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6 Werken 113 Leden 12 Besprekingen

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Fotografie: foto @ctsfox

Werken van Jonathan LaPoma

The Summer of Crud (2018) 8 exemplaren
Understanding the Alacran (2017) 6 exemplaren
Hammond (2018) 4 exemplaren
The Soul City Salvation (2020) 3 exemplaren
A Noble Truth 1 exemplaar

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Algemene kennis

Geslacht
male
Geboorteplaats
Buffalo, NY
Woonplaatsen
Mexico City, Mexico
Beroepen
novelist
screenwriter
songwriter
poet
Organisaties
Authors Guild of America
Korte biografie
Jonathan LaPoma is an award-winning, best-selling novelist, optioned screenwriter, songwriter, and poet from Buffalo, NY. After graduating from college in 2005, he traveled extensively throughout the US and Mexico, and these experiences have inspired much of his work.

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Besprekingen

I was excited about reading this book by a promising young author, primarily because I have lived in South Texas most of my life and appreciate any authors that writes about the residents that live below the Mason-Dixon line without treating them like congenital idiots. This book slowly lost my interest though as it is about a period where this young man from New York state goes on a drinking binge in Mexico which drags on and on. Partying in Mexico is not an anomaly for the residents of South Texas, so his drinking exploits didn't make for interesting reading for an entire book. When he got the point where he was describing the anus of a prostitute, I was out of there. I realize I am not the target audience for this book, but this author can do better.… (meer)
 
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kerryp | Mar 6, 2018 |
Deze bespreking was geschreven voorLibraryThing lid Weggevers.
For the perfect teacher horror story, read this.

First, let me say that this novel has a lot of great themes and ideas that it wanted to get across. As a teacher, there were many situations and circumstances that resonates with any teacher in the public education system. LaPoma tries to tackle all these issues in his book, Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story. But that was just the issue: nearly every single problem with the teaching profession is presented in the book, with little to no insight as to the solutions. If I weren't already a teacher, I don't think I'd ever want to be one if this were the only book on teaching that I ever read. There was barely any closure on the major issues that were presented.

The writing at times felt forced. Dialogue was spoken without really having to be spoken, and other times characters would say things (without any lead in) just to move the story along. It almost felt like riding on the train ride at Disneyland…without the narration to guide you along and prepare you. It just happens. I really did question some of the things that people say. Perhaps in different places, people with different backgrounds and lifestyles than mine might talk like that, but I still found it hard to believe. In addition, not one single character is likable. I guessed that that was what LaPoma was going for in his book, but I found it extremely difficult to be able to relate to any of the characters. Besides our main protagonist, everyone else is presented as one-dimensional, total lack of self-awareness, self-deprecating, jerks.

Certain events occurred without any real reason why. What was the purpose of the characters' retreat in Key West? In real life, this happens. People just go on vacation. But in writing, things happen for a reason. Otherwise, it's a waste of words, and a waste of time. Other key themes in the book are glossed over extremely quickly. When our teacher finally gets told by the teacher examples of white privilege and the racism that they encounter every day, our protagonist learns the error of his ways in about one sentence. Again, the pacing is extremely off.

This book had lots of potential, but in the end I found it depressing and a simple observation of the deeper issues in society. The reader is barely asked to think about these issues themselves, at least not on a deeper level than what is presented in the book.
… (meer)
1 stem
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jms001 | 9 andere besprekingen | Sep 10, 2016 |
The first thing that I noticed was that this novel was different from many that I’ve read. It was honest, raw, and just plain uncensored. A few people have stated that the novel is too graphic which i don’t agree with. One might not think that teachers do drugs and have sex, but guess what? They’re human too and as such are submitted to temptations. The novel also provided a deeper understanding of how different people cope with stress. It was about time an author made educators more human and realistic without going overboard!
What caught my attention the most was that i felt like i could relate to the characters, the turmoil of letting go of a relationship that is weighing you down and getting away from those you know aren’t good for you. I couldn’t put the book down because the characters were intriguing; i wanted to know more about them. The complexity of the character development occurred over a number of pages so it was easier to digest and it wasn’t just thrown at me at the beginning. I enjoyed that the characters were present and being developed throughout the novel. I knew who the characters were without having to flip back to the very beginning of the novel to remember.
I was rooting for Luke the entire time and I’m glad he decided to pursue what was best for him. I think college grads will relate best to this novel, it was written for a younger open minded audience.
… (meer)
1 stem
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Yari-T | 9 andere besprekingen | Jan 13, 2016 |
Deze bespreking was geschreven voorLibraryThing lid Weggevers.
I read the Kindle edition of this book, received through LibraryThing.
As much as I hate to say it I really did not like the book. I could not read it straight through because I just found it frustrating.
As a teacher in a secondary school, I thought I would relate at least a little bit with the main character, Luke Entelechy, and I guess I made a connection while reading the too few classroom passages. There were just too many comments in the dialogue that made me wonder "why did LaPoma add this?" Such as: (censored) when Luke and Billy drive to South Beach in Chapter 1, "S***, this place is like a gigantic p***y waiting to be f****d..." ; Luke defends his career choice by saying, "Hey look man, you know about as much of teaching as I do the taste and texture of Marilyn Monroe's sn****, ya' dig?" ; and many more! There were characters who were introduced well, but I was left hanging when nothing really became of them, (loose ends). If I hadn't agreed to review the book, I would not have finished it. Reviewers on Amazon do not give an accurate review of this book (my opinion of course). Don't waste your time.… (meer)
 
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janejetson223 | 9 andere besprekingen | Dec 27, 2015 |

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Statistieken

Werken
6
Leden
113
Populariteit
#173,161
Waardering
½ 3.5
Besprekingen
12
ISBNs
10

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