Customer Reviews

Bucket Nut

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Big, ugly and awfully streetwise, Eva Wylie turns over all characteristics commonly attributed to the female sex. From the very beginning the reader submits to her way of seeing and laughs about the flatness of all other characters around her. My favorite example: When Goldie is making up her eyes Eva's comment brought tears to my eyes so hard I had to laugh. Two thumbs up for the first STRONG literary heroine!!! Men around her become awfully ridiculous and short-sighted and women robots of female socialisation. Anna Lee was already an astounding character but Eva is really on top!The (female) world has been desperately waiting for Eva Wylie...Thank you so much, Liza Cody!!!

Eva Wylie is a wrestler with ambitions of becoming a World Champion. She lives in a trailer as a security guard in a spare parts yard with two vicious guard dogs. She has very definite ideas about all aspects of life and if you don't agree with them, well, you can just sod off.

This was an extremely interesting book for a couple of reasons. The first is that the protagonist is not your usual likable character who wins us over despite a couple of flaws. She actually challenges us, time and again over decisions she's made and thoughts she's had. She's abrasive, rude and continually "narked", and for all of that you still feel yourself cheering for her. The second is her job, or jobs actually, a wrestler, a part-time security guard, a part-time courier for a shady character and a part-time bouncer. There's never a dull moment when Eva's around.

Bucket Nut is the first of only three books in the Eva Wylie series, a bittersweet fact. Only 3 books in the series will have me wishing there were more, but I'm pleased to have the other 2 books ahead of me. This is definitely one of those books that leave you wanting to read more.

This is a fabulous, wonderful book. A completely different protagonist and a first-person story which is hilarious and tragic in turns - the more moving because Eva Wylie doesn't ask for sympathy and isn't even aware she might inspire it. It's not often I bother to read crime novels twice, but there's so much in this I know I'll be reading it a third, and a fourth ...

Liza Cody has created an unforgettable character in Eva Wylie. She's as tough as the junk-yard dogs she lives with in her trailer. She's funny too, and vunlnerable and her life is a glimpse into a world most of us would not care to inhabit. But, another visit to her world would be looked foreward to with anticipation. Come back, Bucket Nut! We love you!

Although this book didn't feel at all like a mystery, I was pleasantly surprised to see a mystery writer create a unique character with so much depth. I often times felt very sorry for Eva's lot in life, but then I would recall that Eva certainly didn't feel sorry for herself, and she would probably tell me off for being so sappy. I thoroughly enjoyed Eva's perspective of life and her way with words. It's been a while since I met such a colorful character.

As I stated, I have a problem with the "mystery" categorization. I was reminded more of "The Book of Ruth" and "Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man" than any mystery I've ever read. I was more caught up in Eva's affording to fix her teeth and winning her wrestling match than her fairly passive quest for her sister and her attempt to get herself out of her latest fix. I look forward to reading the next installment. I applaud Eva Cody's rich character.

I got hooked as soon as I picked up the book and was pleasantly surprised. It was very good and kept me reading, not wanting to put it down. It was nice for a change to not read about "beautiful" people who do everything right and have nothing but good things fall into their laps. Eva's story was more in line with the real world. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

From beginning to end, Eva Wylie is one of the most interesting character voices in genre fiction.

And if you don't believe it, read Bucket Nut, or Gimme More, or the short story called Lucky Dip (the first story in "A Woman's Eye," a female mystery writer compilation edited by Sara Paretsky). I want to find all the rest of Liza's books sometime in the next six months and read them and share them with my friends who like quirky, street-smart, character-driven, plot-twisting tales about women and girls who think on their feet, who aren't predictable (or necessarily likeable), and who are at the center of stories that are very human and yet very suspenseful. Liza's books are those that you can't put down. And they don't let you down if you're looking for a memorable read.

I want more! More of Eva books, more of Cody books!

'Bucket Nut' is a very unusual mystery/suspense book with outstanding characters and an interesting plot. The book's main character is an interesting insight into a 'female lead' charachter, and her development provides the reader with a totally believable story. The plot is gritty and more than a bit unusual for some mystery fans: but the story and characters will grip you and hold you through.