Official Review: Philadelphia Voices: by Michael Roy

[Mallory Porshnev]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Philadelphia Voices:" by Michael Roy.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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In Philadelphia Voices: Smart, Sassy, and Solemn by Michael Roy, the author takes his readers on a trip through the streets of Philadelphia. He shows a darker side of the city that is less familiar to most. Under bridges, in parks, on street corners, and in diners, the author visits with and collects the stories of the city's homeless, criminal, and downtrodden inhabitants. Written as a series of short stories and vignettes, the book offers glimpses into the lives of people whose voices are not often heard.

The author took great care to describe where in Philadelphia his stories were collected. This helps the reader to gain a greater appreciation of the city. I have been to Philadelphia and now view it in a different light. I think this book does a great job exposing the reader to a variety of stories and character backgrounds, although all of the characters share a similar current life situation.

I enjoyed that this book was a quick, easy read. I could pick it up and just read a few short stories at a time. Each story gave me insight into the lives of others and left me with a sense of empathy for the way in which certain people live.

My favorite part about this book was how much I learned about the homeless population of Philadelphia. I gained a new appreciation for certain obstacles they face each day that I hadn't really considered before. My least favorite part of the book was how there wasn't anything clearly tying all of the stories together or wrapping them up in the end. I would have enjoyed it more if the author had closed with another note about his experiences in writing this book and the people he interacted with in doing so.

I give this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is a thought-provoking account of the everyday lives of people who may not often be at the forefront of our minds. It is well-written, and I only found a handful of editing errors. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Philadelphia or the lives of the homeless population there. Anyone who just enjoys good short stories should also give it a try. I probably wouldn't recommend it to people who just prefer fiction. For those who do give it a chance, I'm sure they will find it as memorable as I did.

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Philadelphia Voices:
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[Miraphery]

This book exposes readers to what the homeless go through. I would like to know what goes on in their lives. Nice review.

[Dannyphery]

Sounds quite interesting but not my type of book so I'll let it pass.
Nice review though.