Customer Reviews

Train Wreck: A Novel

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

 

 

A brilliant attempt for a first novel. The premise of the story is intriguing and thought provoking, with just enough of a conspiracy feel to it to make you wonder "what if". The story is told in flashback format from the point of view of multiple characters. A writing style that could have easily become confusing and hard to follow. The author does a flawless job of using each characters voice and memories to move the story along without making the text seem jumpy and unconnected.
If this is the starting point, I definitely look forward to seeing this author's work as it develops and matures throughout his next books.

While reading this, there were a few things I noticed.

1) This almost certainly a first novel (albeit a great attempt at one).

2) This would have improved greatly with the help of an editor.

3) From the description, this sounds like it would be a very plot driven novel, and it is in some ways, but it never truly abuses the possibilities of the "gimmick" of the story.

Despite these criticisms, this was a great read that I was able to speed through quickly.

The characters, even being a little strongly typed, were characters who kept focus easily and their interactions with each other were extremely well written, enough that the characters themselves pushed the novel along by themselves, with very little help from the plot.

The conversations themselves were natural and the settings were beyond vivid; the settings were experiential.

Humor in this book occurs quite often and it is for the most part funny. A few jokes, however, fall flat or simply aren't right for the novel format, and I think things like this would have been picked out by a professional editor.

None of these "bumps" really held the novel from shining through, however. The reason I took a star away (If I gave a more precise rating, it'd be a 4.2/5.0) was because the premise had such potential, yet the plot literally on focuses on it approximately half the time (and that half isn't even always following the essential aspect of the premise - the idea that everyone has a "number" attached to them). If that was ironed out, this would definitely be a masterpiece of a first novel.

As it stands, it is a great first novel, one I would highly recommend others to read.

Mr. Gavrish certainly starts off with a bang with his first novel. It is fast paced and scattered with action and comedy. It is a very clever concept and I wouldn't be surprised if Train Wreck: The Movie happens some day. It is even more fun to read for the Boston resident since the book is riddled with Boston geography and landmarks. I would highly suggest this novel to anyone as a quick and enjoyable read. I finished it in 3 days because each chapter pulled me into the next. Grab it, you won't be disappointed.

Great book!

I scour Amazon for a lot of .99 to $5 or $6 Kindle books to read. Most are by "part-time" authors who are publishing their own work for the first time. They are very "hit or miss", with a lot of boring stories and many that are poorly written with bad grammar, spelling, and no editing. On more than one occasion, I've abandoned books before I get to the halfway point because they are so bad. Train Wreck is the complete opposite, I am delighted to say.

The author presents a unique story - not the "same old" detective novel or murder mystery. It is written in such a fashion that the story develops through flashbacks, and you get the detail you need to see the mystery as it unfolds, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. The character development is superb - you actually care what is going to happen to the central character and many of the supporting cast. And it has a lot of humor mixed in, which made it a fun read. The story keeps you turning the digital pages.

And, I am pleased the author took the time to edit the book and make sure the basics were covered - spelling, grammar, etc.; this shows he cares about the reader and takes the time to put out a quality product.

I recommend this book - I'm giving it 4 stars only because, in my opinion, there aren't many works out there worthy of five stars. But this is a great, fun, captivating read. I anxiously await the author's next book!

This is a well-written book. I can't wait for the author to write another one. I had a good time reading it.

This story centers around Nick Buchanan, who is leaving Boston on the red-eye Amtrak train, headed for D.C. He just quit his job and is not sure what his future holds. As the story begins, Nick is waiting for the train to arrive with his fellow passengers. Gavrish very hilariously describes the passengers - in fact, the entire book is filled with laugh-out-loud moments and current pop culture references.

The train is delayed and the passengers begin to talk to each other, and as the story progresses, we learn the back stories of each passenger. When the night is over we learn that each passenger on this train car is connected to Nick in some way, although Nick never realizes this.

Train Wreck is a little bit predictable, and the characters are more caricatures, but the humorous writing style makes up for some of this, in my mind. I was envisioning the beginning of the story as a play in the theater, since it takes place in a small space and the characters are so exaggerated. The back stories could also be developed for the stage.

Overall, I enjoyed Train Wreck - I appreciated the voice of the author, his writing style, and interesting plot twists. I would recommend Train Wreck to an audience who doesn't mind a little bit of crass humor (definitely some foul language in here, as well as sexual innuendoes). It's an enjoyable ride.

(Review provided by Kathy, a Literary R&R book blog review team member)

I just finished "Train Wreck" and had to write a review so others would know of this awesome novel!

I loved the premise for the book (what a unique twist on corporate corruption), the main character's wit, and the intermingling and connections of the lives of the characters. I really enjoyed watching the characters through Nick's eyes and especially the quirky details revealed by his stalking the "insured victims." It was hard to put down and I couldn't wait to see the outcome but at the same time, I didn't want it to end!

Trainwreck is extremely clever, engaging and relevant in today's fast-paced, greedy society. Gavrish captured the tone and desperation of our generation to succeed in this down-trodden economy perfectly with his well written, relatable characters. Well done!

I read Train Wreck recently and must say that it is a very interesting and well written first novel for Mr. Gavrish. The story line keeps you interested and the ending is a BIG surprise !! I would recommend it to all ages !

Gavrish's "Train Wreck: A Novel" captures the reader from the very first page. As the story unfolds, you realize the masterful creativity of the author. You don't know what you're getting yourself into until you realize you're in just as deep as the characters are! The plot is so brilliant and the writing is fun and witty, yet mysterious and terrifying. Keep your eyes open because Gavrish will one day be mentioned with the other great authors of our time. I highly recommend "Train Wreck: A Novel" and will give you this warning: you won't be able to put it down!