Book Club Reporter Book Reviews

Ordinary Hazards Book Review

August 01, 2020 Laura Jay Season 2 Episode 21
Book Club Reporter Book Reviews
Ordinary Hazards Book Review
Show Notes Transcript

Anna Bruno’s debut novel, Ordinary Hazards, is a quietly stunning story. Bruno has penned this poignant story, not unlike a powerful train slowing down to go through a long dark tunnel. As this proverbial train moves slowing through the tunnel it eventually emerges on the other side. It is now free to continue its journey. Ordinary Hazards is the story of Emma, a successful businesswoman in New York City. Emma is on a lonely emotional journey. Her journey will take her back to a small town in upstate New York. It is the town where she met and married Lucas. I find myself wondering if Emma will make it through her own dark tunnel and emerge on the other side. 

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Ordinary Hazards Book Review 

 
Intro: Duration: (00:12)

Hello gentle readers. Welcome to Book Club Reporter Book Reviews Podcast. I’m your host and Book Club Reporter, Laura Jay. This season two, episode twenty-one. 

 

Book/Author: Duration (00:06)

Today I will share with you my book review of Ordinary Hazards by Anna Bruno

 

About Book Club Reporter: Duration: (00:18)

And before we get started, be sure to read all my book reviews, book news, book club reading lists and more at bookclubreporter.com. And you can follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Just take a look at the show notes for this podcast for all the info and links.

 

Invitation to Listen: (00:36)

But, right now I invite you to relax and enjoy my book review of: Ordinary Hazards by Anna Bruno 

 

Book Review (00:44) 

Anna Bruno’s debut novel, Ordinary Hazards, is a quietly stunning story. Bruno has penned this poignant story, not unlike a powerful train slowing down to go through a long dark tunnel. As this proverbial train moves slowing through the tunnel it eventually emerges on the other side. It is now free to continue its journey. Ordinary Hazards is the story of Emma, a successful businesswoman in New York City. Emma is on a lonely emotional journey. Her journey will take her back to a small town in upstate New York. It is the town where she met and married Lucas. I find myself wondering if Emma will make it through her own dark tunnel and emerge on the other side. 

 

 Book Review (01:35)

Most of this story takes place in the Final Final Bar. The name of the bar is appropriate as the regulars there have come to the place they need to be. They have come to the last place, the Final Final. Whether among friend or foe it does not matter. The Final Final is their second home. It’s the place they come to drink, to argue, and to…what?  Do they hypothesize about all things big and small? Or do they commiserate about how life can have an overwhelming capacity to go wrong? Or maybe they are at the Final Final to drown their sorrows, their hurts, and whatever else it is that brings them down in life. But this story is about Emma and Lucas. And we will hear it from Emma.

 

 Podcast Ad: Duration (01:15)

I’d like to take a short break here to tell my listeners how easy and fast I got started podcasting. If you’ve heard my Buzz Sprout podcasting ad before just go ahead and skip forward one minute and you’ll get right back to the review. So here’s how easy I got started podcasting. If my story helps others get started podcasting as fast and as easy as I did, well that’s just wonderful. 

Here’s my story in a nut shell. I did a little research on how to start a podcast. I came across Buzzsprout.com. Buzzsprout has an amazingly easy interface! I quickly found everything I needed to upload my audio recordings. And within a very short period of time, I found my podcast listed in major podcast directories. Now, I’m having fun turning my book reviews into podcasts.

Here’s more great news! Buzzsprout has come up with a great way for podcasters to monetize their podcasts. I’m doing it, and you can do it too! If you’ve been wanting to get into podcasting, here’s your chance. To help you get started I’ve placed a Buzzsprout link in the show notes of this podcast. And following the link in the show notes lets Buzzsprout know I sent you, gets you a twenty dollar gift card, if you sign up for a paid plan and helps you support my podcast show. Hey, okay, let’s get back to our show now.

 

 Book Review (03:40) 

Ordinary Hazards is an apt title for this heart-wrenchingly soulful story.  Bruno has expertly crafted an intelligent, insightful and engrossing story of love and of a prevailing sorrow. The Final Final is the very place that allows us to experience their moods, temperaments and mentalities. And as in most real life situations, that feels like an accurate depiction of not only the patrons who frequent the bar, but maybe of society itself.

 

 Book Review (04:12) 

There is one great tragedy in Ordinary Hazards, yet there are so many, dare I say, minor tragedies in everyone’s lives. But my use of the word “minor” seems like the wrong choice here. Why? Because, who can really understand the struggles of another? Who’s hurt is more significant? The truth, I fear, is that the answer is, no one.  And although there is one great tragedy in this story, can we really hope to separate it from those who are affected by it from those who are not? You see, there are many tragedies in this story. And yet, just as in real life, tragedies are everywhere we turn. 

 

Book Review (04:51) 

I don’t know if there is a moral to this story. If there is, then maybe it is that we all must make our own personal journey through life. And along our passage through life we may experience happiness, sorrow, love, hate, hope and hopelessness. And if we seek to make it through to the other side, maybe, just maybe, we can give and receive forgiveness. Maybe the answer might be just that simple, or it might be as tremendously difficult?

 

 Book Review (05:21) 

 Bravo Anna Bruno! You brought me to a dumpy bar at the end of town. You brought me to the Final Final. Then you made me think and you made me feel. And…you brought tears to my eyes. 

 

Thank You: (05:34)  

Thank you all for joining today for this book club reporter book review. If you would like more info about today’s book review or a copy of the book check the show notes for this podcast episode or simply visit BookClubReporter.com.

 

See You Next Time: (05:50)          

And don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast, because there are many more book reviews to come. 

 

What did you think? (05:57)          

And I’d love to know what you think about this book review or any other of my book reviews.

 

Follow Me (06:02)

You can follow me on Twitter and find me over there as jay_reporter . Again that is jay, j-a-y underline reporter. Hope to see you there.

 

See You Next Time: (06:14)          

See you next time.

 

 End of Episode: (6:18)