corisb's review against another edition
4.0
Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for making it available!
An intriguing, interesting novel. The first few pages made me feel as if I was in a haunted desert story. That feeling continued throughout, not in a scary way, but adding to the surreal nature of the story. The basic premise is a man named Ben, a truck driver delivering things to people in the Utah desert who have chosen to live off the grid. The characters along his route and their stories are a lot of what keeps this novel moving, and there are enough story lines in these characters to write a whole series of books. Some of these people you'll like, some you won't, but you'll always want to know what happens to them next.
At the heart of the story is a small child. I love this kid and the relationship Ben develops with her. Heartbreaking in a way that's not too graphic; quirky in a way that made me wonder if I'd missed something earlier in the book; but mostly heart grabbing as the story of this child's life unfolds. I'm certainly going to miss reading about Juan/Manita!
"Lullaby Road" is the second book James Anderson has written about the Utah desert and the people who live along his delivery route. Several times this book referred to events that had happened in the first book. It didn't make this book hard to follow, but until I realized that, I kept thinking I'd missed a part of the story. It definitely spurred an interest in reading [b:The Never-Open Desert Diner|25810091|The Never-Open Desert Diner|James Anderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447363447s/25810091.jpg|42924401].
Mr. Anderson weaves an intriguing, page-turning story. Little bits are revealed all along the journey, but he never just comes out and gives the answers. I don't like having to work to figure out the whodunit in a mystery, but I also don't like it all vomited on my lap in the last few pages. Mr. Anderson did neither.
Two small complaints: There were several times I wanted to get to the next part of the story and instead found myself in more descriptions of the desert, the mesa, the highway, the sand, the fog, etc., that just seemed excessive. These descriptions did help put the reader into the scene, and it's probably just an indication of a well-written story and my impatience for the story to continue; secondly, there were several characters that were introduced, caused intrigue, but then mostly dropped. I suppose that's because they'll be more present in the next book... (fingers crossed).
One of the things that tells me a lot about how much I enjoyed the book is when I have been reading non-stop for hours to find out how the book ends and then get to the last few pages and really slow down, reading and re-reading, not wanting it to end. That's how this one left me. Hopeful is probably the way I would best describe the ending - certainly not an "everyone lives happily ever after," but maybe they can/will??
There was a little language and some (in my opinion) well-handled, mostly concealed violence.
If you like a quirky, different, page-turner, quasi mystery, I think you'll really like this book! A 4.5 star rating.
Author - 1/2⭐️
Story - 1⭐️
Ending - 1⭐️
Offensiveness - 1⭐️
Recommend - 1⭐️
An intriguing, interesting novel. The first few pages made me feel as if I was in a haunted desert story. That feeling continued throughout, not in a scary way, but adding to the surreal nature of the story. The basic premise is a man named Ben, a truck driver delivering things to people in the Utah desert who have chosen to live off the grid. The characters along his route and their stories are a lot of what keeps this novel moving, and there are enough story lines in these characters to write a whole series of books. Some of these people you'll like, some you won't, but you'll always want to know what happens to them next.
At the heart of the story is a small child. I love this kid and the relationship Ben develops with her. Heartbreaking in a way that's not too graphic; quirky in a way that made me wonder if I'd missed something earlier in the book; but mostly heart grabbing as the story of this child's life unfolds. I'm certainly going to miss reading about Juan/Manita!
"Lullaby Road" is the second book James Anderson has written about the Utah desert and the people who live along his delivery route. Several times this book referred to events that had happened in the first book. It didn't make this book hard to follow, but until I realized that, I kept thinking I'd missed a part of the story. It definitely spurred an interest in reading [b:The Never-Open Desert Diner|25810091|The Never-Open Desert Diner|James Anderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447363447s/25810091.jpg|42924401].
Mr. Anderson weaves an intriguing, page-turning story. Little bits are revealed all along the journey, but he never just comes out and gives the answers. I don't like having to work to figure out the whodunit in a mystery, but I also don't like it all vomited on my lap in the last few pages. Mr. Anderson did neither.
Two small complaints: There were several times I wanted to get to the next part of the story and instead found myself in more descriptions of the desert, the mesa, the highway, the sand, the fog, etc., that just seemed excessive. These descriptions did help put the reader into the scene, and it's probably just an indication of a well-written story and my impatience for the story to continue; secondly, there were several characters that were introduced, caused intrigue, but then mostly dropped. I suppose that's because they'll be more present in the next book... (fingers crossed).
One of the things that tells me a lot about how much I enjoyed the book is when I have been reading non-stop for hours to find out how the book ends and then get to the last few pages and really slow down, reading and re-reading, not wanting it to end. That's how this one left me. Hopeful is probably the way I would best describe the ending - certainly not an "everyone lives happily ever after," but maybe they can/will??
There was a little language and some (in my opinion) well-handled, mostly concealed violence.
If you like a quirky, different, page-turner, quasi mystery, I think you'll really like this book! A 4.5 star rating.
Author - 1/2⭐️
Story - 1⭐️
Ending - 1⭐️
Offensiveness - 1⭐️
Recommend - 1⭐️
jesstele's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars - enjoyed the writing but was left so bewildered by the ending. Anyone care to explain?
amylee218's review against another edition
5.0
I won this book in a giveaway. The writing was lyrical and powerful. The setting was so richly described that the desert acted as another character. Ben's observations and insights into the human condition were spot on. I haven't read the first book and didn't realize that this was a sequel so there were a lot of references to prior events and characters that I didn't quite understand. At first it was frustrating but the writing was so good that I now just need to read the first book to find out what Ben went through. The ending is a little unclear but that means we may be lucky enough to get a sequel and a chance to ride along Route 117 with Ben again.
trogdor19's review against another edition
4.0
It's really hard to rate a book like this, because there were so many really, really strong points, and then one thing that's pretty major and affects everything else that's usually a dealbreaker for me with books. But the rest of the book was so good and I really did skip work for a couple of hours just to finish it because I was glued to the story. So I'm going to give star ratings to each piece separately.
Prose: 5 stars. GORGEOUS. So unique and lovely, with lots of insights into the human condition where you're just like DAMN YES THIS YES. I highlighted a lot.
Setting- The desert: 5 stars. I've worked for years in the Mohave Desert, camping way out for weeks on end in some remote, ridiculous corners. Also spent months camping in backcountry Utah near where this book is set. Me, and all my friends I've worked with out there, have seen some crazy shit doing this. This author GETS THE DESERT. Like he really gets it. How it never cuts you a break and it attracts weirdos like a magnet and bad shit happens and good shit happens and weird shit ALWAYS happens and also car crashes. And wind. Endless wind. Always wind. His descriptions just breathe desert to me, and the culture of the desert is in every line. Plus the bizarro characters, which are spot on for the types of people you meet out there.
Characters: 5 stars. I adore Ben Jones, and I don't even know why. He's decent but also an asshole and doesn't mind punching a jerkoff and also helping a baby. Okay, so that makes it sound obvious why I'd like him but I like that the author writes him low key, like he's not trying to explain himself or be anything. He just is, take it or leave it. I would take it, every time. Best truck driver ever. All the other characters are amazing, too. He writes them full of deep evil and full of deep goodness, and doesn't try to pretend people are any other way. I really like how well he captures the specific breeds of desert weirdness you see: tough racist white guys, and criminals, and religious fanatics, and people who just want to do everything themselves and be left alone. People whose car broke down and they never left.
Opening: 2 stars. The initial hook is strong, but then the book takes a WHILE to get going. It's not a whirlwind like his other book.
Suspense: 4 stars. Even with the slow start, there's always something happening. There are a million curiosities sprinkled in here and there, and they all pay off somehow, but there are also quite a few places where it's sort of a gotcha fake cliffhanger, you know? So one star removed for that. Suspense was very strong at the end and not as much at the start.
Plot believability: 2 stars. I liked the main problems of the book. And there are many things that happen throughout the book that seem like crazy bad luck but just... I've seen exactly things like that happen in the desert, enough that it's just...the desert. My problem is that there are a bunch of different problems and plots throughout the book, and they're not ALL part of a single plot/scheme in the end. In other words, a lot of bad shit happens by coincidence when Ben is around in a very short period of time. I have no trouble believing any piece of it would happen, but it would have to be over years or decades. To have all this stuff happen all at once in just a few days? No way. That's fiction, not real life, and the kind of fiction that relies too heavily on coincidence so it yanks me out of the story.
Normally, that problem will make me put down a book and be done, but all the other elements were done so well that I kept reading anyway. I was really pained about the ending bc I was hoping for
I loved the first book by this author more--it had better suspense throughout and a more cohesive plot. However, they both had stellar characterization, unforgettable prose and high stakes with problems I really was rooting to see solved. I will absolutely check out more by this author.
Prose: 5 stars. GORGEOUS. So unique and lovely, with lots of insights into the human condition where you're just like DAMN YES THIS YES. I highlighted a lot.
Setting- The desert: 5 stars. I've worked for years in the Mohave Desert, camping way out for weeks on end in some remote, ridiculous corners. Also spent months camping in backcountry Utah near where this book is set. Me, and all my friends I've worked with out there, have seen some crazy shit doing this. This author GETS THE DESERT. Like he really gets it. How it never cuts you a break and it attracts weirdos like a magnet and bad shit happens and good shit happens and weird shit ALWAYS happens and also car crashes. And wind. Endless wind. Always wind. His descriptions just breathe desert to me, and the culture of the desert is in every line. Plus the bizarro characters, which are spot on for the types of people you meet out there.
Characters: 5 stars. I adore Ben Jones, and I don't even know why. He's decent but also an asshole and doesn't mind punching a jerkoff and also helping a baby. Okay, so that makes it sound obvious why I'd like him but I like that the author writes him low key, like he's not trying to explain himself or be anything. He just is, take it or leave it. I would take it, every time. Best truck driver ever. All the other characters are amazing, too. He writes them full of deep evil and full of deep goodness, and doesn't try to pretend people are any other way. I really like how well he captures the specific breeds of desert weirdness you see: tough racist white guys, and criminals, and religious fanatics, and people who just want to do everything themselves and be left alone. People whose car broke down and they never left.
Opening: 2 stars. The initial hook is strong, but then the book takes a WHILE to get going. It's not a whirlwind like his other book.
Suspense: 4 stars. Even with the slow start, there's always something happening. There are a million curiosities sprinkled in here and there, and they all pay off somehow, but there are also quite a few places where it's sort of a gotcha fake cliffhanger, you know? So one star removed for that. Suspense was very strong at the end and not as much at the start.
Plot believability: 2 stars. I liked the main problems of the book. And there are many things that happen throughout the book that seem like crazy bad luck but just... I've seen exactly things like that happen in the desert, enough that it's just...the desert. My problem is that there are a bunch of different problems and plots throughout the book, and they're not ALL part of a single plot/scheme in the end. In other words, a lot of bad shit happens by coincidence when Ben is around in a very short period of time. I have no trouble believing any piece of it would happen, but it would have to be over years or decades. To have all this stuff happen all at once in just a few days? No way. That's fiction, not real life, and the kind of fiction that relies too heavily on coincidence so it yanks me out of the story.
Normally, that problem will make me put down a book and be done, but all the other elements were done so well that I kept reading anyway. I was really pained about the ending bc I was hoping for
Spoiler
a bit happier ending. However, I don't think happy endings are really this author's style.I loved the first book by this author more--it had better suspense throughout and a more cohesive plot. However, they both had stellar characterization, unforgettable prose and high stakes with problems I really was rooting to see solved. I will absolutely check out more by this author.
charlatti's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. Gorgeous writing, confusing ending (quite possibly reader failure).
prekrasan's review against another edition
5.0
To think I almost skipped reading this book because of the cover. I almost missed out on a fantastic story ... because in truth, I only picked it up due to the great reviews. The reviewers were right.
The characters are well-developed, and the layers slowly unfold as the story progresses. Ben, a delivery truck driver, gets more than he bargained for on a stop when he picks up unexpected cargo - a small, mute Hispanic child. He'll face more than bad weather along this route.
It was hard to choose, but I think my favorite character was Manita. She was a powerful force in this story by actions and motivation alone. Phyllis was also a tough yet lovable individual. As Anderson wove this story it felt real, like Manita and Phyllis were right there. I could see the story play out (as all good tales should).
My only complaint was the ending. There were too many questions left when it ended. Not a cliffhanger, but still really frustrating to reach the end of a tale when you've grown so attached to the characters to not know what became of them.
I would also argue with some of the choices Ben made, but that's what makes Ben his own character. As Ben put it,
"Maybe it was karma that was blind. Justice sure as hell wasn't." pg. 234
I highly recommend this tale to those who love an amazing bittersweet tale.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The characters are well-developed, and the layers slowly unfold as the story progresses. Ben, a delivery truck driver, gets more than he bargained for on a stop when he picks up unexpected cargo - a small, mute Hispanic child. He'll face more than bad weather along this route.
It was hard to choose, but I think my favorite character was Manita. She was a powerful force in this story by actions and motivation alone. Phyllis was also a tough yet lovable individual. As Anderson wove this story it felt real, like Manita and Phyllis were right there. I could see the story play out (as all good tales should).
My only complaint was the ending. There were too many questions left when it ended. Not a cliffhanger, but still really frustrating to reach the end of a tale when you've grown so attached to the characters to not know what became of them.
I would also argue with some of the choices Ben made, but that's what makes Ben his own character. As Ben put it,
"Maybe it was karma that was blind. Justice sure as hell wasn't." pg. 234
I highly recommend this tale to those who love an amazing bittersweet tale.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
martinkm87's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book for the most part, however it did take me a while to get into it. It seemed sort of slow going. I was unaware until after reading this book that it was a sequel. That makes part of the book make more sense now. Overall, it’s a good book. Gives a great description of route 117. I received this book from First to Read in exchange for an honest review.
adriannepeterson's review against another edition
5.0
With the lulling mesmerization of the open road that tricks one into feeling cocooned, the story unfolds during winter on Route 117, a remote road through the high desert of Utah trafficked only by eccentrics, fugitives, and those looking to escape the world. Not only treacherous roads, but treacherous humans, plague local truck driver Ben Jones, who is simply trying to get through the winter and survive a heartbreaking loss when he finds a mute Hispanic child who has been abandoned at a gas stop with a desperate plea for Ben to help the child.
jill_rey's review against another edition
3.0
Some background on me is necessary in understanding why I enjoyed this book as much as I did. For starters, I reside in Iowa. For those that don’t know, Iowa is a HUGE trucking state. Not only do we house The World’s Largest Truck Stop (https://iowa80truckstop.com/), but Interstate 80 (I-80) cuts directly across Iowa, providing us an endless supply of trucks on our interstates. Secondly, both of my grandfathers were truck drivers. My mother’s father drove trucks up until, and even beyond, retirement. From milk delivery, to hauling and dump trucks, my maternal grandfather did it all. It is because of these relations that I so deeply fell into this book.
Lullaby Road is set in Utah, along a thoroughly abandoned stretch of Highway 117, as we buckle in for an absorbing ride with Ben Jones during his daily desert deliveries. Like Iowa, Utah provides miles of flat, uninhabited road with unpredictable, ever-changing weather…so I felt right at home. Author, James Anderson’s poetic background was on full display through his enchanting character creations and “desert rat” living arrangements; he kept the reader held through an exciting week on the road with Ben Jones. However, Lullaby Road’s finale brought us an abrupt ending that ultimately felt unsatisfying and while I do hope to see more from Ben Jones, I would have enjoyed a smoother ending to this one.
For the full review, please visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lullaby Road is set in Utah, along a thoroughly abandoned stretch of Highway 117, as we buckle in for an absorbing ride with Ben Jones during his daily desert deliveries. Like Iowa, Utah provides miles of flat, uninhabited road with unpredictable, ever-changing weather…so I felt right at home. Author, James Anderson’s poetic background was on full display through his enchanting character creations and “desert rat” living arrangements; he kept the reader held through an exciting week on the road with Ben Jones. However, Lullaby Road’s finale brought us an abrupt ending that ultimately felt unsatisfying and while I do hope to see more from Ben Jones, I would have enjoyed a smoother ending to this one.
For the full review, please visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
ashleyreads88's review against another edition
*I received this for an honest review from NetGalley*
This book had me hooked from the beginning, it's one of those books that is so hard to put down. I loved the story, the characters, and the connections that the characters shared together. I also loved the small town feel that this book has.
This book had me hooked from the beginning, it's one of those books that is so hard to put down. I loved the story, the characters, and the connections that the characters shared together. I also loved the small town feel that this book has.