Rating: 
Summary: Mr. Nicholas Webber
Review: Jaffe's story provides a wonderful example of how a thirty-something single father deals with parenthood, while at the same time living through the trials and tribulations of his new found life. Love, loss of love, security, and insecurity are all very important themes within this book. Jaffe provides a wonderful set of characters who play out the problems of life in a small town in Kansas (a slow paced backdrop which allows the reader to put into perspective the interaction which occurs between its complex protagonist and the rest of the characters within the novel). All and all, this story is well thought out, and it is very well portrayed. In terms of writing style, Jaffe has room to improve. Though he shows flashes of briliance, his narrative, many times, appears to be organic and repetitive. Written in the first person, there are a lot of "I's," and there is not a whole lot depth in the description of setting. In conclusion, this book excells in bringing to life the problems of a man trying to become a father, and lacks in literary maturity. Something this good writer will only get better at.
Rating:
Summary: A good summer read but not all that deep
Review: The book really had me hooked in the beginning. But the author lost me when he brought "Mom" back into the picture. He didn't seem to know what to do with her and the ending ended up weak and contrite.
Rating: 
Summary: Lame, tame, much the same
Review: The misapplied metaphor and the meaningless adjective overwhelm this slight book pretending to be a serious examination of love and fathering. But besides the numerous inappopriate and gratuitous modifiers, there is nothing here. The conflict feels grafted on by an author who recognizes the dullness of his tale, the plot surprises would only surprise the comatose, and the predictability of the whole thing left me weary. A book for those who feel rather than think, for the feelings are all good in this. Nice man, nice boy, nice girlfriend. Nice make-believe story line. Nothing in here approaches real. Nothing is thought out. It is the harmless cotton candy of modern fiction, tastes great (in very limnited quantities) with no content whatsoever.
Rating: 
Summary: Perhaps the finest novel of its kind this century
Review: This book is a tiny, delicate, infinitely-faceted gem inlaid in a brooch of finely-etched, perfectly molded iridium reposing in a rare, supple, subtly carved treasure chest carried in a simple, refined, elegant shopping bag. I loved it!
Rating:
Summary: touching story about single fatherhood
Review: This is a wonderfully moving and evocative story of a single
father left to raise his young son by himself after his wife walks out. Every parent will be able to relate to the
way Gordon feels about his son, Calvin-- he loves him more
than life itself, but sometimes he just wants to strangle him! When the ex-wife reappears to challenge Gordon's custody
of Calvin, you'll think it's Kramer vs. Kramer all over again,
but this story is less about a custody battle than it is
about the relationship of father and son. Very touching and
highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic BOOK!!!!
Review: This was one of the most delicate and touching stories I have ever read. I can't wait for Michael's next book, and I can't wait to see the movie of "Dance Real Slow". It's a shame it won't be on the big screen.
Rating:
Summary: a sweet read in parts
Review: Though Jaffe's novel is far from perfect (weak writing in parts that sounds contrived, some plot strands that just don't work out), let's dwell on the bright side. He captures quite well the frustrations and joys of parenthood. Even the most patient parent occassionaly feels like smacking his/her child at times. Calvin is a cute 4 year old who becomes enamoured of the Portuguese Man of War that his grandmother sends him in a jar! In one of the funniest scenes in the book, they make a trip to a doctor friend who treats the decaying jellyfish and adds formaldyhide which prolongs the creatures jar life a few more days. The love interest part of the book works, although we never find out much about her, but the scenes when his exwife comes back just don't seem to hang together. There were times that the writing sounded "workshoppy" to me. In short, this novel is worth reading for some poignant moments and sweet scenes, but it has several weaknesses that interfere with the novel as a whole.
Rating:
Summary: a sweet read in parts
Review: Though Jaffe's novel is far from perfect (weak writing in parts that sounds contrived, some plot strands that just don't work out), let's dwell on the bright side. He captures quite well the frustrations and joys of parenthood. Even the most patient parent occassionaly feels like smacking his/her child at times. Calvin is a cute 4 year old who becomes enamoured of the Portuguese Man of War that his grandmother sends him in a jar! In one of the funniest scenes in the book, they make a trip to a doctor friend who treats the decaying jellyfish and adds formaldyhide which prolongs the creatures jar life a few more days. The love interest part of the book works, although we never find out much about her, but the scenes when his exwife comes back just don't seem to hang together. There were times that the writing sounded "workshoppy" to me. In short, this novel is worth reading for some poignant moments and sweet scenes, but it has several weaknesses that interfere with the novel as a whole.
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