Puddles

By Lynn Barry

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1588511391
• ISBN13: 9781588511393
• Release Date: November 2001
• Publisher: Publishamerica Inc
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 4.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Life 101

The wonderful thing about this book is simple - you know all the characters. You've met Susan before. You've met Jeff. You've met their children and each of their friends. Chances are, you've even met the woman interested in seducing Susan's husband. They are, in essence, a slice of America we've all encountered. Puddles takes you behind the scenes in their lives, exposes their vulnerabilities and puts on display how outward appearances can and usually are, quite deceiving. That doesn't mean what one might perceive as good is not good, nor does it mean that what one perceives as bad is not bad. It means that the grass is not always greener on the other side. It means that the Smiths don't necessarily need to work harder to keep up with the Joneses'. It means that we all have our triumphs and our demons to contend with, hoping that in the end, things will work out all right for ourselves and for the ones we love. Puddles embraces that facet of the human spirit, reconfirming the notion that we do not need to be perfect as human beings in order to be happy. As a connoisseur of both the horror and thriller genres, Puddles was an excursion outside my realm of comfort. Puddles is a book reminiscent of Sunday afternoon gossip after church has let out for the day, or perhaps a phone call from a good friend where discussion involves what is happening with other friends and acquaintances - some of it dirt, most of it not. Perhaps the most refreshing point of Puddles is the unabashed display it provides of the human spirit. Good things come to those who are true to their hearts. Sometimes, bad things do happen to good people. Strength of mind and fortitude of soul can and do overcome all obstacles, given time and persistence. Not everyone who gives a pleasant appearance is a good and trustworthy person. Even when you think you know your friends, there may still be surprises lurking beneath the surface. Treating others the way you'd like to be treated isn't always an easy thing to do, even if you know it's the right thing to do. These are all pervasive themes throughout the book but I believe the main theme is a much more simple one - try your best to do good and no matter what, love those who you claim to love. It's a good message, it's a pertinent message and it's delivered effectively in this book. Read this book to reaffirm the notion that not everyone has to be a super-man or woman in order to have a full life. Love each other as best as you're able. Forgive others for their faults and most of all - forgive yourself for not being perfect. Puddles will help you feel good inside and you just might walk away from this book feeling as though you've come to understand a new friend.

Simple Pleasures

Remember the simple joy of childhood pleasures like finding images in clouds and jumping in puddles? That's where Lynn Barry got the title for "Puddles" and it's the feeling you get as you read it. Although the characters are facing some pretty big problems, the story has such an underlying sense of faith and appreciation for the little things in life that are really important, you can't help feeling uplifted as you read.The plot is compelling and uncluttered with flowery prose that gets in the way of the action, and all the subplots come together for a satisfying ending. The characters are realistic and so varied that readers of all ages and genders should relate to at least one of them and empathize with the others.This is a book that reminds us to laugh at ourselves and enjoy those occasions when we're so busy living we walk right into one of life's puddles.

An intimate portrait of lives run amuck.

Not a single word is wasted in this straight-forward story which weaves the struggles of at least ten characters together to produce a seamless study of how lives can fall apart in the blink of an eye, but can also be sewn back together. The author's low key approach to character description and narrative leaves much to the imagination, which gives the reader a chance to explore the complexities of the tale unhampered by absolutes. Laced throughout PUDDLES is a nonchalant humor that at times causes the reader to laugh out loud (i.e. Susan splashing herself with White Shoulders perfume the night she has a romantic evening with her husband). There are also stages where this tale becomes quite dark, but the shades of humor in Lynn Barry's blue-ribbon writing help the reader through these moments without alarm, casually letting the reader in on the fact that stuff happens, and that a little bit of tolerance and understanding, coupled with faith in God, can go a long way. If you enjoy fast-paced reads that keep you up until the wee hours of the morning, you'll love a romp with Susan through a string of perhaps muddy, but quite engaging PUDDLES. Author of THE ISLAND OF REFUGE

A splash!

I wasn't sure if Puddles would be "my kind of book," but I'd read so many good things about author Lynn Barry that I was willing to give it a try. The book grabbed me and pulled me in with its seemingly-ordinary characters who keep extraordinary secrets. Yes, it's a soap opera-- a genre many people, especially men, may not profess to like. But the truth is, you can stumble across one while channel-surfing, get caught up in the story and end up sticking with it until the final credits, waiting for the next episode. That's Puddles in a nutshell. It's a page-turner that is at times racy without being vulgar, funny without being ridiculous, and sweet without being sickening. This would be a great book to take to the beach, a mountain cabin or any other vacation getaway. As an escapist novel, Puddles is a splash.

Unconditional Love Story

Puddles by New York author Lynn Barry is a new beautifully-written novel, delightful to read. It begins with a remark by Susan, the heroine, who says, "I wake up every morning and say, `I'm not going to yell today.' " This powerful opening takes the reader into Susan's personality, an ambivalence of weakness and strength, and begins a dynamic-never still-portrait of a middle-aged woman attempting to hold her family together. Susan and her family struggle with external forces manifested by self-serving individuals who attempt to destroy the family. She depends on the soaps she watches every afternoon for inspiration and guidance. Nobody in her family and circle of friends is entirely normal or virtuous. Faith, tolerance, forgiveness, and unconditional love-these character traits are the ones Susan seeks to attain and also the ones she needs for survival. The question in the reader's mind is whether she will be able to wade through the struggles she encounters as she loves, accepts, and forgives. Puddles is a story of modern life with realistic details of sexual encounters. As the novel unfolds, the reader sees the contrast between sexual acts used to manipulate people and truly intimate behavior enjoyed to celebrate love. Barry portrays people struggling to walk along a godly path but falling into erotic mires of temptation. Sensory imagery, clever symbolism, and true-to-life dialogue are characteristic of Lynn Barry's unique style. She carefully selects details, which she uses to give the reader a vivid picture. She allows the reader to taste the food and drink the tea. The reader is drawn close enough to touch the characters. Puddles is told mostly in conversations. The fast-paced dialogues never allow the reader to skip over anything. When the reader becomes comfortable with the characters moving through their situations, new puddles appear in the road and send Susan's family into surprising, unexpected directions. Susan tries to hold onto the life she knows and loves as it slips away from her. Initially she has a conflict with her daughter-the age-old struggle between a young girl becoming a woman and the woman trying to protect the child from becoming a woman too fast. The conflict is made harsh by loose modern morality and by the absence of her husband Jeff. The unavoidable separation causes unbearable pain. Her friends shock her as she discovers they are not what they seem. Puddles with its lively plot and driving dialogue could easily be changed into a powerful screen play. The subtle use of symbolism distinguishes the book. I highly recommend Puddles to anyone who would like to enjoy reading a unique new novel by a soon-to-be famous author.