Title: Outside InAuthor: Doug Cooper
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
Published Date: August 13, 2013
Buy on Amazon: Kindle & Paperback
Author Website: http://www.bycooper.com/blog/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/trubelo/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ByCooper
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ByCoop
Synopsis:
From Memorial Day until the student workers and tourists leave in the
fall, the island community of Put-In-Bay, Ohio, thrives on alcohol,
drugs, sexual experimentation, and any other means of forgetting
responsibilities. To Brad Shepherd--recently forced out of his job as a
junior high math teacher after the overdose death of a student--it's
exactly the kind of place he's looking for.
Allured by the comfort and acceptance of the hedonistic atmosphere, Brad trades his academic responsibilities and sense of obligation for a bouncer's flashlight and a pursuit of the endless summer. With Cinch Stevens, his new best friend and local drug dealer, at his side, Brad becomes lost in a haze of excess and instant gratification filled with romantic conquests, late-night excursions to special island hideaways, and a growing drug habit. Not even the hope from a blossoming relationship with Astrid, a bold and radiant Norwegian waitress, nor the mentoring from a mysterious mandolin player named Caldwell is enough to pull him out of his downward spiral. But as Labor Day approaches, the grim reality of his empty quest consumes him. With nowhere left to run or hide, Brad must accept that identity cannot be found or fabricated, but emerges from within when one has the courage to let go.
My Thoughts:
Outside In, by Doug Cooper, is a novel
set in a very familiar place to me. Growing
up in Ohio, Put-in-Bay has always been a well-known destination that is
known for its crazy days and even wilder nights. Cooper had it right when he mentioned that once
you step onto the island you forget that you're in Ohio. You really feel like you are on an isolated
island where the sky is the limit.
Put-in-Bay is a very touristy location and Outside In describes it perfectly.
Brad fled to Put-in-Bay after he went through a very traumatic
experience. In his ‘old’ life he was a Math teacher and he
seemed to enjoy his job and the kids he taught.
However, when a student in his classroom dies of a drug overdose he
blames himself for not doing enough. Should
he have gotten the nurse sooner? Did he
ignore the signs of trouble? Could he
have done more? After it is evident that
his administration is not behind him, Brad makes the decision to leave teaching
in order to find himself. Living in St.
Louis, Brad had never heard of Put-in-Bay; however after becoming friendly with a band he
decides to follow them to the island for the summer.
Having been to Put-in-Bay several times myself, I could easily
picture the places that Cooper wrote about. Put-in-Bay really is a beautiful
location. Once you step onto the ferry and leave the mainland behind a new
attitude comes over you. Your every day
stresses and worries vanish as you look forward to all of the fun that is about
to be had. The only way on and off of the island is the ferry or Jet
Express. There is also an airport that
is used for emergencies and other island needs.
There are not many cars on the island; you get around by walking,
biking, or driving golf carts.
Cooper hit the nail on the head when he wrote about the excessive
partying. The streets are lined with bar
after bar and you can literally step out of your hotel room or cabin at any
point and find people drinking. ‘It's 5
o'clock Somewhere’ is definitely the slogan on Put-in-Bay. People flock to the island to celebrate birthdays,
anniversaries, weddings, or to throw bachelor or bachelorette parties. It is also a getaway for those that have a weekend
off in the summer.
It is on Put-in-Bay that Brad goes through some major changes. In his old life Brad would drink every now
and then but he remained in control and responsible. However, in his new life readers find Brad
piling cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms, pot, and alcohol into his body 24/7. He definitely enters a party hard stage to try
and forget his past. He doesn't want to think
about what he is going to do next with his life. Throughout Outside In, Brad is on a journey of self-discovery. While he goes through many struggles, at the
end of the book Brad believes he has discovered who he is.
Before reading Outside In
I had never given much thought about the island workers or their lives and where
they lived. However, reading this book has
really given me a whole new appreciation of who resides on Put-in-Bay. I could
definitely see the party atmosphere growing old very quickly. In the novel,
Cooper says that four months on the island equals a year of living. This makes
total sense to me and is easily seen as the characters in Outside In party to oblivion.
I really enjoyed Doug Cooper’s Outside In. The characters
were well-developed and Put-in-Bay was described masterfully. Cooper painted real places like the Roundhouse,
Boardwalk, and winery perfectly. I could
truly see each and every place as Brad and his friends visited each. If you are looking for a coming of age story
to read this summer then Outside In
is for you.
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| Doug Cooper |
*I have been provided a complimentary copy of the book, Outside In, for the purpose of review.*
