Customer Reviews

Smoke

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

 

 

Smoke may be on its way down and out, but John Ed Bradley's entertaining writing style isn't in this book on a struggling small American town. Bradley controls the narrative well in this, his fourth novel. He deftly gives substance to the main character, Pace Burnette, by letting the readers know his innermost thoughts and desires, and in such a way that you root for the character to succeed. Anybody who has lived in a small town will enjoy this book. So will anybody who every wanted to become a writer. So will anybody who enjoys a comic tale of small town vs. big business. Bradley's strength is in his development of characters. In his best book, Tupelo Nights, he does the job very well. He does so here, too. Read Smoke. I promise you won't cough.

I thought this was going to be the story from which the movie Smoke is based. If you have not seen the movie, I highly reccommend it.

Needless to say, since it was not what I thought it was going to be, I was dissapointed at first. However, this is a very easy and funny book to read. This book is not complicated, unpredictable or that deep, but if you are looking for a light, humorous book about small towns and misperceptions about the greedy capitalist, check it out.

I ended up loving this book. Nothing is what it seems at first glance....and in the end it all pulls together although I'd have to admit there were times when I wondered 'where is this going?'. It's a fable that truly reflects a lot of life. It was a good read and I'm looking for another book by the same author.

I picked this book up, hoping it to be quirky and humorous ala "Confederacy of Dunces". Although it does not reach those lofty heights, it is entertaining. The characters are a bit one-dimensional at times, but it's a fun read that moves pretty fast (at least it did for me).

After reading Smoke, I found myself trying to get a copy of everything else he has written. I enjoyed the laid back style and the optimistic if not naive outlook of the main characters. It is great to have a read that does not require one to explore all the ironies and look for the demons and angels in all of us. This was a tremendously funny and heartwarmingly real look at how people wish they could be , when at their best or at their worst.

John Ed Bradley has a great feel for character. His books are peopled with memorable and likeable, yet quirky, folks. This book is a great read. And timely, as it addresses the homogenization of our society with the proliferation of the super-store and how they are changing the face of our cities and small towns. Lots of humor mixed with serious concerns. I loved it.

Bradley is as talented as his biggest promoters suggest. His talent is totally non-apparent in this book. He has gotten away with some 'fantasy' in prior books, so he just takes that and whimsy to the unforgivable extreme here. If you hate Wal-Mart, you can say how and why in a much more efficient and effective way than this disappointing farce. Bradley should have had more pride than to let this one loose.