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Rating: Summary: Great little nugget of a book Review: A fine book buried behind a lousy cover and poor marketing, "Diamond Dogs" is a real treat that I might easily have over-looked had a friend not mentioned it to me. It is the engaging narrative of Neil, a high school football star from a troubled family who, after a night of drinking and recreational cruelty, accidentally kills a classmate. His father, the local police chief of their Nevada town (just outside of Las Vegas) disposes of the body without even talking to Neil, and thus begins three days of tension and mayhem.Some of the elements of "Diamond Dogs" are a bit over-cooked. I found the father's obsession with Neil Diamond more gimmicky than believable, which is too bad because the rest of the father/son relationship is drawn brilliantly. I found Neil's problems with his father, his yearning for his long-departed mother, and his relationships with his friends and girlfriends both believable and moving. Neil is not a particularly likable character, but what makes this novel so compelling is that Alan Watt had built him around an utterly irresistible narrative voice. I was hooked from the first page, and I just kept on reading. I don't know if it is true, but I have heard a rumor that Watt wrote this novel in six weeks. If that is the case, I tip my hate to him and bow in awe. Even if it is not the case, I am very impressed and I look forward to more good things from this talented young author.
Rating: Summary: whoop whoop whoop Review: Diamond Dog by Alan Watt was an attention-grabbing book. The book is about a young boy named Neil Garvin who kills another young boy named Ian Curtis. Neil panics after killing Ian and throws him into the trunk of his father's car who is the town's sheriff. The book takes a real spin from there. FBI agents are called in to investigate the disappearance of Ian Curtis, father son turmoil stirs, and a son is wondering about the disappearance of his mother from years back. Neil is forced to confront his dad about the disappearance of his mother and Ian's body. When he confronts his dad, all of his feelings change and Neil sees the world in a different way. I thought that this book was alright. It could have been better. The author would do flash backs when flash backs were not needed and confused me if it was from the past or present. The book was also a little graphic. If this book was a movie it would get the rating of "R" for sexual content and use of language. If you want a book to read for your leisure time I would suggest it but I would not suggest it as a family reading.
Rating: Summary: DIAMOND IN THE RUFF Review: DIAMOND DOGS pulled me in from the first pages. It's about the complexities of a father-son relationship, with a compelling plot: Neil Garvin is the 17-year-old protagonist and he accidentally kills a classmate. His father covers the boy's tracks, thinking he is protecting his son's future. What engaged me is how easily the author lets us see beyond Neil's cool facade into his scarred psyche. On the surface Neil seems like a typical high school star quarterback who dreams of getting out of his crummy town on his "million-dollar arm". He drinks beers with his buddies and is sometimes a bully. Inside, Neil's a real mess. He misses his mother (who he thinks deserted him as a boy) and he can't communicate with his father (the town sheriff and Neil Diamond fanatic). When the accident occurs, it further distances Neil from his father until the situation implodes. DIAMOND DOGS reminded me of another book: BEFORE AND AFTER by Rosellen Brown also about a father covering up for his son. DIAMOND DOGS isn't as good as the Brown book because the story starts to stall toward the end, but Alan Watt is an excellent writer--a diamond in the rough--and I look forward to his next book.
Rating: Summary: A book I read in English Review: The novel Diamond Dogs by Alan Watts is about a young boy named Neil Garvin. Neil was a popular high school quarterback whose life changes after he commits an accidental crime while driving home drunk after a party. Neil's father was the sheriff of their home town Carmen. To everyone else, Chester seemed like the perfect father, but in his own house he was an alcoholic and abuser. "He was always bragging about me to everybody. I think most people thought he was just this charming guy who really loved his son. He hardly showed his other side, at least not outside the house." Chester covers up Neil's crime by burying Ian's body without consulting Neil. Neil and his best friend Reed have plans to play football at the same college after high school. Neil become very discouraged after the accident and quits the football team. Reed becomes very worried about him. But on the other hand, Neil's father becomes very furious with him because he is living out his dreams through Neil and football. The FBI is called in by the victim's family. Agent Clive Burden questions everyone who was at the party. The evidence provided by the kids proves that Neil is responsible for the disappearance of Ian Curtis. People become suspicious and distant from Neil, including his best friend Reed. "I could feel the stares. I sat there wondering if they knew - everyone who'd seen the condition I'd been in that night." In the end, Neil realizes and regrets all the mistakes he's made in life; his dishonest and unfaithful behavior to his girlfriend; making fun of students who weren't as popular as he was; teasing teachers, just because they knew they would get away with it because they were athletes. "We'd throw chalk at him when he wasn't looking and yell in class while he was writing on the board. And when he turned around pretend to be studying. We'd just be yelling nonsense. And we'd really yell, I mean we would scream... We did it to torment him." The biggest regret Neil had was that he had turned into his father. Overall, I would give Diamond Dogs four stars. It was a truthful book that is great for teenage students to relate to. The author describes very well what the life of Neil Garvin was like. It is a book with interesting conflict of interest.
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