Review of Lights Out Lizzie

[Sandra Engelmeyer]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Lights Out Lizzie" by James Hanna.]

---

3 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Lights out Lizzie by James Hanna is a light-hearted, entertaining read.

Gertie McDowell, a ditzy young-twenties woman is fresh out of a prison stint when her prison “mother” convinces her to join the Christian Ladies of Wrestling. Armed with a new occupation, she sets off to wrestle in the name of Christ. As her fame grows, she is sent to Afghanistan to boost the morale of the troops as her wrestling persona of Lights Out Lizzie. Her bumbling, short-mindedness catches up with her as she winds up in a dangerous situation and in a fight for her very life. This story is technically a squeal to The Ping-Pong Champion of Chinatown but can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.

Hanna does a great job of putting the reader within the mindset of the main character by fully embracing her quirky dialogue. It was easy to imagine Gertie sitting across the table from you telling the story herself. That said, the dialogue used was wearing at times, but this is a personal preference, and other readers may enjoy the manner in which the main character speaks.

The story was clearly meant to be light-hearted and entertaining. However, the manner in which the main character spoke and portrayed some of the other characters, events, and Afghanistan culture could be a sore spot depending on the reader. There were a few spots where the main character had rather graphic, sexual thoughts that seemed rather out of place with the rest of her character. Other potential warnings for readers: kidnapping, graphic language, corporal punishment, and discussion of assault.

Overall, it was a rather humorous read, at least starting out. As the story progressed, I grew rather tired of the main character’s form of narrating. Coupled with poking fun at some serious events wore down the entertainment value for me. I rate this book three out of five stars.

******
Lights Out Lizzie
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon