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There are currently 33 member reviews
for Wayward Saints
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Beth C. (Sioux Falls, SD)
Wayward Saints - Finding Their Way
Literally, "Wayward Saints" by singer, Suzzy Roche, is a quirky novel about a mother and daughter, Jean and Mary Saint. Each is fighting to overcome issues that darkened their lives as Mary was growing up. They are also working through current problems - Jean's abusive husband is now a victim of Alzheimer's and lives in a nursing home. Mary, once a rising alternative rock star, has crashed is trying to put her pieces back together.
However, figuratively there are a number of "saints" in the book. These include friends and acquaintances that somehow help both Jean and Mary on their paths to redemption.
It was a slow starting book, but I enjoyed it. It would make an interesting book group discussion topic.
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Catharine L. (Petoskey,
It's a 4 1/2!
The story grabs the reader from the first page. Mary Saint, lead singer for the hardrock band, Sliced Ham - almost famous, and then Garbagio, bandmember and Mary's lover dies and it's over. The characters are unique, real, and marvelous. You laugh and cry with them. I'm not a hard rock fan but loved the words to "The Back of My Ass" and "Sewer Flower", and the reaction of Mary's mother to the concert is priceless. Watching Mary overcoming her past, reconnecting with her mother, and beginning a new life is a joy to read.
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Terrie J. (Eagan, MN)
Wow...Great Characters
I really enjoyed this book! The 2 main characters were very well developed in both the here and now and in the secrets they were keeping. Having a musician for a husband, I could really relate to Mary's character and I think she got the ups and downs of that life pretty accurately. I enjoyed the developing story lines between the 2 characters.
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Deb Y. (Blanco, TX)
What a lovely book!
It seems, when I read other readers' reviews, that mine do not dissect the book the way some do. If it holds my interest and don't want to stop after the first three or four chapters, I will finish it. This is one of those books. I liked it. I would imagine quite a few reviewers might not. However, I loved Suzzy's word choices and enjoyed the story. It let me know that, in many ways, you really can go home again.
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Gail G. (Northbrook, Illinois)
Wayward Saints by Suzzy Roche
Story reminds me of some words in a Harry Chapin folksong "...I'm not going anywhere but somewhere is a better place to be...."
Lonely people can be found in all walks of life. Mary Saint became a lonely person because early in life her father abused her and her mother, who was also abused, could not or would not protect her. When she became a rock star she was an abrasive and cruel person until Anthony Celebrese became part of the band. They quickly became a couple until he died. She left the band and wandered aimlessly and eventually moved to San Francisco where she met a homeless man in church named Thaddeus . He became the person who brought her back to the "living."
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Kate G. (City Island, NY)
Rock Star Returns Home
Not being familiar with Suzzy Roche's music, I had no idea what to expect going into this novel. Mary Saint was the front person for Sliced Ham, a band which played and wrote controversial songs, clearly meant for angry, young fans. She is now older and wiser and tring to decide what the next chapter of her life holds. I enjoyed the story line, as we see Mary re-enter the world, but the anger in her youth seemed self indulgent, as did her later fragility. Fans more familiar with Suzzy Roche will probably enjoy this book much more.
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Selene M. (West Chicago, IL)
Mother Daughter Angst
I enjoyed this book on some level. The mother, Jean Saint, was wholly unsympathetic and I disliked the sections written about her. She was small-minded, petty, selfish and did not protect her daughter from child abuse. For someone who lived with spousal abuse until a much wanted daughter was born, she completely writes off her daughter for most of her adult life, because she fears what her hometown will think. The Mary Saint character on the other hand is well written and believable. I longed for her presence whenever Jean's life and choices were being examined. She is the true star of this novel.
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