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There are currently 24 member reviews
for The Long Ago
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Barbara B. (Evansville, IN)
The Importance of Family
After serving a tour of duty in Vietnam during the early 1960's, Ray Lansdale has returned to his home in Livingston, Montana. Ray's younger sister, Barbara, has disappeared and it's of utmost importance for him to locate her. Their parents are deceased, so Barbara is the only direct relative that Ray has. He spends most of his time and money to search for his sister despite the need to return to active duty.
The novel is simply written in a direct sequence of events, with a few new details revealed daily. There are only minor details about Vietnam, keeping the violence to a minimum. Historical accuracy for the early 1960s is spot on, and after reading this piece of historical fiction, I appreciate the convenience of technology that we have today.
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Elizabeth L. (Langhorne, PA)
Easy like a Sunday Morning
I had never read a Michael McGarrity novel and pseudo-mysteries are usually not my preferred genre. So, I thought I would come out of my comfort zone and was pleasantly surprised. Mr. McGarrity's style was warm and laidback, honest and unassuming. descriptions of meals occurred more than I can recall in most novels, and the majority of the characters had excellent manners most of the time. I learned things about ranching and Vietnam - two very disparate topics. Although the time period was '63 to '65, at times I felt the word choices and situations suggested an earlier era and put me in mind of an old western. Perhaps that is because the author seems to be a gentleman who wanted to tell a sweet story while taking his time. I did not feel that I couldn't put the book down, but I wanted to know how it all turned out for every character.
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Regina G. (Groveland, FL)
A Good Read
This was a good read. At first, due to the book's description, I thought it was a crime thriller, but I soon realized it wasn't. I then thought it might turn into an obsessive stalker situation (with Mr. Manning). That perception fizzled quickly. Then I realized it was the telling of two siblings' stories, and how differently they manage their lives as a result of a less-than-stellar upbringing. A family drama.
There are two things that struck me. First, Ray, is almost perfect. Everyone that meets him loves him, they all see he has great potential, he is attractive, he is virtuous, he heroically saves several people, he is humble, he is appreciative, he does all the right things - he has no flaws, really. You do see one flare-up of temper and pettiness when he mails a shredded-up second letter back to someone who didn't write him a timely response back to his first letter. You don't see this temper again.
The second is that as perceptive, loyal, and deeply caring Roy is, his sister displays none of those qualities. She doesn't perceive the grief she left behind, is ambivalent about not seeing/communicating with her brother and family again, and doesn't seem to feel deeply about anything, really - except she truly doesn't like San Jose. I'm unsure if there's an undercurrent of anger against her family that manifests itself on her leaving and never touching base with them. I'm unsure if it's just because she's 20 and doesn't see the big picture of life and all who love her. She's just unaware, in general, of the feelings of family and friends she leaves behind, and the ripple effects these cause. She's never held to account for her actions either, in fact, she's rewarded.
In spite of these two points, it was a good read. I would have stopped reading in other books, but the author does have a gift of keeping you going, breezing along, adding to the story and giving you a perspective on lives you couldn't imagine. The Vietnam War scenes were sobering, and the characters we lost were hard to lose. I appreciated how descriptive he was and how he kept the story interesting. (I also loved all the diner mentions.) I'm happy to have read the book.
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Darlene B. (New Castle, PA)
A Launch Into a Brave New World
This novel, 'The Long Ago', begins in Livingston, Montana in 1963. The story centers around siblings Raymond and Barbara Lansdale. The book begins with Ray's arrival in Livingston. After enlisting in the army and spending time in Saigon, Ray returns to Montana because he has received word that his sister Barbara has disappeared. No one in the siblings' hometown seems to know anything about where Barbara may have gone but the two are bound by the experience of a difficult and chaotic family life and Ray is anxious to discover what has happened. He has just two weeks until he must report to officer candidate school at Fort Benning. Ray spends several days visiting with and talking to family and friends and ends up with a single promising clue. According to Barbara's high school friend, Beth, Barbara had decided that her family life had become intolerable and she was looking for a fresh start in Los Angeles. Armed with this information, Ray heads to California to begin his search for his sister.
I admit that this novel was not what I expected. I expected that it would be more of a story centered around the Vietnam War; but as it turned out, the Vietnam War is simply the backdrop against which the story unfolds. This is not meant to be a criticism, merely a clarification. In addition, although the novel initially seems like a mystery (there IS a missing person), the reader is aware at all times where Barbara is and what is happening in her life, even if Ray and the other characters in the story are not. This novel is difficult for me to categorize but that said, it WAS propulsive nonetheless. I wanted to keep turning pages to see what happened.... would Ray and Barbara's paths ultimately cross? In what direction would their lives take them?
Set against the beginning years of a tumultuous and bloody war which shapes the lives of the characters, this novel describes a society in flux with changing norms and social roles. In the end, I probably would have enjoyed this story even more than I did if the characters had had a bit more depth; but if you are looking for a story which feels like it captures a particular moment in history, this novel is worth your time.
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Edie M. (Kennett Square, PA)
How far would you go to find someone you loved?
A brother and sister raised in a dysfunctional family bond together to survive. Now she's missing and he might be her only hope. Gut wrenching, edge of your seat.
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Colleen C. (Bourne, MA)
The Long Ago by Michael McGarrity
This family saga takes place in the throes of the Vietnam War and it is the story of how two siblings deal with their unhappy family upbringing and the direction it leads them. Raymond and Barbara Lansdale grow up in Montana and go their separate ways, but Raymond can't let go of his sister Barbara's disappearance and the feeling that she needs to be found. The story weaves between Vietnam, ranches of western US, and glitzy California. The part of the novel set in Vietnam is very well researched without bogging the reader down in a political quagmire. The novel realistically describes how Vietnam can affect families in extremely different ways.
I enjoyed reading this book and the plot of the storyline kept me interested to the very end. The author does a great job with life-like and descriptive characters who bring the story together. I recommend The Long Ago.
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Bev C. (Latrobe, PA)
The Long Ago
"The Long Ago: a distant place where happiness and tranquility reign." is a mainstay and mental retreat for the Landsdale children.
I chose this book because the time frame resonates with me and the places interest me.
Although I am unfamiliar with the childhood traumas that formed the characters of Ray and Barbara Lansdale, I do understand the impact the war registered on our material and spiritual lives.
For fear of disclosing elements of the plot, I will simply say I appreciated traveling beside Ray, even to the jungles of Southeast Asia. It's been some time since I was immersed in a bittersweet family saga. Although this could not be my primary type of read, it does definitely have a place in my reading roster.
Thank you to W.W.Norton and Company for my advanced readers copy.
