Strip Cuts

This is not the kind of book I usually go for, but I was curious because David Drayer is my English teacher. I really loved it. I think everyone can find something to relate to and someone to identify with in this story. It covers 7 years of a small town, it's inhabitants and their not-so-closeted skeletons. I couldn't put it down and would have finished it the same day if I could. I highly recommend it.

I was very fortuate to have had Mr. Drayer as a teacher for an English class I took in college one semester. Apart from the book for a moment, he is a very down-to-earth and funny person! I'd never heard of him as a writer before I had him in class, and I have to say that's the only reason I picked up the book in the first place, and I'm glad that I did- I loved it! This book reminds me of the small town I live in, and the people who circle around in it. The honesty of the writing, and the characters (their emotions,their reactions, their thoughts especially) really hit me. Some authors do a poor job of developing their characters and their emotions, but I really felt like I knew the characters- probably because a lot of the storylines in the book have happened to me, and many people close to me. Who hasn't had a huge crush on a REALLY good-looking teacher??? I know I have!! If you live in a small town, you know how it feels when you are itching to get out of it. I laughed while reading this book not because I thought it was funny, but because I thought it was honest, and truthful! Most people think like these characters, but never express these thoughts out loud. Because in reality, what do we really want? (what do the characters want, maybe?) We want to have lots and lots of sex, passion, love, change, happiness....etc. All in all, great book, I can't wait to read what he writes next!

Although I grew up in very different surroundings than the characters in this book, I cold not help but relate to their issues. This novel left me wanting more. The pages flowed with a gentle poeticness that I did not anticipate upon picking up a book about rural Pennsylvania.Hooray for David Drayers first novel! I am waiting anxiously for his next work.

I'm not from a small town in Pennsylvania originally (downstate NY actually), but this book brought back more memories, bitter and sweet, of growing up "out of the mainstream" - the yearning to belong and to find a place in life; all those "firsts" - kiss, love, loss. It was a fluke I bought the book at all. I passed the author at Walden Books in the mall in Stroudsburg, PA, during his recent book tour - he was sitting at a table, all alone and, being that I love books anyway, I figured I would give the book a chance so I asked him for an autographed copy. And I was not disappointed. For some reason, it sort of reminds me of "Catcher in the Rye" but not as caustic. I will definitely read his next book. And now I can say I met the author when.....

Though I grew up in a large, industrial, midwest city, Drayer's characters hit home with me. The "bully," the "fat kid," the "smart kid," the "druggies," the "quiet one." They're all here to help you re-live your salad days.Drayer is only the second author I know of (besides Sherwood Anderson) who has mastered the art of making a setting the main character of a great novel. This book was written to be classic.