Somewhere South of Here

This is a thoroughly enjoyable and very well well written sequel to the author's first book "Eddie's Bastard". In this book we find Billy Mann travelling to New Mexico in order to find his real mother who abandoned him at birth. The characters he meets along the way spring to life from the pages and you can almost smell the chiles frying in the New Mexico heat and be with Billy in his quest. This is an excellent book which I was lucky enough to read in one sitting and I look forward to more of Mr. Kowalski's works and I think his website is really cool too.

It would have been a 5 star book if I hadn't read Eddie's Bastard first. Eddie Mann goes to Santa Fe, New Mexico to find his mother. This book was a great read from one of my new favorite authors. All three of his books have been great. Although this was probably the least great. I would reccomend this book but please read Eddies Bastard first.

I won't give you a summary of this charming story, since the editorial reviews have already done that. But I will tell you that this sequel to Eddie's Bastard, Kowalski's first book, doesn't disappoint. A word of advice: IF you haven't yet read EB, do that first. It's a special treat -- one of my all-time favorite novels. Starting with EB will only enhance your enjoyment of Somewhere South of Here. There! That's two recommendations all in one. Enjoy.

Billy Mann rides to New Mexico in search of his mother at the beginning of this book. He's searching for more, of course; answers, family, community. He finds an unusual and entertaining cast of characters that includes a girl who may or may not be his half sister, a bewitching gypsy singer, a perennial student-philosopher, and a loony sniper. Enjoyable mayhem ensues. A serious subtext underlies the comic plotines; Billy is compassionate, aware, and mournful. What appeared to be such rollicking good fun (in the first novel) appears differently when viewed through the eyes of a more mature narrator. Billy cares for these broken people, and emerges at novel's end with a deepened understanding and a more complete life.

When I read "Eddie's Bastard" I was completely captivated by Billy Mann, and all his life experiences. "Somewhere South of Here" continues where "Eddie's Bastard" left off. Kowalski is a natural story teller. This book kept my attention, and I have already begun reading it again! Great job Bill!