Review of Remembering Gator

[Cynthia Pence]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Remembering Gator" by John W. Roberts.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Remembering Gator by John W. Roberts tells the story of Gator, usually called Edward Lewis—a strong, charismatic, and athletic figure who often gets into trouble but is deeply protective of his family—and his younger brother, Beau, based on the theme of family complexity developed in the aspect of the death of Gator. The narrative alternates between the past and the present, wherein Beau recalls his tragic history with Gator, a brave man who is quite reckless in behavior for the more bookish Beau. In this novel, Beau suffers from loss, has a mental journey of his childhood, and thinks about the family and especially the feeling of being Gator’s brother. Lynn, their sister, also has an important function in contributing to the cast of familial relationships. The subject matter of the novel could be fairly generalized as experiencing the loss of a loved one and subsequent changes that occur in the lives of the remaining people.

I was touched by the content of Remembering Gator. The conflict between the siblings and particularly Beau’s character is depicted in a very truthful manner that is true to life. Back-and-forth changes between Beau’s flashbacks and the present were done smoothly, thereby building up feelings of nostalgia and reflection without becoming cloying. In the writing of the story, it is remarkable how the author vividly characterizes Gator and the contrasting shades of Beau. I was most fascinated with how Roberts shares grief as not just a single occurrence but as a process. The narrative was occasionally slow, but this might be aligned with grieving or perhaps the process of reflection, which both are well presented in the story and therefore emotional and profound.

Overall, I don't have anything to dislike in this book, and I’ll rate it 5 out of 5 stars. In editing, it is exceptionally well edited, as I did not find a grammar error in it. Roberts’ writing style is both accessible and evocative, making the themes of loss and legacy resonate on a personal level. The novel’s emotional core and authentic portrayal of sibling relationships kept me engaged until the end. Remembering Gator will be best suited for those who are interested in character development and family drama with elements of grieving and loss and longing for searching for identity. Especially, it will captivate those people who are keen on contemplative and philosophical stories, as well as those who love to read stories related to the friendship between the brothers and sisters.

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Remembering Gator
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[Lawrence Stein]

This story seems to be emotionally engaging with the story's plot. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Nneka Bridget]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on "Remembering Gator". It sounds like a deeply emotional story with rich character development. I appreciate how you highlighted the themes of grief and family dynamics. Your review makes me curious to read the book!

[Steeve Bowen]

It is remarkable that Remembering Gator is a story that builds up feelings of nostalgia and reflection without becoming cloying. Familial relationships can be very complex as seen in the case of Beau and his siblings. It can also be very difficult to endure the pain of losing a sibling let alone the one that is quite protective of the family.