Review by Fola_M -- The Juicy Fruit Man by LaMar Going

[Fola Moni]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Juicy Fruit Man" by LaMar Going.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The effects of war can be devastating and should not be underestimated. This brilliant piece of fiction,The Juicy Fruit Man by LaMar Going, explores the damaging aftermath of battles that should have never been fought, and the realities of post-traumatic stress disorder in the lives of war veterans.

Declan Noakes is a deeply troubled man. He has seen things in war that haunts him day and night. He bears scars both seen and unseen. To quell his tortured soul, he takes solace in the Bible which offers him a little glimmer of hope that things will turn out alright. He is also into smuggling marijuana with his favourite cousin, Rachel, and the business appears to be doing well. However, trouble arises when these expensive marijuana sticks, known as Juicy Fruit, are sought after by some desperate men, one of them his old army friend, Fisher. Can he escape from the clutches of those who would do anything to lay their hands on the coveted drugs?

I love the way the author brilliantly captures the horrible after-effects of war in easy dialogues and vividly written flashback and present-day scenes. Delicate issues like mental health and drug use are introduced into the storyline matter of factly. The pain, horror, terror and the inner demons are all described so incredibly that you can feel all these emotions almost physically. He takes us through the life of the protagonist before, during and after the war in a way that it’s impossible not to identify with him.

I also love the way he developed the other characters as well. Rachel is my favourite. She mixes raw emotion with guts and fiery determination. Crawford‘s character epitomises the moral struggles some policemen face daily in their line of work. Fisher’s character, on the other hand, comes across as cold and ruthless. However, he’s only another casualty of the war that should have never happened.

Finally, I love how the plot is so real and raw. It aptly describes the bonds soldiers have on the war front where they have to learn to have each other’s backs or be killed. It shows how each day on the battlefield might be their last. It characterises the struggle they face to fit back in the world whilst battling with physical and mental war wounds. It examines how good police officers can gradually turn rogue just for financial gains. In other words, it depicts real life and the nitty-gritty that comes with it.

There’s nothing I dislike about this book, so I’ll rate it a 4 out of 4 stars for being such an enthralling read. I can say it appears to be exceptionally well-edited because I couldn't find any errors. There are no erotic scenes, but there are some profanity and graphic violent/bloody scenes, so I wouldn’t recommend it to a younger/ sensitive audience. Adult lovers of the war thriller literary genre will absolutely love this book.

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The Juicy Fruit Man
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[Kelyn]

I read the sample of this one and also noticed the author's penchant for vivid visualization. I agree that his portrayal of the psychological effects of war seems spot on. I never finished reading the book, but I might just re-think that. Great review, thanks!

[Fola Moni]

I read the sample of this one and also noticed the author's penchant for vivid visualization. I agree that his portrayal of the psychological effects of war seems spot on. I never finished reading the book, but I might just re-think that. Great review, thanks!

Yes, you really need to finish the book; you won't regret it. Thanks for your lovely comment.

[Chizioboli]

PTSD is a real disorder that usually affects every soldier especially if they loved their friends and loved ones. Sometimes, they get treatment for it. Most times, they don't and end up hurting people around them. I loved how your review told the story of the protagonist to vividly describe what war veterans are going through. Quite a read I must confess and I loved your review.

[Fola Moni]

PTSD is a real disorder that usually affects every soldier especially if they loved their friends and loved ones. Sometimes, they get treatment for it. Most times, they don't and end up hurting people around them. I loved how your review told the story of the protagonist to vividly describe what war veterans are going through. Quite a read I must confess and I loved your review.

Yes, indeed it's a terrible disorder and I hope veterans that suffer from it truly get the help they deserve.Thank you for your lovely comment.