A Lot of Life

Caleb is all of us. He is a delight. This is the most fun I have reading in months. You take any of us that were in hard times and suddenly won the lottery and the same chaos would ensue. Poor Caleb you cheer for him and hope he is able to turn his life around to enjoy his winnings. You want this book to never end. It was a thrill from beginning to end. thank you Netgalley for the review copy. My only regret is that when it was over, I had no sequel to turn to !

Caleb was an average guy with average guy problems. He never seemed to have enough money, he hated his job, and he hated his live-in girlfriend. He felt trapped and he didn't know what to do. Everyone needs a little help once in a while. Coming home late from work on a Saturday night to his inebriated girlfriend was the last thing in his life he needed. After yet another blowout fight, he escapes to the home of his two best friends. Spending his last $41 on cheap beer, cigarettes and a lottery ticket seemed like a great reason to drink himself into a coma. Upon his return the following morning to his apartment, with a hangover riding shotgun, he discovers that his girlfriend has packed up and left him. His best girl-friend, Delaney, decides to take him out for brunch to cheer him up. During so, he discovers a new fortune that awaits him: He won the lottery. We all wish for this but it does not always work out the way you think - an ok book but not mind blowing.

In a way, this novel disappoints. It seems that a big Lottery win is Everyman' s dream. For Caleb it is a dream come true and he finds himself on the receiving end of the winning, along with the freedom and opportunity to indulge his every whim. Along with this is the experience of how sycophantic people can be in the right situation. How things turn sour for him and the reasons why are well explored and interesting but woefully obvious. As a reader, one hopes to learn something new from a novel, and this did not really seem to offer this. Nonetheless it is well written and the prose carries one along easily. A great read for young people and a fantastic starter for thinking about what they would do in Caleb's place. Also for thinking about the important values in life, what it means to be a true friend and how carefully we should think through the consequences of our actions.

Did not finish. Found the writing to be lacking in depth and scope.

It's nice to read from a guys pov, would recommend to friends. Kept me turning the pages.