Today we are going to mix things up a bit. Here is a book review from The Item, written by Reference and Information Services Coordinator Winniford A. Simmons.
Ravens by George Dawes Green
Some people believe winning a massive amount of cash is a life-changing experience. In "Ravens," written by George Dawes Green, winning the lottery is a life-changing experience, but not necessarily for the better.
The Boatwright family in Brunswick, Ga., wins $318 million in the Georgia Lottery and believes their financial troubles are over. It just so happens that two dead beat and bored young men traveling to Florida hear about the lottery winnings. They take the family hostage hoping to get away with some of the money. Of course, all hell breaks loose, driving everyone – captor and hostages -- insane.
At times captivating, other times maddening, "Ravens" is a book one would expect to be jam-packed with action. This is not the case. I found the book to be focused much more on the characters; Shaw, the main villain, is a reprehensible human being, willing to take advantage of his hostages using kind words and false promises. His soothing, yet always threatening manner is a light for the captive Boatwrights.
The Boatwrights are portrayed as an insecure bunch; the mother, Patsy, a chronic drinker, is obsessed with the lottery; the father, Mitch, lacks self-confidence because he can't pay the bills; and Tina is good-natured at heart but easily swayed by the ways of the world and men. They eventually lean upon Shaw, finding some release in his sociopathic behavior.
"Ravens" is full of twists and turns, with the biggest shock happening at the end. It's an excellent twist and ending to a good read. Green, who lives partly in Georgia, truly captures the Southern lifestyle as we know it, one rapidly assimilating into a broader American culture. Find these books and others at the Sumter County Library.
-Link to The Item
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