Review of When Black Shoes Turn Red

[Asma Aisha Ansari]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "When Black Shoes Turn Red" by Tom McKenna.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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When Black Shoes Turn Red by Tom McKenna is an uproariously funny story of second chances, threaded with the delicate strands of resilience, friendship, and the eternal quest for self-discovery. Through the eyes of our protagonist, Dave Darby, McKenna invites readers on a rollicking journey through time and the tangled web of human emotions.

Dave Darby faces mockery and ridicule at the hands of class bully Brock in the seventh grade. He cannot forget what happened to him back then, even in his 30s. Life, finally, gives him a chance to give Brock what he rightly deserves. To this end, Dave receives help from his girlfriend, Jules, and best friend, Easy. Moreover, the trio finds a surprise accomplice in Artie, the son of an internationally known personality. If you want to know who this son is and what became of our dear Dave and his nemesis, pick up this book as soon as possible.

There are many admirable aspects of this book. The author has infused the story with a rich tapestry of cultural references, adding layers of depth and complexity to an already captivating tale. If you are an American, you will get those references immediately. For a non-American, non-native English speaker like me, the research for those references was worth it.

The characters spring to life with vivid authenticity, each imbued with quirks and idiosyncrasies that make them both endearing and utterly relatable. While this story is about Dave, and I liked his character, I also loved how Jules and Easy supported him. None of the three characters are faultless, but they are realistic people. Artie, on the other hand, is extremely adorable.

The characters' views on people, life, and the world are hilariously praiseworthy. I don't think I'll ever forget Easy's take on the movie The Sound of Music.

There's nothing that I disliked about the book. The book seems professionally edited, as I encountered only a few minor errors in it. Those errors, however, didn't affect the reading experience in any way. I would not change anything about the book or the story. In my humble opinion, this book deserves the best rating possible because of its excellent characters and storyline. I'll gladly award it a perfect 5 out of 5 stars for being an outstanding book.

The book is less than 100 pages long. I recommend this book to anyone in search of a humorous and well-written short read. It's a book that will leave you laughing, thinking, and ultimately feeling grateful for the power of storytelling to uplift and inspire. And, I'm sure you are curious about the puzzling title of this book. I was, and I'm glad to find out what it means.

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When Black Shoes Turn Red
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[Shinshinshin]

Based on the review, "Share When Black Shoes Turn Red" by Tom McKenna seems like an excellent read. The reviewer praises the book's humor, complex characters, and engaging storyline. The cultural references add depth to the story, and the book is well-edited. The reviewer highly recommends it as a humorous and well-written short read, giving it a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. Overall, it appears to be a highly enjoyable and entertaining book.

[Clauson Justin]

I love it when I come across a short book with strong promise. I don't hesitate to jump right into it. I love how the author portrayed his characters. The book promises to be amazing.

[Chunnu Muduli]

I like a well-crafted story about second chances. The rich cultural references, authentic characters, and the promise of a rollicking journey make it an appealing read. Thanks for the honest review.

[Chinenye Achilike]

This review piques my interest, making me want to read the book. Dave must have been through a lot for him to remember, even way into his 30s. I wonder how he paid Brock back for what he did to him.