Seven Hill City

Rating:
Summary: You Have No Idea How Japanese People Drive
Review: Amazingly creative. This book has some of the dumbest and sweetest jokes and moments I've ever read, especially in something this intelligent. Having read much of the authors previous works online I was prepared for something unique, but nothing on the level of Seven Hill City. The story has an iridescent skin covering fragile insides. Sometimes I reread a joke and can feel the pain, love, and honest motivations beneath the surface. I have never been to Central Virginia nor have I been raised to be religious, but b. thompson stroud lets even readers like myself know what it means to love your town or your God without pushing it down my throat or trivializing the differences between people.

In fact, the people are what make this story so fantastic. The main three characters are like little onions with layers that show up strongly during a reading, and make you cry on the reread. The supporting cast is absolutely unforgettable, from the grocery store patrons and employees to Saint Peter; from Jesus Christ himself to a Women's Studies professor who doesn't know anything about women. They all become people you know, people you wish you knew, people you'd love to hug or punch in the face. I also want to applaud Stroud for depicting an Asian-American person in a way that I could identify with, as someone completely normal, for once. Japanese girls are either violent stereotypes (school girls, math wizards, geishas, or with cat ears) or blatantly against type. Women are women first and the shape of their eyes second. Someone finally got it right.

Nothing in the book is trivialized. Nothing is taken for granted. Everything matters. No moment goes by casually. No moment.

Rating:
Summary: A glowing review from a long time reader, first time writer.
Review: Following lead character Brooks White through his pursuit of a girl some would say is too good for him does not come across as the teen targeted, Kmart shelf paperback that any quickie summarizations may make it sound. In reality, the book is a labor of love for many things... God, grilled cheese sandwiches, crappy little import sedans, professional wrestling and, of course, a girl.

The author's natural ability to convey the humor in what are trying times for the characters he so beautifully paints does not overshadow the serious situations they wind up in or the heart wrenching lessons they learn along the way. Truly possessing a gift for bringing the surreal to the ordinary, Stroud tells a heartfelt story that in the end is not about a girl; rather, we are shown the growing up of a handful of bright, troubled young people.

The pacing is perfect, the characters are well developed (even those on the side), and I can't think of anything else to say aside from this; buy it, settle in for the night and get to reading, as it is one of the best impressions a first time author could hope to make.

Rating:
Summary: Hey This is Cool!
Review: Hello! I am a " Friend " of B's. I met him after the suicide of our friend. B, I haven't read your book yet but, I am going to get it. I really have to say I am so proud of you bro! All the things I have heard about the book really impresses me that one of our friends could do such a thing! I really look forward to reading this book I could only imagine! Look forward to hearing from you too! Lacy's Sis

Rating:
Summary: Hey This is Cool!
Review: Hello! I am a " Friend " of B's. I met him after the suicide of our friend. B, I haven't read your book yet but, I am going to get it. I really have to say I am so proud of you bro! All the things I have heard about the book really impresses me that one of our friends could do such a thing! I really look forward to reading this book I could only imagine! Look forward to hearing from you too! Lacy's Sis

Rating:
Summary: this is why b=best
Review: i am a long time fan of b's work. when i heard on wd that he wrote a book, i was like 'YES!! I HAVE TO GET IT!!!' it was a million times better than i expected (and i had high expectations, which makes it really really good!! if that makes ANY SENSE WHAT-SO-EVER.)

but yeah, the book was absolutely wonderful and it sits in the drawer under my bed so i can quickly get to it and read. the characters are very vivid and the imagination was awesome. there were some parts that i didn't understand, but they were later explained, and i liked that element of the story. I do love the ending also, its just so...unreal. i love it.

Rating:
Summary: this is why b=best
Review: i am a long time fan of b's work. when i heard on wd that he wrote a book, i was like 'YES!! I HAVE TO GET IT!!!' it was a million times better than i expected (and i had high expectations, which makes it really really good!! if that makes ANY SENSE WHAT-SO-EVER.)

but yeah, the book was absolutely wonderful and it sits in the drawer under my bed so i can quickly get to it and read. the characters are very vivid and the imagination was awesome. there were some parts that i didn't understand, but they were later explained, and i liked that element of the story. I do love the ending also, its just so...unreal. i love it.

Rating:
Summary: Simply: A Must Read
Review: I had first read B's work a few years ago on http://www.whatever-dude.com (cheap plug), and I remember reading his articles and thinking here was a real writer...not some Internet word whore. B knew how to write back then, and compared to his book, he has gone far beyond the articles of hampsters and Saved by the Bell.
B was the guy that reminded me how much fun writing can be, how much joy I could find by inking some random words on the evils of pop-culture. When I found out he had written a book, I jumped on the opportunity to read it.
I haven't had the chance to talk to B personally, never got that chance, so I don't know just how much of "Seven Hill City" is autobiographical, and how much isn't. But regardless of what is real or not, the book, in my opinion, is summed up in one word - heart.
The books oozes that raw genuine emotion that isn't exactly common place now-a-days. Reading the book, I found myself laughing out loud one moment, and having tears roll down my face the next.
I don't know if B will write another book, but if he didn't he would have nothing to be ashamed of; he has already hit such a high note with "Seven Hill City".
Simply put - read the book. I can splurge my pants and go on about how much soul and character this book has, but really it doesn't matter. The fact is you should read it, experience it yourself. Only then can you understand the life of Brooks and how, as clich? as it is, there is a little bit of Brooks in each and everyone of us.
Thanks, B. You have once again proven you are indeed "The Man."
It's True! It's True!

Rating:
Summary: Not too shabby, but won't get plugged by Oprah.
Review: I wouldn't rate this 5 stars, but it was a decent read. The parts about pop culture are pretty good, but the "drama" can be a little plodding. Definitely an acquired taste.

Rating:
Summary: Whoa...
Review: The first time I heard that this guy wrote a book, I was like "What?". Then, when my sister's copy arrived I kept staring at the cover. The picture on the front caught my eye immediately. It was like tunnel vision, I just couldn't quit staring at it. I had to read what was inside the book, and why that picture had relevance. So I begged my sister to loan me her copy and low and behold, I couldn't put it down. It was crazy how amazing it was! I just couldn't believe that some twenty-something guy from Lynchburg could write something that...well...I don't even have a word to describe it. I can't really come up with a word TO describe it. Just think of every synonym for "amazing" and they will be this book. If you haven't read it, order it NOW, and if you have, you have to agree, this book was every synonym "amazing" and more.

Rating:
Summary: super-de-duper
Review: This book will go down in history as one of my favorite books. That's saying a lot because i never stop reading. The characters were amazing and the interpersonal as well as internal dialouge was captivating. Brooks catches your eye and brings you straight into his world and the way his mind works. A MUST READ.