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Sylvia G. (Scottsdale, AZ)
you might want to look away
I wanted to like this book. At times I did. But ultimately, I felt it wasn't worth the time and effort. I love satire and sometimes Barnhardt delivered, but mostly the satire was on the mean side and very heavy-handed. There was more gay sex talk than there needed to be and Civil War history that would be interesting only to a true aficionado. Not my favorite. I debated over two or three stars...decided to be kind.
Eileen F. (Drexel Hill, PA)
Crazy Family in Dixie
This is a sprawling family saga of secrets and grudges told by members of the Jarvis Johnston clan. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different member of the family. The story went in many directions and reminded me of Tom Wolfe. I felt is was longwinded in some spots, especially concerning Southern Civil War history.
Sue Z. (Mooresville, NC)
Lookaway,Lookaway
My land. The question is can a lady of a certain age, who lives at that mud-wallow of a lake (Lake Norman,that is) write an unbiased review of "Lookaway,Lookaway"? Well she can try. Of course, Wilton Bernhardt, bless his heart, has written a satire. But we have to ask ourselves, should satire be subtle and light-hearted or heavy handed and just plain old mean. Perhaps the reader should decide for his or her self. Maybe a trip to Charlotte will help make up the mind.
Kristine I. (Marion, IL)
Wanted to like it...
This isn't a book that I can recommend. While there were some great moments that had me chuckling, it wasn't enough to make it a good read for me. The humor did not match the general dark tone of the book. I didn't find any of the characters likeable and the end left me feeling flat. I did, however, enjoy the writing and I think the author could have redeemed the book with a more positive spin on the storyline.
Nancy F. (Carmel, IN)
NancyF
"Lookaway, Lookaway" was not a good choice based on my preference of content and writer's style. I tried to finish on numerous occasions however felt the plot was forced. As a former sorority member in a "southern house" I could not relate. Sorry.
Jennifer F. (Los Gatos, CA)
Disappointment
I was looking forward to reading this book after seeing the review "Move over, Tom Wolfe". Unfortunately, this book has very little in common with Tom Wolfe. I found the characters and their problems in this southern family fiction to be less than compelling. The first scenes in the book were troubling and I had a hard time continuing. Luckily, the plot picked up a bit, but never truly lived up to the hype on the cover reviews.
Steve B. (Spring, TX)
A Tedious Tale of a Dysfunctional Family
The author takes a dysfunctional family and uses them to portray the society they live in as being without social value. This has to be the most depressing novel I have ever read. Sometimes author Barnhardt is apparently writing with tongue in cheek but the overall plot is so dark that I could find no humor in his portrayal. Several times I asked myself why I was torturing myself by reading this long, boring charade and the only explanation I can offer is that I felt obligated to complete it so I could write this review. I'm sure the author really does not appreciate my persistence but maybe my fellow BookBrowse members will
Sue H. (Wooster, OH)
A slow read
I usually passionately enjoy family sagas with the scope of this one, especially those set in the South, but this one was disappointing. Had I not committed to reviewing this for BookBrowse, I would have abandoned it. The pace was very slow, but worse was the lack of connection I felt for the characters. I hoped to care what happened from one chapter to the next, but, sadly this did not happen. I honor the incredible research exhibited by the author as well as his use of language, but these are not enough for me to recommend this book.
