A Voice for Independent Authors
― E.A. Bucchianeri
REVIEWING TODAY: GOODBYE, RUDY KAZOODY BY A. A. FREDA
What makes Goodbye, Rudy Kazoody by A.A. Freda such a refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable read is the authentic and immediately engaging voice of its main character and narrator, Joey, a teenage Italian immigrant boy newly arrived to New York City, who comes of age during the transformative, rebellious era of the 1960’s, and who is a member of a rather benign if loyal gang, The Black Knights, headed by his charismatic cousin, Spike. The book begins with a symbolic dream sequence so realistically presented that it immediately grabs the reader’s interest, and then continues both to inform and to haunt the richly complex tale that comes after. Friendship, integrity, honor, young sexual escapades – and mobsters for spice – are the main ingredients that comprise Joey’s youthful recollections.
An unusual counterpoint of tenses between past and present is used by A.A. Freda in Goodbye, Rudy Kazoody to lend an impressive and engaging present moment vividness to his writing. Joey is telling of things that happened to him in the past, but he talks as if those events are happening right now, and Freda defies convention somewhat by making this technique work so very well, for the reader finds himself personally involved in some electrically-vivid memories that seem to be happening to him as well. This style is unique and highly effective, giving an immediacy and vibrancy to the telling that moves the story along quickly, but also guiltily, rather like a savory meal impolitely grabbed quickly on the run. It doesn’t matter. The story is much too tasty to forget.
Joel R. Dennstedt – Reviewer
Author-Journalist-Adventurer
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In concert with the sentiment above, I share my professional reviews of books by Indie Authors. I am an official top reviewer for Readers’ Favorite, a highly-regarded and award-winning online review site. Adhering to their standards of professionalism, ethics, and formatting, I offer my life-affirming voice to a greatly deserving field: Indie Authors.