About Start Without Me
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (October 17, 2017)
The author of the critically acclaimed The Book of Jonah explores questions of love and choice, disappointment and hope in the lives of two strangers who meet by chance in this mesmerizing tale that unfolds over one Thanksgiving Day.
Adam is a former musician and recovering alcoholic who is home for Thanksgiving for the first time in many years. Surrounded by his parents and siblings, nieces and nephews all who have seen him at his worst he can’t shake the feeling that no matter how hard he tries, he’ll always be the one who can’t get it right.
Marissa is a flight attendant whose marriage is strained by simmering tensions over race, class, and ambition. Heading to her in-laws for their picture-perfect holiday family dinner, her anxiety is intensified by the knowledge she is pregnant from an impulsive one-night-stand.
In an airport restaurant on Thanksgiving morning, Adam and Marissa meet. Over the course of this day fraught with emotion and expectation, these two strangers will form an unlikely bond as they reckon with their family ties, their pasts, and the choices that will determine their way forward.
Joshua Max Feldman focuses his knowing eye on one of the last bastions of classical American idealism, the Thanksgiving family gathering, as he explores our struggles to know and to be our best selves. Hilarious and heartrending, Start Without Me is a thoughtful and entertaining page-turner that will leave its indelible mark on your heart.
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About Joshua Max Feldman
Joshua Max Feldman is the author of The Book of Jonah. Born and raised in Amherst, Massachusetts, he has lived in England, Russia, and Switzerland, and currently resides in Brooklyn.
Find out more about Joshua at his website, and connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.
My Thoughts
I was sent a copy of Start Without Me by Joshua Max Feldman, from the publisher and TLC Book Tours, in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 2.5/5
Start Without Me follows two very different characters who spend Thanksgiving together following a chance meeting in a hotel restaurant. Former musician and recovering alcoholic Adam forms an unlikely friendship (for lack of a better word) with Marissa, a flight attendant with marital problems.
What I liked about this novel included the differences between Adam and Marissa. They both had very different up-bringing’s that contributed to their present situations and outlooks on life. It wasn’t until later in the book that I really began to understand the point behind this pairing. I couldn’t exactly relate to Adam and Marissa, but I was able to appreciate some of the social commentary and pop culture references.
The writing style felt choppy to me and took some getting used to. Unfortunately my interest wavered throughout, which resulted in my 2.5 star rating.
I would advise discretion to those who may decide to read Start Without Me as it does include course language and sexuality, that may offend some people.
ML's Red House Reviews 