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Cheeseland

by Randy Richardson (Goodreads Author)

4.36 of 5 stars 4.36 · rating details · 39 ratings · 24 reviews

When two suburban Chicago high school seniors skip graduation to go on a road trip to Wisconsin they crash head-on into an adventure that will forever alter their lives.

Praised by New York Times No. 1 Best-Selling author James Finn Garner as a “tragic tale” that “richly captures the bravado and heartbreak of damaged boys who grow up into damaged men,” Randy Richardson’s "C...more

Paperback, 194 pages

Published May 29th 2012 by Eckhartz Press

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Sep 13, 2012 C.M. Truxler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: drama, fiction

Cheeseland, a Tale of Life

Cheeseland by Randy Richardson is the story of three friends, Danny, Lance, and Marty, who grew up together; and the secrets and lies, which permeated their existence to the point where none of the three could breathe any longer. Written as a first person narrative by Danny, one of the childhood friends; this tale speaks to a reader like a high school friend. It could be said that this is a story of teen suicide and its effects on those left behind, but that would be an...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Mike O'Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a fun coming-of-age novel with one of those archetypal "bad influence" friends from your adolescence. I really enjoyed this book. The protagonist is even-keeled Daniel McAllister, a guy who grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Chicago and then went on to better things. His best friend as an adolescent was Lance Parker -- one of those great, universal characters. We ALL had a Lance in our lives...the "bad influence" kid your parents didn't want around. Or maybe YOU were "Lance" when...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Fran rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cheeseland
Randy Richardson

Daniel, Lance and Marty were best friends and inseparable until a tragedy happens to change it all. Marty took his own life and the guilt, anger and frustration felt by both Lance and Daniel create a rift in their friendship. As Daniel narrates the beginning of the story and relates the events that lead up to the funeral you can hear the frustration, anger and despair as he tries to explain to Lance how he feels and how they both react to the death of a good friend. Thi...more Cheeseland
Randy Richardson

Daniel, Lance and Marty were best friends and inseparable until a tragedy happens to change it all. Marty took his own life and the guilt, anger and frustration felt by both Lance and Daniel create a rift in their friendship. As Daniel narrates the beginning of the story and relates the events that lead up to the funeral you can hear the frustration, anger and despair as he tries to explain to Lance how he feels and how they both react to the death of a good friend. Thinking they could have stopped him from committing suicide they focus on his father, their feelings and as he alights to the platform to speak at his son’s funeral both boys leave.

Graduation comes and goes and the two friends hardly speak or see each other. A broken friendship that could not withstand the death or loss of a friend so how can you repair a lifetime but yet Daniel McAllister and Lance Parker wanted to try. How do solve solder the rift: A road trip. The death of a friend is hard to deal with and the two high school seniors endure more than must the death, as they have to come to terms with their own feelings and thoughts. As they begin their journey what they learn will either mend their friendship or destroy them forever. The truth behind Marty’s death when revealed will alter them forever.

Friendships do not always last forever. But, when their best friends takes his life how do two these two teens deal with it. One friend guilt ridden, fearful and embarrassed because he feels responsible for what happened and the other finding solace by escaping his living friend and trying to move on with his life, but can’t. But, a brief encounter would change the dynamics of both Lance and Daniel’s lives as they embark on a road trip that would hopefully mend their friendship, come full circle with the events of Martin’s death and find a place in this world where they both belonged. Lance wanted to prove himself and overcome the guilt he harbored within himself for Martin’s suicide. Daniel, running form himself, hiding from his disability and his parents who seem embarrassed having him around. A road trip that will take them in many different directions from a porn bookstore to a bar and a tie within that bookstore and the events to a man named Buck who would enlighten them both.

As they enter the bar and get totally plastered the events that follow would show the reader that Daniel has grown somewhat and Lance just might have too. A strong memory leading back to Martin enters Daniel’s mind as they try to rekindle their own friendship, Lance reveals what really happened between him and Martin and the reason behind his suicide.

Lance just wants to run away from his guilt but the antics they pull, even though they are quite juvenile are typical teen stunts and some are funny, some a hilarious and others prove tragic. Throwing total caution to the wind, thinking they killed an older man when they find him in the back seat of their car what happens next will definitely surprise the reader as this man named Buck would teach both teens many important lessons in life. Revelations are made and they decide to return home. The sad past is Lance’s parents never really noticed he was missing and Daniel’s did not even hear his voice when he returned. Injured from an accident he winds up in the hospital and then grounded for an entire summer. When Lance become overwhelmed with anger and the guilt within him too strong he confesses it all the police hoping they will believe him and justice will finally be served. But, how can you accuse a pillar of the community of a crime that you cannot prove was committed. As both boys leave the police station the end result is a tragic accident, which concludes part one of the book.

Part two begins thirty years later with a frantic phone call from Carla, Lance’s wife to Daniel begging him to come to see her to help Lance. But, when her real motives are revealed and Lance’s whereabouts found, Daniel wants nothing to do with it but can he desert his old friend? Seeing Lance brings back memories that flood into Daniel’s mind but which he chooses to forget. Leaving and on his way back home to his wife and son, he calls her and says he won’t be coming home that night. Instead, he takes a U-Turn back to Lance, reveals the fact that his wife is pregnant and hopes they can mend their ways too. But, what happens next and his plan to fix the past and make it right takes a turn so tragic and proves more destructive than either expected. Deciding to prove what really happened to Lance in the past they kidnap the find the man responsible, tape their conversation but the end result is the tape is muffled and what happens next leads both men down a single path that one will never return from. Kidnapping the man in the back of their car the end result is tragic and the secret they hope to keep can only be sealed with the help of one man from the past. As the past comes into the present and we learn that Daniel is now a prominent lawyer and Lance works in an auto plant the two team up to try and right another wrong but can they? When Lance tries his best to cope with what he did can he keep himself in check and not reveal the truth? Author Randy Richardson brings to light many important issues in this novel. Friendships, loyalties and betrayals are tested and revealed before all is said and done. Fears are brought to light and one teen proves too weak to cope while the other will learn more than just a lesson about friendship but forgiveness too. As Lance we hear Lance’s voice at the end what does he reveal to Daniel and the reader? What is their final fate and which one will pay the ultimate price for something that happened 30 years ago? When you walk a beaten path over again sometimes your footsteps return to the same place and wind up in the wrong direction. Never walk the same road twice or rewind your life when the first result was tragic. What happens at the end you will learn when you read Cheeseland for yourself and find out what one character learns about himself and life. Is it ever too late to forgive those you tried to love for their mistakes in the past and move on in the future? Read this thought provoking novel and find out. For all parents and educators out there you need to read this novel, pay attention to your teens, listen and hear their words and make sure they know you will support them no matter what.

Characters that are so well defined and a plot that will definitely keep you glued to the printed page from start to finish. This is one novel that really surprised me when reading it. This is one novel that is a definite must read.

Fran Lewis: Reviewer

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Jun 29, 2012 Patricia rated it 3 of 5 stars

It is graduation time and Daniel McAllister's parents have a big party planned but the guest of honor will not be attending. Daniel's friend Lance Parker talks him into a road trip to Wisconsin to celebrate the end of high school. It was supposed to be three friends celebrating but Marty Torlikson, the third member of the group, had committed suicide. Daniel and Lance were still reeling from their friend's funeral.

Against his better judgment, Daniel agrees to gas up his car known as "The Bomb" a...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Frederick Brooke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Being a Chicago native myself I loved all the Chicago references in this fine coming-of-age novel. From easy access to Pabst Blue Ribbon beer just over the Wisconsin border, where the drinking age was lower, to a rock concert in the heart of the Kettle Moraine, to mindless midnight runs up and down I-94 between the south suburb of Dolton (where people are known as „dolts“) to the airport – I almost felt this was my story! These were my songs.

The main characters are bound by blood by a series of...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Cindy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I won this book on GoodReads & liked the story. The voices of Danny & Lance were well written & I thought at times how they reminded me of my own boys' conversations as teens. I enjoyed the character, Buck. A man with a bad past trying to do good now. The boys brief encounter with him early in the book impresses Danny enough to turn to him in need toward the end of the book.

The story covers different times in their lives. The first part covering their senior year when it's revealed...more I won this book on GoodReads & liked the story. The voices of Danny & Lance were well written & I thought at times how they reminded me of my own boys' conversations as teens. I enjoyed the character, Buck. A man with a bad past trying to do good now. The boys brief encounter with him early in the book impresses Danny enough to turn to him in need toward the end of the book.

The story covers different times in their lives. The first part covering their senior year when it's revealed the third party of their best friend triangle, Marty, has committed suicide. Rather than attend graduation the two remaining friends decide to take a road trip. Antics ensue. We learn Lance told Marty that Marty's dad molested him & the day after, Marty is dead. Lance goes thru the book wanting vindication for the assault maybe hoping it will relieve the guilt he feels for Marty's death. Danny goes thru the book trying to come to terms with his rocky friendship with Lance.

I confess to some frustration with this book partly because much is left unanswered for me. I wanted to know more. What happened to make Lance tell Marty about his father? Had Marty been abused? At the end of part one, Lance hits someone with the car. That's it. One line. Later we learn he hit a little girl. That's it. One line. It shocked me when it happened, but I couldn't help but wonder what was the point to it even taking place. I think Lance would have turned out the same without the accident. In Chapter 19, Danny talks about his ability to know things, to feel things. I'm thinking, "Oh, boy where is this going?" It just seemed to come out of left field & wasn't a coherent part of the story.

Part 2 takes place present day. Danny is a lawyer, married with a child & has moved away. Lance remained, has left his wife & is unemployed. They come together again after 30 years when Lance's wife calls Danny for help, hoping he can bring Lance home to her since she's pregnant. We finally get the confrontation with Marty's dad, but it ends in his death. What follows is a little hard to swallow, but in the end goes to show what lengths Danny will go to protect his friend & vice versa when we read Lance's suicide note.

This is a book of friendship, life long friendship. A rare & special thing. When put to the test, this friendship stood strong. (less)

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Dec 29, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, own-paper

I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway as part of the Firstreads program.

The first 20 pages or so were a little hard for me to get into, but that is because I don't think I fully understood what this book was about. For some reason I thought the book was only about a road trip where 2 male teenage friends, Danny and Lance, try to fix their friendship after they lose their mutual best friend Marty, and I very wrongly assumed it was a book about them getting totally wasted and doing stupid t...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Dina Rae rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cheeseland by Randy Richardson
My Review
Cheeseland is a story of three high school friends, Lance, Danny, and Marty about to graduate. Marty kills himself after learning his father molested Lance. Guilt and grief drive a wedge in Danny’s and Lance’s friendship. In a last ditch effort to remain friends, Lance takes Danny to Wisconsin for a day of wild fun. For those who are not from the Midwest, Cheeseland is what Chicagoans affectionately call Wisconsin. The wild night takes some twists and turns...more Cheeseland by Randy Richardson
My Review
Cheeseland is a story of three high school friends, Lance, Danny, and Marty about to graduate. Marty kills himself after learning his father molested Lance. Guilt and grief drive a wedge in Danny’s and Lance’s friendship. In a last ditch effort to remain friends, Lance takes Danny to Wisconsin for a day of wild fun. For those who are not from the Midwest, Cheeseland is what Chicagoans affectionately call Wisconsin. The wild night takes some twists and turns with Lance telling Danny about the molestation. A chance at salvation enters the picture. Danny seems moved by the Spirit while Lance ignores it. Shortly afterward, the two boys go to the police and are rebuked. Danny and Lance go their separate ways. Thirty years later they reunite to take care of some unfinished business.
My Thoughts and Views:
Cheeseland is a refreshing, entertaining, and profound bro-mance about choices one makes because of an unforgiving past. Lance’s character reminds me so much of a girl I used to hang out with in high school-hilarious and wild, yet deep down inside a real train wreck that’s bound to crash and burn. I suspect that she, too, was broken. Sadly, we are a sum of our parts. Not everyone is an Oprah and rises above their circumstances. Again, Lance is presented with a second chance in adulthood which Danny arranges. Again, he chooses to ignore it.
Mr. Richardson drops several hints that Lance never wanted to leave his past, refusing to grow up by marrying a girl in high school and staying in the same town despite killing a girl in a traffic accident. He never got an education or a real skill. Misery loves company. I was curious to know if Marty was also a victim of his father’s sexual abuse, but that was never answered.
Danny, on the other hand, wants a different life. In the beginning of the story he is described as a struggling student with reading problems. He grows up to be a lawyer, a perfect example of triumphing over disability. He moves to California and marries a woman, never telling her about his past. His parents are rarely visited. The dichotomy of the two characters adds to the suspense. Without giving too much away, the ending plays out like a Shakespearean tragedy. It was the only way this kind of story could end both in fiction and in real life.
The setting was a big hit with me. As a Chicagoan, I knew the highways, places, towns, and other details Mr. Richardson used. Especially liked his mention of Alpine Valley-many warm and hazy memories from my adolescence. I cannot help but compare Mr. Richardson’s work to Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes and Dennis Lehane’s Mystic River. A five star drama!
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Jan 20, 2013 Steve Wright rated it 5 of 5 stars

A sensational tale of faith (from the secular to the religious), friendship and the path to responsibility. Richardson's picaresque style is both candid and energetic, his prose steeped in clarity and humour. Truly a great read that I would put up there with Catcher in the Rye as a timeless critique of maturation, love and friendship.

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Aug 17, 2012 Meghan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I won a copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads.

Cheeseland is a book about the friendship of two teenage boys and the tragedies they endure.

In a way, this book reminded me of the movie Stand By Me and how certain experiences in life make you grow up and either the friendship grows with you or it doesn't.

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Aug 27, 2012 Kelly McNees rated it 5 of 5 stars

Richardson writes with humor and compassion about two friends who don't have the capacity to deal with the enormous loss they've suffered. What they do instead--set out on a road trip that quickly goes down the tubes--will keep you turning the pages and wondering how they'll ever survive the summer.

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Jul 12, 2012 Dan Burns rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved the book! It was a very enjoyable read and the story really took me back to my own teen years of driving trips, Alpine Valley, classic rock, old friendships, and a lot of other stuff I haven't thought about in a long time. True friendships never really end.

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Oct 09, 2012 Kelly Duff rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished-books

Coming of age story set to the backdrop of areas I grew up in and visited so it was extra special. Randy's description and handling of a tough subject is great. I enjoyed the pace and felt like these were people I could have known in high school.

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Jan 23, 2013 Darnel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a great read. Loved this. It's funny, spiritual, terrifying, tearful....it has everything. I've never been to Chicago yet I feel I have been there. The author is very expressive and poignant. Top notch, straight away.

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Jul 13, 2012 Karlie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own-3

I started this book earlier during the day and I finished it just a little while ago. I couldn't put it down. It is truly an amazing book and it made me both smile and cry. It has a great meaning and touches the heart.

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Sep 28, 2012 Samantha Hoffman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cheeseland is a poignant and often funny account of friendship lost and friendship found, and the healing of old wounds. It's a nail-biting ride along with Danny and Lance as they ditch their graduation and take a road trip to Wisconsin where they drink beer legally (sort of), encounter some eccentric people, and where they confront the secrets they share.
A quick, engaging read with authentic and relatable characters.

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Dec 18, 2012 Barto rated it 5 of 5 stars

An absolute pleasure. Couldn't put it down, wonderful, insightful, funny and beautiful.

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Apr 21, 2013 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very good read, not sure how I liked ending but all-in-all very thought-provoking. Not a feel-good book but life is like that, not always a bright, sun-shining day.

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Sep 11, 2012 Dt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved it. Engaging and well written.

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Jan 04, 2013 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Quick and easy read...and takes place in Wisconsin. Entertaining.

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Sep 02, 2012 Jody rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the book - I was able to empathize with the characters and the tragic events of their lives.

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Oct 21, 2012 Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-wins

i really enjoyed this book. the characters were extremely real and easy to relate to. The writing was well written and entertaining. very descriptive and made it seem like you were right there for the ride. I won this book in a goodreads giveaway :-)

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Oct 06, 2012 Kim Strickland rated it 5 of 5 stars

Come along for the ride that is Cheeseland! If you went to high school, you know all the characters in this book. And if you ever went on a road trip, you'll be happy yours didn't turn out like this one did. A fast, fun read. Fasten your seatbelt.

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Aug 19, 2012 Molly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-read-wins

The book is about growing up and forgiving yourself and others. Something all of us needs to learn. I loved the characters, they were real. I am glad I won this book on the Goodreads First reads.

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May 14, 2013 Mildreddavis rated it 5 of 5 stars

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About Randy Richardson

Attorney and award-winning journalist Randy Richardson serves as president of the nonprofit Chicago Writers Association. His essays have been published in the anthologies "Chicken Soup for the Father and Son Soul," "Humor for a Boomer’s Heart," "The Big Book of Christmas Joy," and "Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year," as well as in numerous print and online journals and magazines. T...more

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Books by Randy Richardson

Chicken Soup for the Father & Son Soul: Celebrating the Bond That Connects Generations

Cubbie Blues: 100 Years Of Waiting Till Next Year

Humor for a Boomer's Heart: Stories, Quips, and Quotes to Lift the Heart

The Big Book of Christmas Joy: An Inspirational Treasury to Celebrate the Season

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