When the Finch Rises

A North Carolina mill town in 1968 is the setting for this strained, overwritten first novel about an intense friendship between two boys from troubled families. Twelve-year-old Raybert's mother, Evelyn, is mentally unstable; she bounces from periods of lucidity to moments when, as Raybert's Aunt Iris puts it, she's "like a dog that chases its tail." Ray, her husband, similarly lurches back and forth between episodes of drunken brawling and responsible fatherhood. Raybert's best friend, Palmer, is an oddly precocious boy, effeminate at times and often sounding older than his 12 years. His widowed mother, Inez, and her brutal boyfriend, Edgar, beat him mercilessly, forcing him into a hideaway crawl space beneath the house. The boys' discovery of ugly family secrets Raybert's father seems to have been involved in a lynching, and Edgar is hiding nude photographs of Palmer's teenage sister further shakes their faith in grownups. Turning to each other for solace, they develop a quasi-romantic relationship (in one of Raybert's dreams, Palmer kisses him on the lips) and dream of escaping to a fantasy world that includes Evel Knievel and the Lone Ranger. Riggs's sympathy for his characters is evident, and he conveys a strong visceral sense of their ramshackle physical surroundings and the tense national political climate. But choked, awkward sentences ("His cold, violent stare ratcheted down instantly to something of surprise") and choppy plotting squeeze the life out of Riggs's heartfelt tale. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Jack Riggs did a wonderful job in capturing the struggles of Palmer and Raybert. The greatness of having a best friend that loves you unconditionaly was very well written in this book. Growing up in a mill town in the early '60s in disfunctional families made Palmer and Raybert depend on each other even more. What a great book!

I was drawn to this book by the recommendation by Lee Smith on the cover. Anything that Ms. Smith endorses, I will be glad to try. And When the Finch Rises turns out to be well worth the price. Yes, this book is about friendship and love, but it is much more than that. Mr. Riggs delves into issues of taking responsibility for ones actions and willingness to face life head on. Strangely enough, it is the children who are the strongest characters since they have not succumbed to their weaknesses as the adults have. This book is both charming and thought provoking. The only negative comment I have is that each chapter, although linked by plot, seemed almost like separate short stories. This is not necessaily bad, but it does keep the book from flowing quite as smoothly as it could. But this is only a minor criticism. It is well worthg reading. Enjoy!

I had to force myself to meter out the 234 pages of "When The Finch Rises". What a wonderful story. In it, we meet Raybert and Palmer, who live in a mill town in a small rural town. The main characters develop a relationship that is amazing to behold. It is a pure love that Jack Riggs captures perfectly. Ray struggles with the knowledge that his father was involved in a notorious lynching, and Palmer finds happiness in Ray, when none can be found in his home life. While both characters are but 12 years old, in this story, they learn life lessons beyond their years. Read this book. It will warm your heart.

The only downside to this book is that you don't want to leave it to do things like take your kids to school and your other daily duties. This book is heartbreakingly beautiful. It reads like a dream and the story is haunting and soulful. I can't think of a comparison for any potential reader. Discovering this writer is like reading Kaye Gibbons for the first time. It is just so good on all accounts. My understanding is that the author has a cache of short stories about the two little boy protaganists of this book. I want to read each and every one of them. I want to know what happens next....not only with these two little boys, but with Jack Riggs as well!