These were from Amazon but you can purchase it other places
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST READ!, February 5, 2015
By
This review is from: The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan (Paperback)
This is a fantastic read. The characters are
crazy, but in the best possible way. Gager has gone where few (if any)
authors have ever gone and created a lyrical comedy with writing that is
second to none. Simply put, this novel should be in every literature
lovers hands.
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5.0 out of 5 stars And like Jesus, viewed as crazy, December 11, 2014
This review is from: The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan (Paperback)
The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan tells
the story of the universal timeless human dilemma of how the
‘protagonist-ship’ of our own story must be relinquished knowingly or
not, voluntarily or not, to another in order to discover one’s true self
and desires…and all the failures, self-inadequacies, dreams, others and
innocent sacrifice it takes to get there. The clever and bold writing
of Tim Gager ingeniously takes you through it without even realizing it
using the normal lives of an intriguingly odd medley of
characters….sparing no pride or humiliation. Real life in all it’s
eccentric dimensions. Bill Sloan had to lose himself in tragic failure
to find himself…his true self. For me, as a Jesus lover, Kate and Ethan
combine to create the Savior Jesus image. And like Jesus, viewed as
crazy, wacky or out there, it is through their love and sacrifice that
real life comes. And to borrow the words of another playful poet...
“And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, they danced by the light of
the moon, the moon, the moon, they danced by the light of the moon.”
Well, it’s not sand or the moon or dancing…but it is hand in hand. Great
story, great characters, great writing and great wisdom! Thanks Tim!
Write more!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Get Your Psycho-Analysis Right Here!,
By
Tower (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan (Kindle Edition)
Timothy Gager achieves an incredible feat in
"The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan." The style and structure is
innovative and experimental, yet Gager somehow weaves together the lives
of this cast of misfits without ever losing the forward momentum of the
larger storyline. This is a brilliant story that dives deep into the
human condition. Reading this book will make you think everyone in the
world is simultaneously crazy and the most sane person you know. It's a
difficult read at times because of the non-linear structure, but it
rewards the patient reader. I strongly advise against reading a bunch of
other books while reading this one. It's meant to be taken in all at
once so you can get to know these characters and remember them well
along the journey.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun-Filled Zany Story, November 26, 2014
By
Jeffrey Miller (Daejeon South Korea) - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan (Kindle Edition)
Bill Sloan might be the world's worst
psychologist, but don't tell him about it. He's got enough on his plate
dealing with his own anxieties and inadequacies let alone the problems
of others in Timothy Gager's fun-filled, zany story, The Thursday
Appointments of Bill Sloan.
Gager is brilliant the way he sets up this novel and weaves the characters in and out of the story, which, as one can guess from the title, starts with the appointments that he has on Thursday. However, that's just the beginning. With multiple perspectives, Sloan's inner thoughts, and plenty of dark comedy thrown in for good measure, the story of Sloan and his patients is also a mosaic, as one reviewer has already pointed out, of humanity's messiest moments. And when Sloan ends up on his own television show (which might remind one of what happened to Howard Beale in the 1976 classic film, Network, when the newscaster got his own special show) anything can happen.
Interestingly, television does play a big part in the story, whether it's references to individual shows--Sonny and Cher/Sunny and Share (love it!)--or the way that television has impacted our lives (with a nod to Marshall Mcluhan) there's no doubt that Gager drew upon his own television upbringing to provide readers with some of the book's more brilliant moments.
Sloan might not be able to fix all his patient's problems, but does give it his best shot for better or worse. It's as though Gager has held up a mirror to the world and through the eyes of Sloan and his patients, we also see the world for what it is, which might not always be to our liking. We might cringe as readers when we see that way that Sloan treats his patients, but it's only because we cringe at what we know what is the truth in the sometimes disturbing, twisted world we live in now, or as Shakespeare wrote, "there's a method to the madness."
Jeffrey Miller,
Ice Cream Headache
Gager is brilliant the way he sets up this novel and weaves the characters in and out of the story, which, as one can guess from the title, starts with the appointments that he has on Thursday. However, that's just the beginning. With multiple perspectives, Sloan's inner thoughts, and plenty of dark comedy thrown in for good measure, the story of Sloan and his patients is also a mosaic, as one reviewer has already pointed out, of humanity's messiest moments. And when Sloan ends up on his own television show (which might remind one of what happened to Howard Beale in the 1976 classic film, Network, when the newscaster got his own special show) anything can happen.
Interestingly, television does play a big part in the story, whether it's references to individual shows--Sonny and Cher/Sunny and Share (love it!)--or the way that television has impacted our lives (with a nod to Marshall Mcluhan) there's no doubt that Gager drew upon his own television upbringing to provide readers with some of the book's more brilliant moments.
Sloan might not be able to fix all his patient's problems, but does give it his best shot for better or worse. It's as though Gager has held up a mirror to the world and through the eyes of Sloan and his patients, we also see the world for what it is, which might not always be to our liking. We might cringe as readers when we see that way that Sloan treats his patients, but it's only because we cringe at what we know what is the truth in the sometimes disturbing, twisted world we live in now, or as Shakespeare wrote, "there's a method to the madness."
Jeffrey Miller,
Ice Cream Headache
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5.0 out of 5 stars Do read this book!,
By
Marie A.
This review is from: The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan (Paperback)
Timothy Gager's new novel captures the absurd,
the funny, the zany, and the deeply sad -- while still managing to leave
readers with a hint of groundedness.
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5.0 out of 5 stars You'll love this one!,
By
RLS (Newton, MA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan (Paperback)
A pop-culture romp through the bizarre mind of
Bill Sloan... Gager, an accomplished poet, has proven himself to be a
fine novelist too! Hope to see more novels from him!!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Tim Gager's new book is complicated, intricate, and unexpected--much like life itself.,
This review is from: The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan (Paperback)
An old joke goes something like this: Somewhere
out there is the world's worst doctor--and someone has an appointment
with him in ten minutes.
Tim Gager's new book The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan is a fantastic take on the idea of the world's worst psychologist, Bill Sloan, a therapist with delusions of adequacy. The novel's unique structure skillfully combines psychological intake notes, unguarded inner reflections, and straightforward narrative to create a mosaic of humanity at its messiest and most fully human. I wouldn't necessarily recommend seeking counseling from Bill Sloan, but I definitely recommend spending an hour each Thursday with Gager's terrific book--although I'm sure you'll want to extend those reading appointments.
Tim Gager's new book The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan is a fantastic take on the idea of the world's worst psychologist, Bill Sloan, a therapist with delusions of adequacy. The novel's unique structure skillfully combines psychological intake notes, unguarded inner reflections, and straightforward narrative to create a mosaic of humanity at its messiest and most fully human. I wouldn't necessarily recommend seeking counseling from Bill Sloan, but I definitely recommend spending an hour each Thursday with Gager's terrific book--although I'm sure you'll want to extend those reading appointments.
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4.0 out of 5 stars but I think that fans of experimental fiction will really enjoy the unique structure and insane characters (literally) that Gage,
This review is from: The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan (Paperback)
The Thursday Appointments... is a crazy book
about crazy people. It wasn't really my type of book, but I think that
fans of experimental fiction will really enjoy the unique structure and
insane characters (literally) that Gager brings to light in his novel.
Gager took some risks here and his writing rings with a certain
desperate truth- though the book is clearly rooted in dark humor, an
earnestness hovers just below the surface and keeps the story from being
overwhelmed by its outlandish characters. Readers who are looking for
something different and surprising will definitely enjoy this book.
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5.0 out of 5 stars This book is such a fun romp that it's easy to overlook just how good the writing is.,
By
This review is from: The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan (Paperback)
This book is such a fun romp that it's easy to
overlook just how good the writing is. Gager weaves an impressive amount
of highly developed, individualized characters into a gripping and
entertaining storyline effortlessly, but the reading is so enjoyable
that I only realized that going back to think about it. I just chewed
right through, loving every minute. I've been a fan of Gager's writing
for a while, but I think this is really some of his best work.
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3.0 out of 5 stars Trying to understand this one, September 4, 2014
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
I don't know who Bill Sloan is and neither does
he. What a cluster of insanity this book is. Frankly, it looks as though
someone took a bunch of weird characters and strung them together to
print something. I really did not understand a great deal of the book,
the characters and the point. I had to slog through a lot of it. There
is very little character development and you really don't get a good
grasp before they start interlocking. The concept of the book is very
good, though.
5.0 out of 5 stars Make an appointment with Tim Gager,
By
This review is from: The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan (Paperback)
A totally engaging novel. Highly entertaining.
Wonderfully ironic and witty. Gager writes with consummate awareness of
the human condition––in all its bizarre manifestations.
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