Take Me with You

I can honestly say I almost never give books 5 stars because I need to save that for the extraordinary, and this book is why. I\’ve probably read close to 7,000 books in my lifetime and would give maybe 25-30 of them 5 stars. The plot is simple as you\’ve probably already read. It\’s the characters and their personalities that make you believe they\’re real. They\’re not perfect, but they try to be good people. Makes you think … just enough. There\’s so little plot it should be boring, but instead I couldn\’t put it down. There\’s no bombs, explosions, crime, drugs, aliens, politics or romance. What there is is people. All I can do is urge you to take a chance, except \”I don\’t like to tell people what to do\”. Oh, and now I\’m off to buy a camper

For once I don\’t understand how people could rate this a 1 or 2 star book. Of course there are some unrealistic instances…hence the listing of \”fiction\”. I also saw complaints about too much or too detailed conversations or descriptions. I didn\’t see that as as problem. I was too busy reading the conversations and descriptions to notice. I really enjoyed watching the growth, trust and understanding develop between the 3 main characters, August, Seth and Henry. I would\’ve kept reading had the author jumped forward another 10 years to catch us up on their relationships, individual growth and how their dreams had panned out. The only advice I\’d give us to not start reading the \”8 years later\” section at 10 p.m. if you have a commitment early the next day. Other than that, I\’d highly recommend you pick it up, kick back and relax. Enjoy the ride.

What I dont understand is how a writer with so much under her belt does such a lousy job writing. I agree with the other reviewers who have panned this, particularly for the bad dialogue, but what struck me most were all the lame bits of banal description, both in terms of the details she chose to describe, as well as the character actions. It was just tedious to read/hear about mundane articles described in detail, and basic body actions. I mean, why cant he just fetch the camera from the RV? Why do we need to have the guy tromp back to the RV, open the door, reach into the side pocket, retrieve the camera, stomp back, ad infinitum… I love rich description, but for the love of Pete, describe something we care about, not an ashtray. I got the impression the author was stretching it to make a novel out a plot that didnt have what it took. I cant fathom how an editor didnt level with the author and just put this one out of its misery.

Take Me With You had a steady beginning as August found his camper in need of repairs in a sleepy little town in Nowhere California. The mechanic, a man with two boys, conned him into taking the boys with him for the summer, as he was due to begin a \”three month\”jail term… (only his second by self admmission- minus two other jail terms of which he\’d conveniently forgotten) except it was in reality a six-month term! Of course August didn\’t learn that until they were well on their way. Of the two boys, Seth (12) and Harold (7), Seth was well mannered, orderly, and curious everything in August\’s life,while was initially silent but eventually began to speak . His father\’s behavior was the cause. Throughout the three months of summer, the trio plus August\’s pooch, Woody. Have adventures in national parks as they look forward to the three months of school they would have in August\’s care. Wes, father of the young boys, was a alcholic and his current prison sentence was six not three months, which changes yet again. The boys returned to their father but secretly corresponded with August for eight years. With his disability. August couldn\’t carry on the parks tour, so Seth made a deal to buy the old camper, so the trips, goal of which was to spread small amount of August\’s son\’s ashes in the nation\’s parks , continued. This beautiful story shows the bonds that are formed BOTH ways, and the growth that comes to all. The reader is left with the feeling of a wonderful union among the campers….,and a hope that they will have each other for years to come!

A burned out high school science teacher on summer break is on his way to Yellowstone to scatter some of his son\’s ashes. He has a breakdown with his motor home, and while waiting for repairs, meets the mechanic\’s two sons. And this is the beginning of a summer vacation he will never forget. This book deals with several serious topics: Alcoholism; grief, less-than-perfect parenting; debilitating health issues. But in spite of (or maybe because of) dealing with these issues, lessons are learned, wonderful relationships are formed, and unforgettable memories created. The book has a positive message, but sometimes it feels like the reader is being spoon-fed each \”lesson\”. Often there\’s a whole page of stilted dialogue when a couple sentences would suffice. It\’s like, the reader is always ten steps ahead of the writer. This is not a book for someone in a hurry. It\’s for someone who likes to saunter. It\’s not for someone who wants a book with lots of complicated plot twists or \”graphic realism\”. It\’s definitely \”PG rated\” and you\’ll pretty much know where it\’s headed before it gets there. So just relax and enjoy the ride.

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