Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're joining Providence Book Promotions for a stop along their current tour featuring the latest work from an author I've featured many times before. His name is Steven Manchester, and if it doesn't ring a bell, you are sorely missing out, my friend. This time around he's ventured into something a smidge different that will steep you in 80's memories while asking you to walk that fine line between disbelief and faith. Ready or not, here comes today's title in the spotlight and blog tour guest...
Bread Bags & Bullies: Surviving the '80s
by
Steven Manchester
Genre: Commercial Fiction
Published by: Luna Bella Press
Publication Date: November 19, 2019
Number of Pages: 288
ISBN: 978-0-9841842-7-9
It’s the winter of 1984. Twelve-year-old Herbie and his two brothers—Wally and Cockroach—are enjoying the mayhem of winter break when a late Nor’easter blows through New England, trapping their quirky family in the house. The power goes out and playing Space Invaders to AC DC’s Back in Black album is suddenly silenced—forcing them to use their twisted imaginations in beating back the boredom. At a time when the brothers must overcome one fear after the next, they learn that courage is the one character trait that guarantees all others. This hysterical coming-of-age tale is jam-packed with enough nostalgia to satisfy anyone who grew up in the ‘80s or at least had the good fortune to travel through them.
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Okay, so here's the thing...
...the story itself was GOOD and filled with all the beautiful memories and wonderful messages that readers have come to expect from this author's work...but I need to insert a BUT.
While I enjoyed the nostalgia (hello...child of the 80's here...well, newborn at least), the characters, and the trips down memory lane, I felt like there was something missing. You see, in his previous works, there was always a prominent HERE AND NOW storyline tethered to all the mental walks into the past, yet in this one, it seemed like the characters kept getting stuck in the past. There was even a time or two that they were dreaming or recollecting their past experiences and in the middle of that dream, they reflected on their past...so basically a dream within a dream. It's not that it isn't an interesting concept, it just felt to this reader like there was a bit too much of it. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Manchester is totally above par in the skill department to write this style of story, as he's proven time and time again, I just think it was too heavily depended on in this case and it made what was happening NOW get lost in the shuffle.
So, did I enjoy the story? Yes! Did I love it as much as his other works? Not really, but I didn't not love it either. My suggestion...if it sounds good to YOU, READ IT; if it's just a consideration at this point, check out his other works first, then decide. Sound good? Good! Now, get reading!
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Author Bio:
Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island; the national bestsellers, Ashes, The Changing Season and Three Shoeboxes; and the multi-award winning novels, Goodnight Brian and The Thursday Night Club. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning and BET's Nightly News. Three of Steven's short stories were selected “101 Best” for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is a multi-produced playwright, as well as the winner of the 2017 Los Angeles Book Festival and the 2018 New York Book Festival. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.
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GIVEAWAY!!:
This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Steven Manchester. There will be 7 winners. Two (2) winners will each receive an Amazon GC and five (5) winners will each win one (1) copy of Bread Bags & Bullies: Surviving the '80s by Steven Manchester (eBook). The giveaway begins on November 1, 2019 and runs through January 2, 2020. Void where prohibited.
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Special thanks to author Steven Manchester for the heads up on the tour and to Providence Book Tours for the copy for review as well as the chance to bring the tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on through to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
I loved the way Mr. Manchester took me back to one of my favorite decades.
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