Two Years, No Rain [Paperback]

Shawn Klomparens (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 23, 2009

An earnest journey from heartache to heartthrob and all the emotions along the way; at once an old-fashioned love story and a cautionary tale of self-reinvention.

In San Diego County, it hasn’t rained in 580 days. But for weatherman Andy Dunne, everything else is changing fast…Only a few weeks ago, he was a newly divorced, slightly overweight meteorologist for an obscure satellite radio station, hiding his secret love for a colleague, the beautiful—and very much married—Hillary Hsing. But nearly overnight, Andy has landed a new gig, flying a magic carpet in a bizarre live-action children’s TV show. So what is affable, basically decent Andy Dunne going to do now that he can do practically anything he wants? With a parade of hot moms begging for his autograph and a family that needs his help more than ever, Andy has a lot of choices. First, though, there’s this thing with Hillary, their heated text messages, a long-awaited forecast for rain – and a few other surprises he never saw coming…

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Compelling characters dissipate quickly in Klomparens's uneven second novel (after Jessica Z.). In a San Diego facing its second year of drought, weatherman Andy Dunne feels increasingly irrelevant: his satellite radio gig is no great shakes, he's out of shape, his wife left him and he's still hurting from the death of his twin brother. He's sustained mostly by a low-grade flirtation with Hillary Hsing, who urges Andy to audition for work on a children's television show. Soon, he's promoted to host, the show takes off, and Andy is losing weight, making money and finding new confidence. Unfortunately, as soon as Andy becomes a TV star, his problems vanish like morning fog, leaving Klomparens to toy with Andy and Hillary's relationship and to introduce a flurry of new characters—a brother-in-law with post-traumatic stress, a niece with growing pains of a very contemporary variety. In the final third, the action decamps to Hong Kong, where a raging typhoon briefly distracts from the lack of narrative tension. Klomparens is frequently a funny and stylish writer, but the low pressure conflicts and patchy plotting make the outlook hazy. (July)
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Review

Praise for Jessica Z.:

"Gripping, unsettling, and dreamlike. A dazzling debut that kept me anxiously turning the pages—and stayed with me long after the book was closed."—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Black Out


From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 370 pages
• Publisher: Delta (June 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385342012
• ISBN-13: 978-0385342018
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,546,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Review: Two Years, No Rain July 7, 2009

By nat @ book, line, and sinker

Format: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

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A quietly funny, deeply touching book about love and forgiveness April 30, 2012

By Jennifer Zobair

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

After reading Shawn Klomparens' Jessica Z., I rushed to order Two Years, No Rain. His handling of the first person female voice in his debut novel was masterful; I couldn't wait to see what he did with a male protagonist.

Klomparens did not disappoint.

Two Years, No Rain chronicles the attempt at a post-divorce comeback for weatherman Andy Dunne. Haunted by the death of his twin brother, frightening--if sporadic--fainting episodes, and an overwhelming love for Hillary Hsing, Andy navigates a new career and a second chance at love with self-deprecating humor and an endearing vulnerability.

There is a depth and quiet sadness about Andy, and readers will find themselves rooting for him not only at his lowest points, but during the (few) times he becomes insufferable. He is already in our hearts, and so when he is cruel or stubborn, we are more than willing to cut him the proverbial slack.

Two Years, No Rain is a quietly funny book about serious issues--forgiveness of others and self, facing wounds buried long ago, and love--the kind that survives even when people are awful, even when they do their best to destroy it.

I adore this novel, and I can't wait to read Shawn Klomparens' next book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice fun read . . . July 29, 2010

By Kathryn Magendie VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.