A New Urbanist novel, February 18, 2000
Reviewer: Daniel Boyce from Milwaukee
Architects and Urban Design folks who consider themselves New Urbanists will love this novel. So much of missing the "old neighborhood" is about the sense of place and belonging that was left behind in the search for the suburban dream. Powers tells all the stories: the one mom on the block who worked, the garage being behind the house, off the alley "where it belongs", so one can recall the calm and orderliness of life in a neighborhood of diverse population, mixed uses(corner stores and front porches) and care. The book is a delightful reminder of the days and places that defined middle class not in terms of income or profession but of an ethic shared with the families next door and across the alley.

A Great Book, January 26, 2000
Reviewer: Brad Fritz from Wichita, Kansas
I think this book is an excellent book and I just love everything that John R. Powers writes. He has a way of being funny and poignant at the same time. He writes about growing up in Chicago as if you are actually doing it yourself. His way of writing draws you in because it is very funny and touching and really makes you think about life. The fact of the matter is that I loaned this book to a friend and now I can't find it in print again. It is truly a good book!

A pleasant memoir turns unexpectedly meaningful, March 26, 1999
Reviewer: A reader from Minneapolis, MN
One of the marks of truly fine writing, as it is with any work of art from film ("Glory" comes to mind) to music (Beethoven and Beatles), is a physical response from the reader/viewer. "Junk Drawer" illicited that from me. It starts as an amiable memoir, at best. The dialogue between Donald and his nurse, his mother and his girlfriend in the early chapters sound more like a trite sitcom than literature. But the story turns unexpectedly meaningful and touching. The passages in which Donald matter-of-factly evaluates what the rest of his life will be like after a major event disrupts his family are so perfectly understated, so full of insight and devoid of maudlin pathos, reading them actually made me feel flushed and dizzy. It's THAT devastating. But, of course, this is John R. Powers and the sense of hopefulness at book's end is welcome and not out of place. "Junk Drawer" isn't Powers' best work (THAT title goes to "Unoriginal Sinner and the Ice Cream God") and certainly not his funniest. But those moments of dramatic realization are perhaps the purest and most affecting things he's ever put on paper.

Insightful, heartbreaking, hilarious., January 27, 1999
Reviewer: John W. Samples, JSam@jsam.com from Portland, IN
It's a shame that the synopsis indulged here tells so much of the story. Part of the impact on me was the shock effect of Mr.Powers' remarkable ability to sneak up on the reader. I lost a brother about 6 weeks before someone put this book in my hands and told me to read it without telling me why. It was the saddest, hardest, bestest therapy I could have had. Simply a great book of insights into the human spirit of brotherhood and missed moments. The reader should also know Mr.Powers lost a brother about 20 years before he wrote this book. He knows first-hand of the emotions he will lead you through!

I needed to finish this book!, March 7, 1997
Reviewer: jeandr@worldnet.att.net
I needed to finish this book! I couldn't wait to get to the end. I knew what the story held in store for me, but the words dragged me along to finish the book. I have read other works by Mr. Powers and loved them. Many of them I have read more than a dozen times. This will be added to the list.