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Tornado Weather
Iowa MFA graduate Deborah Kennedy tells the story of a five-year old girl who goes missing in a small town, a place where everyone knows something different about her disappearance and about each other, in a debut that brings to mind Everything I Never Told You.
Five-year-old Daisy Gonzalez’s father is always waiting for her at the bus stop. But today, he isn’t. As the bus driver, Fikus, lowers her wheelchair to the ground and looks around, chaos erupts behind him as one child has an accident and the rest begin to scream. When Daisy says her house is right down the road, she’ll be fine, and begins to wheel herself away, Fikus lets her go. And that's the last time she is seen.
Nearly everyone in town suspects or knows something different about what happened, if they could only put the pieces together. They also know a lot about each other. The immigrants who work in the dairy farm know their employers’ secrets. The manager of the Laundromat knows who laid a curse on the town and why. A soldier daydreaming of his hometown can see it more clearly than the people still there. And the police officer doesn't realize how much he knows. They are all connected, in ways small and profound, open and secret.
By turns unsettling, dark, and wry, the powerful voices bring the town’s rich fabric to life. Tornado Weather is an affecting portrait of a complex and flawed cast of characters striving to find some measure of fulfillment in their lives. Though the characters’ triumphs are often modest, the hope for redemption is real--and Kennedy brilliantly shows that there is nothing average about an average life.
Five-year-old Daisy Gonzalez’s father is always waiting for her at the bus stop. But today, he isn’t. As the bus driver, Fikus, lowers her wheelchair to the ground and looks around, chaos erupts behind him as one child has an accident and the rest begin to scream. When Daisy says her house is right down the road, she’ll be fine, and begins to wheel herself away, Fikus lets her go. And that's the last time she is seen.
Nearly everyone in town suspects or knows something different about what happened, if they could only put the pieces together. They also know a lot about each other. The immigrants who work in the dairy farm know their employers’ secrets. The manager of the Laundromat knows who laid a curse on the town and why. A soldier daydreaming of his hometown can see it more clearly than the people still there. And the police officer doesn't realize how much he knows. They are all connected, in ways small and profound, open and secret.
By turns unsettling, dark, and wry, the powerful voices bring the town’s rich fabric to life. Tornado Weather is an affecting portrait of a complex and flawed cast of characters striving to find some measure of fulfillment in their lives. Though the characters’ triumphs are often modest, the hope for redemption is real--and Kennedy brilliantly shows that there is nothing average about an average life.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2017
146 people are currently reading
7720 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Elaine Kennedy
2 books109 followersDeborah E. Kennedy is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana and a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her writing has appeared in Salon, Sou’wester, Third Coast Magazine, and The North American Review. Deborah has worked as a reporter, teacher, and editor, as well as a cookie packer, ice cream scooper, and children’s baseball coach. She also holds a Master’s in Fiction Writing and English literature from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She currently lives in Forest Grove, Oregon with her mother and young son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 390 reviews
July 17, 2017
2. 5 Colliersville, Indiana, five year old Daisy Gonzalez goes missing. A handicapped young girl in a wheel chair, last seen getting off the school bus. First let me say this is not really a mystery,found the synopsis misleading, the missing girl is used as the defining characteristic to highlight a town in decline. Yoder Dairy, one of the towns leading employers has replaced all it workers with Mexican migrants and a journalist who is undercover has been sent to investigate working conditions at the dairy.
We hear from different people in the town, more like connected short stories than a straight novel. The missing girl is referred to by some and really not mentioned n depth again until the end. The prose is good but somewhat wordy imho. We have a town that is in dire straits, racial prejudice a huge factor among others and then added to that a tornado. All these things, along with the huge cast of characters become overwhelming, and well, just too much is included here to make this a tight and focused narrative.
This isn't too say that some of the narratives from the towns people were not interesting, they were. Some more than others. Think this author can definitely write and would probably try one of her books again.
ARC from Netgalley and Flatiron publishers.
We hear from different people in the town, more like connected short stories than a straight novel. The missing girl is referred to by some and really not mentioned n depth again until the end. The prose is good but somewhat wordy imho. We have a town that is in dire straits, racial prejudice a huge factor among others and then added to that a tornado. All these things, along with the huge cast of characters become overwhelming, and well, just too much is included here to make this a tight and focused narrative.
This isn't too say that some of the narratives from the towns people were not interesting, they were. Some more than others. Think this author can definitely write and would probably try one of her books again.
ARC from Netgalley and Flatiron publishers.
August 7, 2017
Love is nothing but damage waiting to happen, collateral and otherwise.
Colliersville, Indiana is a struggling small town where everyone knows their neighbor. They don't always have an accurate view of each other, but they're like family: "familiar, maddening, easy to take for granted." Community tensions flare when the owner of the local dairy farm fires all the local workers and replaces them with Mexican migrant workers. Long term residents resent their new neighbors. Suddenly, many locals are jobless and their predictable little town is filled with people they don't recognize and who speak a language they don't understand. By May, the dairy farm has been shut down by law enforcement and a five-year-old girl is missing. How much more can this small town take?
Life was loss. That was it. The big secret. Loss upon loss upon loss until it was hard to know if waking up the next day made any sense at all.
This seems to be my year of reading books with a bazillion characters! Each of the eighteen chapters is a different townsperson's perspective: an investigative reporter working undercover to expose the dairy farm's unethical practices, a racist militia man's daughter, various people working low-wage jobs, a pill addict in rehab, a soldier, a police officer, the dairy farm CEO's transgender teenager, and more. Daisy's disappearance is on the periphery of everyone's thoughts, but for the most part, everyone is just trying to make it through the never-ending days. The townspeople have theories about what happened to Daisy, but most of them are just as clueless as we are.
The people of Colliersville are tied together by vicinity, but they seem to be living in parallel to one another. Sometimes people seem to know more about what's going on in their neighbor's home than the people actually involved! One thing I loved about the structure is that you might form an opinion based on gossip in one chapter, but a later chapter gives you a different version of the story that might alter your original thinking. I also loved searching for the clues of how each person was connected to the larger community and discovering what they know—or think they know—about their neighbors. This is the type of book I prefer reading on an e-reader, because of the searching capabilities.
Seeing Mr. Breeder here was strange and Maria didn’t like it because he looked sad and like he might have a secret. She preferred keeping things simple between them—he was a bigot, she was a warrior on the side of right, but she worried she hadn’t really done much to advance any cause.
In Colliersville, there's a right way and a wrong way to do things. Being different is among the worst offenses. Some hide who they are to avoid trouble. Many of the characters feel left behind by their loved ones and the world at large. Life has passed them by and nothing has turned out the way it was supposed to. They all struggle with inertia. A sense of regret and loneliness pervades the atmosphere. For all the talk of personal responsibility, there's not always an abundance of it. The self-loathing tends to direct outwards. There's always an outside force that prevented them from reaching their full potential. The guy who failed his drug test blames Juan for stealing his janitorial job. Helman Yoder blames the government for taking his business away, conveniently forgetting that he made a conscious decision to break the law in spectacular fashion. The apartments that supposedly went downhill because of the "illegals" were always dilapidated. Much of the rising crime in that area is due to people harassing the occupants.
“Anyway, the way things change, you start to long for death,” Granny said. “I guess that’s how it’s supposed to work. When I go I won’t miss this place, I’ll tell you that much.”
President Obama gets blamed for even the most personal of problems, though some of the most visceral anger would be more accurately directed at the cycle of life. They yearn to return to the long gone good-old-days: when they were young, their kids were still safe at home, and before they experienced real loss and disappointment. Colliersville High School's head cook Shellie Pogue admits that the town might've always been circling the drain, but at least when Reagan was in office she felt like she was in "good hands." Now it feels like "the world she knew, or thought she knew, was shrinking to the size of her palm."
They have to have something, so what they have is judgment.
There are people in Colliersville that see things a little differently, but many of them seem to keep their thoughts to themselves. Perhaps there's a message there that avoiding hard topics and being polite to keep the peace actually has the opposite effect. One of the most memorable characters is Helen, who has just suffered a major loss. She's fed up with everything. She has had enough of all the grand theatrics that disguise ugly things and the seemingly selfless acts done with selfish motivations.
I liked the gritty realism of the early chapters, so I wasn't prepared for the mystical turn in the last quarter.
What she really wanted to say to him was, Do more. Get out and do more while you still can. Sing “Tonight” at the top of your lungs. Be as abnormal as you want to be. Go to prom but only if you want to, and never let someone leave you alone in the middle of the dance floor. Throw the fucking bushel basket out the window and let your light shine because what else is there, really? What else? None of us is getting out of this alive.
Tornado Weather shines a light on "man's inhumanity to man." Most of these characters don't even treat themselves humanely because they don't think they deserve any better. The residents of Colliersville have legitimate fears about where their next paycheck will come from and one-size-fits-all government solutions, but fears don't always manifest themselves in the most productive or rational ways. The story of this small town reveals the importance of community and showing empathy for others. It's difficult to hate someone once you get to know them. Will Daisy's disappearance and nature's fury force the community to come together? Maybe if the citizens of Colliersville can forgive themselves for their past sins, they will be able to open their hearts to each other and inject some life into their dying community.
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I received this book for free from Netgalley and Flatiron Books. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. It's available now!
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I love when my nonfiction reading and fiction reading collide! The following books dive more into the political realm, but I saw connections to many of the perspectives in Tornado Weather:
• Jon Ronson's The Elephant in the Room includes an anecdote about marginalization. He writes about a woman who spoke at the Republican National Convention on the effects of trade policy on her avocado farm. Online spectators immediately mocked her and attacked her based on false assumptions. Ronson's analysis: "The alt-right movement is a little more popular than in the days before polarization became such a fad on social media, before practically every faction across the spectrum hardened its position deciding that instant judgment was a more heroic stance than curiosity. When a person can't make a speech about the struggles of avocado farmers without being torn to bits because they're in the wrong camp, the right will inevitably benefit."
• The Trouble with Reality: A Rumination on Moral Panic in Our Time by Brooke Gladstone - This book is about leaving our bubbles and trying to see the world from someone else's point of view.
• I'm currently reading We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates (pub Oct. 3, 2017) - In the intro, he explains why a successful Obama presidency actually stoked more racial anger than a failed Obama presidency would have. There's also a fantastic quote about the nostalgia for a past that never existed. (I'll post it here after it publishes.)
• On the subject of reflexive blame: In real life, I've been shocked by the number of people who don't even attempt applying for college scholarships because of a distorted view of how the system works—even seventeen years ago when I was getting ready to start college. Related article: White Trump voters think they face more discrimination than blacks. The Trump administration is listening (Analysis).
• Is America getting lonelier? (Opinion)
August 2, 2017
This book takes place in the town of Colliersville and revolves around the lives of its residents. At the beginning, a child disappears and the town is shaken by this event. Although the book is described as a mystery, I felt "literary fiction" is a more accurate description.
The story is narrated by the different community members of Colliersville. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of its characters: an undercover journalist investigating the working conditions in a farm that employs mostly Mexican immigrants, the former stripper, the laundromat attendant, and so on.
It feels like you are reading interconnected stories instead of a straight-froward narrative. Because some of the stories were sad, I had a sense of hopelessness and decay while reading the novel.
The book is well written but dragged a little bit on some parts. It reminded me of Sycamore by Bryn Chancellor where the story revolved around the disappearance of one of its young residents and painted a clear picture of a small town from the point of view of its inhabitants.
Overall I liked it and recommend it to all those who love character-driven novels.
I received a copy of this publication from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The story is narrated by the different community members of Colliersville. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of its characters: an undercover journalist investigating the working conditions in a farm that employs mostly Mexican immigrants, the former stripper, the laundromat attendant, and so on.
It feels like you are reading interconnected stories instead of a straight-froward narrative. Because some of the stories were sad, I had a sense of hopelessness and decay while reading the novel.
The book is well written but dragged a little bit on some parts. It reminded me of Sycamore by Bryn Chancellor where the story revolved around the disappearance of one of its young residents and painted a clear picture of a small town from the point of view of its inhabitants.
Overall I liked it and recommend it to all those who love character-driven novels.
I received a copy of this publication from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2017
I received this via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for my honest review. All my opinions are my own :)
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3.5 stars
A steady-paced, sometimes slow-burn of a story... very character driven, everyone with problems and flaws. A novel to be read when you can devote your full attention to it.
The feel of this one reminded me of the Lovely Bones in a way, the atmosphere and certain elements going on. A taste of the something in the air and in the people...
Sometimes it was confusing and I had to go back and re-read or think on who was currently speaking but I enjoyed going along for the ride with this town and seeing how thing unfolded.
I had a feeling what they were going to find from the very start but it didn't deter my enjoyment of the story any.
This is more focused on the people in Colliersville than the mystery surrounding Daisy but she is still floating around (so to speak) in the thoughts of everyone in town. Some trying to help in their own way, keeping the hope alive and praying for her safe return.
At times, the narrative felt disjointed but it fit the way everything was being told in its own way.
The book started to drag toward the end for me... still good, just lost its steam a bit. Can't pinpoint where exactly. The POVs of different people was interesting though and saved that part of the story for me.
The last chapter/epilogue was written beautifully but to me, felt unnecessary though one part of it did appeal to me and had me thinking.
All in all, a very good debut novel and I would recommend. I would suggest reading it when you have maybe a couple days where you don't have any plans and can devote the time to savor it :).
(Crappy review haha, pardon me)
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3.5 stars
A steady-paced, sometimes slow-burn of a story... very character driven, everyone with problems and flaws. A novel to be read when you can devote your full attention to it.
The feel of this one reminded me of the Lovely Bones in a way, the atmosphere and certain elements going on. A taste of the something in the air and in the people...
Sometimes it was confusing and I had to go back and re-read or think on who was currently speaking but I enjoyed going along for the ride with this town and seeing how thing unfolded.
I had a feeling what they were going to find from the very start but it didn't deter my enjoyment of the story any.
This is more focused on the people in Colliersville than the mystery surrounding Daisy but she is still floating around (so to speak) in the thoughts of everyone in town. Some trying to help in their own way, keeping the hope alive and praying for her safe return.
At times, the narrative felt disjointed but it fit the way everything was being told in its own way.
The book started to drag toward the end for me... still good, just lost its steam a bit. Can't pinpoint where exactly. The POVs of different people was interesting though and saved that part of the story for me.
The last chapter/epilogue was written beautifully but to me, felt unnecessary though one part of it did appeal to me and had me thinking.
All in all, a very good debut novel and I would recommend. I would suggest reading it when you have maybe a couple days where you don't have any plans and can devote the time to savor it :).
(Crappy review haha, pardon me)
July 22, 2017
Superb story of the people of the small town of Colliersville, Indiana. I found it amazing.
dnf
June 24, 2018DNF 30%
I really tried to read this arc but I just couldn't get into the story. The chapters were so long and draining and the number of characters being introduced just left me confused.
After almost 2 months of dragging this, I have no interest in knowing how it ends. I've made my peace.
I really tried to read this arc but I just couldn't get into the story. The chapters were so long and draining and the number of characters being introduced just left me confused.
After almost 2 months of dragging this, I have no interest in knowing how it ends. I've made my peace.
August 1, 2017
One spring afternoon, Daisy Gonzalez disappears without a trace from her small town of Colliersville, Indiana, affecting everyone in the community.
But Tornado Weather doesn't read like your typical mystery. This is a book about the people who inhabit Colliersville—from the Mexican immigrants who work at the local dairy farm to a boy who swears he can talk to animals to the townies working at the local strip club.
The narrative is similar to Olive Kitteridge: a series of interconnected short stories that together make up a complete novel. As the people of Colliersville deal with the aftermath of Daisy's disappearance, we learn who they are and how their own stories connect.
Colliersville serves as a microcosm of both modern America and humanity: much of it is extremely topical given our current cultural and political climate.
Kennedy writes each of her characters (even the more unsavory ones) with deliberate compassion to reveal the humanity in all of them. Her final chapter may read as too sentimental to some, though I thought it was a beautiful way to end the novel.
But Tornado Weather doesn't read like your typical mystery. This is a book about the people who inhabit Colliersville—from the Mexican immigrants who work at the local dairy farm to a boy who swears he can talk to animals to the townies working at the local strip club.
The narrative is similar to Olive Kitteridge: a series of interconnected short stories that together make up a complete novel. As the people of Colliersville deal with the aftermath of Daisy's disappearance, we learn who they are and how their own stories connect.
Colliersville serves as a microcosm of both modern America and humanity: much of it is extremely topical given our current cultural and political climate.
Kennedy writes each of her characters (even the more unsavory ones) with deliberate compassion to reveal the humanity in all of them. Her final chapter may read as too sentimental to some, though I thought it was a beautiful way to end the novel.
February 2, 2018
A book with no stakes. Dear God.
1. This is not a character-driven novel, that term's being misused. It can't be character-driven if none of the characters do anything or resurface at any point. Literally one character has more than one chapter in this book (Fikus, the bus driver, I think he may have 2-3). The characters do not act, they ruminate. It's boring.
2. There is no action in this novel. Anything that happens happens off-stage!!! You hear about it after the fact.
3. The missing girl is the least important thing happening, despite it being the book's selling point. If you buy this book, as I did, you have been conned.
4. The last chapter is an absolute shit storm, cop out, unearned mess. Save it for Disney.
5. The book purports to understand and examine the lives of "down-on-their-luck" everyday Americans. I felt the cumulative effect was the exact opposite of that. Read some noir. The blurb on the front cover comparing this author to Flannery O'Connor and Daniel Woodrell is ABSURD and makes me think less of Benjamin Percy.
I'm sorry to be harsh. But this was one of those I wanted to chuck across the room, cut up, or return to B&N. If I read this book and didn't read a lot, I would never want to read again. The one star is because the writing style was decent enough that I kept reading, so I guess that's something.
1. This is not a character-driven novel, that term's being misused. It can't be character-driven if none of the characters do anything or resurface at any point. Literally one character has more than one chapter in this book (Fikus, the bus driver, I think he may have 2-3). The characters do not act, they ruminate. It's boring.
2. There is no action in this novel. Anything that happens happens off-stage!!! You hear about it after the fact.
3. The missing girl is the least important thing happening, despite it being the book's selling point. If you buy this book, as I did, you have been conned.
4. The last chapter is an absolute shit storm, cop out, unearned mess. Save it for Disney.
5. The book purports to understand and examine the lives of "down-on-their-luck" everyday Americans. I felt the cumulative effect was the exact opposite of that. Read some noir. The blurb on the front cover comparing this author to Flannery O'Connor and Daniel Woodrell is ABSURD and makes me think less of Benjamin Percy.
I'm sorry to be harsh. But this was one of those I wanted to chuck across the room, cut up, or return to B&N. If I read this book and didn't read a lot, I would never want to read again. The one star is because the writing style was decent enough that I kept reading, so I guess that's something.
April 29, 2017
I received an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
I'm so glad I randomly entered and won this giveaway.
Set in 2010, this is a character-driven novel of life in a small Indiana town and the reaction of a community when a little girl goes missing. If you are expecting a straight narrative thread you will be disappointed. Each chapter is a character study/inner monolog of a different character.
I loved the varied points of view and the different voices. I never wanted it to end. I wanted to read forever about the inner thoughts and opinions of the townspeople and to see them through the eyes of their neighbors.
I can't say enough good things about Tornado Weather, and I am eagerly awaiting Deborah Elaine Kennedy's next book.
I'm so glad I randomly entered and won this giveaway.
Set in 2010, this is a character-driven novel of life in a small Indiana town and the reaction of a community when a little girl goes missing. If you are expecting a straight narrative thread you will be disappointed. Each chapter is a character study/inner monolog of a different character.
I loved the varied points of view and the different voices. I never wanted it to end. I wanted to read forever about the inner thoughts and opinions of the townspeople and to see them through the eyes of their neighbors.
I can't say enough good things about Tornado Weather, and I am eagerly awaiting Deborah Elaine Kennedy's next book.
August 16, 2017
Wtf this didn't bring to mind Everything I Never Told You at all!
Do you mean because this was a story about a girl who goes missing?
Celeste Ng's debut was a beautiful tight knit poignant story about a family in the pre-modern era and how their community and neighbours affected them.
This was a series of interconnected vignettes from over a dozen different perspectives on a town in Indiana in 2010 about a five year old girl who goes missing.
The difference is that Everything was about the girl. This book is about the town, with the girl creating a whole narrative that fits into what was already happening within the town.
I appreciated how interrelated the story was. That must have taken some serious effort and every time I saw a food instance of that I wanted to give mad props to the writer. But on the flip side, the heavy dose of magical realism that popped up, especially in the epilogue, was a bit much for me. This book is not awful - I understand why it got published - but it was poorly marketed.
I do like multiple POV - Paula Hawkins' In the Water? - but they need a tight story. Daisy's disappearance was not enough of that, and every time I started a new perspective I had to physically force myself to keep going because it was so jarring.
Had I known this is what I was getting, I would not have read this book. I'm hard pressed to call it a novel, and I'm irritated I wasted my time with it because it was a little lacklustre. I forced myself through it for the challenge, but if not for that, there were many moments I seriously considered DNFing it, because it was dumb and whacky and not in the Rick and Morty actually-incredibly-clever way my partner raves about.
2.5 stars rounded down to 2. Get a better summary writer up in here
Do you mean because this was a story about a girl who goes missing?
Celeste Ng's debut was a beautiful tight knit poignant story about a family in the pre-modern era and how their community and neighbours affected them.
This was a series of interconnected vignettes from over a dozen different perspectives on a town in Indiana in 2010 about a five year old girl who goes missing.
The difference is that Everything was about the girl. This book is about the town, with the girl creating a whole narrative that fits into what was already happening within the town.
I appreciated how interrelated the story was. That must have taken some serious effort and every time I saw a food instance of that I wanted to give mad props to the writer. But on the flip side, the heavy dose of magical realism that popped up, especially in the epilogue, was a bit much for me. This book is not awful - I understand why it got published - but it was poorly marketed.
I do like multiple POV - Paula Hawkins' In the Water? - but they need a tight story. Daisy's disappearance was not enough of that, and every time I started a new perspective I had to physically force myself to keep going because it was so jarring.
Had I known this is what I was getting, I would not have read this book. I'm hard pressed to call it a novel, and I'm irritated I wasted my time with it because it was a little lacklustre. I forced myself through it for the challenge, but if not for that, there were many moments I seriously considered DNFing it, because it was dumb and whacky and not in the Rick and Morty actually-incredibly-clever way my partner raves about.
2.5 stars rounded down to 2. Get a better summary writer up in here
May 2, 2017
This is one of those wonderful books that I love so much, where one story is told from the point of view of everyone in town, and only by reading the whole thing, do you begin to put the pieces together and realize what everyone's role is. If you liked Olive Kitteridge, or The Tsar of Love and Techno (as I did) you will most likely love this story set in a small town in Indiana of the reaction of a community when a little girl goes missing.
I loved the varied points of view, and the different voices. Sometimes when I read this type of book I get the characters mixed up, but that was not a problem for this book, since each character sounds uniquely like their self. This was one book that I never wanted to end. I wanted to read more about the thoughts and opinions of the townspeople, and to see them through the eyes of their neighbors, their friends, and their families. I wanted to know ALL the stories in the town, and I wanted the POV from all the people mentioned who did not get their own chapter.
I think the ending is especially beautiful, and not really where I expected the story to end up, so it was a (pleasant) surprise. Highly, highly recommended, and thank you to the publisher and Shelf Awareness for the ARC!
I loved the varied points of view, and the different voices. Sometimes when I read this type of book I get the characters mixed up, but that was not a problem for this book, since each character sounds uniquely like their self. This was one book that I never wanted to end. I wanted to read more about the thoughts and opinions of the townspeople, and to see them through the eyes of their neighbors, their friends, and their families. I wanted to know ALL the stories in the town, and I wanted the POV from all the people mentioned who did not get their own chapter.
I think the ending is especially beautiful, and not really where I expected the story to end up, so it was a (pleasant) surprise. Highly, highly recommended, and thank you to the publisher and Shelf Awareness for the ARC!
July 9, 2017
“Tornado Weather” is a remarkable debut by Deborah Kennedy. The framework for the novel is a missing 5 year old girl and a looming tornado. With that as the outline, Kennedy delves deeply into the lives of the inhabitants of a small Midwestern town. As secrets come to light the reader discovers the connections both small and large that bind these characters together. Those secrets, some of which are truly heartbreaking, show that no one is as average and ordinary as they may appear on the surface. Kennedy excels at bringing her characters to life and the authenticity of the dialogue is pitch perfect. I especially appreciated the way Kennedy brought so much compassion and understanding to current “hot-button” issues. An excellent first novel which I hope will lead to a long and distinguished career.
Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book
Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book
June 29, 2017
Note: I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Wow. This is probably one of my favorite books of 2017, and I hadn’t even heard of it before I requested it from Netgalley. The mystery sounded interesting to me, but I wasn’t expecting such a thoughtful and beautiful story of a small town in rural USA. I immediately looked for Kennedy’s other books to read before I remembered this is, incredibly, her debut novel.
The description says it’s about a young girl’s disappearance, but it is a much larger story about the entire town of Colliersville, Indiana. I grew up in a small town in the Rust Belt, long after all the steel mills left in the 70’s, so I recognize the problems Kennedy portrays in Colliersville. The narrow-minded prejudice, the unemployment, the difficulty of getting out, and the quick judgement on both outsiders and established families alike. In my hometown, your last name was often enough to tell teachers or employers what to assume about you, just like the Seaver’s in Tornado Weather. It was completely unfair and often based on something uncles or grandparents did long ago, yet it still haunts those who carry that name.
Also, heaven help you if you were different. I felt so bad for Willa growing up in that environment, because I saw firsthand how difficult it was for some of my classmates. The small town feeling and a child daring to be themselves reminded me of The Flood Girls by Richard Fifield (also an incredible novel).
While the main catalyst of the novel is young, wheelchair-bound Daisy’s disappearance, each chapter is told from a different resident’s POV. So many POVs can be tricky to pull off, but Kennedy manages to give each character a distinct voice and perspective that adds new layers to the town and other characters. Every character is brilliantly and tragically human, flaws and all. They didn’t necessarily shed more light on the disappearance, but they gave the reader a clearer picture of the town itself and how everyone is connected, whether they want to be or even know it.
I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great character study of a small town with a tragic mystery thrown in.
Wow. This is probably one of my favorite books of 2017, and I hadn’t even heard of it before I requested it from Netgalley. The mystery sounded interesting to me, but I wasn’t expecting such a thoughtful and beautiful story of a small town in rural USA. I immediately looked for Kennedy’s other books to read before I remembered this is, incredibly, her debut novel.
The description says it’s about a young girl’s disappearance, but it is a much larger story about the entire town of Colliersville, Indiana. I grew up in a small town in the Rust Belt, long after all the steel mills left in the 70’s, so I recognize the problems Kennedy portrays in Colliersville. The narrow-minded prejudice, the unemployment, the difficulty of getting out, and the quick judgement on both outsiders and established families alike. In my hometown, your last name was often enough to tell teachers or employers what to assume about you, just like the Seaver’s in Tornado Weather. It was completely unfair and often based on something uncles or grandparents did long ago, yet it still haunts those who carry that name.
Also, heaven help you if you were different. I felt so bad for Willa growing up in that environment, because I saw firsthand how difficult it was for some of my classmates. The small town feeling and a child daring to be themselves reminded me of The Flood Girls by Richard Fifield (also an incredible novel).
While the main catalyst of the novel is young, wheelchair-bound Daisy’s disappearance, each chapter is told from a different resident’s POV. So many POVs can be tricky to pull off, but Kennedy manages to give each character a distinct voice and perspective that adds new layers to the town and other characters. Every character is brilliantly and tragically human, flaws and all. They didn’t necessarily shed more light on the disappearance, but they gave the reader a clearer picture of the town itself and how everyone is connected, whether they want to be or even know it.
I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great character study of a small town with a tragic mystery thrown in.
August 10, 2017
I have loved listening to this book and getting to know these characters. They are all complex and devastating. If you read this book soon and don't like it, please don't discuss it with me. I'm not ready to be objective.
March 9, 2017
I rec'd this book thru a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to like this book but unfortunately i didn't, it just wasn't for me. Not saying that someone else wouldn't enjoy it. It was intriguing at first but then I just found it confusing without a point at times. It was more of the writing style that I found daunting. Each chapter, which were very long, was a different character with a different story, with multiple side characters woven in, way too much character development. The chapters would start a new story line each time and I had a hard time understanding who was even talking. I found myself having to flip back so many times reminding myself who people were when they came up again and how they related. Maybe it was how it was meant to be but the missing girl felt more of a backstory than the main point of the story. I guess she brought the town together, after so much division and disaster?? It began with her and ended with her, with just little mention of her missing within each chapter. Everyone seemed miserable and maybe I missed it but what was the point of getting to know any of these characters in such depth, to have such little growth by some of them. I definitely appreciated the read but it felt more like a chore to read rather than enjoyment.
April 29, 2017
This novel is a character driven mosaic of life in a community in the aftermath of the disappeearance (and presumed abducton/kidnapping) of 5 year old Daisy Gonzalez. Each chapter is written from the perspective of a different character, building on the relationships (however tenuous) between them (neighbors, employers, former classmates, hairdresser/clients, church group members, etc.). As such, if you are expecting a straight narrative thread or linear unfolding of a "who dunnit," you will be disappointed. There are times you may wonder how what you're reading has anything to do with the story of the disappearance of Daisy. Forge ahead! You are being let in on the nitty gritty details of the lives of certain elements of Colliersville, Indiana.
For me, everything came together in the final chapter. I think this is because I have personal experience of visitations in avian form from recently departed love ones. Therefore, I LOVED the way Kennedy wrapped up the story!!
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC I received in exchange for this fair and honest review.
For me, everything came together in the final chapter. I think this is because I have personal experience of visitations in avian form from recently departed love ones. Therefore, I LOVED the way Kennedy wrapped up the story!!
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC I received in exchange for this fair and honest review.
March 3, 2017
I was very fortunate to win this book in a Goodreads giveaway. The wonderful cast of characters in this story weave together a tapestry that in the end reveals how connected they truly are despite their apparent differences.
Five year old Daisy Gonzalez is dropped off at the bus stop in her wheelchair. Her father isn't waiting for her that day and she disappears. There is a varied cast of characters who have an opinion about what may have happened which, at times, made the story a bit confusing but also interesting. The author did a good job of writing a multilayered story that keeps you enthralled. The story of Daisy's disappearance is the first storyline you find yourself following. Shortly after, you find yourself drawn into the world of the townspeople and their lives in this small town. The storylines intertwine into a book that I highly recommend.
Five year old Daisy Gonzalez is dropped off at the bus stop in her wheelchair. Her father isn't waiting for her that day and she disappears. There is a varied cast of characters who have an opinion about what may have happened which, at times, made the story a bit confusing but also interesting. The author did a good job of writing a multilayered story that keeps you enthralled. The story of Daisy's disappearance is the first storyline you find yourself following. Shortly after, you find yourself drawn into the world of the townspeople and their lives in this small town. The storylines intertwine into a book that I highly recommend.
July 4, 2017
A difficult read for me. The book starts out with a disappearance of a little girl but then seems to just become a small backstory as it goes into a lot of stories about different people in town. I found it hard to keep track of who was who and really just wanted to concentrate on the missing girl. I have read other reviews that liked all the different characters so it really depends on your taste.
May 19, 2019
What a beautiful book, a Winesburg, Ohio for the early 21st century. The last chapter will knock your socks off. Trust me.
There are a lot of characters. You have two choices: read the book and keep track of the relationships (familial and otherwise) or just read and don’t worry if you forget who so and so’s son is and who is sleeping with whom. I did the latter, and my experience of the book was not diminished one bit.
There are a lot of characters. You have two choices: read the book and keep track of the relationships (familial and otherwise) or just read and don’t worry if you forget who so and so’s son is and who is sleeping with whom. I did the latter, and my experience of the book was not diminished one bit.
January 20, 2021
3.5 stars. I always want to support writers who attended the Iowa Writers’ Workshop but I’ve never been a big fan of books structured like this. Each chapter focuses on a different character and it all gets tied together in the end. But in the meantime, I’ve gotten confused trying to remember who’s who. The book paints a really grim picture of life in America, which, sadly, is way too true.
September 6, 2017
Started off really well but then got progressively worse. The story isn't as much about the disappearance of Daisy Gonazalez as it is about the depressing and downtrodden inhabitants of Colliersville, Indiana. The novel's arc is told through those inhabitants in a series of vignettes. There's also a shift in the timelines...some vignettes are set in the month prior to Daisy's disappearance, others are set on the same day, some are set in the time after the mystery of her disappearance is solved. And the narrator isn't always easily identified, so the whole thing felt jumbled and uneven.
And let me just say the whole thing about her disappearance is a joke...not only does it become just a backdrop to the town's stories, the resolution to the case feels tacked on and pulled out of Kennedy's ass at the last moment, almost as if she though "oh crap, I nearly forgot to solve Daisy's disappearance so QUICK, here's what happened to her!"
Plus, the "magical realism" bit at the end was too much. I waded through the book in hopes of finding out what happened to Daisy, only to discover that she was reincarnated as a blue heron and flew home to tell her father she was okay, and a kid who could "talk" to the animals heard her squawking and was able to interpret what she was saying.
And let me just say the whole thing about her disappearance is a joke...not only does it become just a backdrop to the town's stories, the resolution to the case feels tacked on and pulled out of Kennedy's ass at the last moment, almost as if she though "oh crap, I nearly forgot to solve Daisy's disappearance so QUICK, here's what happened to her!"
Plus, the "magical realism" bit at the end was too much. I waded through the book in hopes of finding out what happened to Daisy, only to discover that she was reincarnated as a blue heron and flew home to tell her father she was okay, and a kid who could "talk" to the animals heard her squawking and was able to interpret what she was saying.
September 15, 2017
It might be true that books about the midwest always loom large in my imagination and my standards are high; I grew up in Tornado country and wanted this to reflect my experience. It didn't.
I do think this was an ambitious first novel and when I think about from that perspective, it is remarkable. I did like the premise. But it fell short for me in that there were too many characters to keep track of, the featured characters didn't have distinguishing voices and I wished she had gone all in with the magical realism or not at all.
I did feel like the characters were representative of a medium sized midwestern city-- diverse in age, experience, ethnicity and political leanings. Those aspects rang true and the common theme of missing Daisy mostly brought them together. But for the life of me I couldn't keep track of who they all were.
I guess I just wanted more and better. And I think Ms. Kennedy can likely deliver that in future books.
I do think this was an ambitious first novel and when I think about from that perspective, it is remarkable. I did like the premise. But it fell short for me in that there were too many characters to keep track of, the featured characters didn't have distinguishing voices and I wished she had gone all in with the magical realism or not at all.
I did feel like the characters were representative of a medium sized midwestern city-- diverse in age, experience, ethnicity and political leanings. Those aspects rang true and the common theme of missing Daisy mostly brought them together. But for the life of me I couldn't keep track of who they all were.
I guess I just wanted more and better. And I think Ms. Kennedy can likely deliver that in future books.
May 9, 2018
ARC received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaway
The title of the novel drew me in. I was intrigued. The story was really good but I thought there were just too many characters. The story centers around the disappearance of Daisy Gonzales, a wheelchair-bound child. Everyone in the little town as a different theory about what happened to her. While learning what they think, the reader also sees the reality of the characters' lives in their town where everyone knows everyone else. The town in beset by poverty and racism, both of which color how the people see disappearance. A tornado actually does come at the end of the book. You would think that these tragedies would change the people of the town but, sadly, the worst parts remain.
I found it really irritating to try to keep track of all the characters while understanding why the author wanted to show why people felt the way they did about Daisy's disappearance.
The title of the novel drew me in. I was intrigued. The story was really good but I thought there were just too many characters. The story centers around the disappearance of Daisy Gonzales, a wheelchair-bound child. Everyone in the little town as a different theory about what happened to her. While learning what they think, the reader also sees the reality of the characters' lives in their town where everyone knows everyone else. The town in beset by poverty and racism, both of which color how the people see disappearance. A tornado actually does come at the end of the book. You would think that these tragedies would change the people of the town but, sadly, the worst parts remain.
I found it really irritating to try to keep track of all the characters while understanding why the author wanted to show why people felt the way they did about Daisy's disappearance.
June 7, 2017
Tornado Weather by Deborah Elaine Kennedy is a jewel of a book. This is a debut novel by Kennedy and she shows the potential of becoming a major author. She is a master at developing character and presents an array of interesting and realistic people . The story takes place in Colliersville, Indiana, in 2010, and revolves around the sudden disappearance of five-year old Daisy Gonzalez at her bus stop. Each chapter in the book presents one of the citizens of Colliersville and makes each of them real, warts and all. If you enjoy reading books that are character-driven, then you will enjoy Tornado Weather. It is a book that I will treasure, and I recommend it without reservation to all book lovers. I look forward to further books by Ms. Kennedy and hope that she is able to meet the expectations set by Tornado Weather.
July 17, 2017
*4.5 stars*
"One dog yelping at nothing will set ten thousand straining at their collars."
– Japanese Proverb, Tornado Weather
I’m not exactly sure what I anticipated when I began Tornado Weather, but what I got was so much more than what I imagined. Deborah E. Kennedy’s debut is weirdly wonderful, and it’s so different that it is difficult to know just how to categorize it. It’s one of those books that, to me, shouldn’t be pigeonholed into just one genre. There’s mystery, drama, heartache, racism, and bigotry – but also hopefulness, endurance, and even a bit of psychic phenomena. In other words, I couldn’t put it down.
Colliersville is a small rural town in Indiana that is in decline, verging on poverty in some areas. It’s a place where everybody knows what’s going on with their neighbors, though not everyone is aware of things that go on right under their own noses. When little Daisy Gonzales disappears after getting off the school bus one day, everyone suspects someone different, knows something different, saw something different. So many secrets in one small town… and they’re all about to be spilled.
One story told by many voices makes this a character-driven novel with those characters being so fleshed out I felt as though they would step off the page at any moment. I know some readers may balk at the thought of multiple character POVs, but not once did I struggle to keep up with who was who – mainly because in a small town full of gossip, you’ve heard about them before you ever meet them, but also because it reads more like short stories with one main theme. And then it all comes together brilliantly.
Tornado Weather is dark and gritty at times but hopeful and heartwarming at others, with an incredible and unexpected last chapter that left me emotional in the best way. This is an excellent debut from Deborah E. Kennedy, and I very much look forward to more of her unique storytelling.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review originally posted at A Belle's Tales.
"One dog yelping at nothing will set ten thousand straining at their collars."
– Japanese Proverb, Tornado Weather
I’m not exactly sure what I anticipated when I began Tornado Weather, but what I got was so much more than what I imagined. Deborah E. Kennedy’s debut is weirdly wonderful, and it’s so different that it is difficult to know just how to categorize it. It’s one of those books that, to me, shouldn’t be pigeonholed into just one genre. There’s mystery, drama, heartache, racism, and bigotry – but also hopefulness, endurance, and even a bit of psychic phenomena. In other words, I couldn’t put it down.
Colliersville is a small rural town in Indiana that is in decline, verging on poverty in some areas. It’s a place where everybody knows what’s going on with their neighbors, though not everyone is aware of things that go on right under their own noses. When little Daisy Gonzales disappears after getting off the school bus one day, everyone suspects someone different, knows something different, saw something different. So many secrets in one small town… and they’re all about to be spilled.
One story told by many voices makes this a character-driven novel with those characters being so fleshed out I felt as though they would step off the page at any moment. I know some readers may balk at the thought of multiple character POVs, but not once did I struggle to keep up with who was who – mainly because in a small town full of gossip, you’ve heard about them before you ever meet them, but also because it reads more like short stories with one main theme. And then it all comes together brilliantly.
Tornado Weather is dark and gritty at times but hopeful and heartwarming at others, with an incredible and unexpected last chapter that left me emotional in the best way. This is an excellent debut from Deborah E. Kennedy, and I very much look forward to more of her unique storytelling.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review originally posted at A Belle's Tales.
September 12, 2017
This is a strange book. It starts off like a mystery: where is Daisy, a missing little wheelchair-bound primary school student? Last seen being wheeled down the road away from the school bus by a casual acquaintance, she has vanished into thin air. However, almost immediately, this story line becomes secondary and chapter after chapter of the book becomes a vignette of someone's life in weird little Collierville, Indiana. It had its moments, but I found my attention wandering too often to be committed to the story.
I will say, I loved the last chapter.
I will say, I loved the last chapter.
July 18, 2017
I won this book as part of the GooReads Giveaway Program. I am offering my unbiased review in exchange for the ARC.
This book is not what I expected but I enjoyed it very much. A cast of unique characters, each chapter told from a different point of view. While the story centers around the mysterious disappearance of young Daisy, this is truly a story of a small town suffering from prejudice, secrets, economic troubles and the unwillingness to change.
The writing is strong and lyrical, although it did drag for a few chapters. There was a level of originality that I appreciated creatively but found a bit jarring in the story.
I still highly recommend this debut, it will leave you in tears from both laughter and heartbreak.
This book is not what I expected but I enjoyed it very much. A cast of unique characters, each chapter told from a different point of view. While the story centers around the mysterious disappearance of young Daisy, this is truly a story of a small town suffering from prejudice, secrets, economic troubles and the unwillingness to change.
The writing is strong and lyrical, although it did drag for a few chapters. There was a level of originality that I appreciated creatively but found a bit jarring in the story.
I still highly recommend this debut, it will leave you in tears from both laughter and heartbreak.
September 26, 2017
This was honestly one of the most depressing books I've ever read. That ending made my mouth drop open and goosebumps go down my entire body. I just want to cry. Life. This is a book about life in its rawest form. It's brutal.
December 1, 2017
I feel like I just read Olive Kitteridge again...
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