Saving Bob

This is great fun and, in its comic way, mimics quite accurately the creative process of making up a story. The characters, although fictional, leap off the page at some point; at others they arrive unannounced and have to be accounted for. Delightful. Lots of stars cast into the forest, which will help to illuminate the way, I hope.
CJ Bowness

As silly and charming as one of the best of Garrison Keillor's skits. As I read it, I could hear his voice in my head, with Sue Scott as Francine, of course. The only thing missing was the Powdermilk Biscuit jingle. Very clever. High Stars from the land of Lake Woebegon 'where all the women are strong, the men are good looking and the children above average.' :)

Kathy

Saving Bob is funny, surreal and also a bit mad. Chapter four made me smile and I had images of The Rocky Horror show when Bob, Jed and Francine arrived at the house. Good job! I will read more soon.
Michelle

This just makes me giggle all the time. Surreal humour. Love the dialogue between Jed and Francine, 'Could I play the part of a woman on a couch reading Cosmopolitan magazine?' Very Muriel Sparkish idea having your real characters and fictional ones interacting.

This made me laugh and I wish I had the time to read more. My plan is to read 10 books today and this is an excellent start. Well done..

In order to put my own thoughts in order and provide meaningful feedback, I have decided to structure my comments as follows.
1. Cover Design *****
Very interesting cover that matches and gives a good glimpse into the content

2. Short and Long Pitches ***
Somewhat intriguing but not compelling. It is written in the same manner as the book but may not draw the prospective reader in.

3. Content ***
It flows quite well and could never be considered boring but seems a little manic at times. I read 6 or 7 chapters and then found my attention wandering.

4. Readability *****
Very easy to read, language is not pretentious or cumbersome. Some might find it a little too 'light'

5. Spelling and grammar *****
Although I do not pretend to be a copywriter or editor, I came across no glaring misspellings or grammar snafus.

6. Overall rating ****
This was a very unique idea for a story. I suspect people will generally either love it or hate it. If it were a book and I had selected it to read, I would almost certainly read to the end - I often do not. Since I have space on my bookshelf, I will back it.

hth

Roy

Fantastic! Could not stop reading. What a wonderfully clever idea. This is top drawer. Sadly, I started reading it as a return read (unasked) at 5 am (its now 5.27) and as the morning hours are ONLY for writing and nothing else (because it is the only time my mind is clear of STUFF), I forced myself to STOP and do my own writing.
So, Jed, I mean this. I will read the rest. You have six stars and as I only did my bookcase yesterday and people won't have got the benefit yet, your's will DEFINITELY go up there next shuffle. I've written you down so as not to forget. If I do, give me a big shove. Thank you for your backing and review; it means so much when you know its from such a brilliant writer. Oh, only one thing stopped the flow, the unnecessary words, 'a sure sign she was becoming impatient.' Just 'drumming her fingers' was enough and stronger, I think.
Andrea

Saving Bob - I loved it!!! oh my gosh I couldn't help but keep reading with chuckle after chuckle...it's hysterical...Good Job!!!!

I have just finished your book. It is a nice read. I look forward to the further adventures of Handsome Bob and the princess and the goat and the unicorn and the sheep.
I was worried you wouldn't be able to maintain the humour for the whole thing but you carried it to completion. Well done.

I just had to back this book. What he did with the "ancient looking scroll' was great. It sucked me right in. Good start.
By the way, did you mean "The Joy of Sex"?

I read it all and I sort of suspect it's halfway a true story. It takes talent to dabble in the absurd this way... and you've done it with such flair!

I read all of it without reading the pitch or checking the comments - imagine my surprise at how silly this book is. Silly and engaging and also very hard to take seriously - but all in a good way.

So - here goes:

Part 1: Flew by in a blur of very believable dialogue and before I knew it I was already hanging out in Part Two.
Part 2: "Could I play the part of a woman sitting on a couch. . . " sounds very much like something my husband would say if I were trying to get him involved in my writing - and it made me chuckle.
Part 3: Somehow Jed went from telling the story to being part of the story, drawing the reader in - this was a very good transition.
Part 4: More prose is now peppered into the witty dialogue - I noticed here that we don't know what any of the characters look like - not sure if it matters or not, just an observation. This is very much Alice in the Rabbit Hole odd, but I liked it.
Part 5: and with a flick of your fingers we're back to Jed telling the story to Frankie, the two them once again onlookers to Bob's story. Neat trick.
Part 6: Slipping into the fairy tale
Part 7: This chapter isn't quite as smooth as the beginning. The prose seems a bit stilted in a some parts. The paragraph starting "This is too much malarky . . . " had me questioning POV - I know Jed is still telling the story, but it the narrative voice shifted a bit.
Part 8: "blabbermouth of the fingers" - very funny - had me laughing out loud and my kids running to see what the fuss was about.
Parts 9, 10, 11 - read well - and I really have nothing more to add.

Thank you for the very pleasant and expected hilarity of this book.

Jenny

This has to be the strangest structured book I've ever read on this site. It reminded me of The Princess bride.

Going to back it for a while to see where it goes on this site and good luck with it.

Jess

This is silly, but I like silly. An amusing, light romp. Good luck with this!
--Tod
http://authonomy.com/books/40646/the-lost-wink/

Jed,
This is whacko but fun. Managed the first three chapters and it's just getting sillier. What a neat brain you have.
Like the cover. Pitch was okay. Writing smooth and polished, did not catch any errors. Story is tracking well so I guess that means it's well plotted. Pacing is good. High stars.
Good luck on your writing,
Janet
The Milche Bride
Clarissa's Kitchen

Jed,
This is whacko but fun. Managed the first three chapters and it's just getting sillier. What a neat brain you have.
Like the cover. Pitch was okay. Writing smooth and polished, did not catch any errors. Story is tracking well so I guess that means it's well plotted. Pacing is good. High stars.
Good luck on your writing,
Janet
The Milche Bride
Clarissa's Kitchen

Hi Jed!
I just finished saving Bob - Can I have a part in this Broadway production? If Frankie needs a stand in, I am willing!
Too funny! I loved it all except for the mosquitos.
I only noticed one small error - in CH10 there is a paragraph that should start with I feel like... but it says I feet like...
Thank you for sharing your humor!
High stars!
Mindy