Review of Wild World
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- Latest Review: Wild World by Peter S. Rush
Review of Wild World
[Following is a volunteer review of "Wild World" by Peter S. Rush.]
Book Title: Wild World
Author Name: Peter S. Rush
Summary: Peter S. Rush's book, Wild World, is set in 1970s Providence, USA, during the Nixon era. Stephen Logan, a graduate from Brown University lives in a small apartment with his very idealistic friends. He attends one of the protests at Brown University with Roxanne, his girlfriend and meets one of the revered policemen in Province named David Durk. Inspired by his stories of bravery and adherence to principle, Steve decides to join the police force in Providence in order to effect real change.
When he eventually applies, he finds that he doesn't quite belong. During the classes, his questions come off as awkward, and he is found to lack a lot of the skills the policemen already have. He is assigned to patrol along with Crowley, an older policeman. Their first stop is an old woman whose husband has died.
During some of their missions, Steve is horrified at the fact that the police officers can be brutal, callous and often corrupt. He often fights to oppose their brutality especially towards civillians, but this earns him the disrespect and contempt of his coworkers and his boss, leading to fistfights, silent treatment and even outright punishment. Meanwhile, at home his relationship with Roxanne begins to suffer due to the threatening effect his profession has on his friends.
Determined to expose the department, he collects some data that links the police to the corrupt practices of the real estate agency in the area, which he submits to an attorney. However, due to an incident in which he accidentally kills a friend of his, he resigns with a broken heart. It is during his work with the peace Corps that justice is finally served.
Positive Aspects: This book is definitely one that I couldn't put down until I was done. And the reasons for this are very many.
Firstly, there was quite a lot of depth to the main characters. You could easily resonate with the disappointment of Steve, the affection and fear of Roxanne, and even some of the lifestyles of the more morally questionable characters. Stephen's idealism was one that gave me a lot of chills. The amount of work that went into designing the characters is commendable.
Secondly, the story has quite a bit of plot. The moral complexities that arise as Steven tries to balance his quest for right action and the conflicting interests of his colleagues, and the reluctance of his beloved college to intervene, and his ever-changing relationship with Roxy, and the exposition of the police department all combine to make an emotional rollercoaster.
Thirdly, it did well to show the different social institutions and their values, and what happens when their values clash, or are about to be altered. I also learnt how notoriously difficult it can be to strive for change in certain institutions.
Negative Aspects: It looks like I've showered the book with so many accolades that it's beginning to look like a sales pitch. But honestly, this is the best book I have picked up since I began this review business(which isn't a long time, actually). I can confidently say there are no negative aspects to it, save for a few swear words and quite a bit of erotica.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Justification of rating: Like I said earlier, the depth, relatability and very detailed plot made it very easily enjoyable. The person I resonated with the most was Steve. I think the book does well to inspire a desire for a better world, and then show how incredibly difficult bringing that desire to fruition can be. Again, a very enjoyable read.
Recommended Audience: To be honest, anyone looking for a good dose of idealism. And anyone seeking to understand the ripple effects of the Nixon administration on the rest of the social institutions in 1970s America. After all, it is a work of historical fiction. For people who have some experience with reading novels in general, this one will be a very pleasant journey.
******
Wild World
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Book Title: Wild World
Author Name: Peter S. Rush
Summary: Peter S. Rush's book, Wild World, is set in 1970s Providence, USA, during the Nixon era. Stephen Logan, a graduate from Brown University lives in a small apartment with his very idealistic friends. He attends one of the protests at Brown University with Roxanne, his girlfriend and meets one of the revered policemen in Province named David Durk. Inspired by his stories of bravery and adherence to principle, Steve decides to join the police force in Providence in order to effect real change.
When he eventually applies, he finds that he doesn't quite belong. During the classes, his questions come off as awkward, and he is found to lack a lot of the skills the policemen already have. He is assigned to patrol along with Crowley, an older policeman. Their first stop is an old woman whose husband has died.
During some of their missions, Steve is horrified at the fact that the police officers can be brutal, callous and often corrupt. He often fights to oppose their brutality especially towards civillians, but this earns him the disrespect and contempt of his coworkers and his boss, leading to fistfights, silent treatment and even outright punishment. Meanwhile, at home his relationship with Roxanne begins to suffer due to the threatening effect his profession has on his friends.
Determined to expose the department, he collects some data that links the police to the corrupt practices of the real estate agency in the area, which he submits to an attorney. However, due to an incident in which he accidentally kills a friend of his, he resigns with a broken heart. It is during his work with the peace Corps that justice is finally served.
Positive Aspects: This book is definitely one that I couldn't put down until I was done. And the reasons for this are very many.
Firstly, there was quite a lot of depth to the main characters. You could easily resonate with the disappointment of Steve, the affection and fear of Roxanne, and even some of the lifestyles of the more morally questionable characters. Stephen's idealism was one that gave me a lot of chills. The amount of work that went into designing the characters is commendable.
Secondly, the story has quite a bit of plot. The moral complexities that arise as Steven tries to balance his quest for right action and the conflicting interests of his colleagues, and the reluctance of his beloved college to intervene, and his ever-changing relationship with Roxy, and the exposition of the police department all combine to make an emotional rollercoaster.
Thirdly, it did well to show the different social institutions and their values, and what happens when their values clash, or are about to be altered. I also learnt how notoriously difficult it can be to strive for change in certain institutions.
Negative Aspects: It looks like I've showered the book with so many accolades that it's beginning to look like a sales pitch. But honestly, this is the best book I have picked up since I began this review business(which isn't a long time, actually). I can confidently say there are no negative aspects to it, save for a few swear words and quite a bit of erotica.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Justification of rating: Like I said earlier, the depth, relatability and very detailed plot made it very easily enjoyable. The person I resonated with the most was Steve. I think the book does well to inspire a desire for a better world, and then show how incredibly difficult bringing that desire to fruition can be. Again, a very enjoyable read.
Recommended Audience: To be honest, anyone looking for a good dose of idealism. And anyone seeking to understand the ripple effects of the Nixon administration on the rest of the social institutions in 1970s America. After all, it is a work of historical fiction. For people who have some experience with reading novels in general, this one will be a very pleasant journey.
******
Wild World
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Wild World by Peter S. Rush
