Strutting and Fretting Paperback – Import, 4 August 2017

Strutting and Fretting by Kevin McKeon it is a very well-constructed novel about a young man that has many insecurities and the need for constant approval. The story is told by the main character Bob and all the thinking process he does over everything in his life, is like being inside the character all the time the plot lasts. Is amazing how the author is able to recreate the mind of the character, characterizing perfectly well his psychologic state, the reactions, and actions of what the mind has said to him! The book is well written, has a steady pace, and a very entertaining description of the main character, the plot is enjoyable and the time set is perfect. Rarely I find a book that I enjoy all of its aspects, like this one. This is a book that everybody can enjoy and pass an excellent time while reading it.

This was an interesting look into the fictional life of a young actor trying to make his way in the world after hitting what he felt to be rock bottom. After graduating college, the uneasiness of what comes next and the struggle he and his friends go through to make it in the world result in an enjoyable plot to follow. The characters were well seasoned and unfolded nicely through the pages. The main character, Bob, was especially relatable. Even though I have no theatre experience myself, the self-doubt and inner dialogue he had to overcome were some things I think we all struggle with from time to time. McKeon did an excellent job of expressing this transformation.I would definitely recommend this book. Set back in 1980 California, this novel takes you on a trip worth venturing. The book was well-written and nicely paced for a nice afternoon with your feet kicked up.

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare gives us an enchanted forest, where nothing is what it seems and where love is stood on its head. In his novel Strutting and Fretting, Kevin McKeon takes us to another magical, youthful, crazy realm -- a summer theatre festival of the 1970’s, set on the California Coast. On stage, the members of the PCPA company -- mostly starting out in their careers -- passionately seek the theatrical truth of the plays they perform. Behind the scenes, they search for love and for their own identities.McKeon has a superb eye for detail as he paints this seventies world, and he delivers his characters with both poignancy and laugh-out-loud humor: Noncommittal Bob, our guide for the summer; Bronson and Lloyd, plotting one hustle after another; and Ripley the best friend, struggling under the spell of the diva Wanda Dare, to name a few. Oh, and don’t forget George the Chihuahua inhabiting a gym bag, a sweet and ancient pooka for this tale of the power of love and art.Strutting and Fretting left me with a smile -- it’s a great read!

Strutting and Fretting by Kevin McKeon is set in the late 70s early 80s and features Bob. A 25 year old actor as he comes to grips with his coming divorce and learns to move on. Bob gets a summer gig with an acting company at a community college in California after finishing his MFA. He spends the summer with friends, potential love interests and himself as he learns to be a more authentic person.I enjoyed the character development in Strutting and Fretting as well as the pace of the plot and subplots. McKeon kept me engaged and wanting more.I look forward to reading more of his work.

There are a lot of things that I really enjoyed about this book, the first one was the setting, I have always loved the 70's I found it a colourfull time of the history plus this book takes you to California what else can you ask for? the second reason why I liked this novel is the plot which caught me since I started to read the very first pages, it follows the story of Bob, a good man who does not really know what his future will look like. As we read the novel, we get to see how Bob is dealing with his life and with his own doubts, as you read you can realise how he tries to make good choices as he is struggling with some kind of crisis in which he wants to do everything in the world but he does not where to start. I just loved how the author did a great job when it comes to the development of this story because it lets you know that nobody is perfect and that it doesn't really matter the fact of unknowing your future or how many doubts you have about anything if you surround yourself with good people and fight all those demons, you will be the best at what you want.