The Pains of April

The Pains of April will awaken your sense. Through the actions and memories of his characters this young new writer expresses his philosophy on the strengths and weakness of men; on love and the complexity of relationships and on accepting the limitations of independece and commitments.There is a sparceness and cleaness in Hollon's composition with some brillant one-liners not to be missed. The imagery is dramatic. To me, it was like watching a performance in a small intimate theater. On stage are four old men in a summer-hot room smoking cigars and playing cards in their underwear or I see them with lights low drinking "hot scotch from Dixie cups", and with no elaboration the words "we woke up with tattoos" evokes colorful images.Throughout the book the author's use of color is powerful. The contridictions of love are expressed in the description of his wife who was "purples and golds and sharp edges"; vulnerability is "my heart sat on the living room table on one of my mother's white china plates" and forbidden thoughts "evoked images of long dresses and short sentences and reds and whites and soft browns". Intentional symbolism or not, the purest character's eyes are blue, there are brown comforting chairs, cold black cameras, solid gold flames and the unattainable strength of porcelain white.The Pains of April is intense and unforgettable.

By chance, I had an opportunity to read a portion of the galleys of "The Pains of April" and anxiously await its publication. Characters are well developed and familial interaction is portrayed so well I was immediately able to place myself in the center of the family. To me the most compelling feature of this percipient young author's writing is his ability to discern and reveal the emotions of a man many years older as the senior man deals with an adulthood nearing its close. For those of us who spend time with the elderly or want to read an excellent book, "The Pains of April" promises much.

i knocked this book down like might mike tyson's numerous first round knockouts. " the paines of april " gave me a gut check and made me realize the clock is ticking. parts of the book made me shed tears and others made me want to run outside on my backporch in the nude, beat my chest, and yell like tarzan. mr. hollon is the king of the one liners. the book triggers emotions, and the " giggle box" . when closing the book on the final page all i could think to say was " damn that was good."

"The Pains of April" is one of the most moving and memorable books I have ever read. The book's main character is a nursing home resident who, through his unsentimental, sometimes startling recollections, travels through the first and last stages of his life. The old man's companions are an unforgettable cast of characters who, by turns, are tragic and humorous, triumphant and doomed. The author's prose is sparse and brilliant: controlled and yet devastating in its impact. The ending of the work is jarring and tragic but ultimately life-affirming. I highly recommend this book and eagerly await the next offering from this new, young writer.

Frank Turner Hollon has created a book full of rich and vivid characters. He introduces each at just the right moment. From his dying grandmother to his dying best friend, each has a deep and profound affect on both the old man and the reader. Just as in life, Mr. Hollon takes us through a variety of emotions, including complacency.This is neither a happy book nor a sad book. It is simply a book about life. And maybe a little too lifelike. It forces the reader to think about the part of life that most of us don't want to think about at all. The part that is near the end.The Pains of April is very well written and holds the readers attention through to the end. Both it's humorous and sad situations left me with the feeling that I had been, or could imagine myself being, in just that type of situation. Excellent!