Saturday, March 24, 2012

Annotation #4: Historical Fiction --Traveler by Ron McLarty


Traveler

Written by Ron McLarty

McLarty’s first book is Memory of Running



Genre: Historical Fiction/Historical Mystery
Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Time Period: 1960's

Appeal:
  • Relatable characters
  • Mystery Elements 
  • First-Person narrative, descriptive writing style 

Plot Summary: This story is told through the eyes of protagonist Jono Riley, who is now a middle-aged bartender and part-time actor. When Jono receives word that his childhood crush Marie has died, he decides to return to East Providence, Rhode Island for the funeral. McLarty weaves the re-telling of Jono's upbringing in the working-class neighborhoods of East Providence in the 60's with his current life as a struggling actor. Jono performs mostly single character plays in front of dismal, single-digit audiences. Growing up, he had three close friends Bobby, Cubby, and Billy. He reconnects with them upon his return decades later. While he is in Providence, he also reconnects with former school officer Kenny Snowden. Kenny was one of the original officers investigating the shooting of eleven year-old Marie. Jono and others later learn that Marie died from a "traveler." The bullet was never removed, and it began moving in her body, eventually killing her. Jono and his new girlfriend Renee get wrapped up with an investigation that eventually links Marie's shooting with several other mysterious shootings and/or killings around the same time. Read "Traveler" to discover the truth behind these mysterious events. McLarty also weaves in details of life in and around East Providence, Rhode Island in the 1960's.  

Author Read-Alikes from NoveList:

  •          Jonathan Coe
  •         Elizabeth Hay
  •         David Gilbert


Title Read-Alikes from NoveList:

  •        The Crow Road by Iain Banks
  •         For the Love of Money by Omar Tyree
  •        Scooter by Mick Foley 
More About the Author:
   Ron McLarty is an award-winning and well-known actor and playwright. He has appeared in many popular television shows including: The Practice, Law & Order, Spenser: For Hire, and Sex in the City. He is also married to actress Kate Skinner.
 

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