character than her words ever did.
Honestly, I'd have to say that unless you really want to try it, I'd pass on this book. It just wasn't my cup of tea. There is an audience for every book and unfortunately I did not fall into that category for this one.
Honestly, I'd have to say that unless you really want to try it, I'd pass on this book. It just wasn't my cup of tea. There is an audience for every book and unfortunately I did not fall into that category for this one.
December 20, 2010
Not sure what Lecesne's purpose was in this one...I see the issues: identity, grief and loss, loss of innocence, magic realism, belief...but for some reason in my heart and mind they never gelled into a story I believed in.
Dylan and his father Doug work hard to avoid dealing with the death of Dylan's mother, Doug's wife, Kat. They move away from their home; they deliberately build walls, run away from their talents. They seem to be punishing themselves for surviving when Kat didn't.
Add Doug's mother, Marie, to the mix...and a miraculous sighting of the Virgin Mary in the bark of a tree...and the crazies who follow BVM (Blessed Virgin Mary) appearances, and you end up with a mis-matched mess...
With likeable characters and an interesting setting...
Dylan and his father Doug work hard to avoid dealing with the death of Dylan's mother, Doug's wife, Kat. They move away from their home; they deliberately build walls, run away from their talents. They seem to be punishing themselves for surviving when Kat didn't.
Add Doug's mother, Marie, to the mix...and a miraculous sighting of the Virgin Mary in the bark of a tree...and the crazies who follow BVM (Blessed Virgin Mary) appearances, and you end up with a mis-matched mess...
With likeable characters and an interesting setting...
November 22, 2011
The title isn’t what you think. Dylan lives in Florida, almost against his will. He and his dad moved from New York City and he still hasn’t really adjusted. They live in his grandmother’s house. His dad works as a landscaper and he works as a caddy at local golf course after his dad threatens to take him to work with him during the summer break. Then an image of the Virgin Mary is seen on a tree at the golf course and everything changes. Suddenly all kinds of people show up and gather the golf course to see the image. Dylan becomes friends with some of the kids whose parents follow sightings of the Virgin Mary throughout the country.
This is an interesting book about faith of all sorts and taking risks to truly live.
This is an interesting book about faith of all sorts and taking risks to truly live.
June 14, 2010
This was not at all what I expected. I'm not sure exactly what I expected it to be about, but what I got wasn't something that interested me at all. It just wasn't my style. I got more than 100 pages in, so I read almost half of the book, and at that point it seemed like not a lot was happening. I probably wouldn't recommend this one, unless you have a completely opposite reading style from mine, and then I'd say go for it!
May 15, 2022
This book had a great premise-- the story is about a kid, Dylan, who is named after his mom's favorite singer. The story arc is great and the ending satisfies. I enjoyed the book. I just wish the author didn't insist on almost hip taglines like "she as teflon. Nothing stuck" when he was trying to get a nursing home attendant to do something he wanted her to do. There were little jarring notes like that, but overall the book was a good read and I will most likely be buying it for my library.
October 19, 2010
I didn't like the ending of this book. It was well written and original, and I thought at least that the character although emotionally stunted in the begining made some progress into growing up. Speculations on the appearance of the Virgin Mary, miracles, and the universe in general added depth but perhaps not quite enough.
March 31, 2012
I wouldn't say that this was a bad book, but I also wouldn't say that this was a good book. I honestly wish that I wouldn't have taken so long to read it.. I feel like despite involving religion, it is fairly relatable to many.. It touches on the topic of parental death, fleeing, unrequited, desinigrating relationships...
January 6, 2011
It hurts my heart to rank a book one star, but I just couldn't connect with this one. It was all over the place. I'm just going to stop there.
I am most disappointed because I enjoyed ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS.
I am most disappointed because I enjoyed ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS.
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July 2, 2010OLG on the cover - what's not to like?
August 8, 2010
Not really memorable and too didactic.
December 6, 2010
This started out pretty decent and then dragged on and on. I never really connected with any of the characters.
January 11, 2011
Thought it would be more spiritual but it was OK because the protagonist finds out what he wants in life.
December 10, 2012
I thought this was a really good,fast read.I just wish there had been more Virgin Mary action.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews