This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Kris Moger for Readers' Favorite
In Panhandlers by Nick Schuck, the world of poverty is laid bare in places where there seems to be little else to do but sell drugs, sex, and violence. The story begins with two young boys, Hank and Teddy, and works through aspects of their lives and the lives of those caught in the same sphere of bleakness. It is a circle of darkness and stark survival in the desperation to live the American dream, which is more like a hopeless nightmare. This is a reality where people have little value except what a person can get out of them, like betting on an old, gnarled dog shredded by one too many fights. There is no love. There is no future. There is just the present sucking them down into oblivion.
Nick Schuck writes Panhandlers with unapologetic prose. Every line seems to carry the weight of apathetic bargaining with the devil – as though each character knows they aren’t going to win but they sign the deal anyway in hopes of finding a loophole. Every person seems to owe a debt they can’t repay. At the same time, there is a constant struggle in the pecking order as they step on each other to reach the finish line with even a tiny something more than what they started with. Death means little, and family loyalty is a risky luxury - even those with money could lose. Every story is raw and blunt with the ironic bitterness of drugs, alcohol, and power. It is an interesting ride.
