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"The Author Has Balls, I'll Give Him That..."

As a Professor at a prestigious New York based university and an expert on American and English literature, I must be frank: what Norcross has done here took a lot of courage. More importantly, what he has achieved here will (eventually) earn him the right to call himself a successful author (but not while he publishes on LuLu.)

I've read all three of his "materials" from "The Balance of the Seventh Column", which was a conspiracy driven chain of clues with witty remarks on the current state of society, to "Paradigm Shift" which was awkward but thought-provoking - as entertaining as those pieces were, neither stuck with me as... More > much as "The Violin Diary."

"The Violin Diary" is Norcross' third completed venture into literature and three times is certainly a charm. I don't feel I need to tell you what it's about, as the previous posters have done a good job at that - but what I can say is that Norcross gets personal, humorous, tragic and ultimately witty in this compilation of memories that make up this infamous story.

If you know nothing about this book, let your first bit of knowledge be this: It is as personal as it gets and if that makes you uncomfortable, then perhaps its not for you. If that intrigues you, pick it up as soon as possible and dive right into it. I cannot stress this enough. < Less

"the violin diary rocks"
The Violin Diary by Eric Norcross is a beautiful story of love, loss, and a city that is constantly changing. The story follows Ezzie, an unpretentiously honest young man trying to make his way in the Big Apple, and the girl who takes his heart. Ezzie is a typical young man who comes to New York, unprepared for the chaos and harshness the city brings, yet who cannot help but think it is still one of the most beautiful and incredible places on earth. He is awkward, tender, dreamy, and naïve. At the same time, he displays a keen intelligence and awareness for the world around him. His narration is frank, poetic, and at times both funny and sad.
In this... More > chaotic maelstrom of city life, Ezzie meets an enticing girl. Although he knows she doesn’t intend to stay in his city for long, he cannot help himself from falling for her. As he tries to have a relationship with her, he is dragged from elation to despair and back again. While most novels delve into the psyche of the female who is in love, The Violin Diary focuses solely on the male, in a very refreshing change. It reminds us that men can love, cry, and care just as much or more about relationships than women. It will make the toughest remember the anguish of their first heartbreak.
Although at times the language is slightly choppy, the narrative moves along at a perfect pace, keeping the reader engaged through every moment of Ezzie’s journey. The compelling narrative combined with the relative brevity of the novel, make it a quick yet fascinating read that is difficult to put down. Just make sure to have a box of tissues available, as you may be tearful by the end.
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"A Story You Can't Miss..."
What a story to have the honor of reading and knowing. I will never forget this book for the rest of my life.

Eric writes about a young man named Ezzie, whom I assume isn't too dissimilar from the author himself. He's a New York Transplant, a filmmaker and in the first chapter of the story manages to find himself falling head over heels for a girl he had just met! This book is most girls' fantasies come true, except it becomes a nightmare for Ezzie when the woman of his dreams decides to move to Europe.

I can't say much more as I don't want to spoil it. Most romance novels are from the woman's point-of-view, this one is from the guy's and that's what makes it stand out. What makes it special: honesty. That's the truth. You'd be a fool to pass it up.

"I hate romance novels..."

... I'll be the first to say it - I can't STAND romance novels. "The Violin Diary" is, in fact, a romance novel. But I enjoyed it! The fact of the matter is this: I had never read one of Norcross' books, I only knew of him because I wrote an essay on one of his early art films "Sixteen Stories." When I discovered he had been writing, I stumbled across his storefront here on Lulu and while all the titles were of interest, the cover of the heart shaped cluster of islands seemed to hypnotize me into checking it out.

I'm glad I did. Norcross so obviously wrote this as a memoir and changed a few names for what I assume are legal purposes. But it's... More > apparent that the author wrote about his own experiences and its real life experiences that move humanity higher above its origins and Norcross has done that with "The Violin Diary" - he has moved humanity to a higher playing field.

Not even a scholar from a prestigious university could top this work of literature. < Less