Mitchell Maxwell

This coming of age story sounded a lot like someone looking back on the development of their theater career as they wished it had occured. During the 100 days of a New England coastal summer, insurmountable challenges were quickly resolved with a left hook or a song. Fresh out of college, the characters are working hard and playing hard. They're inspired by the vision and drive of a young graduate with more chutzpah than is warranted. It's a light story perfect for a summer's day at the beach or that weekend at the cottage. There was enough detail about the theater mechanics and interpersonal relations within a theater troupe to be instructive without delving in too deeply technically. The constant thread of youthful sexuality made the troupe sound like a bunch of rabbits. (Personally, the inaccurate references to Plymouth, MA being on the cape were rather annoying.)… (mehr)

This work is full of drama and excitement, it was a good read though the pace for me was slow. But in the business of show business you have to finish big, keep them coming back for more and this book is full of life lessons. It's about young Sam August becoming a man and pursuing his dreams and in the process teaching others how to do the same. He is great character with a quick temper, but a big heart and passion. It is that passion that gives him a hot head but also brings about his growth, as he comes to realize to think before he reacts to a situation regardless if he feels it is right, and for the good of everyone involved. He has some interesting antagonists in Dr. Barrows and his precocious wife Lizzy Barrows who are out to kill his dream with their corruption and deceit. Now, it's not all seriousness and there times I giggled from the humor that Maxwell so craftily weaved within the text. My favorite scene has something to do raccoons, and that is all I'm going to say...there are other moments that made me laugh but that one truly stands out. This book is full of very colorful characters that each have a different level of depth, and circumstances. Overall, a good read about growing up, overcoming obstacles and following your dreams.


Note: This book contains some sexual content, drugs, violence and profanity.… (mehr)

When the publicist offered Little Did I Know from a Tony Award-winning producer and director Mitchell Maxwell I was immediately intrigued. My background is in musical theatre and I've been out of the loop for a while and I thought this would be a good way to revisit. What I found instead was a romanticized reminiscence of summer stock theatre complete with drugs and salacious behavior. It hit all the cliches, which was sort of disappointing. I wasn't expecting a tell-all, but was hoping, perhaps, for a little more realism. There were lots of twists and turns to the story but everything was resolved with ease and dramatic flare... like a plot straight out of a musical.

Mr. Maxwell tends to wax poetic from time to time, but it is easy to overlook because he has a smooth style with good pacing. It took me a little while to appreciate his main character of Sam August, though. Sam appraises the physical appearance and sexual appeal of every female he meets and if it weren't for Sam's strength of character, he would not be a very likable protagonist. However, when push comes to shove, Sam makes the right decisions. I wanted to see him in the gruel of production and rehearsal, though. For a story about a director, Little Did I Know has very few scenes where we actually see Sam directing instead of just managing and galavanting. There is only scene in the book where it is visited and then it is only because the cast starting to ignore his direction, but it would have been more powerful if the reader had actually been through some of the rehearsals. As for Sam's relationship, it is predictable but a little less than realistic.

Don't get me wrong, it's characters were interesting and the story kept me engaged. It was a quick, feel-good read, it just fell short of my expectations.

http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/2011/10/jenns-review-little-did-i-know.html… (mehr)

Description:
Written by award-winning Broadway director and producer Mitchell Maxwell, Little Did I Know is a first-time novel loosely based on Maxwell's early career. After college, in the summer of 1976, Sam August travels to Plymouth, Massachusetts to follow his dream of directing musicals out of an old theater. Little does he know, that putting on a show and running a business can be a crazy ordeal, filled with unexpected twists and turns - just like life. Not only does he have to deal with living in the 70's, but also with new relationships, business propositions, bills, schedules, rehearsals, love, and a couple of mischievous raccoons. Will his plans succeed? Or will they be crushed by reality? Either way, it will be a summer he won't soon forget.

Review:
First-off, I have to say that I am a fan of Broadway plays and musicals, so once I heard about this book, I had to jump on the chance to read it. For a first novel, Mitchell Maxwell does an amazing job with his characters and level of detail. By the end of chapter ten, (the chapters are the perfect short-length), I had a pretty good idea who everyone was, what everything looked like, and how everyone acted. His characters are very well-developed, and the dialogue isn't stressed; but I wish that there wouldn't have been as many 70's cliches involved. I found most of the novel very entertaining, but for a book about Sam's dream of directing, the reader never really sees a full rehearsal. Overall, I loved the plot, (although predictable in some spots), and the humorous twists and turns kept my nose in the book. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys an entertaining read about life's quirks; and any fans of GLEE.

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this ARC from Book Trib, (Prospecta Press), in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.… (mehr)