Monday, August 8, 2016

Jedi Summer with The Magnetic Kid - John Boden - A nostalgic remembrance of the Summer of '83

4 of 5 Stars     Review copy

From the foreward by James Newman...

Jedi Summer is a snapshot of one special moment in time.  It is an unconventional coming-of-age tale like nothing I have ever read before.

James Newman really sold me on the story that follows.  Be sure and read his foreward, it's nearly as entertaining as the novella which follows.

The tale is told in a series of vignettes of events which occurred from the end of school through the end of Summer in 1983.  According to the author, some of these things really happened and others are just stories.  It's left to the reader to determine which are which or if it even matters.

The narrative is told by Johnny and it's about his friends and his little brother Roscoe, sometimes referred  to as "The magnetic Kid."

John Boden has a way with words.  A few favorites include...

My stomach lurching and my Cookie Crisp threatening to vacate the premises.

She laced every interaction with enough honeys and sweeties to pacify a diabetic.

Growing up was a shitty thing to do to someone.

The events of the Summer all center around waiting for RETURN OF THE JEDI to make it's way to the small local theater.  An effective sub-plot to add a certain cohesiveness to the overall adventure.

While I would have enjoyed more from the Summer of '83, I certainly enjoyed this quick read.

Jedi Summer with The Magnetic Kid is published by Post Mortem Press and is available in both paperback and for the Kindle.  If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you may read this book at no additional charge, and if you are an Amazon Prime member you may read it for FREE through the Kindle Owners Lending Library.

According to his bio, John Boden lives a stone's throw from Three Mile Island with his wonderful fasmily.  A baker by day, he spends his off time writing, working on Shock Totem or watching M*A*S*H re-runs.

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