Job is a farmer who sees colour in sound: colours like the shifting northern lights in the sky of his home town Godsfinger, Alberta.And even in his community of curious characters - a town where crop circles occur, birds drop out of the sky, a duck waddles around in a nappy, a cook in stilettos flips burgers at the Out-to-Lunch cafe, and a crazy lady squirts her water pistol at those she thinks are out of line - Job is an outsider.
Then his ability to see sound begins to fade, Job finally realizes that it's time to wake up and really listen - most particularly to Liv down at the diner, someone who has been talking to him for some time now.....
..... Outer back cover.
FIRST SENTENCE (Chapter 1): Job Sunstrum felt sound, and saw it.
MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 238): Job watched them drive off, anger sliding away to loneliness as he let the hopelessness he'd felt earlier that morning drop like a button from an open hand.
MY THOUGHTS: Hmm, interesting that all of the paperback book cover images I found had the book titled as 'THE' Rhinestone Button and not 'A' Rhinestone Button.
Crop circles, a duck in a nappy, and a crazy lady who squirts a water pistol at those she thinks are out of line. Sounds like a quirky read, right?
So utterly disappointed that there wasn't more of this quirkiness, that more wasn't made of Job's synaesthesia and less of the less than likable, one dimensional, fanatical characters, many of whom exhibited abusive tendencies towards animals, to say nothing of their fellow men.
A story essentially of being different, of finding acceptance, of fitting in, A Rhinestone Button is based in the rural, God fearing community of the fictional Godsfinger where much of the story takes place in and around an evangelical church, the author taking great pains to describe various rituals including healing by the laying on of hands.
A less than satisfying read. I'm still trying to work out if the author was being ironic or not just as I'm still having difficulty understanding what the book's message was, for I feel certain that there was a message in there somewhere and I just wasn't getting it.
KEEP IT OR NOT?: Ex-library stock, this is not a keeper.
12 comments:
Wow...who'd have thought? Definitely would have liked to have heard the quirkiness in the synopsis carried through to the story...*sad face* Oh well, wishing you better luck on your next read!
The premise is certainly quite unique--too bad it was a disappointment! I hope the next book is a keeper-and-a-half!
Sorry this didn't deliver on the quirkiness factor and left you unsure of the author's point.
It sounds like a rather odd one. I'm sorry it was a disappointment.
The premise did sound good on the surface! It's too bad though this book didn't deliver. Hopefully your current book is much better!
Oh, that's a shame. The premise sounds really good, and like it's a unique book.
Was curious with the "synaesthesia" aspect but no on the abusive tendencies with the animals. Don't think this one is for me.
Hmm, new one to me. Sorry it's not a keeper.
Sorry to hear that this one didn't live up to it's quirkiness. And strange about the cover images. Hope your next read is more to your liking!
Maybe the message was, 'Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were made to stand out'... Excellent review as always Tracy, have a lovely day :)
Bummer this wasn't a better one. It really does sound like it would be a fun, quirky little read...and those are the best sometimes!
-Lauren
The summary sounded pretty interesting. I love quirky characters and plots. I'm bummed you didn't like the book and I understand your frustration with not being able to get the message of a book. I've read a few of those in the past.
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