Customer Reviews

The Greatest White Trash Love Story Ever Told

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

 

 

This book was selected to be read by our book club, almost entirely based on the somewhat entertaining title. This is a terrible method for picking books, as you occasionally end up with amazingly bad books, like this one.

From the very beginning, it is obvious that the author of this book has absolutely no talent for storytelling. We are introduced to the main characters through one of the most awkward, and annoying use of a narrator that I've ever encountered. The narrator is a future version of one of the main characters, who speaks directly to the reader in 2nd person, with the majority of the action actually taking place in 3rd person. The switch between perspectives is jarring and disjointed, pulling the reader out of the story.

Absolutely none of the characters have any redeeming value whatsoever. Each and every one of them is absurdly stupid, or insanely mean. They are 2 dimensional caricatures, with absolutely no depth, and inherently unlikable. I found myself unable to root for any of them, and constantly wondered how any of them could realistically be friends with one another.

The most disappointing part of the book is that there isn't actually a love story. There are instances of unhealthy obsession that the author might mistake for love, but certainly isn't presented in that way to the reader. I never thought that any of the characters felt anything resembling love for one another. This book was not only not the "Greatest White Trash Love Story Ever Told," it's not even a love story.

The writing itself is also fairly poor. I have a suspicion that the author may be mentally challenged, so I don't want to harp on it too much. However, this book makes the Twilight series look like Shakespeare in comparison. If I did not know that the author was a middle-aged man, I would have expected this to be written by a 14 year old girl.

After finishing the book, our book club rated this a 0.2 out of 5. Not only was it the first time any one of us gave a book less than a 2, but 7 of us rated it a 0. The only redeeming quality is that it's short, so not too many trees were killed to print this trash.

Some great novels are concerned with the heights to which the human spirit can soar. Some great novels plumb the depths of our awfulness. Something in a well-written story takes us on a journey inside ourselves and leaves us wondering... Would I do that? Could I? Why...? What if...? This story provokes those sorts of musings.

What happens in the life of a little girl to break her soul? When the world turns its back on her, why does one man turn toward her? Can the Devil be redeemed? Just what can perfect Love accomplish? Why would anyone WANT to love unconditionally, or to be loved that way?

Well, when I run the world, I'll change a few things about this novel, no doubt. The primary thing I'll have Mr. Ellis change, though, will be the length of the story. It leaves too many unanswered questions for my taste, and doesn't develop the main characters as fully as I'd prefer. (I suppose there are worse things for a writer to do than to leave readers wanting more...) On the other hand, the setting is interesting and unusual for a novel, and the characters are solidly consistent throughout the story in their wildly different approaches to life. And, perhaps most importantly and pleasantly of all, the story makes me wonder...

I look forward to Mr. Ellis' future works.

Rhett Ellis knows how to pen a wild yet fun ride. I had a hard time putting this down for even a few seconds. I couldn't get enough of Terra Peoples and Benny Carpenter, and this would make such an excellent movie.

If you've ever driven by one of those rundown trailer parks and wondered about what kind of stories are in the making, then you are going to love this book. What do they want out of life? Do they hurt just like you and me? And is their pride any different than anyone's pride?

It is a love story, a sad story, and a story with a shocking twist that leaves ya with your mouth ajar.

If you love reading stories that have been penned by a natural writer, you will love this book.

See ya next review.

Oh my gosh! If it weren't for the humorous style of this story, the tragedy would totally overwhelm a person. (Not to give away anything, but despite ourselves, human beings are pretty wonderful creatures.) I actually laughed out loud - which sounds a little scary - but it's all Rhett Ellis' fault. (He made me tear up a little too.) Good book.

The primary story is narrated by Angel Bonsecour (not Benny...as stated in another review), a girl who grew up with Terra Peoples, the prettiest and biggest bully in school, and Benny Carpenter, the nicest happy-go-lucky fella in the world. Benny loves Terra; Terra hates Benny. This story is about what happens when "profound inner complexity" locks horns with "plain old white trash craziness."

Angel is in a platonic triangle between the two, but the love is still there. There are very subtle religious undertones of redemption and forgiveness, but they accentuate the story instead of obstruct it.

Benny is really the star of the The Greatest White Trash Love Story Ever Told. We are held in suspense when his perennial good nature and instinctive sense of decency are repeatedly put to the test by the girl he unrequittedly loves. Days after completing the book, I thought about the possibility of attaining this blessed disposition.

There are two short stories included in this book. A WAR STORY - a tale of two feuding neighbors whose grievances escalate to biblical proportions. The story is told from opposing sides, generating a delicious colloquial rhythm that tightens as an eye is demanded for an eye. THE KEY TO THE CITY is the strongest piece, expertly combining an Ibsenian tale (townspeople who can't "see"), with a morality tale, and metaphysics...all in 16 pages.

I picked up this book to be entertained, but like the two bonuses, it also impressed me and made me think.

I wasn't sure what to expect after I ordered this book, but I was completely surprised. It's a long "short" story but packs a lot into its pages. The story is told from Benny's perspective and follows his love of Terra, the trashiest girl in town. From childhood to adulthood, Benny loves her, even when she's cruel. Ellis develops the story nicely and the book has a nice Southern tone to it. He also works in the idea of love as redemption.

Now, about the ending, I gasped out loud and almost threw the book down--but then I read the last few pages and was completely satisfied. Excellent book.

No waste of words here except to say: Skip this one. It's sad and silly, start to finish. Indeed a great white trash love story; I put this paperback in the recycle bin.

I ordered this book because I stumbled across it on Amazon, and the reviews made it sound interesting.

It's my policy (Ingrained in me by my parents)to always finish a book I've started, and so I did. Hoping that the end would justify the rest of the meandering and uninteresting story.

Well, the end was just as insipid as the beginning. If you want to buy this book I have a FREE copy you can have if you pay the postage. But, don't say I didn't warn you.

This was an exciting story-- one that got my heart to pounding and my face to smiling. The hardship of the white ghetto is tough enough to live with-- to fall in love in that environment is just plain difficult. This was an emotional ride with a wonderful unexpected ending. Terra is the meanest girl I've ever encountered in literature. But even a mean girl can fall-- under the right circumstance. I'm looking forward to reading his next book.

First off, let me say, this story is really different-- it uses a non-standard plotline. The feel of it is Dickensian-- dark but hopeful, bitter-sweet, with a satisfying ending yet always realistic. I got pulled into the story from the first page. It's one that you just can't put down. Terra Peoples, the main female character, is intriguing like few characters I have ever encountered. This is a very powerful story, and I'm glad I read it.