Paradise Salvage

By: John Fusco

Narrated by: Brian Emerson

Length: 14 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

In his tantalizing debut novel, Paradise Salvage, at once a taut thriller and a lyrical coming-of-age story, John Fusco marvelously traces the unforgettable trajectory of 12-year-old Nunzio Paradiso's last summer of innocence.

Each new wreck towed into Paradise Salvage is a desultory gift from Fortune, a random opportunity for discovery. Sometimes it's a handful of loose change under the upholstery or an old copy of Vue magazine with a Betty Page centerfold under the front seat. But on a hot summer day in 1979, in the trunk of an abandoned Pontiac Bonneville, Nunzio uncovers a secret that will change his life.

In the blink of an eye, all evidence is lost to the crusher, and only his older brother Danny Boy believes Nunzio's story. Enlisting the help of his father's renegade cousin, an ex-cop with a dark history of his own, they embark on a bizarre and dangerous journey that proves to be as much one of personal discovery as an unraveling of the mystery behind the corpse at Paradise Salvage.

A story of innocence lost and justice found, of ambition frustrated and dreams realized, and the difference between generations of a family struggling to reconcile the traditions of the past with the demands of the present, Paradise Salvage glows with heart and marks the debut of a gifted storyteller.

©2002 John Fusco

Critic reviews

"The story...brims with suspense, adventure, and Italian-American culture." (AudioFile)

Well Read!

Very engaging story. The characters just come to life as the book is read and you feel as though you are there with them! I wish there was a follow up book so I could continue to experience the family's life and adventures.

terrific

Well done by both the author and narrator. The predominantly Italian community in which the story takes place and the often idiosyncratic characters are so well developed that you can really picture the setting as a real place, in a real time. Highly recommend.

Paradise Salvage

I loved this book. It was a great 'coming-of-age' story which put me in mind of Stephen King's Stand By Me. The story had plenty of twists and turns and a believable cast of characters. I'll look forward to more great books from this author.

Paradise Salvage

This book was a wonderful story and I did not want it to end, but the ending was complete and satisfying. My only complaint was that the narrator did not have a Scottish brogue, but rather an Irish brogue. My Mother is Scottish and the wrong brogue was distracting to me.

A must listen

Psychologists that study laughing generally assert that laughing is a response to social situations. This means that normally people only laugh when they are around other people. So if an audiobook can make you laugh out loud whilst you listen to it by yourself there is something truly humorous in its content. Some of the anecdotes in this book had me laughing out loud. I hope you find it as hilarious as I did. This is why the book is a must listen. It is also a good coming of age story.

Diamond in the Ruff

I purchased this audiobook because it was on sale and had a few good reviews.

What a pleasant surprise! This is a terriffic audiobook!

The author weaves a good story with a great snapshot of Americana.

It's not going to be a classic, nor is it my favorite, but I teetered between a 4 and 5 star rating and gave the nod to the 5 star rating as the overall package here is very good.

Highly recommended...

enjoyable story

This was a clever story that was well read and enjoyable. There were some zanny characters that make you smile and enough suspense to hold your interest. I think it would be especially appealing to anyone with some Italian in their blood.

Who thought junk could be so endearing?!

Hard to call a book with "salvage" in the title sweet, but this book is just that. It is a summer in the life of a twelve year old boy, his first spent working in the family business, and a coming of age tale to be sure. It could be set in any of thousands of communities, so can speak to many kinds and ages of people. Odd ball characters who do the strangest and funniest things, relatives you'll both know and wish you could have dinner with on Sundays, and a lovely growth in the relationship between two brothers. This is NO junkyard book. A recommended read.

very entertaining!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The narrator enriched the story with his use of accents. Highly recommend it.

Can't wait for the movie.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were great--I think the cast from the Sopranos would be perfect for some of these roles if there is ever a movie version. There is humor, intrigue, sweetness and action--something for everyone. Even the ending is satisfying, which is rare in many books. The reader was able to capture the different voices of the characters with grace and style. Try it, you'll like it.