Alison's Automotive Repair Manual: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: You MUST read this one!
Review: Alison Durst was in her mid-thirties when she became a widow. Her husband had died two years before, yet Alison was unable to let go. She resided with her sister, Sarah, and her brother-in-law, Bill, in a small town in West Virginia. They urged Alison to either move on with her life or move back to her own house. Yet Alison could not bring herself to leave the small town and return to the house where she had so many memories.

Alison finally told Sarah that she would get on with her life - just as soon as she renovated the nearly ruined 1976 Corvette that was rusting in Sarah's garage. Alison knew absolutely NOTHING about cars. But she bought a manual and tools, rolled up her sleeves, and went to slow work.

Max Kesler was a handsome munitions expert. His father was a compulsive liar whose biggest lie (that was around fifty-years old) may soon become exposed. That lie made Mr. Kesler the town's celebrity! But Max was tired of all the lies and actually looked forward to the town learning the truth in the very near future.

***** Brad Barkley has earned a place on my list of favorite authors! Nicholas Sparks has heavy competition here! I could not stop reading. I cannot recommend this novel high enough. A MUST READ! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

Rating:
Summary: Depth Behind the Humor
Review: Brad Barkley's new novel ALISON'S AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR MANUAL is the type of fable about southern living that belongs right beside Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize- winning masterpiece TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Although Barkley's novel does not encounter the racial overtones of Lee's 1961 bestseller, ALISON'S AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR MANUAL paints an enriching landscape of everyday life in Wiley Ford, West Virginia through the eyes of protagonist and recently widowed Alison Durst.

In an attempt to reconcile with the loss of her husband Marty, Alison is living with her sister Sarah and brother-in-law Bill and stumbles upon a 1976 Corvette in their garage that is in dire need of attention. The similarities between Lee's Atticus Finch, a widower with two small children on his hands, and Alison are remarkable. While Atticus does all he can to raise his children right while defending a wrongly accused black man during the Depression, Alison struggles with her identity in a contemporary southern town with people who aren't too comfortable with a woman peeking her head under the hood of a sports car and getting grease under her fingernails. Instead of getting on with her life and returning to teaching at the nearby college, Alison tackles the task of repairing the Corvette without knowing a thing about auto repair and this is where Barkley's work shines the most.

While her sister Sarah and her husband Bill can only shake their heads in disbelief over Alison's attempt at salvaging the Corvette, Alison is befriended by Max Kesler, the local demolitions expert and, before long, Alison turns the ignition key and her 'Vette roars to life.

Barkley, author of the acclaimed novel MONEY, LOVE, adds a snippet from Haynes Automotive Repair Manual: Chevrolet Corvette, 1968 Thru 1982 before each of the 14 chapters of the book that somehow correlate with the flow of the story and the progress of the restoration of Alison's beloved chariot. Barkley's description of the nuances involved in repairing the tattered Corvette is magnificent. With the Haynes manual by her side and with the help of Mr. Beachy, the owner of AAAA Auto Parts, the car gets as much an overhaul as Alison can afford.

The novel also contains a bittersweet love story between Alison and Max, the father of Gordon Kesler, the town's outspoken compulsive liar. Alison does all she can to keep the thoughts of her late husband Marty close to her heart, while realizing that falling in love with somebody like Max could be exactly what the doctor ordered. Or could it? Meanwhile, Max, who has a tattoo of cartoon character Yosemite Sam, fears Alison is getting to close to his lying father during routine visits to Sarah's house, where a group of elderly residents from the nearby nursing home come to take dance lessons on a weekly basis.

While the pace of the book may seem stuck in first gear to some readers, the entire story is completely well thought out and contains a conclusion that ties the entire message of the story together extremely well. The novel is also filled with hysterics that seem to happen at just the right time. Whether it's Barkley's comical depiction of Alison and Max attending Bingo night or the calamity of Gordon Kesler's countless fabrications, there is plenty of laughter to go around.

Not enough can be said of Barkley's depiction of life in a sleepy southern town like Wiley Ford. From the description of the garage that houses Alison's Corvette, to the insides of the auto parts store complete with a bubble gum machine or the details of the local diner, Barkley has ALISON'S AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR MANUAL firing on all cylinders.

--- Reviewed by David Exum

Rating:
Summary: Has some very good moments
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. It is the story of Alison, wa woman in her thirties who is widowed when her husband dies in an accident. Like some woman in this situation, Alison romanticizes her relationship with Marty to the point that she is unable to get on with her life in any concrete way. After two years of wallowing in misery, she begins to rebuild a totally rundown 1976 Corvette.

THe novel is cleverly written. Each chapter heading is a section of an automotive repair manual, that gives you a brief description of what Alison is going to learn in the ensuing chapter.

What I liked best about this novel was the complexity of the characters that we meet. There are no wasted characters. Everyone we meet is well texted, they are complete, and they have strengths and weaknesses, and some are not all that likeable. Most of the dialogue is good- to the point, few embelishments, and very realistic. You capture a nice picture of small town America. I was not always happy with the interior narrative of Alison however. Sometimes I felt the narrator was a little too detached, and I guess this supposed to be part of Alison's character, but it separated me a little too much from Alison, and sometimes I really didn't like her character. This is always a big literary sticking point with me- how is the reader supposed to feel about the hero? Are we supposed to like them, or is that too pat?

I also didn't see the pattern of Alison's growth very clearly. I don't like things spelled out, but I think the reader needed to make too many leaps and guesses as to how Alison's character developed throughout the novel. I guess I was not convinced of any real transformation.

But, that aside, I think this is a novel that deserves to be read, and discussed, and reread.

Rating:
Summary: Has some very good moments
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. It is the story of Alison, wa woman in her thirties who is widowed when her husband dies in an accident. Like some woman in this situation, Alison romanticizes her relationship with Marty to the point that she is unable to get on with her life in any concrete way. After two years of wallowing in misery, she begins to rebuild a totally rundown 1976 Corvette.

THe novel is cleverly written. Each chapter heading is a section of an automotive repair manual, that gives you a brief description of what Alison is going to learn in the ensuing chapter.

What I liked best about this novel was the complexity of the characters that we meet. There are no wasted characters. Everyone we meet is well texted, they are complete, and they have strengths and weaknesses, and some are not all that likeable. Most of the dialogue is good- to the point, few embelishments, and very realistic. You capture a nice picture of small town America. I was not always happy with the interior narrative of Alison however. Sometimes I felt the narrator was a little too detached, and I guess this supposed to be part of Alison's character, but it separated me a little too much from Alison, and sometimes I really didn't like her character. This is always a big literary sticking point with me- how is the reader supposed to feel about the hero? Are we supposed to like them, or is that too pat?

I also didn't see the pattern of Alison's growth very clearly. I don't like things spelled out, but I think the reader needed to make too many leaps and guesses as to how Alison's character developed throughout the novel. I guess I was not convinced of any real transformation.

But, that aside, I think this is a novel that deserves to be read, and discussed, and reread.

Rating:
Summary: amusing romantic romp with serious undertones
Review: In West Virginia, thirty something widow Alison Durst remains in mourning though her husband died in an accident two years ago. Her sister Sarah and brother-in-law Bill have been supportive, but even they are tiring of Alison as a permanent, grieving guest plus they care and just want her to rebuild her life. Both believe she needs to start over first by moving into her own home.

However Alison is not ready to leave. Although she knows nothing about cars, she decides to rebuild Bill's broken-down Corvette. She will move out once she completes her task. Munitions manufacturer Max Kesler agrees to assist Alison on her quest. They begin seeing each other although his father's behavior jeopardizes this relationship before the attraction can become anything permanent.

ALISON'S AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR MANUAL is an amusing romantic romp with serious undertones that is at its best when the lead couple goes out on dates at weird locales. Her side, including her late husband, provides strong support so that the reader further understands Alison's struggles with getting on with her life. On the other hand, his father impedes the flow of a delightful tale worth reading by fans of second chance romances.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Great for a lazy afternoon
Review: Okay, so it's not a page-turner. This book is a subtle treat. The author has an amazing grasp on small town life, and the people who make it so. The repairing of the 1976 Corvette shows an obvious parallel to Alison's soul.
After her husband dies, Alison moves to a small town in West Virginia with her sister. The devistation of losing her partner is too much for her to bear. She finds herself unable to work, live alone, or love.
When she discovers the Corvette in her sisters garage she goes through a slow metamophosis while making it new again. She learns that it is possible to go on. If the car can do it, so can she.
The townspeople become her own, and she even manages to find a bit of romance. This is an excellent book with a wonderful positive message. Go out and get it.

Rating:
Summary: Great for a lazy afternoon
Review: Okay, so it's not a page-turner. This book is a subtle treat. The author has an amazing grasp on small town life, and the people who make it so. The repairing of the 1976 Corvette shows an obvious parallel to Alison's soul.
After her husband dies, Alison moves to a small town in West Virginia with her sister. The devistation of losing her partner is too much for her to bear. She finds herself unable to work, live alone, or love.
When she discovers the Corvette in her sisters garage she goes through a slow metamophosis while making it new again. She learns that it is possible to go on. If the car can do it, so can she.
The townspeople become her own, and she even manages to find a bit of romance. This is an excellent book with a wonderful positive message. Go out and get it.