3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Review: Two Years, No Rain, July 7, 2009
This review is from: Two Years, No Rain (Paperback)
Weatherman-turned-children's television host Andy Dunne has been living a literal and figurative 580-day drought, with no relief in sight.
Shawn Klomparens's Two Years, No Rain, tells the story of Andy Dunne, a man in his early 30s who, to borrow one of his weather terms, is a `desiccated' husk. His personal life and job reporting weather for a satellite radio station parallel the parched weather and landscape of San Diego.
Andy excels at repressing emotions and spends a good deal of the novel denying himself the right to the most basic and primal emotions. He buries grief over personal loss, ignores the pain of his wife's infidelities, stands idly by as their marriage disintegrates, and patently ignores his health.
Andy applies for and gets a job that propels him to television fame. The job opens the door to a trip to Hong Kong and the unburdening of Andy's guilt and regrets. While on the island, a typhoon strikes and, ironically, the weatherman isn't conscious to see a good part of it.
Relationships, loss, avoidance, regret, and infidelity are strong themes in this novel and each is weaved throughout. Klomparens pens a realistic world for Andy with well-developed friends and family, though I thought the characterization of Andy's love interest, Hillary, was a bit soft. I learned more about his niece than I did about Hillary. Their relationship was based mostly on hundreds of text messages and illicit late-night phone calls because of their respective marriages.
After Andy's marriage falls apart, Hillary's marriage to Jason deteriorates. It's no coincidence that Hillary's husband shares a name with Andy's twin brother-Klomparens uses Hillary's Jason as Andy's foil-reflecting the unspoken competitive relationship that Andy and his twin shared.
The novel is chock full of symbols and metaphors--stormy weather, withering plants that flourish with proper care and attention, the text messages between Andy and Hillary, dry weather, an empty house, `new' and `old'; page has depth and more to offer than meets the eye.
Darkly humorous, I enjoyed several laughs during the novel. Ultimately, Two Years, No Rainis really a quest on which Andy struggles to finds peace with his losses, regrets, career, and relationships-only then can the literal and figurative rain come. This would be a great read for a book club and there's a discussion guide on Klomparens's website.
--Nat @ Book, Line, and Sinker
7.7.09
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A nice fun read . . ., July 29, 2010
This review is from: Two Years, No Rain (Paperback)
The other reviewers have already outlined what the book is "about," and its metaphors and imagery, so I'll just say how much I enjoyed reading Two Years No Rain. Sometimes it's nice just to pick up a book that isn't heavy or full of darkness - a seemingly simple story told simply but with heart and love and tenderness.
I adored the main character, Andy. I have to admit I was ambivalent about Hillary - as the book headed towards the ending, I found I didn't care whether Andy ended up with Hillary or not (and I won't say whether he did or not! You'll have to read!), but, all I wanted was for Andy to be happy. I did, however, love Andy's family - sister, brother in law, and neice (the nephew to a lessor extent) -- they were explored much more than Hillary was. Hillary many times came off as petulant and spoiled, though I did try to understand her, I wanted Andy to find peace and love and happiness - with or without Hillary. I also liked Andy's circle of friends, who created a nice buffer of love and respect and friendship supporting Andy. Loved the backdrop of weather and how it was another character in this novel.
Mostly, I found it to be a fun read with its themes of friendship and family bond that was presented in TYNR quite strongly; I read the book quickly, looking forward to picking it up again each night and at the end, I wished to know more about Andy - where he'd next go and who he'd next meet.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Two Years No Rain, July 18, 2010
This review is from: Two Years, No Rain (Paperback)
Andy Dunne is feeling the drought. The San Diego weatherman has been reporting no rain for the past two years, and been feeling increasingly irrelevant in his personal life. His wife left him, the death of his twin brother still haunts him, and he is in love with a married woman. Hillary Hsing, the object of Andy's affection, urges Andy to try out for a job working on a children entertainment TV show, and before Andy can blink he is upgraded to the host and entering the realm of a media darling. As Andy's life changes from being a nobody to a somebody, he is faced with many difficult decisions on his life, his family, and his relationships.
Two Years, No Rain by Shawn Klomparens is a refreshing change from my usual chick lit books. It was interesting to get a males perspective about so many issues I normally read about women: love, relationships, careers, and families. The humor was there in patches, but it wasn't so much laugh out loud funny but more of a dark humor. The supporting cast really added to the story, especially the relationship between Andy and his young niece. Klomparens writing is stylish and fresh, and I would recommend Two Years, No Rain to chick lit fans that enjoy the males take on common adult issues.
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