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Charlie Parker, remanded to a state hospital for psychiatric examinations, must confront a ghost of his own making. For him to do this, he needs to unravel himself from the protective web of self-delusion he has created. Tormented by the realization that he must slowly, painfully confront some dark event in his past for his nightmare to end, he follows the psychiatrist's urgings and begins to piece together the broken trilogy of love and friendship that once gave his life meaning. If he is to get well, Billy Solinski, his best friend, and Praxy Bishop, Billy's girlfriend from the "Heights," need to be properly reintegrated into his fragmented psyche. For this to happen, he must retrace his last few months-from the day Billy told him and Praxy about his decision to drop out of school and race the national circuit, to the final incident on Hampton Road.
BobbyC67
Posted August 25, 2011
This novel had me engaged from the beginning. I enjoyed the shifting character viewpoints and how the viewspoints merged to help solve the mystery. Brilliantly done! I also liked the romance as well and the conflict that emerges when the two young guys fall in love with the same girl. The social class differences of the characters add greatly to the conflicts and make the reader reflect on the factors of social class in forming lasting relationships. I would put this book high on my list of young adult fiction, especially mystery novels for young adults that explore characters in depth. This book reminds me some of Catcher in the Rye and Cormier's After the First Death.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 25, 2011
I enjoyed this mystery/suspense tale very much as well as the writing style- the multiple viewpoints and shifting tenses. I love a mystery that has romantic adventure, and this story with the added psychological elements is even more interesting than most mystery/suspense novels, especially those written for the young adult audience. That is not to say that his novel is only for the young. I'm in my forties and I enjoyed it. Also, the author's use of allusions to other great works is nicely interwoven in the narrative. I would definitely buy more of M. Segedy's work.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 19, 2011
Hampton Road is psychological thriller that will keep you flipping the pages. The story explores the lives of three characters from different sides of the tracks and what happens when their ambitions and dreams collide. This incredible novel introduces you to a host of amazing and memorable characters. The three principal ones are: Billy, a high school dropout/professional motorcycle racer; his best friend Charlie, a college bound, lovestruck teenager; and Praxy, a beautiful, bright high school student whose tortured heart must decide between the two of them. The mystery to the tragedy that impacts their lives is revealed one dark night on Hampton Road where a mind altering incident occurs that will keep you enthralled until the last page of the novel. The rich figurative language used in this artful work of fiction helps you appreciate the internal struggle of a psychologically scarred young man on a quest to find out a terrible mystery about himself that will either save him or destroy him. In this fast paced novel, the author, an ex-professional motorcycle racer himself, reveals his keen knowledge of motorcycle racing and thrills you with the dangers of this exciting sport. Also not to be forgotten, are the numerous comic scenes that will leave you belly-aching. These humorous scenes are dramatically balanced against the suspenseful elements that run like a golden thread through this wonderful mystery novel. In all, Hampton Road will engross you from the very first page to the last.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 7, 2011
Fantastic book! Not only did it have an intriguing plot, but the characters were incredibly interesting and the story was fast paced with many unexpected twists. The author made the book funny, enjoyable, and sometimes, even heartbreaking to read. I am looking forward to reading more of Michael Segedy's novels. Excellent piece of work!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 12, 2011
I read it in one sitting. Could not put it down! Not only is it suspenseful and fast moving, it also has hilarious scenes but with a whole lot of social commentary as well.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 23, 2010
Hampton Road is a wonderfully thought out novel with just enough twists and turns to keep you in suspense till the very end. Charlie Parker and his friends, Billy Solinski and Praxy Bishop, play out the typical lifestyles of highschoolers filled with dreams and ambitions which eventually led to the incident on Hampton Road changing their lives forever. The rich figurative language used in this novel transports you to the scene where you are an eyewitness to a young man's scarred mind on his quest to find out what really happened. Throughout the novel, Michael Segedy also demonstrates his knowledge of motorcycle racing which thrills you with the details and brings the whole event to life.
In all, Hampton Road was engrossing from the very first page to the last.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 23, 2004
A MUST READ FOR ALL WHO ENJOY AN INTRIGUING NOVEL. FULL OF WIT AND SUSPENSE, AND THE JOYS AND AGONIES OF LOVE, AND FRIENDSHIP. THOUGHT PROVOKING, MAKES YOU QUESTION THE TRUE MEANING OF SUCCESS. TAKES YOU INTO THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF A YOUNG MANS DISTURBED PSYCHE. THANK YOU MR. SEGEDY FOR BRINGING US HAMPTON ROAD. AM LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT NOVEL.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 9, 2012
I loved this book. The characters especially, the old man, Pop Reymand, as well as the bug collector freak and the wacko evangelists ragging on Billy. I didn't want it to end, and when it need it ended with a bang! I was devasteted.
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Posted September 22, 2011
This mystery told from the viewpoint of three teenagers will keep you guessing. The main character has been institutionalized because of his possible involvement in his friend's death. The novel is full of humor and social criticism with social class conflict adding to the suspense. I also like the romantic side of the story. Praxi is a charmer, and Billy and Charlie have good reasons to fall for her. Unfortunately problems arise for Billy when he doesn't fit snuggly into Praxi's upper middle class world. Hampton Road is a great read! I place it high on my list of young adult thrillers.
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Posted September 22, 2011
This book provided much more than I imagined. The plot itself is masterfully handled with the surprise ending coming as a kind of shock; though after I finished the novel I recalled details that foreshadowed the ending. I also liked the interaction between the characters, their different social class backgrounds and how class contributed to the conflict. The commentary on side issues (political and social) was done in an artful, non-didactic way. In short, this is a novel you will enjoy if you like classic fiction with drama, humor, and wit.
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Posted September 18, 2011
Once you pick it up, you won't put it down. I really enjoyed the issues raised about social class, and the romance and betrayal theme had me hooked. The best part though was how all three points of view (Charlie's, Billy's, and Praxie's) converged to solve the mystery of Hampton Road. Lastly, motorcycle fans should really like the racing scenes. The author, I believe, was a professional motorcycle racer.
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Posted April 26, 2012
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Anonymous
Posted January 24, 2012
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Overview
Charlie Parker, remanded to a state hospital for psychiatric examinations, must confront a ghost of his own making. For him to do this, he needs to unravel himself from the protective web of self-delusion he has created. Tormented by the realization that he must slowly, painfully confront some dark event in his past for his nightmare to end, he follows the psychiatrist's urgings and begins to piece together the broken trilogy of love and friendship that once gave his life meaning. If he is to get well, Billy Solinski, his best friend, and Praxy Bishop, Billy's girlfriend from the "Heights," need to be properly reintegrated into his fragmented psyche. For this to happen, he must retrace ...