Rate this book

Nothing But A Smile: A Novel (2009)

by Steve Amick(Favorite Author)

3.33 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0307377369 (ISBN13: 9780307377364)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Pantheon

review 1: I really enjoyed Amick's first novel, "The Lake, the River & the Other Lake", so I picked this up, too. The setting couldn't be more different -- from the Upper Peninsula in 2001 to Chicago as WWII is ending -- but they both have the same virtues. While plot is definitely happening, the book is character driven, and rich with a sense of place. Though his settings are middleclass Midwestern, he always has an edge. In this book, it's clear that being a woman in the 40s isn't easy, and the early stirrings of the HUAC are disturbing.
review 2: This book is very close to three stars ... but. I started it as an online book club pick (Chapteraday.com; Suzanne Beecher rocks) and, as far as finding books I'll like from the club, it runs about 50-50. I'm not sure it's w... morehat I consider good, however. A good read, yes; it held my interest, covered interesting themes (the end and aftermath of World War II, what's pornography, family, love, bigotry, self-esteem). But it ended oddly. Even the epilogue seemed weird. It was as though the author drifted to sleep while writing the end (and the epilogue). I kept wondering how he would end it, got so far and thought I could see it, thought it would be good, but then, wham! The door slammed. less

Download links for: Nothing but a Smile: A Novel

Advertising