Play Book Tag discussion

The Dakota Winters by Tom Barbash - 4* - My Review

This novel is set in New York City in 1979. The Winter family lives in The Dakota, the (real) residence of many celebrities. Anton Winter is the son of talk show host, Buddy Winter. Buddy had experienced an emotional breakdown on live television and has been out of the public eye for a while. Anton has recently returned from Gabon where he contracted malaria while working in the Peace Corps. Buddy asks Anton to help him restart his career. John Lennon lives in The Dakota, and Anton becomes his friend, teaches him about sailing, and goes on a sailing trip. The primary storyline follows Anton’s role in creating a new beginning for his father. This is a book of nostalgia. It contains many popular culture references and other notable figures of the day. It contains a creative storyline, doses of humor, and sadness (since we know what happens to John). It is both a story of second chances and lost opportunities. I became invested in the storyline right away and found it quite entertaining.