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L’uomo che guardava le stelle
"Osservare Bill mi fece ripensare a un sacco di tempo prima, quando anch’io mi facevo incantare dal cielo stellato. Quell’incanto però finì più o meno quando persi interesse per le cose sulla terra. Adesso provavo di nuovo quella sensazione di meraviglia. Non era tanto per le stelle, quanto piuttosto per l’uomo in piedi nel buio che le stava osservando”
Una mattina al Maybell’s Diner a Hadley, una cittadina dell’Arizona, giunge un cuoco che legge nel pensiero: il suo nome è Bill, un giovane uomo senza passato che sembra sbucato fuori dal nulla, e il suo arrivo in città cambierà la vita di tutti quelli che ne incroceranno il cammino. Bill non riesce solo a conoscere i desideri degli avventori del locale, tanto che presto questo diventerà meta di pellegrinaggio da ogni luogo dell’America, ma anche a sentire profondamente i dolori, le paure e le speranze di chi gli è vicino. La sua presenza luminosa cambia innanzi tutto la vita di Maybell, proprietaria del diner, e di Belutha, sua figlia adolescente e perennemente in conflitto con lei, che avvicinandosi a Bill scoprirà qualcosa di sé che non pensava di possedere e che ha a che fare con l’essere visti, e amati. Bill forse conosce davvero i segreti dell’universo, per questo Rose, una settantenne in rotta con il. Mondo, e Martin, un malato terminale che cerca nel cuoco delle setlle la risposta alla propria paura della morte, si affideranno a lui entrando a far parte dello staff del Maybell’s per affrontare insieme il mistero più grande: il fatto che le nostre esistenze sono intrecciate e che a volte bisogna credere in quello che non sappiamo spiegarci.
L’uomo che guardava le stelle è una favola contemporanea indimenticabile e commovente che fa tornare alla mente classici come Pomodori verdi fritti alla fermata del treno e K-Pax, e regala al lettore un senso straordinario di avventura e di stupore per tutto ciò che è vivo.
Una mattina al Maybell’s Diner a Hadley, una cittadina dell’Arizona, giunge un cuoco che legge nel pensiero: il suo nome è Bill, un giovane uomo senza passato che sembra sbucato fuori dal nulla, e il suo arrivo in città cambierà la vita di tutti quelli che ne incroceranno il cammino. Bill non riesce solo a conoscere i desideri degli avventori del locale, tanto che presto questo diventerà meta di pellegrinaggio da ogni luogo dell’America, ma anche a sentire profondamente i dolori, le paure e le speranze di chi gli è vicino. La sua presenza luminosa cambia innanzi tutto la vita di Maybell, proprietaria del diner, e di Belutha, sua figlia adolescente e perennemente in conflitto con lei, che avvicinandosi a Bill scoprirà qualcosa di sé che non pensava di possedere e che ha a che fare con l’essere visti, e amati. Bill forse conosce davvero i segreti dell’universo, per questo Rose, una settantenne in rotta con il. Mondo, e Martin, un malato terminale che cerca nel cuoco delle setlle la risposta alla propria paura della morte, si affideranno a lui entrando a far parte dello staff del Maybell’s per affrontare insieme il mistero più grande: il fatto che le nostre esistenze sono intrecciate e che a volte bisogna credere in quello che non sappiamo spiegarci.
L’uomo che guardava le stelle è una favola contemporanea indimenticabile e commovente che fa tornare alla mente classici come Pomodori verdi fritti alla fermata del treno e K-Pax, e regala al lettore un senso straordinario di avventura e di stupore per tutto ciò che è vivo.
- GenresYoung Adult
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2022
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1955 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 16, 2022
Go buy this book and read it now! You’re missing out on an incredible read and I doubt you’ll be disappointed in the slightest. The Man Who Came and Went by Joe Stillman is everything I hoped it would be and more. I’m sure it’s no surprise after this review intro, but I wish I could give more than 5 stars. This deserves 100!
The characters…wow. Joe Stillman writes believable, memorable characters that captivated me from the beginning. I’m incredibly impressed with how real they felt and how character driven this novel is.
The Man Who Came and Went is a YA story full of magical realism. I laughed and cried through this book. The writing is witty and poignant. I can’t say enough good about this, so I’m going to end my review here. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss this one!
Thank you to R&R Book Tours for the free review copy and book tour invite. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
The characters…wow. Joe Stillman writes believable, memorable characters that captivated me from the beginning. I’m incredibly impressed with how real they felt and how character driven this novel is.
The Man Who Came and Went is a YA story full of magical realism. I laughed and cried through this book. The writing is witty and poignant. I can’t say enough good about this, so I’m going to end my review here. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss this one!
Thank you to R&R Book Tours for the free review copy and book tour invite. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
April 1, 2022
The novel tells the tale of a rebellious teen girl whose difficult life is transformed by the titular character. It may masquerade as a story about a small wonder in an even smaller town's life, but it’s actually a profound message about what it is to be alive. The novel’s light, conversational style is inviting and deceptively approachable. The book keeps bringing you back when you put it down and lingers with you long after you’ve finished. It’s rare for a novel to be so thought-provoking and yet such a pleasure to read. I can’t recommend it more highly.
June 16, 2022
This was a wonderful story, it's emotional and thought provoking! From the first page I was pulled right into the town of Hadley and into the lives of angry Belutha and the quiet Bill. There are a few other characters in the story and each one has their own past, pain and fear. Each and every character plays their own role and has their own part to play in the story. It's a magical story that captures you from the very beginning and stays with you long after the last page!
Thank you R&R Book Tours and Joe Stillman for sharing this beautiful story with me!
Thank you R&R Book Tours and Joe Stillman for sharing this beautiful story with me!
July 16, 2022
A meditation on the complexities of life as seen through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old girl.
Belutha is tired of her promiscuous mother and the men she brings home. The oldest of three, each from different fathers, she's tired of being the responsible one.
Bill Bill, whose origin is a mystery, comes to the small Arizona town and finds himself working as a grill cook at Belutha's moms diner. His otherworldly ability to know what the customers want to eat even before they do soon makes the dinner the most popular place in town. Everyone from far and wide comes to see Bill and eat there. His presence has a life altering effect on everyone he meets.
Told completely from Belutha's POV in an easy going conversational style that made this a pleasure to read. The characters are all well defined with very real personalities. I was there with them staring at the sky and eating at the diner. I was touched by Bills quiet presence. To say the least, I enjoyed every minute of this impressive story.
"In a normal American town, something new and strange, and yet achingly familiar, begins to unfold."
.
.
Thank you to the author, City Point Press and Saichek Publicity for the gifted copy for me to read, review and enjoy.
Belutha is tired of her promiscuous mother and the men she brings home. The oldest of three, each from different fathers, she's tired of being the responsible one.
Bill Bill, whose origin is a mystery, comes to the small Arizona town and finds himself working as a grill cook at Belutha's moms diner. His otherworldly ability to know what the customers want to eat even before they do soon makes the dinner the most popular place in town. Everyone from far and wide comes to see Bill and eat there. His presence has a life altering effect on everyone he meets.
Told completely from Belutha's POV in an easy going conversational style that made this a pleasure to read. The characters are all well defined with very real personalities. I was there with them staring at the sky and eating at the diner. I was touched by Bills quiet presence. To say the least, I enjoyed every minute of this impressive story.
"In a normal American town, something new and strange, and yet achingly familiar, begins to unfold."
.
.
Thank you to the author, City Point Press and Saichek Publicity for the gifted copy for me to read, review and enjoy.
January 3, 2023
4-4.5/5
June 16, 2022
My first thought after reading this book is WOW; actually, I take that back double WOW! This book is a wonderfully, magical surprise. As soon as I started reading this book, I was drawn to it like everyone was drawn to Bill.
Bill was quiet and there was a mysterious arura surrounding him that make me want to get to know him better. It never got old when Bill would cook up someone's order and it was just what they needed, even if they did not know it themselves.
Additionally, what I also loved about this book is that every single character in this book were integral people in the story and not just side characters. This book is not to be missed. It is easily one of my top three favorite five star recommended reads of 2022!
Bill was quiet and there was a mysterious arura surrounding him that make me want to get to know him better. It never got old when Bill would cook up someone's order and it was just what they needed, even if they did not know it themselves.
Additionally, what I also loved about this book is that every single character in this book were integral people in the story and not just side characters. This book is not to be missed. It is easily one of my top three favorite five star recommended reads of 2022!
February 6, 2023
Non saprei. Per tutta la lettura del romanzo, che è scorrevole e mai noiosa, mi sono detto che la poesia, la leggerezza, l'originalità del libro fossero tutte parti di un progetto ben costruito, un po' più pensato che sentito. Per certi versi mi ha ricordato Edward mani di forbice, ma con un protagonista troppo impostato. Insomma lo guardo con sospetto e non sono riuscito a lasciarmi andare.
September 27, 2023
The novel reads like a screenplay—but I like the handling of life after death. Kudos to Stillman for avoiding the organized religion route.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2022
The Man Who Came and Went
Joe Stillman
“The walls were a dark gray because to my mind nothing under that roof deserved color.” Belutha
Perfection! I was drawn in from the first page. This book has a BIG heart. I adored Belutha and seeing into her world. Which was dysfunctional and far from perfect. Oh, I loved her sass! From Maybell to Bill Bill, the characters are so wonderfully written they feel like people you know. This book is thought provoking, touching and so meaningful. It gives you something to think about. Makes you wish you had a seat at Maybell’s diner to see all the action. Thank you Joe Stillman for writing such an amazing book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Joe Stillman
“The walls were a dark gray because to my mind nothing under that roof deserved color.” Belutha
Perfection! I was drawn in from the first page. This book has a BIG heart. I adored Belutha and seeing into her world. Which was dysfunctional and far from perfect. Oh, I loved her sass! From Maybell to Bill Bill, the characters are so wonderfully written they feel like people you know. This book is thought provoking, touching and so meaningful. It gives you something to think about. Makes you wish you had a seat at Maybell’s diner to see all the action. Thank you Joe Stillman for writing such an amazing book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 12, 2023
Un libro splendido e di grande dolcezza. Emergono le persone e i loro problemi irrisolti. Una trama delicata che merita davvero una lettura.
April 7, 2022
It's been a long time since a book has left me with tears. This is such a book. You need to read this book. I wish I could give it ten stars.
June 15, 2022
Title: The Man Who Came and Went
Author: Joe Stillman
Genre: Mature YA/ Literary Fiction/ Magical Realism
Publisher: City Point Press
“I felt that sense of wonder again. It was less about the stars and more about the man who stood alone in the dark watching them.”
Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Belutha Mariah, our storyteller, is the oldest of three kids from three
different fathers. Her life’s goal is to keep her dysfunctional mom, Maybell, from procreating
yet again and then to leave the coffin-sized town of Hadley, Arizona the second she graduates
high school. Along comes the new grill cook at Maybell’s Diner, Bill Bill, a mysterious drifter with the ability to mind-read orders. As word spreads in Hadley and beyond, the curious and desperate
pour into this small desert town to eat at Maybell’s. Some believe Bill knows the secrets of the universe. Belutha figures he’s probably nuts. But his cooking starts to transform the lives of locals and visitors, and Belutha finds her angry heart opening, as Bill begins to show her the porous
boundary between this life and what comes after. In a normal American town, something new and strange, and yet achingly familiar, begins to unfold.
Thoughts: LOVED! That’s it. That’s the review. KIDDING. But seriously, this book was absolutely delightful. From the moment I started reading, I got sucked into the little town of Hadley, and the very interesting lives of the characters that lived there. I absolutely *loved* the transformations that took place within many of the characters from the beginning of the story to the end.
There are many characters in the story, but I’d say the two main characters are Belutha and Bill Bill. When we first meet Belutha, she’s angry. After years of neglect from her mother, she’s learned to take care of herself and her younger siblings. When we first meet Bill Bill, he’s confused and quiet. Once he walks into Maybell’s diner, everything changes. Belutha and Bill Bill’s lives come together, and by the end of the story, they are connected in a way you would never believe.
This story made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me really think about life. A rare quality in a book! This is a story that I will always keep with me and remember. It’s absolutely beautiful and I highly recommend it.
Author: Joe Stillman
Genre: Mature YA/ Literary Fiction/ Magical Realism
Publisher: City Point Press
“I felt that sense of wonder again. It was less about the stars and more about the man who stood alone in the dark watching them.”
Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Belutha Mariah, our storyteller, is the oldest of three kids from three
different fathers. Her life’s goal is to keep her dysfunctional mom, Maybell, from procreating
yet again and then to leave the coffin-sized town of Hadley, Arizona the second she graduates
high school. Along comes the new grill cook at Maybell’s Diner, Bill Bill, a mysterious drifter with the ability to mind-read orders. As word spreads in Hadley and beyond, the curious and desperate
pour into this small desert town to eat at Maybell’s. Some believe Bill knows the secrets of the universe. Belutha figures he’s probably nuts. But his cooking starts to transform the lives of locals and visitors, and Belutha finds her angry heart opening, as Bill begins to show her the porous
boundary between this life and what comes after. In a normal American town, something new and strange, and yet achingly familiar, begins to unfold.
Thoughts: LOVED! That’s it. That’s the review. KIDDING. But seriously, this book was absolutely delightful. From the moment I started reading, I got sucked into the little town of Hadley, and the very interesting lives of the characters that lived there. I absolutely *loved* the transformations that took place within many of the characters from the beginning of the story to the end.
There are many characters in the story, but I’d say the two main characters are Belutha and Bill Bill. When we first meet Belutha, she’s angry. After years of neglect from her mother, she’s learned to take care of herself and her younger siblings. When we first meet Bill Bill, he’s confused and quiet. Once he walks into Maybell’s diner, everything changes. Belutha and Bill Bill’s lives come together, and by the end of the story, they are connected in a way you would never believe.
This story made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me really think about life. A rare quality in a book! This is a story that I will always keep with me and remember. It’s absolutely beautiful and I highly recommend it.
July 26, 2022
For more reviews and bookish post visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com
The Man Who Came and Went by Joe Stillman is a magical realism novel taking place in Arizona. Mr. Stillman is a novelist, screenwriter, and producer. His repertoire includes Shrek, Beavis and Butthead, as well as King of the Hill.
Belutha Maria lives in Hadley, AZ, a small town, indeed getting smaller. Belutha lives with her dysfunctional mother Maybell and two siblings – all from different fathers.
To Maybell’s Diner comes a new cook, Bill Bill, a drifter with the ability to read minds. Bill prepares customers’ food without them ordering and becomes a successful curiosity. No one knows where Bill came from, some think he knows the secrets to the universe, others the secret to life and death.
This book was a delightful surprise. Additionally, the book is a bit of everything, some science-fiction, a dash of fantasy, and a drop of realism living of a dysfunctional family in a dead-end small town.
Like many other SFF stories, The Man Who Came and Went by Joe Stillman is not about those elements, but about everyone around them. The mysterious Bill Bill can see through people, reading their minds. But he’s also new in town and is learning about what it takes to become human. He can see into humans,be able to understand peoples’ flaws, struggles, and mistakes.
There are a bunch of characters in this book, but each has a purpose, and the side stories make sense in the context of the whole. Mr. Stillman kept that “small-town feel” while writing a much larger story. Each of the characters, sans Bill Bill of course, seems real. Not overly written, and with real-world issues hoping that Bill would be able to help. Bill, on the other hand, is a bit confused himself, but knows how to ask the right questions, rather than just give overly simplistic answers.
While the book might seem simple at first glance, it is a moving story, with colorful characters and a healthy dose of humor. I didn’t expect the book to be so much fun, and so full of heart, while at the same time being quirky and funny – it was a nice surprise and a great summer read.
The Man Who Came and Went by Joe Stillman is a magical realism novel taking place in Arizona. Mr. Stillman is a novelist, screenwriter, and producer. His repertoire includes Shrek, Beavis and Butthead, as well as King of the Hill.
Belutha Maria lives in Hadley, AZ, a small town, indeed getting smaller. Belutha lives with her dysfunctional mother Maybell and two siblings – all from different fathers.
To Maybell’s Diner comes a new cook, Bill Bill, a drifter with the ability to read minds. Bill prepares customers’ food without them ordering and becomes a successful curiosity. No one knows where Bill came from, some think he knows the secrets to the universe, others the secret to life and death.
This book was a delightful surprise. Additionally, the book is a bit of everything, some science-fiction, a dash of fantasy, and a drop of realism living of a dysfunctional family in a dead-end small town.
Like many other SFF stories, The Man Who Came and Went by Joe Stillman is not about those elements, but about everyone around them. The mysterious Bill Bill can see through people, reading their minds. But he’s also new in town and is learning about what it takes to become human. He can see into humans,be able to understand peoples’ flaws, struggles, and mistakes.
There are a bunch of characters in this book, but each has a purpose, and the side stories make sense in the context of the whole. Mr. Stillman kept that “small-town feel” while writing a much larger story. Each of the characters, sans Bill Bill of course, seems real. Not overly written, and with real-world issues hoping that Bill would be able to help. Bill, on the other hand, is a bit confused himself, but knows how to ask the right questions, rather than just give overly simplistic answers.
While the book might seem simple at first glance, it is a moving story, with colorful characters and a healthy dose of humor. I didn’t expect the book to be so much fun, and so full of heart, while at the same time being quirky and funny – it was a nice surprise and a great summer read.
January 22, 2022
A Satisfying Shape Shifter
Boy, talk about all fiction starting from "a stranger rides into town" or "a man goes on a journey". Here, a stranger rides into town, and everyone in town goes on his or her own personal internal journey.
That's not how we start though. We start with fifteen-year-old Belutha, who is tough, smart, and constantly put out by her feckless and trashy Mom. The first chapters read like "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter", but with lots more cussing. It's also edgy, wise, and extremely funny. I wasn't sure where this was going to go, because as entertaining as Belutha is her smart-alecky commentary wasn't going to carry an entire novel. Indeed, as we go on Belutha emerges as a damaged soul whose acid humor disguises a lot of hurt and anger, and it really wasn't clear where this was going to go either.
Enter Bill Bill, the mysterious, childlike stranger. NO SPOILERS, but Bill's presence sets off all sorts of shocks for all sorts of local characters, and especially for Belutha and her Mom. Happily, we avoid all of the obvious and dreadful cliches - there are no phony plot twists or dramatic ploys to amp up the action or create conflict. Bill is a calm and mysterious presence, and his influence is mild but compelling. There is some touchy-feely, but like Bill it is understated, light handed, and a natural part of the tale. Because the story is told by Belutha, who is reluctant to trust the Bill phenomenon, we get a sweet and sour tale that will keep the reader guessing about the true story of this Man Who Fell to Earth.
So, it's funny, it's sometimes really funny, it's engaging, its wise, it's calm, and it's sneakily generous and life-affirming, as well as thought provoking and even a bit comforting. How's that for a multiple threat?
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
Boy, talk about all fiction starting from "a stranger rides into town" or "a man goes on a journey". Here, a stranger rides into town, and everyone in town goes on his or her own personal internal journey.
That's not how we start though. We start with fifteen-year-old Belutha, who is tough, smart, and constantly put out by her feckless and trashy Mom. The first chapters read like "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter", but with lots more cussing. It's also edgy, wise, and extremely funny. I wasn't sure where this was going to go, because as entertaining as Belutha is her smart-alecky commentary wasn't going to carry an entire novel. Indeed, as we go on Belutha emerges as a damaged soul whose acid humor disguises a lot of hurt and anger, and it really wasn't clear where this was going to go either.
Enter Bill Bill, the mysterious, childlike stranger. NO SPOILERS, but Bill's presence sets off all sorts of shocks for all sorts of local characters, and especially for Belutha and her Mom. Happily, we avoid all of the obvious and dreadful cliches - there are no phony plot twists or dramatic ploys to amp up the action or create conflict. Bill is a calm and mysterious presence, and his influence is mild but compelling. There is some touchy-feely, but like Bill it is understated, light handed, and a natural part of the tale. Because the story is told by Belutha, who is reluctant to trust the Bill phenomenon, we get a sweet and sour tale that will keep the reader guessing about the true story of this Man Who Fell to Earth.
So, it's funny, it's sometimes really funny, it's engaging, its wise, it's calm, and it's sneakily generous and life-affirming, as well as thought provoking and even a bit comforting. How's that for a multiple threat?
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
March 22, 2023
Joe Stillman’s The Man Who Came and Went introduces readers to a small town in Arizona where people’s mundane lives are interrupted by a newcomer who can read minds. Bill Bill shows up one day fresh off a bus from Phoenix and steps in as the new grill cook at Maybell’s Diner. He has a special gift—the ability to mind-read what people want to order. Soon news of his ability spreads and people realize Bill Bill is so much more than a mind-reading cook. Told through the eyes of jaded fifteen-year-old Belutha, Bill’s understanding and connection with the universe soon touches many others in his circle and gives people something they didn’t realize was desperately missing from their lives—hope.
Stillman blends the magical realism and coming of age genres with this one, but there is definitely a metaphysical and YA touch to it as well. The small-town setting of Hadley can double as just about any small town in America with characters that are quirky, stuck, jaded, that never left home or are wanting to get out. The characters are all relatable “types” with the local police officer, bad boy, kid who wants to bust out of town, troubled mom, lonely widow and more. Stillman excels at writing these characters and from our main protagonists down to the minor players, you remember them all.
While on the surface it’s a quick and easy read (which it is) there is a much deeper and metaphysical layer to it that challenges our perception of life and death, the universe, identity, time and our perceived realities. Needless to say, you can dive deeper into this one if you choose to take the rabbit hole. I always enjoy the challenge of a book that gets my mind churning with bigger than me questions about life and our perceived realities.
The Man Who Came and Went exposes our most intimate desires for hope and to be seen unapologetically for who we are—the good, bad and ugly of it. It would make a great film adaption. Quick and thought-provoking, it’s one to add to your tbr pile.
Thank you to Saichek Publicity for my copy of this book
Stillman blends the magical realism and coming of age genres with this one, but there is definitely a metaphysical and YA touch to it as well. The small-town setting of Hadley can double as just about any small town in America with characters that are quirky, stuck, jaded, that never left home or are wanting to get out. The characters are all relatable “types” with the local police officer, bad boy, kid who wants to bust out of town, troubled mom, lonely widow and more. Stillman excels at writing these characters and from our main protagonists down to the minor players, you remember them all.
While on the surface it’s a quick and easy read (which it is) there is a much deeper and metaphysical layer to it that challenges our perception of life and death, the universe, identity, time and our perceived realities. Needless to say, you can dive deeper into this one if you choose to take the rabbit hole. I always enjoy the challenge of a book that gets my mind churning with bigger than me questions about life and our perceived realities.
The Man Who Came and Went exposes our most intimate desires for hope and to be seen unapologetically for who we are—the good, bad and ugly of it. It would make a great film adaption. Quick and thought-provoking, it’s one to add to your tbr pile.
Thank you to Saichek Publicity for my copy of this book
June 20, 2022
The Man Who Came and Went by Joe Stillman was a pleasure to read and I can honestly say I feel it came in my life at a time when I needed it. It is not your typical read and I think that is all thanks to Joe. His writing style is unique and reminded me of another writer I know who writes in a way that you feel like you are wrapped up in a movie or television show living the story with the characters. This is how Joe writes! Every page is like being in the diner with Bill Bill, Maybell and all the unique and wonderful customers who visit Maybell’s Diner. It was reminiscent of Roswell meets Twin Peaks meets The X-Files and I am not even sure if that comparison does it justice (and that is saying something since two of those are some of my favorite shows). The story follows our unusual friend Bill Bill as he names himself which made me chuckle out loud, but he is not the only one who takes center stage in this tale. We also see the complex and beautiful relationship between Maybell and her daughter Belutha who to be honest is a delight to read. Every character is handled with care and presented in a way that makes it, so you learn about them and their lives without taking anything from anyone else. And Joe manages to do all of this and still write an amazing plot which I am not going to spoil no matter how many pretty books you offer to give me! Normally I would say I was surprised to see an author have such a wonderful novel on their first try but considering it came from “The Joe Stillman”, what else did we expect! Let’s be honest, he is amazing; he has had his hands in all my favorite movies and television shows, so of course this was going to be amazing too. So, all I want to say from the bottom of my heart is.. Thank You Joe Stillman for letting me into another world you brought to life and letting me meet Bill Bill, I will forever be changed by him.
June 14, 2022
*** Four and a half shiny stars
A captivating YA read, sparkling with starlight and magical realism, a tough and unmistakably tender heroine, an existential quest, and a whole townfull of lost and lovely souls.
Welcome to Hadley, Arizona.
Belutha, our main protagonist, is sixteen years old, a social misfit and an "invisible girl", who is unjustly saddled with Maybell, (her "wacky" and promiscuous mother), two needy half-siblings, and a prickly attitude she wears like a coat-of-armor.
Our story begins when a mysterious stranger suddenly and silently rolls into town. Improbably named "Bill Bill", and possessed of a strange (and not at all off-putting) mixture of innocence and awkwardness, it's clear that Bill is as out of place in Maybell's diner as he may be in its planetary host.
Without giving the plot away (no spoilers here), Belutha's story, as laid out in these pages, and as we learn, as told to her in its entirety by the no-longer-a-stranger Bill, is an absolute delight - guaranteed to entertain and enthrall young adults, and pretty much any adult, who loves to read.
A whimsical tale of being and something-ness, of mystery and magic and the greatness of all we do not, and cannot, know - the big questions, the alone-in-the-night terrible ones - the questions concerning our earthly “self” origins and inevitably, our eternal and eventual body-less destinations.
I loved this book - an uplifting and utterly mesmerizing tale combining the fantastical world as seen in the works of Ray Bradbury, ( such a nostalgic favorite!), with the neighborhood characterizations so gracefully reminiscent of the best of the wonderful Anne Tyler.
A great big thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.All thoughts presented are my own.
A captivating YA read, sparkling with starlight and magical realism, a tough and unmistakably tender heroine, an existential quest, and a whole townfull of lost and lovely souls.
Welcome to Hadley, Arizona.
Belutha, our main protagonist, is sixteen years old, a social misfit and an "invisible girl", who is unjustly saddled with Maybell, (her "wacky" and promiscuous mother), two needy half-siblings, and a prickly attitude she wears like a coat-of-armor.
Our story begins when a mysterious stranger suddenly and silently rolls into town. Improbably named "Bill Bill", and possessed of a strange (and not at all off-putting) mixture of innocence and awkwardness, it's clear that Bill is as out of place in Maybell's diner as he may be in its planetary host.
Without giving the plot away (no spoilers here), Belutha's story, as laid out in these pages, and as we learn, as told to her in its entirety by the no-longer-a-stranger Bill, is an absolute delight - guaranteed to entertain and enthrall young adults, and pretty much any adult, who loves to read.
A whimsical tale of being and something-ness, of mystery and magic and the greatness of all we do not, and cannot, know - the big questions, the alone-in-the-night terrible ones - the questions concerning our earthly “self” origins and inevitably, our eternal and eventual body-less destinations.
I loved this book - an uplifting and utterly mesmerizing tale combining the fantastical world as seen in the works of Ray Bradbury, ( such a nostalgic favorite!), with the neighborhood characterizations so gracefully reminiscent of the best of the wonderful Anne Tyler.
A great big thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.All thoughts presented are my own.
October 24, 2023
Mi sono fatta regalare questo libro l'anno scorso (compleanno o natale non ricordo più, a proposito) ovviamente innamorata della copertina, e di quel titolo che mi intrigava.
Ho scoperto una storia che mi ha riportato alla mente Pomodori verdi fritti, ma con una sfumatura di weird (si dice così? Si dai mi pare di sì 😂)
C'è una cittadina sperduta in Arizona, una cittadina da cui se sei un'adolescente con enormi problemi con tua madre vuoi solo scappare.
C'è un ristorante, un ragazzo/uomo di cui nessuno sa nulla che ne entra a far parte. Così come entra a far parte della vita di alcuni personaggi che non di capisce come fanno a vivere nello stesso mondo.
Una madre, dei figli, padri assenti, una vedova, un ragazzo innamorato, qualcuno che sta cercando il senso di tutto, rabbia, amore, vendetta.
Non è una storia d'amore, non è un romanzo di avventura, ci sono pensieri filosofici e domande a cui non sembra poter dare risposte, non risposte logiche e razionali almeno. I lettori più esperti lo chiamerebbero di formazione, probabilmente.
È un libro che ha bisogno del suo tempo per farsi apprezzare.
Nella nostra vita sempre più veloce, dove si deve produrre, essere attivi, dove si DEVE essere utili, a volte dovremmo solo trovare il tempo di fermarci, alzare gli occhi al cielo, e guardare le stelle.
"Cominciai a piangere perché qualcuno, nei miei sedici anni di vita, finalmente mi aveva visto. E perché essere vista era la cosa più bella che mi fosse mai successa. Piangevo perché non mi era mai successo prima, e perché non sapevo nemmeno quanto fosse importante. Era come se Bill avesse illuminato la caverna in cui vivevo, e adesso sapevo che era una caverna, e non volevo più viverci là dentro."
Ho scoperto una storia che mi ha riportato alla mente Pomodori verdi fritti, ma con una sfumatura di weird (si dice così? Si dai mi pare di sì 😂)
C'è una cittadina sperduta in Arizona, una cittadina da cui se sei un'adolescente con enormi problemi con tua madre vuoi solo scappare.
C'è un ristorante, un ragazzo/uomo di cui nessuno sa nulla che ne entra a far parte. Così come entra a far parte della vita di alcuni personaggi che non di capisce come fanno a vivere nello stesso mondo.
Una madre, dei figli, padri assenti, una vedova, un ragazzo innamorato, qualcuno che sta cercando il senso di tutto, rabbia, amore, vendetta.
Non è una storia d'amore, non è un romanzo di avventura, ci sono pensieri filosofici e domande a cui non sembra poter dare risposte, non risposte logiche e razionali almeno. I lettori più esperti lo chiamerebbero di formazione, probabilmente.
È un libro che ha bisogno del suo tempo per farsi apprezzare.
Nella nostra vita sempre più veloce, dove si deve produrre, essere attivi, dove si DEVE essere utili, a volte dovremmo solo trovare il tempo di fermarci, alzare gli occhi al cielo, e guardare le stelle.
"Cominciai a piangere perché qualcuno, nei miei sedici anni di vita, finalmente mi aveva visto. E perché essere vista era la cosa più bella che mi fosse mai successa. Piangevo perché non mi era mai successo prima, e perché non sapevo nemmeno quanto fosse importante. Era come se Bill avesse illuminato la caverna in cui vivevo, e adesso sapevo che era una caverna, e non volevo più viverci là dentro."
June 8, 2022
I want to start off and that I received a complimentary book. In return for my honest thoughts and review.
I have never read a book this quick in very long time. I couldn’t put this book down. Couple of movies and actors came into my head while reading this book. I honestly have to say that this a book I will be definitely rereading in the future. This book will always hold a special place in my heart. Adding future books from this author. I have no negative things to say about this book. I love the place setting in this book. Living in Arizona, I pictured things that were mentioned.
I got so many feelings when reading this book. I can go on and on. I highly recommend this book. The characters and the way the author introduced the characters and their past. It was very beautiful read and realistic. I felt each character their pains and the fears.
Our main Character Belutha young teenage girl tired of the town named Hadley she living in. With her mother Maybell and two young brothers who all different fathers. Tired of seeing her mother not being responsible. Bill is someone not from there or anywhere. Who didn’t want to forget. Bill coming into a small town like Hadley. People in this small town didn’t know how to or what to make of this stranger coming into their town. Some thought Bill was crazy. Belutha starts thinking different since Bill came into her home and her world. That ending was very special ending to amazing book. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to the author and RR booktours this opportunity.
I have never read a book this quick in very long time. I couldn’t put this book down. Couple of movies and actors came into my head while reading this book. I honestly have to say that this a book I will be definitely rereading in the future. This book will always hold a special place in my heart. Adding future books from this author. I have no negative things to say about this book. I love the place setting in this book. Living in Arizona, I pictured things that were mentioned.
I got so many feelings when reading this book. I can go on and on. I highly recommend this book. The characters and the way the author introduced the characters and their past. It was very beautiful read and realistic. I felt each character their pains and the fears.
Our main Character Belutha young teenage girl tired of the town named Hadley she living in. With her mother Maybell and two young brothers who all different fathers. Tired of seeing her mother not being responsible. Bill is someone not from there or anywhere. Who didn’t want to forget. Bill coming into a small town like Hadley. People in this small town didn’t know how to or what to make of this stranger coming into their town. Some thought Bill was crazy. Belutha starts thinking different since Bill came into her home and her world. That ending was very special ending to amazing book. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to the author and RR booktours this opportunity.
Read
July 16, 2024I was fascinated and mesmerized by this book. The author created numerous characters who interact with each other in various ways and are all connected in some way to the feature character… Bill. The reader remembers all the people in the novel easily. No one knows where Bill came from or why he can read people minds… specifically what food the patrons of a local diner want to eat, in come cases, even before they look at the menu.
He unobtrusively arrives in a small town and alters all the lives of those who meet him and draws people to the diner, in which he is employed as the short order cook. People attribute to him great knowledge and the reader also wonders about his wisdom.
All the characters are flawed, like most people are, in real life. The story is narrated by the daughter of the diner owner… a young adolescent who picks up the slack for her irresponsible mother. This teen takes responsibility for her two younger siblings… all three children have different fathers and she desperately wants to escape the madness of home and the limits of small-town life. She becomes as much as she can the absolute opposite of her mother.
The novel takes an unexpected look at the subject of reincarnation, not a view that we have ever been exposed to before. Like I said… fascinating.
I promise you it is an exceptional book to read and well worth your time. Also, I believe that this novel is for people of ALL ages who enjoy good books.
Patricia Warren
Screenwriter
He unobtrusively arrives in a small town and alters all the lives of those who meet him and draws people to the diner, in which he is employed as the short order cook. People attribute to him great knowledge and the reader also wonders about his wisdom.
All the characters are flawed, like most people are, in real life. The story is narrated by the daughter of the diner owner… a young adolescent who picks up the slack for her irresponsible mother. This teen takes responsibility for her two younger siblings… all three children have different fathers and she desperately wants to escape the madness of home and the limits of small-town life. She becomes as much as she can the absolute opposite of her mother.
The novel takes an unexpected look at the subject of reincarnation, not a view that we have ever been exposed to before. Like I said… fascinating.
I promise you it is an exceptional book to read and well worth your time. Also, I believe that this novel is for people of ALL ages who enjoy good books.
Patricia Warren
Screenwriter
June 15, 2022
Is it magical realism in the American West or is it actually a mediation in novel form? I can’t decide. This book reminds me of guided meditation with the same sense of foreboding that old Westerns built as you watched the clock tick closer to high noon. In the same vein as Hector and the Search for Happiness, we follow Belutha and our fellow diner guests (and cooks…and waiters…and hangers-on) as they come to terms with unlocking the secrets to the universe thanks to the odd-ball, Bill.
I got the image of Bill as Stephen Merchant in my head early on (which I highly recommend). Bill’s observations on the why of our coming to being left me staring off in space at various points as I tried to absorb what it all meant. Veering from the philosophical to the concrete, I found myself cheering for the discoveries of each character. I read the majority of The Man Who Came and Went while in COVID quarantine and relished the quiet moments there to fully fall into the small-town setting. Filled with gentle humor and through-provoking observations on humanity, this is a worthy addition to your TBR.
Thanks to R&R Book Tours & City Point Press/Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I got the image of Bill as Stephen Merchant in my head early on (which I highly recommend). Bill’s observations on the why of our coming to being left me staring off in space at various points as I tried to absorb what it all meant. Veering from the philosophical to the concrete, I found myself cheering for the discoveries of each character. I read the majority of The Man Who Came and Went while in COVID quarantine and relished the quiet moments there to fully fall into the small-town setting. Filled with gentle humor and through-provoking observations on humanity, this is a worthy addition to your TBR.
Thanks to R&R Book Tours & City Point Press/Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 9, 2024
The story (a mysterious being named Bill possessing the body of a dead young man and upsetting the lives of people he meets in a small town) is not original, but intriguing. The writing, although plain, is solid. The narration, however, presents few issues: the narrator, Belutha, is a 15yo girl, with an exaggerated and unjustified hate towards everyone and everything; although she tells the story first person, she knows everything of everyone, including their thoughts (at the end we are told that she can do that because Bill taught her how to be connected with time and space, but the explanation, weak as it is, arrives too late, when the reader is already long bothered by the unjustified omniscience; on a side note, this connection with time and space does not fit with the reaction of Bill to things "he didn't know before"). The story moves on a series of foreseeable events, carried by stereotypical characters, and the moments that are meaningful and important are given barely a sentence and immediately dismissed.
The ending, where all independently take a gun to save Bill, is an unneeded exaggeration, and the very last pages fast-forwarding into the future that Belutha can now clearly foresee is debatable.
The ending, where all independently take a gun to save Bill, is an unneeded exaggeration, and the very last pages fast-forwarding into the future that Belutha can now clearly foresee is debatable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2022
When I read the summary for The Man Who Came and Went I wasn’t sure what to expect but what I found inside was nowhere near what I was thinking. What lies between the pages is way better than I ever thought it would be. The Man Who Came and Went is told from Fifteen-year-old Belutha Mariah’s eyes. Belutha is the oldest of three. Belutha has two younger siblings. All three have different fathers. Belutha’s only goal at the moment is to keep her mother from having more children. Her next goal is to get out of the small town she lives in.
Belutha’s mother Maybell owns a diner in the small town of Hadley, Arizona where she lives in. One day a man shows up and Maybell gives him a job as a cook. There was something very mysterious about this new guy, Bill. Bill knew what the customers wanted before they even spoke. Everyone was very surprised to learn that Bill could read their minds.
When the word about Bill began to spread people from all over came to visit the diner to see if it was true. There were so many people that they had to stand in line waiting for a table. Everyone came just to see Bill. They wanted to know everything about him.
The Man Who Came and Went is a really cozy read that makes you feel all warm inside. You feel as if you know the people as they all seemed like real people. Like someone, you had known all your life. The world that was created for The Man Who Came and Went has a warm and cozy feel to it. A world that you wished you lived in.
I believe that The Man Who Came and Went would make a great Lifetime or Hallmark movie. The atmosphere alone makes it a great story for the big screen. I love that title I am not sure what it is but to me it is, well, the only word that keeps flashing in my mind right now is glorious. Why I do not know but that is what it is. Go figure.
The feeling that The Man Who Came and Went has left me with is the main reason I would give it more than five stars if I could. Oh and that title is another reason to give it five stars or more.
I highly recommend The Man Who Came and Went to everyone as their next great read. Grab your copy of The Man Who Came and Went today!
Belutha’s mother Maybell owns a diner in the small town of Hadley, Arizona where she lives in. One day a man shows up and Maybell gives him a job as a cook. There was something very mysterious about this new guy, Bill. Bill knew what the customers wanted before they even spoke. Everyone was very surprised to learn that Bill could read their minds.
When the word about Bill began to spread people from all over came to visit the diner to see if it was true. There were so many people that they had to stand in line waiting for a table. Everyone came just to see Bill. They wanted to know everything about him.
The Man Who Came and Went is a really cozy read that makes you feel all warm inside. You feel as if you know the people as they all seemed like real people. Like someone, you had known all your life. The world that was created for The Man Who Came and Went has a warm and cozy feel to it. A world that you wished you lived in.
I believe that The Man Who Came and Went would make a great Lifetime or Hallmark movie. The atmosphere alone makes it a great story for the big screen. I love that title I am not sure what it is but to me it is, well, the only word that keeps flashing in my mind right now is glorious. Why I do not know but that is what it is. Go figure.
The feeling that The Man Who Came and Went has left me with is the main reason I would give it more than five stars if I could. Oh and that title is another reason to give it five stars or more.
I highly recommend The Man Who Came and Went to everyone as their next great read. Grab your copy of The Man Who Came and Went today!
November 26, 2023
Questa é la storia di Bill, un giovane uomo senza passato e con il dono di saper leggere i pensieri altrui. É la storia di Belutha, una ragazza di 16 anni che vuole fuggire dalla sua vita, ma é anche la storia di sua madre Maybell in costante ricerca di un modo per riempire il vuoto che sente. E, infine, é la storia di Rose e Martin, due anime solitarie che hanno paura uno di vivere e l'altro di morire.
La cornice della storia é Hadley, una città sperduta dell'Arizona, e in particolare il suo Diner protagonista silenzioso di un avvenimento che segnerà e cambierà profondamente i suoi avventori.
Con una scrittura divertente, ironica e a tratti riflessiva e profonda, l'autore ci accompagna, con questo romanzo d'esordio, in un viaggio interiore tra realtà e sogno.
La narrazione é veloce seppur appaia calma, come il suo protagonista che si perde ogni notte a guardare le stelle.
Un romanzo carino senza particolari pretese.
La cornice della storia é Hadley, una città sperduta dell'Arizona, e in particolare il suo Diner protagonista silenzioso di un avvenimento che segnerà e cambierà profondamente i suoi avventori.
Con una scrittura divertente, ironica e a tratti riflessiva e profonda, l'autore ci accompagna, con questo romanzo d'esordio, in un viaggio interiore tra realtà e sogno.
La narrazione é veloce seppur appaia calma, come il suo protagonista che si perde ogni notte a guardare le stelle.
Un romanzo carino senza particolari pretese.
March 10, 2022
I'm not a patient reader, so I often start a book and never finish. Not this time. The Man Who Came and Went grabbed me from the start, with conversational writing — unfolding through the voice of a high school girl named Belutha, bitter and wise beyond her years. The settingis a small town in Arizona which where the Reader quickly (and gradually) meets a cast of multi-layered characters and excruciatingly complex human relationships. It's fantasy and reality smashed into one heartfelt, suspenseful journey as these folks evolve — thanks to Bill Bill, a mysterious man who seems to come from nowhere. There's humor, sadness and surprise leading to a climax that will stay with me forever. Read it as soon as possible. It might just change the way you look at the world. And yourself. Hey Joe, thanks for writing this!
June 23, 2023
Wow. I don't know how to explain how much I love this book - there's just something about it, a certain je ne sais quoi that I can't convey. It draws you in with a brilliant opening, and doesn't let you go until the end. I can't remember the last time I had a book hangover this bad, I had to just take a bit to recover from the journey I went on from cover to cover. I felt like I'd become so enmeshed in the character's lives that I was there, living each day with them. They're all unique, and exactly the kind of people you'd expect to see in small-town America...except Bill. I loved Bill, his way of viewing the world, the way he interacted with everyone. Belutha was a great narrator, and I could only hope for the best for her as soon as I met her. I cannot recommend this enough for readers looking for a unique book that will find its way into your heart in no time.
May 2, 2022
This was our book club selection and for the first time, we unanimously shared the same experience - great story, it was a total page-turner and we couldn't put the book down.
The book opens on a clear depiction of a desolate desert town going through hard times. The characters lives are hard and the landscape is hard and difficult to inhabit. Then a stranger arrives on the scene and his presence offers a glint of hope and comfort, just by being who he is.
This is a beautiful tale of how pure innocent love is so healing to the people lucky enough to experience it.
I found that during this heightened time of challenge and stress, this book offered a refreshing outlook and fed my soul in a quiet and unexpected way.
I totally recommend.
The book opens on a clear depiction of a desolate desert town going through hard times. The characters lives are hard and the landscape is hard and difficult to inhabit. Then a stranger arrives on the scene and his presence offers a glint of hope and comfort, just by being who he is.
This is a beautiful tale of how pure innocent love is so healing to the people lucky enough to experience it.
I found that during this heightened time of challenge and stress, this book offered a refreshing outlook and fed my soul in a quiet and unexpected way.
I totally recommend.
November 15, 2022
This book is unlike anything I've ever read. It is truly unique. I think the genre of magical realism lends really well to stories that aren't quite impossible, but are highly improbable.
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Stillman captures the best and worst in a small town. He highlights the community in Maybell's diner, the discontent in every inch of Belutha, and Bill comes in to remind everyone of what lies in the heart. This book is slow paced and heartfelt. It happens over the course of just a few days, but in those days you see deep into each character. Sometimes with something as simple as their diner order.
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This book is quirky and it's characters are lovable. Stillman has created a portrait of a found family that could be any of us.
3.75
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Stillman captures the best and worst in a small town. He highlights the community in Maybell's diner, the discontent in every inch of Belutha, and Bill comes in to remind everyone of what lies in the heart. This book is slow paced and heartfelt. It happens over the course of just a few days, but in those days you see deep into each character. Sometimes with something as simple as their diner order.
.
This book is quirky and it's characters are lovable. Stillman has created a portrait of a found family that could be any of us.
3.75
June 15, 2022
3.5 Stars!
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.*
I've never really read a book anything like this, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. It read like a cult favorite television series, if that makes sense. There were a ton of quirky and interesting characters - the one I loved the most being the main character, Belutha who had no filter and had me crying laughing during some of her encounters. This is a real quick read and involves a mysterious and magical character that will have you asking yourself ta ton of questions. I'd recommend this for anyone who enjoys small towns and is into a bit of fantasy!
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.*
I've never really read a book anything like this, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. It read like a cult favorite television series, if that makes sense. There were a ton of quirky and interesting characters - the one I loved the most being the main character, Belutha who had no filter and had me crying laughing during some of her encounters. This is a real quick read and involves a mysterious and magical character that will have you asking yourself ta ton of questions. I'd recommend this for anyone who enjoys small towns and is into a bit of fantasy!
June 27, 2022
Our book club just read this book which was a perfect summertime read. Bill Bill was a very calming character plopped into a desolate Arizona town. A desolate town where there is little hope for young Belutha who longs to leave a mother who ignores her three children and is always looking for love in the next guy to come around. Nothing changes here. Enter Bill Bill who arrives without fanfare in the body of a young man who has died of an overdose. He ignores what's going on around him but creates mental "strings" of attachment to those around him. Watch how he influences the lives around him!
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