Customer Reviews

The Way to Somewhere

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a charming read - I finished and had to run for some Flannery O'Conner, Mark Twain, and Stephen Wilson because echoes of their voices lodged in my head. I'm sorry to leave these characters behind - from the iron-willed Taylor to the cromulent Tio Pepe, these people live with you until you finish the book....

For anyone who tends to get obsessed with the destination and forget the (much more fun, and much more important) journey: clear your Palm, grab a beer, flop on the sofa, and kick back with "The Way to Somewhere." You'll start rooting for Taylor as soon as she steals that ice cream truck, and you'll wish you could give her advice as she deals with her family, dates a few wrong men and finally figures out what's what. Then again, you never do really figure out what's what. See? You get some good philosophy too. Read it.

Angie Day promises to be an author we'll hear more from. I personally would love to continue to hear about Taylor- The Way to Somewhere's main character. Taylor Jessup grows up with friends we all knew weren't good for us but we needed and saviors like Sarah Anne Hoecker, that made us feel whole no matter what was happening in our lives. Haven't we all had a Luther? A dream that dries up on us far sooner than we planned? And then we have to decide if we give up on other dreams that got entangled in the one that didn't pan out... Once I started reading this book, I had a very hard time putting it down. I was caught up in the story and even more taken with Taylor's insights. Ms. Day puts words to situations that I know I have been through but just wasn't sure how to explain. I hope to see a sequel- rarely do I get interested enough in a character that I hope for a second book about her just to see how she turns out. Taylor is worth wondering about long after you close the cover and finish this new author's first novel.

As a eighteen year old college student, I can amaizingly relate to Taylor in "The Way to Somewhere." Her journey through life has been tried and tested in ways farely identical to mine, and Taylor resembles a little bit of myself. I am not much of a reader, but I just could not seem to put this novel down. A friend of mine let me borrow her copy because she said, "It's my favorite book and I want to tell everyone about it." I now feel the same, which is the reason for this reveiw. If you are even thinking of reading this novel, do, and I promise you will not regret your decision.

Angie Day's "A Way to Somewhere" got me from hello... I fell in love with the restoration metaphor, which was applied lightly with loving strokes, never globbed on too thickly. I felt so in tune with the character of Taylor, even though I'm twice her age. Everyone, I think, female or male, has tackled the issues that Ms. Day leads the reader through with Taylor. Although not everyone has such a beautifully communicated "voice" with which to express themselves. Very real, very touching, often very sad and often very, very funny.... I even read all the Restoration quotes to my 8 year old, who totally got the idea of how it applies to life. The themes are ageless... it's a must-read, and I look forward to her next book!

Treat yourself to an engaging, insightful and thoroughly satisfying book, an amazing accomplishment of a first novel for a young and very talented writer. When you finish it and look forward to Angie Day's next novel, I'm sure you'll do what I'm doing, strongly recommending it. Having the good fortune of sitting at a vacation dinner table with Ms. Day, I heard her modestly mentioning the book only in passing comment. I'm very glad I decided to look it up. The book and the author deserve, and hopefully very soon will get, the attention and appreciation they very well deserve.

As suggested by the title The Way to Somewhere is a book about just that, a way to somewhere. The book maps out the struggles of a girl trying to find out where her somewhere is. When the book begins it describes Taylor as a misfit 12 year old tomboy living a hard life, and goes on to tell the life lessons of growing up. I was enchanted by Taylor's personality and I thought the book was amazing. Humor added to the storyline maked the life lessons learned while reading as pleasant as candy. I loved learning about the triumphs and failures of Taylor. As I read the book I could imagine what Taylor was going through because the book is written in a realistic manor. Taylor's emotions and thought are clearly portrayed so that you could really get inside her head and fell what she was feeling. Day does a wonderful job portraying Taylor as a believable character that unbelievably does things that others can only dream. Over all, as I have said before, the book was amazing. If you are looking for an entertaining book that is easy to follow this is it. This book is perfect for a summer time relaxing read or a powerful, life-altering story. Angie day does a great job leaving it up to the reader to get what they can out of it.

Loved it! Ms. Day paints a beautiful picture of a girl turning into a woman. Her savvy use of humor allows Ms. Day to tackle serious issues without being sappy or overly serious. A great read. I felt as though I knew not just Taylor, but many of the characters. I highly recommend "The Way to Somewhere" to book clubs.

i read with this author in san francisco and she is just mesmerizing. we traded books and i read hers in 2 sittings - poignant, gentle, charming, funny. this is one very talented young writer. highly recommended.

This book was the first read i've had in a long time that feels like the author actually "gets" what's important to spin in a tale for my generation. The twists and turns in the coming-of-age plot are strange enough to ring true for someone who's got an 80's childhood informing their 00's adulthood, but never too wacky to overpower the real purpose of it all: to make a young woman out of Taylor. I don't usually seek out these types of stories, but this book came recommended to me and it deserves all the kind words people are sharing about it. Taylor's character development is the real drama of the story in spite of the changes in life, loves, and geography carry that Taylor along. The twists and turns sound sensational in summary, but make sense through the chapters as taylor's character layers up. It's a book with directness and clean prose, a plot which you couldn't have lived but which feels like you could have, and a rich character that's ultimately the whole point. Reminds me of zadie smith's "white teeth", or the crazier childhood tales of that unaffectedly funky friend you meet randomly at an art opening. This is great achievement for a first book.