When the Finch Rises RB Large Print

by Jack Riggs

2003 RB LARGE PRINT HARDCOVER

Genres: Fiction

289 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2003

Reviews

[Sarah]

Whew! This book was a mess! Way too much craziness going on and really bleak. I didn't enjoy the writing style, especially at the beginning. Not for me.

[Laura]

Whenever I see a blurb that says something like "When the Finch Rises is the debut novel of an author whose work will be read as classic literature for a long time to come." (direct quote from the back jacket) I know that the book is going to fall far from the mark. Why publishers try to overblurb, overhype books is beyond me, but they seem to feel that the booksellers will be more eager to buy if that's what's being said about the book. In this case, my intuition was correct: Riggs tries too hard, and ultimately it's a poor version of Prayer for Owen Meany mixed with the usual coming-of-age/poor parents/crazy mom stuff. Yawn. The fact that it was published five years ago and I've not heard of it just proves my point. Now, if only publishers and booksellers would listen to me...

[Benjamin]

Raybert tells of his friendship with Palmer Conroy from when they first meet at the age of six years. His first encounter with his friend being Palmer's appearance on his first day at Raybert's School, the day President Kennedy is assassinated, latter the same day Palmer just walks into Raybert's trailer home and sits himself down, and so their friendship begins. The two boys quickly become best friends, getting up to the typical antics boys will.

But all is not well for the two boys living in North Carolina. While Raybert is no doubt loved by his parents, there are problems. His mother has health issues, and his father can't stay around for too long, he is always disappearing and getting himself in fights. Palmer also has family problems, his mother has little time for him, especially since his father died and there is now a new man in her life.

Palmer has a plan to run away, and Raybert promises to go with him. By the time the two boys are twelve years old things are getting so bad that Palmer intends to make their escape earlier than planned, but can they pull it off?

When the Finch Rises is a beautiful story of friendship, but is also a heartbreaking story of the troubled childhood of two very different but very likeable boys. The writing is excellent, with a strong sense of place, well drawn characters, touches of humour even in the face of the heartbreak, making this a most compelling read.

[Annemaria Duran]

Did not finish it. Not the kind of book that leaves you feeling happier or better. Would not recommend. Mostly dysfunctional smutty families. Author doesn’t have enough language vocabulary to avoid using the Fbomn and other language constantly. No tact. I looked up the ending to see if there was any redeeming quality about the book and nope. The manic mom gets committed, the drunk dad dies alone, the bestie gets caught running away and send to Juvie jail never to be heard of again, and the kid gets no answers he’s struggled with. Glad I decided to throw my copy away (something reserved for only the worst books as a means of respect to other book lovers so they don’t accidentally buy it second hand.)

[Vickie]

Raybert and Palmer are both 12 the summer of 1968. They come from dysfunctional families and depend on each other for everything. Raybert's mother suffers from mental illness and his father comes in and out of his life leaving the tending to Raybert's Aunt Iris.
Sad tale, but so engrossing and I came to really like Raybert and the strength he portrayed trying to just be a young boy!

[Ken Titt]

Why not 6 stars or even 7? One of the best reads ever!

[Nomanisan]

Eh.
That's about it--it was neither great nor really bad. I read this book because the author taught my daughter writing during a summer camp for the gifted at Brenau University years ago. She was given the book as a Christmas present and just happened to recognize the name; she thought it was pretty good and gave it to me to read. I guess it is (reasonably good), but there are some clear first-book things going on: some events and character behavior that seem disconnected or illogical or stretched, given the general flow of the book; some unresolved ideas or threads--you get my drift. I have yet to quite figure out exactly what the author was trying to convey, but I guess it is worth the read.

[Diane]

This is a coming of age novel set in the late 1960's in North Carolina. The author has created a great friendship between two unforgettable boys, Raybert Williams and Palmer Conroy but my admiration for the novel stops there. The background and supporting characters appear overwritten. There's poverty, mental illness, racial violence, physical abuse, sexual abuse, guns and more violence. It's just too much. A quieter novel that explores the family and the friendship would have worked much better for me.

[Elizabeth]

This was a tough rating because I work with Jack--the prose is excellent. The story is gripping and raw, but sad. It's not one to pick up for a cozy afternoon of escapist reading. Knowing what most of my friends go for, I probably wouldn't recommend it. But then there are plenty of books I've loved that none of my friends did.

[Julie Barnes]

This is the first novel from Jack Riggs. It certainly doesn't read like a first! If you are a fan of John Irving - especially "A Prayer for Owen Meany" you will really appreciate this book's characters and storyline. It is written in such a familiar way, you feel as if you are right there with them. Very real and honest look into these lives portrayed here. You'll applaude!

[Empress5150]

This is another one I listened to and, subsequently, another one that I probably would not have read per se. It is about two poor white boys growing up in a rural town in North Carolina in the mid to late sixties. The story is full of mental illness, hate crimes and other disturbing events. Not something for the faint of heart; it is dark. Very, very dark.

[Alan Marchant]

When the Finch Rises is a coming-of-age novel in the tradition of Stephen King's The Body (Stand By Me). We follow two quirky pre-teens as they come to terms with the ugliness of dysfunctional/mentally ill parents. Jack Riggs' prose is servicable, but not as lyrical as he intends. And unfortunately the story is more pathos than tragedy. Not quite worth a recommendation on any level.

[JR]

Absolutely loved this book. Such a simple, yet sad coming-of-age tale -- a tale I believe each of us has. This book reminds me of my life growing up. It's hopeful, painful, scary and exciting.

This book has me reflecting on my childhood, and the time I kind of knew nothing would ever again be the same.

Definitely keeping this book at the top of my bookshelf.

[Amna Arman]

I met Jack Riggs, soo that made the novel even better...

[Ashley]

I like this book oddly enough. It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be but it had its moments where I thought 'why?'

Very different - I'll give it that much.

[Kacey]

This was a hard book for me. I didn't like the language used and the subject matter (manic mother, racist/abusive father) was hard for me. Not my kind of fiction.

[Kendra]

Fantastic coming of age story. Jack Riggs closes the story tying up lose ends in the relationships of the main character. I would like to see a book about Parker.

[Mark Holmberg]

Story of the skeletons in closets of the South.

[Irene]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Look forward to more by this author

[Candice]

GOOD read, enjoyed the people, the setting!

[Kate]

Ready to read another novel by this author!

[Meryl]

Great read. Characters become real. At one point in the book I couldn’t stop reading because I had to know how it all turns out.