I am excited to share a novel with you that caught my interest right from the first glimpse of the cover.
Under the Neon Sky by Jay Rankin is a must read - one that won't disappoint readers and will make you even more interested in Las Vegas and what happens there.I want to thank Nurture Your Books Virtual Book Tourz for allowing me to participate in this tour, they are a fantastic PR company for authors promoting their books.
Book Summary:
Under The Neon Sky is a gripping, true story about a Las Vegas Doorman who worked the graveyard shift at one of the major hotels on the Strip. The sights, smells, and page popping characters are unforgettable as we take a journey that will transform how we used to envision the city that never sleeps. We watch as this doorman begins to emotionally break and wonder if he will become broken seeing his friends, his wife, hotel guests, and himself cross too many boundaries in this riveting, page turning story.
About the Author:
Take a step into the Las Vegas you never knew existed, seen through the eyes of a resort employee whose job was to offer the impossible. How do you ensure that boundaries don’t exist for guests while your life is defined by them? How do you maintain a normal life in a city that’s anything but? And most of all, how do you salvage your own soul when you’re drawn to the thrill of ruin? These are the questions with which Rankin wrestles on the pages of Under the Neon Sky.Rankin, a former probation officer and television host who holds an advanced degree in psychology, worked the graveyard shift as a doorman at the 5,000-room MGM Grand hotel for six years. A memoir of sorts, Rankin’s book tells the true story of this turbulent period in his life.
One thing’s for sure: Vegas is not your average American town, and working as an MGM Grand doorman is not your average briefcase-toting job. Earning a living in Las Vegas is a nonstop thrill ride with an unknown destination. Look over Jay Rankin’s shoulder as he navigates pitfalls and temptations, and gets off the tracks just in time.
He began writing in 1993 and is currently working on his second book, about his life after escaping Vegas. He resides in Los Angeles, California.
Learn more about Jay Rankin by watching an interview done on CNN:
Jay Rankin on the WEB
Under the Neon Sky on FACEBOOK
My Thoughts:
This story is about as real as it gets...Jay Rankin takes advantage of an eye-opening experience, being front and center in a city that most of us simply wonder about.
This book was such an experience for me, mainly because it is just so different from any life experience I have had. I have always wondered about Las Vegas and seen it's nightlife portrayed in movies and TV shows, but never have I experienced it like this. Being that Jay has been in the role that he writes about he has a unique and one-of-a-kind experience that he is able to share with his readers.
One of the most telling parts of this book is that Rankin includes not just the glitz and glamor, but also the tough side of the city and its effect on the people living and working there. It is interesting to see the evolution of his character as he experiences the not so fulfilling life there and then how those experiences start to alter his own life.
I was fascinated by the descriptions of the inner-workings of the hotels (Rankin worked as a doorman for the MGM.) He included many little known facts that added a great angle to the novel.
The great question that came out of this for me is just how fulfilling can a lifestyle such as this really be? What kind of person could find true happiness among the chaotic life found there. Rankin does a great job making readers ponder this!
Add to your to-be-read list, you won't be disappointed.
Thank you for sharing your review!
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