"The First Rains of October" Amazon Reviews
An Excellent Read!!! September 24, 2008
Marcus Alphin - Review from Amazon.com
As a follower of Jesus Christ I appreciated the way Anthony opened a window into the everyday life of a community (just like the one I live in) - showing it as the often raw, rugged, ruthless place we all call home; while portraying people's hunger for something deeper. Some of the scenes were definitely shocking, but necessary-no different than what I find everyday as I read the news or watch TV. This book was carefully written, with fantastic detail, vivid characters, and a story line that constantly kept me guessing. For me, the most significant aspect to the book was its honest portrayal of people seeking to reconcile the messiness of life with the realization of a powerful, loving God who is always there to help all people navigate through this journey of life.
_____________________________________________________
By Colin Ortstadt – Sonoma Sun 7-23-07
The first sentence of Anthony Barbera’s novel, The First Rains of October, reads like a Lee Child thriller. “When August St. Claire ran off that cliff she dropped like a rock,” the story begins. “True, she was running and her legs kept kicking in the air- but then gravity yanked on her ankles.” With pointed visual style and a fresh literary voice, Barbera’s novel is a sincere and thought provoking narrative. Set in rural Fallon County, a fictional space between Marin and Sonoma Counties, Barbera’s first-person narrative brings to mind the literary qualities of Steinbeck’s Salinas Valley. In Barbera’s book, the leaves of the eucalyptus flutter “like thousands of barbecued potato chips,” and the “quilt like sections of open grassland” loom in the periphery.
______________________________________________________
Pleasantly Overwhelmed! February 23, 2008
Santino Paige, Anchorage Alaska - Amazon Review
I have to say, ordering a new book from a fairly unknown author (especially Christian these days) can be somewhat risky and disappointing more times than not, but this book has given me a renewed trust in up and coming authors. A real spellbinding twister- yet thorough, comforting, and smoothly delivered at the same time. The story line is fantastic, never a dull moment to be found, and the language and description of the contrasted settings takes me back to Steinbeck in the Grapes of Wrath. Besides this, "The First Rains of October" was truly thought-provoking. It has the grit yet sensibility to push you to really explore the inner heart and spirituality of oneself. I can't wait for the next book from this author, if it's anything like this, it should be fantastic!
