They love me, they really love me! *clutches trophy* *ugly crying*

 

 

 

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 

 

4.0 out of 5 stars Way More Intense Than It Let's On November 9, 2014

By U.L. Harper

Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

 

I went into this piece of fiction looking forward to an interesting love story, which it is, but it's parameters don't stop with that. That would be like saying M.A.S.H. is merely a movie about doctors in the Korean War.

Story aside, this novel is about the writing. Nazareth Bergeron will cut you with her wit. I found that numerous lines were meant to be read repeatedly. She has a knack of letting you understand a scene through metaphor and analogy. "I scramble out of bed like Jackie Kennedy over the trunk of a convertible..." To me, even that little bit is intense, seeing that Jackie O. was probably reaching for her husband's brains. This sort of thing is all through the novel, and it seems to come naturally. In fact, Nazareth excels in the first-person point of view the story is written in. I recently stopped reading first-person stories because they seem too small in scope. Not here. Cleverly enough, Ms. Bergeron takes the characters and puts them under the lens of our protagonist and sometimes you get them for what they are and sometimes you don't. It's up to the reader to decide how trustworthy our narrator is. It makes the narrative refreshing, and like I said before, sharp.

But let's for a moment focus on this supposed love story. I say supposed because it's not typical of a love story, unless, true to the title, you are from a generation where this sort of thing might be the norm. I'm not going to give away what happens that was so powerful to me that I had to rethink the entire novel, but I will say it is of the sexual nature and from a males perspective I had to think about it. In fact, I look at the book as what happens before the event (B.E) and what happens after the event (AE).

Before the event our heroine is talking about her nuptials, Ken and the details of his physique. It's like being in the head of child growing exponentially by the moment, realizing things, pondering every moment underneath a microscope. After the event, that same person is internally trying to be that same small growing person, but in the process, she seems stunted by trying to be her old self. Eventually we see her begin to grow but it's in a different direction, a more humble direction, ever so slightly.

It's not a long story but we're not talking about a plot here either. This is a character piece that doesn't care to hold your hand. You have to be there for it, it's not coming to you. Na ah. It's fun in the sense of it's wit, but this is not a comedy. I will disagree with reviews that say it's fast paced. This is a methodical piece of work that does things specifically. Sometimes not so specifically. Parts of it are meant to be seen, looked at like staring at a picture...and then the scene evolves and moves away. As vague as that sounds, whatever. It's how I see it. The timing is hard to discover. It's not set up to insert drama here and insert joke here. Like I said, you have to roll with its punches. They're not all hard punches but you feel them, nonetheless.

Four stars for having a unique voice, being thought-provoking and not having a sequel. I'm tired of sequels.

 

 

 

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastically inspiring, enjoyable book!, 27 July 2014

 

 

By 

Rich James - See all my reviews

 

Verified Purchase(What is this?)

This review is from: Dear Johnny: A Gen-Ex Love Story (Kindle Edition)

Dear Johnny is a fast-paced, exciting book. However, having most of the story set on just one day, allows full exploration, description and the enjoyment of the voyeur of the minutiae of that day's hilarious, outrageous and ultimately understandable journey.
We are invited into the panic-stricken mind of Franky Lane, and join her on the biggest day of her life. Emotional, funny, inspirational, sad, believable and outrageous is her story as we flit with Franky through all emotions.
This is a highly readable book, with pages that beg you to be turned. Nazareth Bergeron has captured the human condition in a way that is truthful and highly entertaining. Fantastic!

 

 

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book!!! February 4, 2015

By Donald T. Bembry

Format:Kindle Edition

 

Bergeron has a very unique perspective on life that at the same time is impossibly relatable! No, this is not a romance novel, kind of 'Catcher In The Rye' 1st person angst genre, but much more silly and fun. I was surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did, as somehow it is at once childish, and also very adult in it's view, as if the main character is torn between two worlds. The use of metaphor will strain your brain and make you laugh and cry, her writing is amazing, i must recommend you read this book!

 

 

 

5.0 out of 5 stars well written February 3, 2015

By Kausar

Format:Kindle Edition

 

I was unsure I would like this book, but I sailed through the sample and wanted more fast so I immediately bought the book and binged read it.

"Dear Johnny: A Gen-X Love Story" felt like I was on a one of those dizzying fairground rides most of the time, there were many very moving moments. It was at times; tragic, terrifying, very funny, insightful, and also inspiring. I was able to really relate to the heroine on multiple levels.

I really liked the author's style of writing, it is unusual and refreshing. Nazareth Bergeron writes with intelligence, wit and an easy, friendly flow that makes the book a real page turner. Really she has a very unassuming way of getting deep into your mind and reminding you of things you forgot you knew. There are so many layers to her writing that I would dare to call it 'brilliant.'

Yes, it's brilliant in a quirky way, that appeals to the 20 something inside. "Dear Johnny" was a very pleasant surprise and I highly recommend this book.

 

 

 

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch out or you'll get sucked in!, August 10, 2014

 

 

By 

Virginia L Hart - See all my reviews

 

Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Dear Johnny: A Gen-Ex Love Story (Kindle Edition)

This author knows how to write! She can weave a yarn and suck you into her humor and way of seeing life. This is life in the fast lane, sometimes angling off onto the side roads but coming back seamlessly to a story that takes place in the span of one day. Trust me, you'll be easily hooked...and you'll be crying out for a sequel!