This book starts with a girl on a bridge. A man has jumped. Stan and his wife, Karen, both in a drunken state, almost hit her, and in doing so, their lives change. They call Stan’s twin brother, Pickle, a policeman, to get them out of trouble. They take the girl, Junie, into their home. They try to stop drinking. Pickle decides to pursue a romance with Junie, even though she has just experienced a major trauma. It also contains an awkward love triangle. The characters’ backstories are imparted through flashbacks.

This story sets a new bar for unlikeable characters, though I did like the dog. I can deal with unlikeable characters if there is some underlying thought-provoking message, but I didn’t find such a message here. The usual contemporary sensationalistic themes are included: vulgarity, graphic sex, drugs, psychopathic behavior, infidelity, greed, control, abuse, and disturbing childhood memories. I usually like character studies, but this one tries to tackle too many dysfunctions, and, in the end, I didn’t feel did a good job with any of them. The attributes discussed in relation to suicide were particularly ill-informed and distasteful to me. It will likely engender strong feelings of either like or dislike.

I received an advance reader’s copy from the publisher via NetGalley. It is scheduled to be published on April 9, 2019. ( )

A lot can happen in five weeks - maybe not in Kansas, but certainly in New York City. This novel features four damaged characters, three of whom are narrators, and one dog called "THE Doodles". Two are married and while driving drunk, the husband almost runs over a woman whose boyfriend jumped from the George Washington Bridge, just missing pulling her over with him. The fourth character is a police officer specializing in suicides, who's also the identical twin brother of the impaired husband. No spoilers, but Junie, the woman who survives the suicide attempt, is possibly a visiting angel whose mission is to save the other three. Are they worth saving? Policeman Pickle and his twin's wife Karen are products of dementedly neglectful parents. Stan, the husband, has alarming OCD and is annoying and unkind. There's actually a fifth persona in the book, the most lovingly portrayed - New York City. The writer loves its skies, skyscrapers, mornings and twilights, moods, and even its outer borough of Queens. The descriptions of the settings and of the internal struggles of the four denizens are admirably formulated, and there's a satisfying ending to this uniquely Manhattan saga. ( )

Pickle’s Progress begins with a bang, a literal bang as Stan and Karen McArdle collide with the George Washington Bridge when startled by a young woman on the bridge. They call Stan’s brother Pickle, who conveniently for them, is a cop and practiced at getting them out of tickets. He lives nearby and is on the scene to keep his family safe from any breathalyzers. The young woman, Junie, explains that her boyfriend has just jumped to his death. Karen embraces the woman and installs her in their home as she recovers.

And so, with that bang, the four characters are introduced and three are established in the brownstone where Stan and Karne live, a brownstone that is half-owned by Pickle who is supposed to move into the upper two floors, but the renovations are constantly postponed and delayed. He is focused on getting that renovation done soon.

Stan’s injuries mean he is taking pain pills, so both he and Karen are trying sobriety – an unnatural state for both of them. Junie is depressed and lethargic and Karen and Pickle separately set themselves to getting to know her and help her get back on her feet. Stan finds her strangely calming.

The foursome continues to circle each other. We learn that their relationships are much more complicated than it appears on the surface. They also seem very unlikeable. Pickle seems most conflicted, wanting to love one woman and unable to stop loving another. Karen seems torn and Stan seems lost and befuddled.

The writing in Pickle’s Progress is sharp and witty. There are moments of truly incisive commentary, particularly from Pickle. However, some of their actions are inexplicable and when we learn the reasons behind their actions, they feel more like excuses than reasons. It’s true that over time I came to care a little more about them, but still found them unappealing. Much of what I dislike about the book is tied up in the denouement where Karen’s motives are revealed and there we are looking at a grand mess. Then, to make it worse, the epilogue that takes us three years into the future when Junie writes a letter showing how some of the mess was cleaned up without the story of how that happened. That story would have been more interesting.

Pickle’s Progress will be released on April 9th. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Pickle’s Progress at Central Avenue Publishing
Marcia Butler author site

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/04/03/9781771681544/ ( )

Ugh, so many unlikeable characters with ridiculous problems, issues and weird behavior. When I started the book I thought it had promise I just had no idea that the promise was going to be complete disbelief of what was going on. The dialog, the actions, the situations, everything was out of whack and strange, strange, strange. For all who choose to try this book fair warning, suspend belief in rational behavior.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing. ( )

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Pickles’s Progress” by Marcia Butler, Central Avenue Publishing, April 9, 2019

Marcia Butler, Author of “Pickle’s Progress” has written an unusual, unique perspective about life and love. The Genres of “Pickle’s Progress” are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Dry Wit, and some Satire. The story takes place mostly in the New York and surrounding areas. The author describes the four characters as complicated, complex, unlikable at times, dysfunctional, quirky, and strange. My favorite character is the dog.(the fifth character if that counts)

The characters are two identical twin brothers, Pickles and Stan and Stan’s wife and a young woman who has had a tragic loss. Stan and his wife are living in their part of a Brownstone house, that they purchased with Pickles. The grieving woman is living in Stan’s finished basement. Pickles want to have his part of the house finished so he can move in. The interaction between all of the characters is almost like a game of chess in certain ways. There are betrayals, unpredictable actions, and a twisted plot.

The ending is a big surprise! I appreciate that Marcia Butler has written a thought-provoking unique story about love and life . I would recommend this book for those readers who enjoy an unusual novel that leaves you thinking. ( )