Redemption, Reconciliation
I didn’t know what to expect from "Wayward Saints". It turned out to be very enjoyable and once I began the book, I couldn’t put it down. I really cared about the characters and wanted to know how the story would end.
Mary Saint escapes her physically abusive father, Bub, and passive mother, Jean, and goes on to become a second tier, grunge style R&R star. After the death of her lover, a fellow band member, Garbargio, she goes into a tailspin, too many drugs, too much sex and you can fill in the rest.
A high school teacher in her hometown of Swallow decides to find Mary and ask her to do a concert at the school. He’s amazed to find out that Mary’s mother Jean lives in Swallow. Jean has lived a sad, lonely life, she finds a bit of domestic peace and freedom when her husband Bub is put in a nursing home, but she has never understood her daughter.
I don’t want to give away the secrets and some plot twists that occur in this book. There is a religious theme that runs throughout stemming from Mary’s early obsession with the Virgin Mary and her mother’s strong Catholicism. However, it is not preachy.
All in all I really liked this book and would recommend it to friends. I look forward to Suzzy Roche's next book.
Rated of 5
by Lisa G. (Riverwoods, IL)
Wayward Saints by Suzzy Roche
From the first page to the last I was enthralled with this quirky fun read. There was some symbolism that was immediately obvious, aka the book's title, the main character's first and last name, Mary Saint, and some not as obvious, as the location Swallow, NY and how "swallow" is translated in the Bible. A rock group called Sliced Ham and a drummer named Garbagio (well OK, it isn't his real name) just add to the cleverness of the book. The author was part of a singing group with her sisters in the 1970's and draws on her expertise of the music business to make the story even more enjoyable. Comical and creative, I liked the book a lot.
Rated of 5
by Sharon W. (Two Rivers, WI)
Wayward Saints
WOW! When I first started the book, I really didn't think I was going to like it. But once I got into it, I couldn't put it down till I was finished with it. Even though this was fiction, it definitely could have been real. To see what happens within a rock band, the ups and downs the good and bad. I loved it.
Rated of 5
by Vicki O. (Boston, MA)
A Fun Read
This book took me totally by surprise. I finished it in two days and was a little sorry to see it end. What I really liked about the book was its voice. It flowed naturally with a well balanced mix of description and dialogue. The story has a personality that is sometimes touching, sometimes humorous and almost always believable.
Rated of 5
by Jane N. (Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey)
Wayward Saints
When you get past the musical references and all of the anger associated with the genre that the author is referring to in the book, this is a really great read. At it's heart it is a love story about the most difficult relationship any woman will have in her life; that is the relationship with her mother. The story of Jean Saint, the mother, and Mary Saint, the daughter is a warm and well told and should touch you deeply. Mary is the epitome of a rebellious daughter who makes the big time in spite of herself. Her fame does nothing to solve her problems with the people in her life and her life in general. In fact, her fame accentuates the problems and the methods that Mary chooses to solve them only add to her destructive modus operandi. While Mary struggles with her own demons, her mother Jean, struggles with her own. Mother and daughter are very much alike. Mary is flamboyant while Jean is passive aggressive in dealing with the life that that share. Suzy does an excellent job of weaving the two stories together. The supporting characters that Roche has created to flesh the story out are also amazing and the sub plot that she created is worth a book of its own. Thaddeus is so real and adds so much to the story that I hope he appears in Roche’s future works. This book will be enjoyed for a long time. I know that I will recommend it to my friends and my book club.
Rated of 5
by Gayle M. (Billerica, MA)
A very pleasant surprise
In writing a book about a former singer, it would have been easy to lean on standard cliches. Instead, Suzzy Roche delivers a book filled with interesting, three dimensional characters that you care about. The story is funny, sad, quirky and honest. I would highly recommend this book and am looking forward to Suzzy Roche’s next book.
Rated of 5
by Kristine L. (The Woodlands, TX)
Wayward Saints
I started the book earlier this week only to be interrupted by Thanksgiving preparations. Early this morning, I picked up the book expecting to read a few chapters...Here - hours later, I have completed the book and have enjoyed every minute. At one moment, the book reminds me of the novel "Olive Kitteradge" and at another moment it reminds me of my own inner ramblings. Certainly, an enjoyable, pleasant book about Life, Choices, Forgiveness, And Growing Up....
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by Joan V. (Miller Place, NY)
