Aaron, Approximately

Rating:
Summary: Aaron, Approximately-Touching, Somewhat
Review: As much as I empathized with Aaron, I found the book just a little trite. At times it read like "Catcher in the Rye"-relating Aaron's adventures in urbania in a manner similar to Salinger's treatment of Holden Caulfield. However, I enjoyed some of the humor-however morose it might be. The plot seems rather thin at times, but picks up enjoyably in the prose. All together, this is not a visionary masterpiece, but it is a solid debut by Lazar. It might even be read as a complement to "CITR", but only as a supplement to Salinger.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: beautiful structure. hammer hits the head with every line

Rating:
Summary: Great writer with a lesser-abled editor
Review: I meet this guy at a party and he has a book published, so I figure I'll read it. The first chapter ended with my turning to my wife and saying, "Oh man, I don't want to read this book." From the second chapter on I couldn't put the thing down. Near the end I found myself slowing down and reading it less often - Our relationship (the book and I) had grown and I knew it would end soon. So I tried to prolong it. I thought it was terrifically well-written. The first and last chapters seemed off somehow. A wonderful sandwich on stale bread. But who am I to critique: I don't have a book publshed. Read this book - but don't look too closely at the cover photo - it will detract from the image you form of Aaron in your mind's eye.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good first novel...
Review: I read this book a few years back and reread a good chunk of it while I was home over the Xmas break. This book is a real tearjerker. You just can't help but feel so sorry for this guy, probably because everyone can relate on some level to how he feels. Aaron Brite is a Jewish boy living near Littleton, CO, and this is his story from prepubescence to the tequila-laiden shores of a tropical island where he seeks solice from the burden and fear of monogamy during his mid 20s. Aaron's story is raw and straight from the heart, and it almost makes you feel as though Lazar has ripped open a diary and is exposing a real person who has fought, and is still fighting, to find his place in the world. I liked this book but I disliked many of the chracters and really couldn't stand several short chapters written all in one-liners of dialogue with no identification for who's saying what. This book is really raw, so make sure you're ready to relive some of your own growing pains the story may churn up.

Rating:
Summary: realistic, enjoyable read
Review: I really liked this book in that it described the experiences aaron goes through in a very accurate, beautifully written way. I am 21 years old, so i related greatly to all the things he did in his youth-his feelings of being an outcast, his first relationship, his drug use and druggie friends-Lazar really gets it right. The only thing was, Aaron seemed like he needed to lighten up at times, he was too melancholy and dramatic. And it never really went into how the things that happened to him tied into his father's death. But all in all, a very poignant and realistic book that draws you in and lets you feel all of the character's emotions throughout his interesting experiences in vivid detail.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good first novel...
Review: Lazar was my creative writing teacher last semester at Hofstra. He was incredibly creative and fun to sit in class with. He had listened and critiqued our work, so I wanted to see what he had to offer. I read Aaron, Approximately and Lazar proved to be as creative on the pages as he was in class. This is a wonderful novel that shows how a tramatic youth affects the process of becoming an adult. Aaron goes through many different phases, friends, and quests in his journey becoming a man.

You won't be bored when reading this novel, there is a perfect blend of comedy and seriousness that keeps the reader interested. Pick it up and read it. You won't be dissapointed.