It's been
way too long, but who knew that moving (and remodeling) would be so
much work? And I'm not even the one doing the work. But being stuck
supervising the construction site I call home right now also means a
lot of reading time. And most of that time was spend in the '80s:
Five boys,
one deadly secret, and a mysterious summer – The Boys of Summer
might be the best Stephen King book not written by King. It follows a
group of boys who live through the monster tornado that hit Wichita
Falls in 1977. A few years later the boys—now teenagers—are
forever bound together by another horrific event that follows them
into adulthood.
Richard Cox
tells the story in multiple timelines and switches back and forth between the
'70s, the '80s, and present day. The book is also rather hard to
qualify. It is science fiction but not really. There are thriller
elements but it's also a coming of age story. And those who are
worried that it's just a Stephen King rip-off will be pleased to hear
that it's also sprinkled with a good dose of Southern Gothic
elements.
I found the
book on a 10 things to read if you enjoyed Stranger Things
list, and while the plot has little resemblance to the Netflix hit,
it does get the vibe right. If you enjoy Stephen King, Stranger
Things and anything '80s, then slick that hair back, put those
wayfarers on and check out The Boys of Summer.
If The
Boys of Summer is the literary equivalent to
Stranger Things, then The Impossible Fortress is The
Goldbergs. The year is 1987, the players are three teenage
outcasts – Billy, Alf, and Clark – and the great prize is a copy
of Playboy, the copy that features local celebrity and wheel of
fortune host Vanna White to be specific.
The
impossible Fortress reminds of an '80s sitcom in the best way
possible. It's hilarious but touching. There are twists around every
corner (especially one that shocked me more than the
protagonist himself). And between the playboy heist plot, the love
story, and a part that almost feels like a Goonies like
adventure there's really something for everyone – even a playlist
at the back of the book (all authors should do this!)
I know
non-fiction is not for everyone but Freeman's essays on the lessons
we learned from beloved classics, like Dirty Dancing, The
Princess Bride, Pretty in Pink, When Harry Met Sally, Ferris
Bueller's Day Off, Steel Magnolias and Back to the Future
are as witty and charming as those movies themselves. That said, I
did not agree with everything Freeman addresses (particularly her
understanding of current films felt a little off), but her arguments
kept me interested. And, personally, I'm always intrigued by
opinions that differ from my own. Overall, Life Moves Pretty Fast
is a fun and quick read for anyone who is a fan of '80s movies, just
remember that it's mostly based on Freeman's own opinions and
experiences and not fact.
Do you have
a favorite Eighties themed book?
Peace, Love
and Lobsters
Laura
