Play Book Tag discussion

The Nix

Wow! This is an amazing debut novel! It is layered, it is culturally relevant, talking on topics from Occupy Wall Street to gamer culture to the 1968 Chicago riots at the Democratic National Convention. And as ambitious as it is, it all works.

The story is about Samuel, a college professor and aspiring writer whose mother, Faye, abandoned him when he was just a boy. When Faye reappears in his life, she has committed a crime against a right-wing politician that unwittingly brings her into the national spotlight. Samuel resents his mother and allows his opportunistic publisher to talk him into writing a tell-all book exposing her past. As Samuel begins delving into his mother’s hidden history, uncovering secrets, he finds that it is far more complex than he ever could have imagined.

While the plot is complex and goes from 2011 to 1968, it is easy to follow. This story has multiple characters, all somehow connected, and so deep. I became emotionally involved with not only the characters but the story of activism, idealism, love, and forgiveness.

This sounds really good, Rachel! I am definitely going to take a look!

Called it! Knew it!

I’m so glad you loved it!

I also loved this book! I should poke around and see if he has anything else coming out. If so, I will definitely be picking it up.

My bookclub read this last year. I was only able to finish about hslf before the meeting (only about 300 pages) and at the time other commitments that prevented me from finishing it. But my book club really liked it, so I plan to reread and finish it this year. I even bought my own copy so that I can make highlights and notes all over it :-)

I loved this book! Glad you enjoyed it too, Rachel!

This is a PBT favourite but I still haven’t read it - I need to get round to it!

I had once picked up this book, but could not get into it. Now, I think that it was just my mindset at the time. With so many enthusiastic reviews, I would like to give it another try.

Amy wrote: "Called it! Knew it!"

Amy, we are on a roll!!

Doughgirl5562 wrote: "My bookclub read this last year. I was only able to finish about hslf before the meeting (only about 300 pages) and at the time other commitments that prevented me from finishing it. But my book cl..."

Nice! This book was so good and I listened to the audio and read the book. There were a few times I walked a few extra miles because the narration was so good. At home I just read the book.

Rachel wrote: ..Nice! This book was so good and I listened to the audio and read the book. There were a few times I walked a few extra miles because the narration was so good. At home I just read the book.."

Good to hear, because I also got the audio. With long books I like to switch back and forth between audio and paper if possible to finish it faster. It's listed on my PBT TBR Challenge list - so I'll read it when the randomizer gods choose #36!

Ooh, that sounds really interesting, thanks for the review!

Nikki wrote: "Ooh, that sounds really interesting, thanks for the review!"

Thank you for reading it!

Delighted to see your five star review. I loved this book. I had the pleasure of seeing the author speak at the National Book Festival and after hearing him, I loved it EVEN more. It took him ten years to write it . . .but he was so self deprecating and real.