Review by GraceEsq -- A Few Trivial Felonies
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GraceEsq
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Review by GraceEsq -- A Few Trivial Felonies
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Few Trivial Felonies" by Sandra Sperling.]
In search of a coastal home away from the harsh winters of Minnesota, Rachel leaves behind her adult children and settles into Oregon with her disabled husband and his seemingly adequate pension. Eager to meet a friend, Rachel introduces herself to one of her neighbors, Ruth, who coincidentally is also a former Minnesotan and living mostly off her husband’s pension. As the title suggests, the two begin to engage in a few “trivial” felonies. Their crimes start with cutting down trees on private property but become increasingly more serious.
The two women bond over their midwestern roots, their felonies, and their dislike of their neighbor, Vivian. Vivian, desperate to keep food on the table for her teenage son, resorts to trivial crimes of her own and goes to great lengths to find a rich husband. While all three women are willing to break the law to improve their circumstances, Rachel and Ruth are ironically judgmental about their eccentric neighbor.
A Few Trivial Felonies by Sandra Sperling is a quick and entertaining read and the perfect book for a rainy day. The author does an excellent job adding humor to common predicaments involved with aging and finances. For example, Rachel begins to panic about her financial security when Ruth informs her that the “hefty” pension payments in the event of her husband’s death may not actually be hefty, after all. Ruth bluntly says to Rachel, “what you have to do . . . is make certain that your husband doesn’t die until you can afford it. No matter what, don’t let him die.” The characters’ trivial crimes are creative, absurd, and often comical. There is a surprising twist in the storyline, one the author artfully added at a perfect time to keep it interesting.
There are some offensive stereotypes in this book, such as when used to describe the neighbor, Vivian, and attitudes toward younger generations. However, the book’s crude humor is evident from page one. Those who enjoy such books will not be disappointed.
Overall, the storyline is funny, entertaining, surprising, and worth the read. The writing style was clear from the very beginning, so I was able to know right away whether it was the book for me. Therefore, I rate A Few Trivial Felonies 4 out of 4 stars. Despite its lighthearted tone, readers will still experience the “what if they get caught?” anxiety typically felt in other crime-based stories. The ridiculousness of the characters’ circumstances will compel readers to keep turning the page in anticipation.
I recommend this book to any adult wanting an easy and delightfully silly read. If you happen to be from Minnesota or Oregon, you will especially appreciate the connection to brutal Midwest winters and Pacific Northwest rain!
******
A Few Trivial Felonies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In search of a coastal home away from the harsh winters of Minnesota, Rachel leaves behind her adult children and settles into Oregon with her disabled husband and his seemingly adequate pension. Eager to meet a friend, Rachel introduces herself to one of her neighbors, Ruth, who coincidentally is also a former Minnesotan and living mostly off her husband’s pension. As the title suggests, the two begin to engage in a few “trivial” felonies. Their crimes start with cutting down trees on private property but become increasingly more serious.
The two women bond over their midwestern roots, their felonies, and their dislike of their neighbor, Vivian. Vivian, desperate to keep food on the table for her teenage son, resorts to trivial crimes of her own and goes to great lengths to find a rich husband. While all three women are willing to break the law to improve their circumstances, Rachel and Ruth are ironically judgmental about their eccentric neighbor.
A Few Trivial Felonies by Sandra Sperling is a quick and entertaining read and the perfect book for a rainy day. The author does an excellent job adding humor to common predicaments involved with aging and finances. For example, Rachel begins to panic about her financial security when Ruth informs her that the “hefty” pension payments in the event of her husband’s death may not actually be hefty, after all. Ruth bluntly says to Rachel, “what you have to do . . . is make certain that your husband doesn’t die until you can afford it. No matter what, don’t let him die.” The characters’ trivial crimes are creative, absurd, and often comical. There is a surprising twist in the storyline, one the author artfully added at a perfect time to keep it interesting.
There are some offensive stereotypes in this book, such as when used to describe the neighbor, Vivian, and attitudes toward younger generations. However, the book’s crude humor is evident from page one. Those who enjoy such books will not be disappointed.
Overall, the storyline is funny, entertaining, surprising, and worth the read. The writing style was clear from the very beginning, so I was able to know right away whether it was the book for me. Therefore, I rate A Few Trivial Felonies 4 out of 4 stars. Despite its lighthearted tone, readers will still experience the “what if they get caught?” anxiety typically felt in other crime-based stories. The ridiculousness of the characters’ circumstances will compel readers to keep turning the page in anticipation.
I recommend this book to any adult wanting an easy and delightfully silly read. If you happen to be from Minnesota or Oregon, you will especially appreciate the connection to brutal Midwest winters and Pacific Northwest rain!
******
A Few Trivial Felonies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
