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tamracielle's review against another edition
3.0
Having grown up in Friendswood and attended high school there at the same time as the author, and also having a cousin who received a settlement in the Brio superfund disaster, I was very intrigued when I first heard about this book. I was fortunate to win a copy as a part of a First Reads giveaway by Goodreads. A good bit of my enjoyment of reading this book was the recognition of real people and places whose names were just barely changed, or in some cases, not changed at all. However, the story line, and maybe something about the author’s style, was a bit depressing. This may have been Steinke’s intent, as the subject matter (of both story lines) is quite serious. I was not expecting a good outcome for any of the parties involved, but the author managed to wrap things up neatly (and perhaps a bit too hurriedly) at the end.
stefan_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
bwolfe718's review against another edition
4.0
To read my full review, go to my blog dedicated to literary fiction by women. http://readherlikeanopenbook.com/2014/10/30/friendswood-probes-small-towns-toxic-tensions-in-richly-plotted-novel/
Rene Steinke, author of the 2005 National Book Award finalist Holy Skirts, has returned to the literary scene after nearly a decade with a timely and absorbing novel. Friendswood explores two issues that are seemingly discrete but are actually intertwined: corporate polluters turning a residential neighborhood into a toxic waste site and sexual abuse by high school athletes in a small town that worships football. In both cases, the immoral and possibly illegal behavior of privileged actors is indulged by the majority, who value economic growth and athletic prowess over questioning their way of life, the choices they make, and the cost of both.
Rene Steinke, author of the 2005 National Book Award finalist Holy Skirts, has returned to the literary scene after nearly a decade with a timely and absorbing novel. Friendswood explores two issues that are seemingly discrete but are actually intertwined: corporate polluters turning a residential neighborhood into a toxic waste site and sexual abuse by high school athletes in a small town that worships football. In both cases, the immoral and possibly illegal behavior of privileged actors is indulged by the majority, who value economic growth and athletic prowess over questioning their way of life, the choices they make, and the cost of both.
lizserna's review against another edition
3.0
Having grown up in Friendswood, Texas, I was very interested to read this novel. I was curious what spin it would take and if it would be true to the town I know and love.
Let me say, first, that I gave this book 3 stars mostly because I actually finished reading it. I think it was disjointed and the two separate story-lines running through the book were confusing and poorly written.
Let's also be honest - if you grew up in the area, you know that the toxic waste business isn't fiction. We all know what happened, and we also know who was responsible. If you are going to change names to protect the wealthy/guilty, do a better job. Also, renaming some things but properly naming others is just dumb. This includes people. Yes, I could even figure out a few of the teachers.
Spoilers coming..........................
The date rape portion of this book pisses me off. Yes, I know it happens. Yes, I know that it goes unreported, a lot. But acting like the whole town is shunning the victim where clearly everyone knows what is happening is crap. It is socially irresponsible to make the victim crazy while everyone else is getting off scott-free. Again, I am sure this happened to someone at some point, but this is not the Friendswood that I know. No teachers, counselors, nor police officers would let this slide just because the parents didn't want to relive it.
Also - Real life spoilers - they did rebuild homes on the same toxic waste site, though people who bought those new homes are either stupid or don't have a clue about the land's history.
And a small nit-pick: The geography is off quite a bit. It's annoying for people who actually know the area well.
I will say from my own family's battles with the City Council, trying to get them to take care of business is pretty spot on. If they don't want to deal with it, they will bury it. Literally.
Let me say, first, that I gave this book 3 stars mostly because I actually finished reading it. I think it was disjointed and the two separate story-lines running through the book were confusing and poorly written.
Let's also be honest - if you grew up in the area, you know that the toxic waste business isn't fiction. We all know what happened, and we also know who was responsible. If you are going to change names to protect the wealthy/guilty, do a better job. Also, renaming some things but properly naming others is just dumb. This includes people. Yes, I could even figure out a few of the teachers.
Spoilers coming..........................
The date rape portion of this book pisses me off. Yes, I know it happens. Yes, I know that it goes unreported, a lot. But acting like the whole town is shunning the victim where clearly everyone knows what is happening is crap. It is socially irresponsible to make the victim crazy while everyone else is getting off scott-free. Again, I am sure this happened to someone at some point, but this is not the Friendswood that I know. No teachers, counselors, nor police officers would let this slide just because the parents didn't want to relive it.
Also - Real life spoilers - they did rebuild homes on the same toxic waste site, though people who bought those new homes are either stupid or don't have a clue about the land's history.
And a small nit-pick: The geography is off quite a bit. It's annoying for people who actually know the area well.
I will say from my own family's battles with the City Council, trying to get them to take care of business is pretty spot on. If they don't want to deal with it, they will bury it. Literally.
readingonfordearlife's review against another edition
3.0
I typically love 'slice of life' stories and novels, so I was intrigued by the premise of Steinke's "Friendswood." In the small Texas town of Friendswood, high school football reigns supreme, big oil and chemical plants work to cover up their misdeeds, and everyone has their own mini dramas. The novel follows the story lines of several residents: a grieving mother intent on exposing the coverup of the chemical companies, a down-on-his-luck father and realtor who just can't catch a break, a fifteen-year-old girl confused by the biblical visions that haunt her, and a high school boy transitioning from adolescence to an ever closer adulthood. Rene Steinke presents the stories of these Friendswood neighbors, both separately and interwoven, to create a realistic plot full of heartache, relationships, and the consequences of actions.
In telling this story, the author transitions between four main character perspectives, and overall, she does a nice job with this. Each character had a relatively unique voice and point of view. I enjoyed the first half of the book more so than the second half, especially the ending. The climactic event was saved for the last thirty pages or so, which left Steinke little space to wrap up all the character's story lines. Without revealing too much, I was especially disappointed to read how Willa's and Dex's stories ended--I was left hanging and wondering about several things with regards to these two characters. I found the character of Hal especially unlikeable in the last half of the book, and there was little done to redeem his character by the end of the story. As I was reading the novel's end, it felt like the author was eager to end the novel, and didn't know how to effectively do so with some of her characters. I would recommend this book if you really enjoy realistic fiction that tackles real-life (and at times, depressing) dramas, and stories told from multiple points of view.
In telling this story, the author transitions between four main character perspectives, and overall, she does a nice job with this. Each character had a relatively unique voice and point of view. I enjoyed the first half of the book more so than the second half, especially the ending. The climactic event was saved for the last thirty pages or so, which left Steinke little space to wrap up all the character's story lines. Without revealing too much, I was especially disappointed to read how Willa's and Dex's stories ended--I was left hanging and wondering about several things with regards to these two characters. I found the character of Hal especially unlikeable in the last half of the book, and there was little done to redeem his character by the end of the story. As I was reading the novel's end, it felt like the author was eager to end the novel, and didn't know how to effectively do so with some of her characters. I would recommend this book if you really enjoy realistic fiction that tackles real-life (and at times, depressing) dramas, and stories told from multiple points of view.
danadanger's review against another edition
2.0
A potentially interesting story that unfortunately just didn't come together well enough for me. The plot is divided into sections from four main characters - two adults, and two high schoolers - dealing with various issues. The Willa section was my favorite, and the most well-written to me; it's a thoughtful and insightful exploration of how a mentally ill young woman deals with the aftermath of a sexual assault. Honestly, the whole book could have been Willa's story for me and I'd have been pleased - although I do think that Willa's visions weren't quite given the gravity that they should have been, and the ending is too clean for me to approve. None of the stories really merge in a meaningful way, which, by the end of this 350-page book, is pretty frustrating. The book is well-written, with some spots of beautiful prose and feeling, however.
mkhaupt's review against another edition
4.0
Despite the fact that many aspects of this book made me uncomfortable/irritable (Willa's visions, the depiction of small-town Texans as simpletons eagerly spoon-fed prosperity gospel), I loved Lee's journey as an accidental ecofeminist.
hannasbooked's review against another edition
4.0
Solid tale, enthralling and I just love me a book with different character chapters.
maylingkuo's review
3.0
friendswood felt a bit like what you'd get if you combined Freedom with a Barbara Kingsolver novel. suburban strife and environmentalism without the nature, plus health issues and strange visions. i mostly identified with dex and willa, perhaps since they were the younger voices. if steinke had longer chapters, this book might have felt like more of a page turner, or at least connected me to the characters. like a franzen novel, i could not feel empathy towards about half of the characters. that said, it's an interesting plot and worth reading to see how it pans out.
danadanger's review
2.0
A potentially interesting story that unfortunately just didn't come together well enough for me. The plot is divided into sections from four main characters - two adults, and two high schoolers - dealing with various issues. The Willa section was my favorite, and the most well-written to me; it's a thoughtful and insightful exploration of how a mentally ill young woman deals with the aftermath of a sexual assault. Honestly, the whole book could have been Willa's story for me and I'd have been pleased - although I do think that Willa's visions weren't quite given the gravity that they should have been, and the ending is too clean for me to approve. None of the stories really merge in a meaningful way, which, by the end of this 350-page book, is pretty frustrating. The book is well-written, with some spots of beautiful prose and feeling, however.