TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | NOV 2020 13
BOOK
REVIEW
By Nell Klein
NOVEMBER ROAD
By Lou Berney
When I was first asked (told) to write the book review for The Tybee
Beachcomber, I was very nervous. I declared “I’m a reader, not a writer!”
But now, nearly six long years later (what I meant to say was six glorious
years later), I have become somewhat comfortable with my task. I only
wanted to review books of local interest, by local writers, or least have
Tybee mentioned somewhere in the book, but I think I covered all of those.
So now I like to review books that are of interest the month of publication.
For instance, romance for February, beach reads for summer, spooky for
October, you get the picture. That brought November into the picture. I
didn’t want some sappy “home for Thanksgiving” book, but I thought I could
find something of interest. So, I found November Road. It isn’t exactly a
“feel good” Thanksgiving book, but it did occur in November so I decided
it qualified.
The book begins in 1963. Frank Guidry works for the mob in New Orleans
where he’s one of Carlos Marcello’s boys. Frank is totally loyal to his boss
and does anything that is required of him, no questions asked. He’s sent
to Dallas, Texas to deliver a getaway car for some unknown job. Simple
task, he thinks. Easy peasy. A few days later, on November 22, President
Kennedy is assassinated and Frank realizes what job the getaway car that
he delivered was needed for. Holy moley! He’s then told to go back to Dallas
and get rid of the car and anyone who knows anything about the car. All of a
sudden, his people start turning up dead. Anyone who knew anything about
the “job” was quickly being eliminated and Frank knows that he isn’t far
behind. He goes to Dallas to sink the car in the river and then he escapes
to parts unknown with a really bad guy named Barone, hot on his heels.
At the same time in Oklahoma, Charlotte, a mom of two adorable little
girls named Rosemary and Joan, and married to Dooley, a sweet but total
drunk, has had enough. On the spur of the moment Charlotte decides to
leave her life, taking her girls, a dog, a beat-up car and a little money to
start over somewhere else. She’s headed to Los Angeles and hopes that her
Aunt Marguerite, who she hasn’t seen in years, will take her and her little
family in.
It takes quite a while for Frank and Charlotte to meet up along the
way, but when they do, the sparks begin to fly. Frank, the good looking,
hardcore bachelor, never saw it coming. He decides that the best way to
outsmart his killer, Barone, is to become a family man. So, Frank makes
things happen and he soon appears to be a husband traveling with his wife
and two daughters to throw off the dogs. But, is it enough to allow Frank to
get away from the mob?
The fact that his book is mainly about the mob doesn’t make anyone in
it very thankful, but the book was very much entertaining. I loved all of the
characters. Frank was more lovable than hateable, and Rosemary and Joan
were just too adorable. Charlotte was such a good and caring mom that you
only wanted the best for her and her situation. Barone was my least favorite
because of the couple of really bad things he did, but you always have to
have a bad guy. All in all, I think this was a very good November book review
choice. But I guess I’m prejudiced.
Anyway, I give it 4 roses. It has a couple of not very pleasant parts that
just go with the mob theme, but not enough to spoil the whole book. I think
you’ll enjoy it in spite of any of that. So, have a great Thanksgiving and pray
that very soon we can return to the “Old Normal” that we all miss so much!
Until next time, read a book. If it’s a good read, pass it on!
Pralines
Saltwater Taffy
Old Fashion Candy
Dole Whip
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