Spanning just a year in the lives of several people, this book encompasses a whole spectrum of emotions and actions.

The book deals with current issues and those that have still not been resolved. War veterans returning to an empty life, no direction, no care. The book is very heavy and at times it did seem to drag but it is good reading and shows how great the impact of American interference in the Middle East has created. The havoc played on the minds, families and hearts of the American people alone is enough for generations to come.

I cannot say I enjoyed the read, but it was compelling reading.

****Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an honest review****

"
When an Army trucker goes AWOL before her third deployment, she ends up sleeping in Central Park. There, she meets a Vietnam vet and widower who inherited a tumbledown Borscht Belt resort. Converted into a halfway house for homeless veterans, the Standard—and its two thousand acres over the Marcellus Shale Formation—is coveted by a Houston-based multinational company. Toward what end, only a corporate executive knows."

This book was a deviation from My standard reading fare,to be honest I'm only reading Psychological Thrillers or big literary fare at this point in time. But I enjoyed the book, it got me away from my comfort zone and made me aware of why some people close to me suffer/ed from PSTD.

Good read.

It took me several chapters to get into this book. It seems to be a fairly realistic account of soldiers stuffing from PTSD. A Vietnam vet is offering shelter and help to a woman AWOL from her third tour in Afghanistan. It’s refreshing to see a woman as part of the story. There is also a story line of corporate greed in the mix. How these solders cope with their past is interesting.

I failed to connect to the story. I will not review this book on my website.

A little slow in places but the array of characters was great and I enjoyed learning their stories.

I have tried reading this for months but I cannot get into it. The story keeps slipping out of my grasp, and I can't find anything that interests me enough to keep me reading.

Bellum has gone AWOL and left her husband and home in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. She is already suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from her past deployments and can't stomach the idea of another one. She follows an older veteran that has set up a camp for homeless veterans called The Standard Grande. Milt inherited The Standard Grande, an old resort in the Catskills, from his father-in-law and uses it to help veterans become more self-sufficient and acclimate to coming home from a war environment. Milt is under water on the venture, though, and is being aggressively pursued by a company that wants to use the land for what they say is a golf resort. The veterans aren't so sure that is the real purpose, though.

This book just didn't hit the spot for me. Most of the story dragged. I didn't find it humorous and the mystery wasn't enough to keep my attention. I actually had to leave this book several times and come back to it while reading other books in order to finish it. There were some questions that I had throughout the book but the book ended without ever answering those questions, ruining any chance of any mystery with a climactic ending. The writing is strange and very choppy. I did enjoy Bellum's character and Bellum's story about her childhood and marriage made me understand why she did certain things later. Most of the characters were very interesting but I think I enjoyed their back stories more than I enjoyed the story about The Standard Grande and IRJ's reasons for wanting to buy it. This book did have some information about PTSD but I think I would have enjoyed the story more if it had focused on those aspects. Overall, I just didn't like this book. I think it would be good for someone that enjoys military banter and doesn't mind when a mystery is not solved at the end of a novel. It just wasn't my cup of tea, though.

The Standard Grand is a harsh, honest, beautiful novel about real, dark issues in America today. The characters are strong and the dialogue is realistic and enjoyable to read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This was a no for me. Yes it is experimental = because the author is neither a woman nor a veteran and yet he purports to be a voice for both. I get that he's imagining the experiences of his ex-sister-in-law, a woman he professed not to love- but these aren't his experiences and they aren't really up for sale. Clearly someone liked this enough to publish this but I thought it needed another edit and frankly, another thought. Look for books by women vets if you are interested or at least by veterans.

This is such an intricate novel about trying to recover from war, veterans, cougars, motorbikes, big company conspiracies and Sammy Davis Jr. It follows Antebellum Smith as she tries to deal with life after war after going AWOL from both the army and her life with her husband. For me, it was so interesting to focus on female war veterans and their own personal challenges when dealing with their war experiences. The writing is clean and efficient and the characters are just wonderful. The book tackles some difficult subject matter with compassion and clarity and the narrative, while jumping from one character viewpoint to another, is fast paced without seeming rushed in any way. We are given plenty of time to luxuriate in the lives of our characters and it is a really interesting place to be. A great debut novel.

“A loaded gun wants to go off.”

Critics have compared Nicorvo’s brilliant debut novel to the work of Heller, and indeed, it seems destined to become the go-to story of those that have served in the unwinnable morass created by the US government against the people of the Middle East: “a drawdown war forever flaring up”. It’s created a tremendous amount of buzz already. I was lucky enough to read it free and in advance for the purpose of a review, thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press, but today it’s available to the public. You should buy it and read it, maybe more than once.

The story starts with a list of the characters involved, but the way it’s presented provides a tantalizing taste of the author’s voice. The page heading tells us these are “The Concerns”, and the subheadings divide them into practical categories, such as The Smith Family, the Employees of IRJ, Inc., and The Veterans of The Standard Grande (misspelling is mentioned later in the story). Then we proceed to list The Beasts, and The Dead, and The Rest, and right then I know this is going to be good.

Antebellum Smith is our protagonist, and she’s AWOL, half out of her mind due to PTSD, anxiety, and grief. She’s sleeping in a tree in New York City’s Central Park when Wright finds her there and invites her to join his encampment at The Standard Grand. Here the walking wounded function as best they can in what was once an upscale resort. One of the most immediately noticeable aspects of the story is the way extreme luxury and miserable, wretched poverty slam up against one another. Although the veterans are grateful for The Standard Grand, the fact is that without central heat, with caved in ceilings, rot, and dangerous disrepair, the place resembles a Third World nation much more than it resembles the wealthiest nation on the planet.

On the other hand, it’s also perched, unbeknownst to most of its denizens, on top of a valuable vein of fossil fuel, and the IRJ, Incorporated is sending Evangelina Cavek, their landsman, out in a well-appointed private jet to try to close the deal with Wright. She is ordered off the property, and from there things go straight to hell.

Secondary and side characters are introduced at warp speed, and at first I highlight and number them in my reader, afraid I’ll lose track of who’s who. Although I do refer several times to that wonderful list, which is happily located right at the beginning where there’s no need for a bookmark, I am also amazed at how well each character is made known to me. Nicorvo is talented at rendering characters in tight, snapshot-like sketches that trace for us, with a few phrases and deeds, an immediate picture that is resonant and lasting. Well drawn settings and quirky characters remind me at first of author James Lee Burke; on the other hand, the frequently surreal events, sometimes fall-down-funny, sometimes dark and pulse-pounding, make me think of Michael Chabon and Kurt Vonnegut. But nothing here is derivative. The descriptions of the main setting, The Standard Grand, are meted out with discipline, and it pays off.

As for Smith, she still has nightmares, still wakes up to “the voices of all the boys and girls of the wars—Afghan, Iraqi, American—like a choir lost in a dust storm.”

There’s so much more here, and you’re going to have to go get it for yourself. It’s gritty, profane, and requires a reasonably strong vocabulary level; I’m tempted to say it isn’t for the squeamish, yet I think the squeamish may need it most.

Strongly recommended for those that love excellent fiction.

I loved the rich and diverse characters in this story. Each one is distinct and as a group they form a family. I loved learning about each of them and watching them come together. A truly remarkable read

The synopsis of The Standard Grand appealed to me much more than the actual book. I appreciated the clipped cadence of the writing. It mimicked the strong marching step of soldiers. The characters were unique, but I didn't get enough emotion from or back story on them to become invested in the outcome of the story.

Jay Baron Nicorvo's story and writing reminded me of author Tom Robbins whose work has been described as "wild stories with strong social undercurrents, a satirical bent, and obscure details".

The Standard Grand by Jay Baron Nicorvo

This is not my usual reading fare. When I was finished I was ready for something lighter with a happily ever after ending. In one novel everything but the kitchen sink seemed to end up being discussed: big business, war(s), PTSD, atrocities, abuse, love, marriage, divorce, AWOL, war veterans, murder, religion, do-gooders, abortion, adoption, the right to die, infidelity, intercultural relationships, anger, spying, homelessness, evil…goodness…the list goes on. It all fits in but does make for a long convoluted plot that left me “wondering”. Wondering about what? A lot of things…mostly the things brought up in the book.

Who would I recommend this book to? Tough question. Readers who are interested in war veterans, big business, intrigue and are willing to think about the bigger picture while reading snippets of the lives of the bit players. It will require the reader to stick with the book through the slow background building that is crucial in all of its parts when woven together. And it is no doubt best for people not looking for simple easy to read books that always have a HEA or HFN ending.

I am still pondering as I sit here. In some ways I wish the book had a different ending BUT perhaps the ending I wanted would not have left me pondering and thinking as this story’s end did.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

DNF. The premise of the story was fascinating, but the execution was somewhat lacking for me. It may be because of things going on in my life right now that I just couldn't get into it, so I encourage others to try and stick it through.

An army trucker goes AWOL before her third deployment and ends up sleeping in Central Park. She meets a Vietnam Vet and widower who has inherited a tumbledown Borscht Belt resort that's been converted into a halfway house for homeless veterans.

The strong characters in this book deal with war, love and loss. The difficulty trturning soldiers have to go through. The book does have a slow start that might put some readers off. Not usually my type of book but I did quite enjoy it.

I would like to thank NetGalley, St Martins Press and the author Jay Baron Nicorvo for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for the preview copy of this book.

First- this is a 4.5* book. It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. The basic storyline is of the AWOL homeless female vet and the ragtag group of veterans who come to live together up in the Catskills to try to relearn how to live with the rest of the world. The cast of characters comes to life slowly and kind of like a patchwork quilt- a glimpse here, then another glimpse there. For me this was not just another "home from the war" story, mostly because of Bellum- the female vet. We don't hear much about these women in real life- how they come home and try to pick up the pieces.

The other strands of the plot- with the energy corporations trying to get the land that the home for vets- The Standard Ground- occupies and all the shenanigans that stem from this corporate greed grab weaves in and out of the lives of Bellum, Ray, Milt and the vets. Is it the underlying story? Is the tragedy of war the story? Is it a tale of redemption for the survivors? Yes- all of these and more.

This isn't just a Mid-East war version of all the other war stories you may have read. It is so much more. Worth your time!

This was not my kind of book. The premise sounded interesting but actually reading the story was another matter. I'm sure military service men and women could relate and appreciate this book. I could not.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley.

A slow-going story that just didn't capture my attention. I had to DNF it.

Standard Grand is a title for readers who want their characters in staccato bursts. These characters are seeking to run away from their past and somehow embrace it so they can move on….sounds confusing but it somehow makes sense. Strongest character for me was Antebellum Smith a great name for a female vet of the Mid East conflict. Nicorvo’s sentences and descriptions are unique and startling….had to dwell on some of them before moving on. But…somewhere along the way I lost the rhythm of the story. So DNF. Nevertheless, I would encourage other readers to stick it through, the amped up plot will surely appeal to those seeking a unique perspective on the vet experience and how they see the USA now and we see them – told through a wild prism of American issues.

Thanks to Netgalley for an opportunity to review this book.