A review by erinmp
Lottery by Patricia Wood

4.0

I'm not entirely sure why, but I loved this book. I was immediately attached to the main character, Perry (who is NOT retarded, just slow). Perry, as mentioned, is not retarded, and he has a life he enjoys: working at the the shop, living with his grandma, hangind out with his best friend. His family is a bunch of assholes--his mother ignores him, his father is not around at all (Perry assumes he's dead--we find out for sure much later in the book), and his stuck-up, money-obsessed brothers make him call them cousin-brothers because they don't want to be associated with him. Perry and his grandma have a list, a list of who Perry is to listen to. And aside from grandma, there's not a family member on it. Then Perry's gram dies, and no one except Perry and his best friend seem to care. The family immediately shows up and starts claiming anything of value, trick Perry into giving up his rights to the house, sell it, then give him $500 from the sale. Thankfully Perry's boss gives him the use of the apartment above the store so he at last has a place to live. Then Perry wins the lottery. The $12 million lottery. And then, of course, things start to get complicated.

I loved the character of Perry and fiercely hated his family, and I think that's why I loved this book so much, I really got into the story and Perry's life. It's written from the perspective of Perry, so the language is simple, but I think that just connects the reader to Perry more. I really didn't care too much for the ending--it was a little too happy and wrapped up nicely for me. I can overlook that, however, in favor of the rest of the book.