Play Book Tag discussion

It took me a while to get through this one, but I loved it. The dual timelines follow Samuel and his mother Faye. Samuel's life in 2011 has hit a wall, and he has never really recovered from his mother having abandoned him when he was 11 years old. Suddenly, his mother is all over the news, when she throws rocks at a right-wing presidential candidate. Samuel visits his mom and begins a journey to understand his mother and why she left him. That journey goes back to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968. The historical fiction backdrop for this part of the book really got my attention, especially after seeing the movie, The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Some of the characters in the book are over-the-top stereotypes, but it worked oh so well. I especially loved Pwnage, the computer addicted gamer. The author also gives us views into the thoughts of some real-life celebs, such as Walter Cronkite and Hubert Humphrey, that once again, were over the top, but were probably right on target.
The book flowed well, the writing was creative and snarky, and the characters were interesting and provocative. Well done, especially as a debut novel.

I loved the Nix and read it with my book club, which had reviews all over the map. But we found it a really interesting discussion.. I am currently reading his next book Wellness, which came out this year or last. I do like his style and it’s an interesting thought-provoking book. Again one I would only read with a book club to support it. He does have a particular style and a particular point of view. I find him rather unsettling, but definitely compelling and thought-provoking.

I didn't care for this, and as someone who was around then, I felt the description of the historical actors, like Humphrey was wrong. I often think the hippie vibe of the era is exaggerated in movies and books, it was a relatively small section of society. Many of us engaged in social action and protest but without the clothing or slogans that are now considered typical.

I suppose all eras have been simplified like that. Of course in the Regency period, only a tiny number of people had the money found in so many Romance books, and they probably had bad teeth and terrible hygiene, and mistreated their families and servants.