Atticus : Novel, A

Rating:
Summary: Atticus
Review: A very good book, easy to read and it makes you eager to get back to it. Good story line but sometimes the events are somewhat difficult to track. Though by the same author as Hitler's Niece, I found this one to be superior.

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Summary: The "Summer Reading" book that was actually decent
Review: The novel Atticus by Ron Hansen must be , I say, one of the most decent books I have read all summer. The suspense filled chapters and personalities of each character kept the book flowing and in perfect sequence. The book, however, not only amazed me with its suspense and sequence, but also with the style of writing that Hansen so magnificently expressed in his book. The way he so presicely changed the writing form from thrid person (main characters) to first person (Scott) is just outstanding.
However, Hansen characters were actually the people that brought the story to life. Atticus, father of Scott Cody, shows his love for his son through his search to figure out if his son is actually dead or not; Renata, the love of Scott, is forced to decide love between recent boyfriend Staurt and Scott; and Scott, the depressed artist who life is being destroyed through drugs and alcohol. These character all had a special part in the book and without their presence, the book would lack its main plot which would destroy the whole story.
Furthermore, I commend Hansen on his writing of Atticus and plan on doing more reading of his books during my free time. Summer reading for high school should choose more books well written like this one.

Rating:
Summary: The strength it took for me to finish this book.
Review: Ron Hansen's Atticus is a classic murder mystery with an unexpected ending. It's a shame that the book should have ended about 100 pages before it did. The plot was full of promise, but it left me unsatisified and wanting more. Some parts of the book I found to be rather confusing. Hansen should have been more descripitve, so that the reader wouldn't be lost for a third of the book. Nonetheless, Hansen's description of the father-son relationship is extremely vivid and touching. Atticus loved his son Scott even though he was somewhat rebellious. I found this relationship to be one of the brighter parts of the book. Throughout the book, Ron Hansen fails to fully capture the reader's attention. I was hooked for ten pages, then completely bored out of my mind for the next fifty pages. My only inspiration for reading Atticus was; the faster that I read, the sooner I would be done. I would not reccomend this book to anyone who is looking for a good plot with substance.

Rating:
Summary: A decent summer reading book
Review: "Atticus" was actually worth reading during summer vacation for high school summer reading. This book, I must say, had somewhat a suspensful plot to it that kept you reading the book as if you were not actually forced to do it, but felt in your will to read it. It was a incredible book and I must say that Ron Hansen has a great way in choosing words and passages that describe the story's mainline.
However, Hansen's characters were that actual people to bring the plot of his story to life . They were magnificently drawn and created by Hansen to fit his story so perfectly in such a way that his character all meant something in the story. They all had a specifc spot where they should have been and without them they story would not have been completed. As main characters Atticus, Scott, Renata, and Stuart ebegan unfold the story began to tell its meanings and its plot. This is what adds the flavor to those "salts" of the book that were touched upon.
Futhermore, Hansen's book was really a great novel and I do reccommend it to people who love suspense and surprise. This book is an excellent piece of writing and Hansen's stlye is just out-right amazing. If I decide ever to read another novel, one of Ron Hansen's book wound be to far from my choice of reading.

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Summary: Surpising and Riveting
Review: Atticus is a book that takes unexpected twists and turns with action, adventure, and an allure of mystery. It starts with the suicide of Atticus Cody's son, Scott Cody. Atticus Cody is a successful rancher and oil driller, whose older son is a very successful senator. And the younger son is Scott Cody, the dissolute, wasteful one who has yet to find a true drive in his life. The father, Atticus, flies down to Resurrección, Mexico where his son was house-sitting for a friend of his before his death, and begins to suspect foul play and murder instead of suicide. Atticus remains relentless throughout the story in piecing together the mystery that lay ahead of him. Renata, Scott's long lost love whom he has never been able to convince to be his, helps him. In the end, there remains to be what is the most unexpected of all changes, and the bona fide truth is revealed. Atticus is the most intrepid character throughout the book, and refuses to give or accept failure in his search of fact concerning his son. The actuality of the mystery is sure to be one the most astounding experiences of recent time.

Rating:
Summary: Not worth the time and effort.......
Review: Ron Hansen started off great and declined every time I turned the page. He had a great idea in the murder mystery, but halfway through the book I lost interest. Atticus is the wealthy father of the Prodigal Son, Scott. They have a rough relationship and Scott takes off to Resurrection, Mexico. This is when I was still interested in the book. The intro was a little bit slow and confusing, but it wasn't completely bad. While in Mexico, Scott lives a crazy life and spends all of his money on alcohol and drugs. Soon after, Atticus receives a call saying that his son, Scott, has committed suicide. He flies down to Resurrection to find the reasons for the suicide. As he is staying there, he finds clues that tell him it wasn't a suicide, but a murder. The story gets somewhat suspenseful at this point, yet I am still uninterested. The climax adds a twist to the story, but only makes the book tolerable. At one point, I thought the plot was going to get good and then Ron Hansen only let me down. I couldn't wait to get to last page and close the book for good. I don't recommend this book unless you are extremely patient and like murder mysteries. The only decent thing I will take from the book is the moral of the Prodigal Son. Overall, Atticus is not worth the time and effort to read.

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Summary: Atticus: great prodigal son mystery
Review: Ron Hansen's "Atticus" abounds with colorful imagery and mysterious characters, perhaps a little too mysterious for the novels good. Atticus Cody portrays a forgiving and loving father with a name from a similar father in Harper's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" although no specific reference to the book is made. Hearing that his prodigal son Scott killed himself in Resurreccion, Mexico, he goes down immediately. When he gets there, however, clues turn up that suggest murder. After investigating Scott's death he begins to trust no one, including Renata, Scott's occassional lover and confidant. As the plot deepens, other characters surface, but their backgrounds and motives seem vague and incomplete. As I continued reading the book, many questions arose concerning the people of Resurreccion, but some were left unanswered. For example, Rhinehardt Schmidt was undoubtedly the most mysterious character in the book, and his presence in some parts of the book seemed too coincidental to be realistic. Overall, the book kept me turning the pages and searching for answers, and Atticus' unbounding love for Scott leaves the reader in awe.

Rating:
Summary: Atticus
Review: Atticus was a great murder mystery, which goes from the Mountains of Colorado to the desert of Mexico. Atticus is a well to do oil man from Colorado. Atticus's troubled son Scott commits suicide in Mexico but when Atticus goes down to Mexico he finds many clues, which point to murder. The background development of many of the characters was lacking in depth. Such as Reinhardt Schmidt who was major character in the book but the reader wasn't told very much about him. The author doesn't develop the some of the major points in the story such as Atticus's wife's death, which seemed to be one of the major reasons why Scott is the way he is. Scott seemed to breakdown mentally after he killed his mother in a car accident, but this wasn't really introduced into the book. The book was based around the Prodigal Son relationship of a father and his lost son. The father son relationship between Atticus and Scott was on the rocks in the beginning of the novel, but as the novel progresses the relationship grows stronger until the climatic ending. This was an excellent novel because of its ability to keep the reader always wanting more.

Rating:
Summary: Atticus
Review: "Atticus" was the first novel that I have ever read by Ron Hansen, and I thought it was a decent book. However, there were some areas where Ron Hansen was somewhat confusing. For example, Ron Hansen shifted the perspective of the story from Atticus to Atticus's son, Scott. I was not able to understand which character was telling the story. I thought the great qualities of the book were suspense, the reality that occurs, and the theme or lesson it was trying to reach among people in our society. I believe this is an excellent novel for fathers and sons to read together. The theme of the novel was related to the "Prodigal Son," and how the father forgives his son for all his wrongdoings. It had a powerful influence on me because I see the virtue of forgiveness not appearing that often. I recommend the novel to people of all ages because they will also appreciate the effect it will have on them.

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Summary: INTERESTING THEME, BUT ---- SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED
Review: Ron Hansen has an excellent idea for a murder mystery, but unfortunately Atticus fell short. Atticus is a novel about a Colorado rancher who "recieves word that his wayward younger son, Scott, has committed suicide in Resurreccion, Mexico...(but Atticus)suspects murder" (back o' the book). This novel is supposed to be about a father who has an unfathomable love for his son, and the struggles he goes through in dealing with the loss of his son.
Ok, an excellent idea, but why does the story seem to be lacking. First, if I am to believe that Atticus' love for Scott is imense, then why does Atticus not provide the support that Scott needs. Scott was involved in an auto accident with his mother when he was only 17, Scott survived, but unfortunately Scott's mother was killed. This accident was very ground shaking for Scott, and you would think Atticus would be there to help guide them through their loss, but no, Scott drifts away from his father instead.
Now, 20 years later, Scott is "supposedly" dead. Scott actually faked his death, in order to start a "new life." The resolution of the book happens when Atticus discovers that his son is not dead, and Scott asks for his forgiveness. This ending, although satisfying, does not give me the enthusiastic sensations I get after I read an excellent book. Why?, although there is a nice twist, Scott isn't dead, the resolution does not accomplish the initial dilema completely, how do Atticus and Scott regain their father son relationship that they once had? This is the resolution that Ron Hansan was striving for, but Atticus and Scott's relationship was flawed to begin with, so they can't have the perfect father-son relationship because they never had a perfect father son relationship. Interesting theme, yet was destined to fail.