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lori85's review
4.0
This is the story of one family's fall from the American Dream and descent into hell, which is literally scorching hot, stinking, and plague-ridden (the waste treatment plant is found to be a cancer risk). The original sin here is dopey dad Warren's greed compelling him to uproot his wife and children to the golden land of California, where he promptly loses all their money in a bad real estate investment. Like Dante on his tour, the spectacle only gets worse from there. Criminal charges, infidelity, maiming, disfigurement, runaway children, an explosion - if there was any divine intervention here, it's the miracle that no one ever attempts suicide.
Mom Camille commutes to a job two hours away that provides the family with badly-needed health insurance, while daughter Lyle takes a year off from college to help with her invalid brother. I don't know if this was intentional commentary on the author's part, but it is noteworthy that it is the women of the household who took on the most burdens. This happens a lot in real life.
Mom Camille commutes to a job two hours away that provides the family with badly-needed health insurance, while daughter Lyle takes a year off from college to help with her invalid brother. I don't know if this was intentional commentary on the author's part, but it is noteworthy that it is the women of the household who took on the most burdens. This happens a lot in real life.
byp's review
2.0
I genuinely liked Part 1, mostly because I was interested in the way the characters funtioned as a family. Even so, I was often distracted by too much exposition, and a lot of writing that sounded too much like writing. I actually couldn't get through Part 2, which I'll acknowledge was due in part to my own squeamishness. The female characters start out promsing, but are soon reduced to stereotype. Sigh.
cami19's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lisawhelpley's review
4.0
Part 1 of this book: Where was Mr Puchner's editor? Part 1 takes place in 1985 and there are tons of errors - I must assume that his editor was just a child (if that) in 1985 because so many things did NOT happen in 1985. A few examples: we did not say "mosh" in 1985. It was called slam dancing. How could the father take money from the son's 529 plan when 529s were established in 1996? In the 1980s we said handicapped, not disabled. It's so sloppy. I like the book and will continue on, but this is bothersome to me, and I expect better from this publishing house.
Overall: I did like this book. It was dark, so be ready for that.
Overall: I did like this book. It was dark, so be ready for that.
sonowthen's review against another edition
5.0
This was a wonderful book. One of the best I've read all year.
ericfheiman's review
4.0
Eric Puchner tackles the familiar topic of suburban familial malaise by shooting it so full of growth hormones, that by the halfway point the reader is slack-jawed from the narrative explosions (literally and figuratively) that occur. The book would feel like a stunt if the author's seven-plus characters weren't all so well-rendered. A total sleeper hit that deserves more recognition and readers.
amycrea's review
3.0
I might have liked this better if I'd been able to stop comparing it to The Financial Lives of the Poet. They have similar plot foundations, although very different outcomes. I just thought Poets was by far the better book.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. Eric Puchner's "Model Home" reminded me a little bit of the movie "American Beauty." It's not similar at all in plot or characters, but more in tone. Puchner write about the Ziller family, who seem to be perfect, living in a affluent California neighborhood in the 1980's, but who are really headed towards a complete disaster.
I don't want to give any of the plot away, as it really does go in unexpected directions. The thing that really got me about this book is the isolation of all of the characters. All of the main characters (parents, three kids, a few others) are all very isolated. There is no harmony in the family, before and after the various disasters in the book. It's a very lonely story with lonely, scared characters. I think this makes the book feel real and personal, as life is often a solitary venture, even when you have people all around you.
Puchner also scored big with humor. The book is as funny, as it is depressing. All of the characters were equally entertaining and could have each branched into their own book. I find it rare that all parts of a story are equally entertaining and Puchner totally pulls it off.
This is definitely a new author to watch.
http://www.alwayspackedforadventure.com
I don't want to give any of the plot away, as it really does go in unexpected directions. The thing that really got me about this book is the isolation of all of the characters. All of the main characters (parents, three kids, a few others) are all very isolated. There is no harmony in the family, before and after the various disasters in the book. It's a very lonely story with lonely, scared characters. I think this makes the book feel real and personal, as life is often a solitary venture, even when you have people all around you.
Puchner also scored big with humor. The book is as funny, as it is depressing. All of the characters were equally entertaining and could have each branched into their own book. I find it rare that all parts of a story are equally entertaining and Puchner totally pulls it off.
This is definitely a new author to watch.
http://www.alwayspackedforadventure.com
emjay24's review against another edition
4.0
The thought of a family living in a model home brought to my mind the show Arrested Development. The book actually kinda started out more like this, a dark comedy with a lot of really weird people. In the middle, there's a giant twist. I can't tell you what it is, but it really changes so much. Act two has lost most of the comedy out of the dark comedy, but i'd already gotten so invested in the characters, who I found to be pretty likeable, that i wanted to read more. I love reading, and watching, about families of weirdos. I started reading another book in a series i love, but even though i love that book, i just kept being compelled to come and read this book. it drew me in, great storytelling, and what imagination. the only thing i did not like was the end. it was an indie movie end. i hate endings like that. even though the book had an indie ending, the people didn't talk in that annoying indie way throughout the book. i definitely identified with them. I did not expect to enjoy the book as much as i did, and i really did enjoy it. A definite read!