Customer Reviews

Shame: A Novel

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A charming story, with likeable characters (most of them), and not a four-letter word uttered among them. One flaw, it was not clear what Michael's problem was...why he estranged himself from the family. I could see this story as a movie.

Got this book for Father's Day, started shortly thereafter and read it very quickly. It's that engrossing. On the surface it's the story of one man's struggle with attaining that point in life where one seriously considers choices made, reconsiders those choices and what might have been had he taken the road more frequently traveled. (Intentional reference to Robert Frost.)

But, a second and more important understanding is that we all deal with regrets, not only for what might have been; but also, for what prior actions have caused to be. The relationship with a member of John's Championship Team and his attempts at reconcilliation were particularly poignant.

Any book I really enjoy, I can usually keep a few lines to savor over and over. Greg's offering was two fold towards the end of this effort. Riding with John in the pasture, his Dad says: "You've done well for yourself, ... Raised good kids. Honored your parents. Found a useful place for yourself. Provided for your family. Done just fine." To which John answers: "...even if I've done everything you say, I didn't always want to, mostly didn't want to." And his Dad replies: "Got done all the same, though, didn't it?" A few pages thereafter John muses: "What could have been is the greatest enemy of what is."

This is a book for anyone willing to examine their own life while peeking in on the one Garrett presents us with. Kudos.

This story was amazing. I must admit that I have been thoroughly impressed with the quality of and edgy content in David C. Cook's books that have been released so far this year. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that whoever acquired their books this past year had amazingly good taste. I've enjoyed every novel. Their stories are all unique and contain deep concepts with strong emotion and great characterization. There is nothing blah or same-old, same-old here. If I were to purchase books solely based on the publisher alone, I'd select anything Cook releases...unless they change their pattern. Now enough about the publisher and on to the book.

Shame is the kind of book I like to sink my teeth into. I love novels with genuine thoughts and real characters. People who are flawed and aren't model citizens. People like me who don't always make the best decisions or choices, but they want to live their life in a way that is pleasing to God. Yet they still struggle. Shame is one of those books.

Numerous times I found myself smiling as the author had his character thinking honest thoughts. I wanted to cheer for the author. Why? Because so many books portray people as "near-perfect" and who always choose the right thing. The marital issues in Shame are typical of many couples. The family problems are also not unusual. The insight the author had into both topics was incredible. He portrayed everything in such a believable manner.

Also, the small town setting and the farm drew me in. I felt like I was involved in the same activities of the main character and his friends. The setting was very well done and it was easy for me to forget the present and delve between the pages of Shame. And like a good book is supposed to do, Shame brings the reader full circle when it comes to emotion. There are no unresolved issues, and yet everything doesn't always end up perfectly fixed. Just realistically wrapped up.

I had a warm glow after finishing this story. It left me feeling inspired and I would highly recommend this story to anyone who loves to experience angst and drama in a book but only when it's done with realistic characters and emotions. Everything felt very natural and nothing was forced. Bravo!

"SHAME" BY GREG GARRETT

A story of a man, John Tilden that becomes disenchanted with his 'normal' life and soon finds himself thinking about possibilities outside of marriage.

A story of love and betrayal, it always amazes me when I see men writing novels of this type that are so intense and Greg Garrett really captures the essence of a man unsatisfied with his life, looking back on his past and looking forward to the future.

A really great read!

-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club

Greg Garrett's done it again with this fictional book set in Watonga, Oklahoma. His characters are so real and easy to relate to while his writing style is so beautifully descriptive. Greg has tackled a story we could probably all write about, what if . . ., and I think that's what's so appealing about the story. I love the way he shows us how the main character struggles with the big crisis at hand, while in the background, life continues to happen with it's own set of problems that we all face every day, health of a parent, kids leaving home, etc. I too appreciate the message in the story and no need for cussing. It's simply not necessary to the story line and it's still believable. Are the characters that perfect? No way. Greg points out their struggles, emotions, and strong faith that sees them through.

Let me tell you how much I wanted to read this book.

Normally, when I tour a book, I get a free copy. That's my pay for my reviews. I like that arrangement. Saves me buckets of money, and I get to share great reading with all of you.

But for our tour with Greg's book, the publisher had no copies. It sold out. It was in reprints already. So we were told to tour the book and maybe get a copy later on.

That sparked my interest. Hm...sold out? In reprints? I went out and hunted a copy down and bought it. Finished it last night. Guess what??

I'm SO glad I bought this book! A perfect pick for an Oprah Book Club Selection, "Shame" has all the elements that make for a rich, deep story without all of the 'ick' factor most of those books out there have.

John Tilden had dreams for his future--big dreams. But one decision changed it all for him. Instead of college basketball, a full ride scholarship and a high powered position as a lawyer, an architect, or something Fortune 500-ish...

...he's running the family farm in Watonga, Oklahoma, married with three children and coaching a losing high school basketball team. And he's okay with that.

Most days.

Then there are those days where, with too much time on the tractor, he dreams of what could have been. Caught between what is and what was, John isn't sure what he wants, or if what he has truly makes him happy.

His relationship with God? As shallow as you can get without getting out of the spiritual pool. He's definitely staying in the kid's pool, afraid to go too deep with God or with anyone.

Then events begin to unfold that could change the course of John's life, or solidify where he sits right now. It's his choice. What will John choose, and how will it affect the rest of those he loves?

Filled with images of basketball and high school glory days, life as one plowing the rich soil of the south, and small town living, you are there with John Tilden and the people that surround him. You live his life...and you follow his choices, arguing with him at times like he's right there beside you.

Greg Garrett's words flow like a steady river, with bends and curves that refresh, challenge and inspire...then spill you out into a pool of possibilities that will surprise you and maybe even change you.

This is one book that will remain on my shelf, probably until the day I die. It's that good. I wish Greg had written more about John's faith, gone deeper...but then again, I like this book the way it is.

Maybe what I'm really wishing is that MY faith went deeper, and by looking at John, it's moving me in my own walk with God. Because I don't want to feel like John feels...and yet in some ways, I do.

Don't miss reading what could be the best work of fiction in Christian publishing this year. And I realize many may disagree with me...that's okay. I know what I like, and I know what's great in my eyes...and that's what this blog is all about.

I'm giving "Shame" the Golden Bookmark, with a golden tractor as a charm. I'm also voting it "Best Overall Fiction of 2009". I only hope Mr. Garrett has another book in him. I'm thirsty for more already.

With a plot that could be the real life story of someone you know, maybe even yourself, this book is riveting with its stark portrayal of one mans struggle with regret and temptation. There are several storylines intertwined in this book, all compelling, and you can't help but empathize with almost every character in this book at some point. As John comes face to face with "what might have been" - will he choose his comfortable, if not complacent life, or will he trade it away to reclaim the life he wished he'd had. Great story, great characters, and with a backdrop of basketball (which I personally love), and even though it pushes the envelope a bit, this book scores big for me.

I don't think my review can do justice to Shame. But I'm going to try. For starters, I was given the advanced reading copy via a pdf file and had to read it while attached to my computer. This is not my first choice choice, I like to be able to cradle a book and curl up wherever I chose. The computer is just not the same.

Even though this was an annoyance, I voraciously devoured this story.

The characters became so real to me that I wept. But before I wept, I wrestled along with the inner struggle of John, and the unknown that lay sprawled on his horizon and the ties that kept him at bay. There were moments, basketball details mostly, where I didn't hang on every word, but the struggles, the tension, the story of what-if and what-might-have-been and what's-the-point pulled on every one of my emotional strings leaving most of them taut and humming.

Garrett writes with poignancy and fluidity, words filled with visuals and other sensory experiences that paint scene after scene in the readers' mind. In Shame, he aptly tackles the common human conditions, the ones we all have to face, eventually. The things we try to medicate, drown, and subdue, the haunting specter of relationships and regrets, and the reality of whom we are being the sum of our choices.

Shame will be on my 2009 favorites list. Fans of authors like Tom Morrisey and Wally Lamb may want to look into it. Readers who can't handle slower moving narratives or introspection might want to read more reviews and a sample of the writing before purchasing. CBA only readers may balk at some of the scenes, this is PG-rated inspirational fiction. David C. Cook has been publishing novels that are real, gritty, envelope-pushing and thought-provoking, and they get a double thumbs up from me.