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For the May Queen |  | Author: Kate Evans
Publisher: Vanilla Heart Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $13.45
as of 3/12/2010 22:23 CST details
You Save: $1.50 (10%)
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  reviews
Media: Paperback
Pages: 304
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 0.9
ISBN: 0982115075
EAN: 9780982115077
ASIN: 0982115075
Publication Date: September 20, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
It s 1981 and 17-year-old Norma Rogers' parents drop her off at the college dorms. Soon, Norma finds herself drunk and nearly naked with three strangers. The strip poker event is the first of many experiences that prompt Norma to question who she is and who she wants to be. Norma's relationships with an array of characters induce her to grapple with society's messages about women, sex, and freedom. These characters include Jack, her aloof on-again, off-again boyfriend; Goat, her antsy dorm neighbor; Liz Chan, a pot-smoking sorority girl; Benny Moss, a nerdy guy who has a thing for Liz; and Paul Fellows, Benny's roommate, whom Norma calls Chuck because he reminds her of Charlie Brown. Chuck, a witty aficionado of old films, plays a pivotal role in Norma's discoveries about life's possibilities, as does Norma's roommate Stacy a beautiful, kind, and somewhat mysterious blonde. Many tumultuous events take Norma through an array of troubles, pleasures, and thrills: from drug use and ominous encounters with strangers, to rowdy parties and road trips, to queer coming-out surprises. In the midst of these incidents which are peppered with 1970's and 1980's pop cultural references Norma reflects on her desire for freedom (sexual and otherwise). Reinforcing these themes are the intermittent appearances of her middle-class parents and her sister, as well as her best friend from high school whose life in a small town as she prepares for her upcoming wedding is poles apart from Norma s. Ultimately Norma comes to see that there are many ways to live and love.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Not my cup of tea February 14, 2010
Robin (Mesa, Az USA)
For The May Queen by Kate Evans
'It's 1981 and 17-year-old Norma Rogers' parents drop her off at the college dorms. Soon, Norma finds herself drunk and nearly naked with three strangers. The strip poker event is the first of many experiences that prompt Norma to question who she is - and who she wants to be.
Norma engages with an array of quirky characters: Jack, her aloof on-again, off-again boyfriend; Goat, her antsy dorm neighbor; Liz Chan, a pot-smoking sorority girl; Benny Moss, a nerdy guy who has a thing for Liz; Stacy, Norma's roommate, a beautiful, kind and mysterious blonde; and Chuck, a witty aficionado of old films, who plays a pivotal role in Norma's discoveries about life's possibilities.
Many tumultuous events take Norma on a journey of troubles, pleasures, and thrills, leading her to grapple with society's messages about women, sex and freedom.' (Summary from back cover.)
The writing was well done and the story moved along. I think it was the era of free sex, booze and drugs that was difficult for me to get through since I'm of an older generation. I found myself judging Norma's actions and not sympathizing with her much at all. Additionally, there was just a touch of gay/lesbian theme, and though seemingly critical to Norma's experiences, it just wasn't enough in my opinion to make it into the gay/lesbian genre.
**Remember - if you want your favorite authors to keep writing they have to be able to earn a living doing it, so, if possible, buy the book NEW to provide the author with royalties. If you're not going to keep it in your collection put it in the recycle bin to make another book.**
Wonderful coming-of-age novel April 13, 2009
Mr. Gary L. Shapiro (Aptos, ca USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Kate Evan's has crafted a first rate coming-of-age novel. Set in 1981, this story follows a young girl on a path that is at once familiar and surprising. Highly recccomended!
A deeply insightful personal journey April 2, 2009
Valerie Frankel (San Jose, CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Thrust into a world of dorm parties and unbridled liscence, Norma must look beneath the surface of others, and thus herself. Is she a high schoolish academic good girl? A college student who parties and gets wasted every night? Or does she have hidden talents beneath her multitude of surfaces? As she asks herself these questions, torn between her atraction to writing and the endless temptations surounding her, she learns to understand and love those around her, and thus, herself. A wonderful book for all those struggling to find their places in the world.
For The May Queen February 23, 2009
Cheryl Y. (Ca)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This Book was one of the best books I have read,I keeps you hooked, it is very hard to put down, Kate captures the 80's era perfectly, anyone who went to college in the 80's can relate. I would highly recommend this book! Cheryl Y.
 Alcohol. Drugs. Sex in the first chapter. February 22, 2009
Daisy L.
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It's hard to ask for more in a novel. Some of my favorite lines are:
-(Referring to musicals) "When a character broke out in song, you learned what was in her heart."
-"The first time and only time I took LSD, I thought I understood the meaning of the universe."
-"Love, Norma, who wants the moon."
Why do I like these lines? Why do they stick in my head? I feel that they encompass the way I feel about this book, that on the surface, you could argue that Evans is writing about shallow characters with only their own interests at heart, deliberately sabotaging their own bodies and their own futures with overdoses of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll. But Evans intermittently slams the readers with these poignant lines that let us see what's in her CHARACTERS' own hearts. They love. They lack. They lose. They yearn--to express themselves correctly though words, and for self-expression.
I am so interested in the polarities that Evans manages to weave into a seemingly simple story with an undercurrent of deeper meaning. Carefree college life is balanced with serious themes of identity, drugs, binge-drinking, sex, rape. Characters hiding their fears and sadness behind a facade of humor and nonchalance. Even prose balanced with music lyrics, which are so integral to setting the time for this novel.
And I love to take fun stabs at who Norma's "secret hater" can be. Is it Jack, the elusive boyfriend who can be a potential stalker? Stacy, her sweet roomie who may harbor a bipolar secret? Benny and/or Chuck, telling her what they truly think of her? Liz, as part of her sorority hazing requirements? Surely it can't be Billy, in vengeance for the VD accusation. Like any mystery, you've got to rule out the most obvious suspect . . . right?
It was a fun ride. I look forward to Evans's next publication.
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