St. Michael's Scales

Rating:
Summary: 1st novel of the man withhis finger on the pulse of life
Review: "Who is supposed to know more about this book--me the author or you the reader?" -Neil Connelly

In talking to Neil about this book (I am a student at McNeese State Univeristy) I began to understand that this book does not deal specifically with guilt, with suicide, or any one specific issue. Neil deals with the idea, in the manifestation of Keegan, that life is hard and different for evryone, and everyone must deal with it in a different way. He developes Keegan, who has to deal with who he is, and Nathan Looby, who is also forced to look at himself for who he is. Nathan refuses to bend, and tries to answer life with one swoop...that it "has to be this way." Keegan is able to bend and overcome this guilt that hangs over his head, and that's the card he plays in the hand he is dealt. Keegan's mother goes insane over her situation; His father becomes very cold and distant; and brother Patrick runs from his family. Neil makes a very profound statement about life: Life cannot be summed up in a profound statement. There is no one mantra to live life by. Life is a series of experiences, and in those experiences meaning is made of a life. Neil gives the reader glimpses into Keegan's life, memories that shaped him, and, ultimately, guided him to try to rekindle the family love. His use of wrestling, a very physical manifestation of the tumult within Keegan's mind. Michael becomes a face for the inner self that Keegan struggles against, and this is climaxed when Keegan believes himself to be wrestling Michael. A powerfully woven self discovery of a human being that will move any reader to, for lack of a better word, grab life by the horns. Neil weaves a message about life in such a way, using the very simple, powerful voice of Keegan, that it has some resonance within us all. Neil Connelly has something to say, so read this book and listen up, but also listen in to yourself as you will begin to come to your own understanding about the meaning of life.

Rating:
Summary: 1st novel of the man withhis finger on the pulse of life
Review: A great story of a troubled teen. Neil Connelly does a great job of drawing the reader into his world at OLPH. I got so drawn in, it is as if I lived some of that life with Keegan. So much can be taken from this book at many different levels. I would recommend this book for high school students and parents of high school students. The book can be used as a tool teach, among many things, the value of communication. I also recommend this book for anyone who is just looking for a fun read. It is a story with which we can learn and a story in which we can just have fun with.

I look forward to his next novel.

Rating:
Summary: A book for everyone. Great first novel by Neil Connelly
Review: A great story of a troubled teen. Neil Connelly does a great job of drawing the reader into his world at OLPH. I got so drawn in, it is as if I lived some of that life with Keegan. So much can be taken from this book at many different levels. I would recommend this book for high school students and parents of high school students. The book can be used as a tool teach, among many things, the value of communication. I also recommend this book for anyone who is just looking for a fun read. It is a story with which we can learn and a story in which we can just have fun with.

I look forward to his next novel.

Rating:
Summary: draws you into the story!
Review: I could repeat what all the reviews say about Connelly's work, as they are all true. However, I'll just say that Connelly's book has to be one of the best books that I've read in the past few years, if not many of the past years. The way Connelly writes makes it feel as if you are always right there next to Keegan or perhaps next to Nathan or Angela. You feel as though you are a student at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. You can feel Nicky Carpelli's noogies, punches, and pounds. There's never a dull moment in the book, and even if you don't have the time, you'll want to finish reading the book in one day.

Rating:
Summary: What an Awesome Book!
Review: I don't think they get much better than this one. After the first chapter, I was totally hooked. You really start to care about these characters, and it's amazing how everything fits together--every little details adds up. This story is as funny as it is sad, and as the tension builds, you won't be able to put it down.

Rating:
Summary: Little hazy but otherwise groovy
Review: I was struck by the Cover art-I longed to check the book out just to study the cover.The opening line of "It's not so bad being dead" Caught my attention right away,having read the summary on the jacket I thought immediatly Oh God he actually kills himself the book is told from a true teenager's point of view.From acting out his wish of reading other people's notes to wondering how far his dream girl has gone with her boyfriend this could be the guy who sat next to you in History.As a student of religion and psychology Keagan's thoughts of what he views as sin and finding loopholes to get good with God made me cry and fall over laughing more then once.I recomend to teen,parent,teacher and anyone who's ever thought of changing destiny.

Rating:
Summary: This is the greatest book I've ever read.
Review: I will remember this book for the rest of my life. There's something personal in the characters; I feel like I know them. Once you start reading it, you can't put it down. I could read this book again and again and never get tired of it. It will make you laugh, cry, and feel all of Keegan's emotions as if you were in the story. I would recommend this book for anyone of any age.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic for All Ages
Review: Neil Connelly's debut novel is a work of great strength and power. Although the protagonist is a young adult, the narrative speaks across generations to readers of all ages. First-rate storytelling coupled with an important message make for an instant classic. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

Rating:
Summary: Strong debut novel for ALL ages!
Review: Neil Connelly's debut novel, St. Michael's Scales has the ability to touch a part of every person who knows what it feels like to be the unpopular kid in high school and to feel like such an outsider, you resort to thinking dangerous scenarios. I think all readers can relate to the main character of this moving novel's main character, Keegan Flannery.

Keegan is 15, two years older than everybody in his class at Our Lady of Perpetual Help high school, yet he's smaller than everyone too. His size makes it easy for him to disappear from the real world and live in his mind, where he feels discarded from his deteriorating family. He feels he is the cause of his twin's death (in the womb at that). He thinks he's responsible for his mother's breakdown and his family's subsequent breakdown.

Due to his spiraling depression and feelings of inadequacy, Keegan plots to kill himself before his 16th birthday which is 14 days away. In his two-week countdown, Keegan befriends the unlikeliest of people, Perpetual Help's wrestling team. Through his interaction with the colorful and strange students and teachers of P.H., Keegan has to make the choice to either realize that his life is worth living or continue on his path to destruction.

St. Michael's Scales is a warm, poignant novel that touches the heart and the mind and makes the reader think. It's not just a novel for young adults. It's a novel for parents of young adults, and point blank, it's a novel for PEOPLE because we have all had moments of inadequacy, and most of us have faced the scary situation of "is my life meaningful?"

I look forward to reading more of Connelly's work.

Shon Bacon

Rating:
Summary: AWESOME BOOK!!
Review: This book is the best book i have ever read!! if you are looking for a thrilling book with some witty comedy, this is it. the author just illustrates the charcters so well, it's like they are right there in front of you, like they are in a play and you are the audince. This book is AWESOME!!