Wednesday, October 8, 2014
David Mickey Evans' Blog: MORE PRAISE FOR THE KING OF PACOIMA!
David Mickey Evans' Blog: MORE PRAISE FOR THE KING OF PACOIMA!: ANOTHER 5 STAR REVIEW ON AMAZON... 5-Stars, by Holly Green, " Certain passages brought tears to my eyes, but most of them brought sm...
MORE PRAISE FOR THE KING OF PACOIMA!
ANOTHER 5 STAR REVIEW ON AMAZON...
5-Stars, by Holly Green, "Certain passages brought tears to my eyes, but most of them brought smiles..."
Dear Reader,
I woke up this morning, and as I was having my coffee and checking over all my social media, news and net feeds, my blog and website, I did what I usually do, and that's leave checking the Amazon pages for THE KING OF PACOIMA to the end.
This morning did not disappoint.
Here's another 5 star review from a reader on Amazon.com.
"By Holly Green on October 8, 2014
Format: Paperback
It is hard to explain what I love about this story so much because it is so near to my heart and so personal. I will try to leave a short review here about some things you should know. Why I think you should read this book.
This is not just a book, it's a time machine to the past. Reader's born in the late 50's or early 60's will be transported back to their own childhood's and remember the good times and the things from the past that entire generation will wholeheartedly agree was "just better back then." 5 cent candy and comic books, using your imagination in play as you explored the whole community like all of it was your own backyard, not being shut away inside all day playing a video game. Reader's born later will get to live in that era of American History for a little while, starting with the very first chapter as you take a road trip across America in a 1961 Plymouth Valiant. Evans has always had a talent for resurrecting our childhood days for us and reminding us of things we have forgotten. This is why "The Sandlot" is and will forever be a classic film. So anyone reading this book is in for a delight as you essentially get to be a child again and tag along with Mike and his little brother Bobby through all their expeditions.
Other reviews have said, and will say, that this story is really about child abuse. Well yes and no. There is an ever present threat through out the novel, known to the reader only as "The King." The boys fear of him is so palpable in the writing that you forget for a moment you are not a 10 year old child. You can feel the feeling of hopelessness right down to your core. But Evans does not focus on the abuse and avoids graphic description of violence. Instead the narrative sticks to what it is like to be in a child's mind, focusing on things that little boys care deeply about: bullies, dogs, exploring, comic books, and of course, a red wagon radio flyer. That the boys fear The King so pervasively in all aspects of their lives through out the story is all you need to know to convince you this man is a threat.
"So it is, but it is not, about child abuse is what you're saying?" you may be asking. Yes, this is not your average story about child abuse written by and for adults filled with terrifying violence that will make you nauseated and depressed. This probably one of the few books written from the point of view of a child. The narrative is all from the point of view of a child's mind and reminds us how resilient children can become when faced with terrible situations they have no control over. There is a message of hope in this story. When faced with a threat, we have two options: fight or flight. If you're too small and powerless to fight, what then remains your option? Flight. And that is the actual theme of the story, it is not a story about being destroyed. It is an inspiring story about triumphing over an evil doer and insurmountable odds, about sacrifice and love.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and recommend it to everyone. The narrative is a comforting flow as if listening to an old friend telling you a story from the past. The boys emotions of joy, discovery, excitement and fear are so vivid and poignant. Certain passages brought tears to my eyes, but most of them brought smiles. Enjoy!"
Format: Paperback
It is hard to explain what I love about this story so much because it is so near to my heart and so personal. I will try to leave a short review here about some things you should know. Why I think you should read this book.
This is not just a book, it's a time machine to the past. Reader's born in the late 50's or early 60's will be transported back to their own childhood's and remember the good times and the things from the past that entire generation will wholeheartedly agree was "just better back then." 5 cent candy and comic books, using your imagination in play as you explored the whole community like all of it was your own backyard, not being shut away inside all day playing a video game. Reader's born later will get to live in that era of American History for a little while, starting with the very first chapter as you take a road trip across America in a 1961 Plymouth Valiant. Evans has always had a talent for resurrecting our childhood days for us and reminding us of things we have forgotten. This is why "The Sandlot" is and will forever be a classic film. So anyone reading this book is in for a delight as you essentially get to be a child again and tag along with Mike and his little brother Bobby through all their expeditions.
Other reviews have said, and will say, that this story is really about child abuse. Well yes and no. There is an ever present threat through out the novel, known to the reader only as "The King." The boys fear of him is so palpable in the writing that you forget for a moment you are not a 10 year old child. You can feel the feeling of hopelessness right down to your core. But Evans does not focus on the abuse and avoids graphic description of violence. Instead the narrative sticks to what it is like to be in a child's mind, focusing on things that little boys care deeply about: bullies, dogs, exploring, comic books, and of course, a red wagon radio flyer. That the boys fear The King so pervasively in all aspects of their lives through out the story is all you need to know to convince you this man is a threat.
"So it is, but it is not, about child abuse is what you're saying?" you may be asking. Yes, this is not your average story about child abuse written by and for adults filled with terrifying violence that will make you nauseated and depressed. This probably one of the few books written from the point of view of a child. The narrative is all from the point of view of a child's mind and reminds us how resilient children can become when faced with terrible situations they have no control over. There is a message of hope in this story. When faced with a threat, we have two options: fight or flight. If you're too small and powerless to fight, what then remains your option? Flight. And that is the actual theme of the story, it is not a story about being destroyed. It is an inspiring story about triumphing over an evil doer and insurmountable odds, about sacrifice and love.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and recommend it to everyone. The narrative is a comforting flow as if listening to an old friend telling you a story from the past. The boys emotions of joy, discovery, excitement and fear are so vivid and poignant. Certain passages brought tears to my eyes, but most of them brought smiles. Enjoy!"
Thanks for reading and check back soon! And please sign up to follow!
Best as always,
DME
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
David Mickey Evans' Blog: ANOTHER 5 STAR REVIEW FOR THE KING OF PACOIMA!
David Mickey Evans' Blog: ANOTHER 5 STAR REVIEW FOR THE KING OF PACOIMA!: ANOTHER 5 STAR REVIEW FOR THE KING OF PACOIMA ON AMAZON... Dear Reader, It is particularly satisfying when someone not only likes t...
ANOTHER 5 STAR REVIEW FOR THE KING OF PACOIMA!
ANOTHER 5 STAR REVIEW FOR THE KING OF PACOIMA ON AMAZON...
Dear Reader,
It is particularly satisfying when someone not only likes the book, but really understands the relationship between the story (writing), the layout, the cover image, and the images in the book, and how they all interconnect and inform the feeling of the piece.
The Kindle eBook Version and the Paperback are now linked on the same page on Amazon.
"5.0 out of 5 stars October 7, 2014
By Josephine Smithyman (Inverness, Scotland, GB)
This review is from: The King of Pacoima (Paperback)
In The King of Pacoima, David Mickey Evans, with a deceptively easy flow and rhythm captures the innocence and pain of a childhood. This profoundly touching book will resonate with everyone who grew up. And especially those who grew up not only with the fear of "bad things" in the outside world, but the even greater terror within what should have been the safe sanctuary of home. Two little boys, brothers, trapped in a home with the "King", the stepfather who dominated cruelly their young lives, create an imaginary world and plan their ultimate escape. The photos and illustrations depict a suburban 'sixties family; smiling, on road trips, holidays, beloved dogs. And then there are the captions: "Mom. Doing her best", "First Trip to the Emergency Room" and the bewildered, child's eyes in "In trouble again without Knowing Why" that reveal the dark reality. It's a miracle that any child survives and overcomes the emotional and/or physical abuse and neglect they suffer at the hands of adults, but many do; the sinister, rumbling threat, encapsulated in the sound of jazz for these children, was still not powerful enough to extinguish their warmth and capacity to love. For adults and readers from fourteen years of age this book will become a treasured classic, a great acquisition for all high school libraries."
Thanks for reading and check back soon.
DME
Monday, October 6, 2014
David Mickey Evans' Blog: FLYINGWAGONBOOKS.COM
David Mickey Evans' Blog: FLYINGWAGONBOOKS.COM: The new FLYING WAGON BOOKS website is now LIVE! Dear Reader, My new website for FLYING WAGON BOOKS is now LIVE! I'm still addi...
FLYINGWAGONBOOKS.COM
The new FLYING WAGON BOOKS website is now LIVE!
Dear Reader,
My new website for FLYING WAGON BOOKS is now LIVE! I'm still adding content, but I think you'll already find some great things on there. You can buy THE KING OF PACOIMA, read a new review of the book, and view galleries of all the artwork in the book so far...
I'll be adding tons more content today and from here on out, including a blog dedicated to my readers and the books I love... Here's the links to buy THE KING OF PACOIMA, again:
Please visit the site and sign up to follow it, and this blog if you already haven't.
Thanks, and check back soon!
DME
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