The Stray American by Wendy Brandmark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Stray American is a niche market read with a dark storyline of everyday life. It reflects the feelings of people who touch the life of Larry Greenberg as they all search for answers and a place to belong.
Larry Greenberg is a Jewish lawyer who has moved to London from Boston where he is now an associate Professor teaching law at Eureka Plains. A college full of international students, it stands near Waterloo station in an old Victorian Hospital.
We read about Larry’s strange and failing relationships, his loneliness in London, his few highs as he discovers “England” and the many lows which make up a year long window of guilt and often despair which we glimpse in this creatively written piece of work.
Accused of being a boy with silly ideas, he’s looking to mature. A fellow college lecturer persuades him to join a group of Un-Americans, all Americans in London, lost souls, clutching at their one remaining link of solidarity. Larry struggles to fit in, but then I’m not sure any of the group really fitted, they just came together and then drifted on their way again.
I would describe this book as more of an artistic piece of literature, showing the skills of the writer, it has an entertainment value for those who read dark emotional real life issues.
This review is based on a free copy of the book given to my by Holland Park Press
Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
View all my reviews on Goodreads
The title really attracted me, I kind of fancy this one.
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It just shows how as readers we are all different in our tastes, the title didn’t have any affect on me.
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The title got to me, too.
It must have been that word ‘Stray’!
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Thanks June.
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Reblogged this on sweatingthewriting.
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Hmmm – quite like the sound of this one. Might have to give it a go.
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I like the sound of this book. 🙂
@dino0726 from
FictionZeal – Impartial, Straighforward Fiction Book Reviews
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Like the honest review as well as the cover. Still sounds intruiging. 🙂
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Thanks Tess.
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You are welcome, Rosie.
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Wrong spelling: Should read ‘i.n.t.r.i.g.u.i.n.g.’ Grrr
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Interesting review, Rosie. Not our usual type of book. Have a relaxing weekend!
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Thanks Noelle, yes definitely a different style of book to throw into the mix.
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I guess not a book to read for the plot but could be interesting. Thanks for the review.
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Yes I think that is a good description of the book.
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Must say, having always felt a bit of a stray myself, and still do, this novel sounds fascinating.
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Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs: .
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