Turntable
The second novel by James L. Peters
A modern day Arthurian tale unfolding around pizza, railroad history, labor unions and a failing garage band.
Grady Barden is tired of working at Pizza Del Reino, but as much as he believes there's something bigger waiting for him, he's also beginning to accept that it won't be his band. He has been questing for an answer or sign for many years, but these 'Grailings' he ventures out on with his best friend Lane and cousin Dwayne haven't turned up any obvious clues.
When his father decides to buy the pizza place to rebuild a family heritage lost to the failure of the Wisconsin railroads, Grady is squeezed between the responsibility of family and his own desperation to break free from his stagnant life. Grady will find guidance from the curmudgeonly half-Lakota Indian, Merle, and the alluring but acerbic labor council secretary, Gwen, but ultimately, he will be left to face his hardest challenges on his own.
Turntable Reviews
“
James L Peters strikes a comfortable balance between delivering intelligent wit and an engaging first-person narrative in Turntable. I knew nothing of how strong America's railroad legacy was, for better or for worse, among families with a stake in it generations later. Turntable is a character-driven novel and the arc is less about the plot and more about the choices we all have to face at some point or another … I loved the novel though and found the writing to be tight, completely entertaining, and wholly plausible. Very highly recommended.”
~ Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
“
A masterfully crafted story, told by a thought-provoking story teller. No bells and whistles. Just a great, riveting tale that sucks you in. Raw and real. I couldn't put it down! I had it done in three days.”
~ Timothy F.
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A gripping and deep read! I didn’t know what to expect when picking up this book. But once I did I finished it in two days. The story is compelling and relatable. The characters are nuanced and interesting. All in all this was a spectacular book.”
~ Michael H.
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Once I started, I couldn't put it down. The characters were memorable and had distinct voices. The plot line of this book held my attention and was unique. James L. Peters has a consistent, lyrical writing style that flows well. This book will stay with me for a long time. After finishing, I can’t stop thinking about it.”
~ Erin S.
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I could relate to almost all the characters in this extraordinary well written story. Could not put it down once began, and felt I knew all the characters intimately by the conclusion.”
~ Reader
“
Once I started, I couldn't put this book down! You can't help but feel a connection to all of the characters. I found myself happy, sad, and angry as I followed the characters through this story. You can't help but love them all. This is a great book that I highly recommend.”
~ Elisia G.