A Sea of White Impatiens

Rating:
Summary: Rock on McLeod!
Review: A one (from the prior reviewer)? I could see a four or a three maybe, as the book could use a good editing, but the venom...yikes! It's clear the reviewer has some kind of adolescent ax to grind. Or maybe he's got a crush on the author and wants to be "noticed," like a child who shoplifts in order to get his parents' attention. Either way, there's clearly something bothering him beyond the story. And why "out" the hometown? I heard McLeod was from Detroit anyway so maybe the reviewer's thinking about the wrong classmate. Anyway, the book is hilarious and often extremely moving. The guy below, on the other hand, is angry, sad and very needy.

Rating:
Summary: Artless tale of artist as a young man
Review: Editing is completely alien to this author who confuses novelistic license with autobiography. This book is less a novel with a coherent storyline that builds to a climax than a litany of remembrances that ends with sudden undeveloped revelations that the reader just cannot care about. The first person protagonist claims he enjoys being mean but the things he does are pedestrian and the quips he claims he makes lack wit. Most of this book dwells on the author's large family. To what extent these long uninteresting stretches are based in reality or complete fantasy I cannot attest. They may be skipped. But this said, I could not put down the book. Having grown up with the author, I contend that the school and community descriptions and stories fall more on the side of autobiography than novel. Rowaneck, the locale, is a very thinly disguised real life Mamaroneck. Some gossip never gets old and the nostalgia quotient is great. Anyone who grew up in wealthy southern Westchester County (Pelham Manor, Rye, Larchmont, etc.) in the 1980s will want to read this book. To my Mamaroneck High School classmates from the 1980s I say, "This is a must read." To everyone else I say, "The writing is atrocious and you won't care about anything in this lame coming of age tale."

Rating:
Summary: stirring drama with humor and warmth
Review: Laughter, tears, joy and sorrow... all can be found within the pages of Sea of White Impatiens. McLeod is a writer to watch.

Rating:
Summary: fabulous family saga
Review: Loren McLeod's prose moved me deeply. Profound, poignant... a must read.

Rating:
Summary: A fabulous family saga
Review: Loren McLeod's prose moved me deeply. This is a poignant and profound book. A must read.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: This book is a must read for any fan of Loren McLeod! Not many books can make you sit back and ponder life as much as this one. Pick it up today, you won't be sorry!

Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: This book is a must read for any fan of Loren McLeod! Not many books can make you sit back and ponder life as much as this one. Pick it up today, you won't be sorry!

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: This book is amazing! I've read it twice and recommend it to everyone I meet. It sounds so cliche, but I literally laughed, cried and was even moved to anger (NEVER go to garage sales with these people!!) by the actions of the Gallaghers of Rowaneck. Buy it. Read it. Pass the word...

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: This book is amazing! I've read it twice and recommend it to everyone I meet. It sounds so cliche, but I literally laughed, cried and was even moved to anger (NEVER go to garage sales with these people!!) by the actions of the Gallaghers of Rowaneck. Buy it. Read it. Pass the word...

Rating:
Summary: Funny Stuff
Review: This family is a riot. They should be in jail, but they'd probably take over. That garage sale smashing part is really funny. I'm in love with Deirdre. Great read. I'll probably read it again.