From the first time I read Phil Taylor’s blog, I instantly knew this was a blogger I wanted to follow. Phil has a fresh and accessible voice and his sense of humor is both witty and familiar.
Thanks to Phil’s brilliant marketing tactics, I was quickly made aware of the fact that Phil has written a couple of novels (all available on Amazon) one of which is “The Sneaker Tree.”
My first thoughts on finding this out was, yes please, I would like to read this book. But being that I am a typical New Yorker, I was also skeptical. After all, writing a blog is one thing, but writing a book is something completely different. Would it be any good? And what would it be like? Judging from Phil’s blog, I could only imagine that it would read like a very long episode of Seinfeld (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Anyway, I must say I was pleasantly surprised.
At it’s inception, The Sneaker Tree is a first person narrative, coming of age book of boyhood (think ‘Christmas Story’) that quickly takes a dark turn (think ‘Lord of the Flies’). From there, the story morphs into an edge of your seat thriller which manages to incorporate suspense and fantasy without alienating the reader, and maintaining that fresh, accessible voice and sense of humor we have all come to know and love. The Sneaker Tree not only conjures up comparisons to the classics above, but is also reminiscent of, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and ‘Stand By Me’.
On a personal note, I think all Gen-Xers will appreciate the childhood references, and…C.H.U.D. Phil, really? I don’t know if it’s scarier for me to think about how many hours of Googling it took for you to scare that one up or how fresh in your mind it was. Never thought I’d hear that one again.
In summation, ‘The Sneaker Tree’ was a delight to read and very well worth the money. I highly recommend it for adults and young adults as well.
Glorious Results Of A Misspent Youth 
Aww…thanks Marissa. Thank you for your kind words and for giving my book a chance.
LOL I loved your use of “not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
You’re very welcome Phil. It was my pleasure to read it.
I think you hit a buesllye there fellas!
Thank you!
BTW, I didn’t know you were a New Yorker. What part?
Actually I should have said native New Yorker since I live in L.A. now but will always consider myself very much a New Yorker…anyway, I was born and raised in Brooklyn and then moved to Manhattan before coming out here. Are you NY/East Coast too?
I’m in upstate NY.
yep, def get east coast vibe off you. I think that’s why I find your blog so relatable. Keep rockin!
Thanks for introducing me to Phil’s blog Marissa!
Oh awesome Sean!
Reblogged this on The Phil Factor and commented:
Thank you to Marissa Bergen for reading and reviewing my book!
Thanks for reblogging!