Marcus's memory is of Gramps, a man he knew from childhood, someone he barely remembers, but this name is really a misnomer. Inheriting a house after the tragedy of his parents' deaths, the young man... More > finds his grandfather occupying it. Their ensuing relationship changes Marcus in unforeseen ways. In his few years he has already experienced more than most do in a lifetime - times that have been both ecstatic and piercingly painful. His tale is told by himself and various other characters without similar opinions, who can't possibly see Marcus from the same perspective, thus allowing the reader to come to her own conclusion about the young man, his family, his eccentric grandfather, and the women he knew and loved.< Less
“I was startled by the unconventional flow & rhythm of the Hermit's verbal musings... seemed choppy & without theme. However, with dialog between Mom & daughter, you imported... More > convention & rhythm. Later, when again the story focused on the Hermit, I did appreciate what you were doing with this character. I was able to sit back & read his musings & ruminations knowing now that it was an exercise in character building, creating contrast between the two worlds within the work.. I liked the style once I understood it. And in reality, the Hermit's choppy reflections and observations are very indicative of the way most of us reason & ruminate while alone & unconcerned with communicating or articulating our thoughts. Very real & very profound were his expressed opinions & remembrances. I found this man to be one whom I understood & had affection for. I was comfortable with my affection for him... he was not crazed after all, but indeed troubled from an entirely different circumstance…”
P.M.< Less
"If I merely outline the plot I may paint a picture of a thriller, a detective yarn, or a suspense novel, but this story can't be classified as genre fiction. It is literary fiction at its best,... More > an assembly of intriguing character sketches, and yet while the story is centered on the main character and his desire to learn the truth of the past (the murder of his wife for which he spent 20 years in jail), it is both character driven and plot driven at the same time. Intertwined tales of a complex family with all its excesses are unwound, piece by piece in a unique rapid manner. The dialog is authentic and very natural, with compelling characters, the setting is fictional but so realistic you feel you know the place, and the climax, fast paced and flowing with verbal and emotional sparring, is unlike any other book I've recently read. It's a great beach read for this summer!"
J.D.< Less
A young man who has known much pleasure and pain during his short life is, through strange circumstances, reunited with his grandfather, a forgotten relative, a mirage of the past, a faint memory. As... More > they come to know one another, Marcus is touched by the old man in bizarre ways, and eventually is drawn away from his yearning for stability toward the unfamiliar yet mesmerizing path trod by his grandfather. He increasingly realizes that the elder is going to recreate him, drastically alter his life, take him on a journey he never envisioned. Once resistant to change, Marcus subsequently loses his desire for stability and security and allows the inevitable to happen. His story is told through multiple narration, from different perspectives with differing points of view of him and his life, revealed by the people who think they know him best. Love and passion were what drove him in the past. Will his future be so drastically different?< Less
Liar's Dice is now available in an electronic version. If you enjoy it, please consider purchasing the novel in print form. This book is very well suited to be read as an ebook, with very short... More > chapters, a rapid pace, and an engaging tale. It's the story of a family, their rise to wealth, and how they were brought together in a simple game of chance, gambling for their livelihoods, but also for truth – possibly finding themselves broken apart. Revenge drives Wheaton, who spent 20 years in prison for the murder of his wife, a murder he didn't commit, but his revenge will come without violence, a payback that is not physically harmful, but rather a matching of wits that will hopefully climax with others being forced to emotionally experience what he did when he was incarcerated. Will he learn what really happened?< Less
This wonderful story of the girl and The Hermit is now available in an electronic version, an affordable alternative to purchasing the hardcover or paperback versions. Composed in a unique style,... More > with every other chapter reflecting the mental musings of The Hermit, this is a challenging book to read, but extremely memorable. The complexity of the tale will have you guessing, issues raised will keep you wondering, and The Hermit's rants and ramblings will find you remembering. These two characters are so interestingly real you will ultimately come to believe that you actually know them, and at times you may ask yourself if they may be your friends or neighbors. Your next walk in the woods won't be the same – you'll be disappointed when you don't run into The Hermit!< Less
A young girl discovers a shack where a lone man exists, befriends him, accepts & believes all he conveys, while other tales, including a fabulous but short-lived baseball career & the loss of... More > a brother in Vietnam, are revealed. The Hermit, alone, enigmatic eccentric, intellectual, bizarrely conversing with Ty Cobb & an unresponsive Einstein, reflecting on matters of life trivial & profound, is destined to become one of the most memorable characters in contemporary literary fiction, a taunting & bewildering dichotomy – bewitched or brilliant, insane & irascible, or just an ornery & playful tease? Real & imagined conflicting versions of his life emerge with multiple distortions: truths & falsehoods unwind as the novel progresses. Surprising revelations expose a relationship between the hermit, the girl, & her mother, leading to an unexpected ending. The girl, in learning who the hermit is, gains something life-changing, but does she realize her discovery in time to do anything about it? (283 pgs)< Less
Twenty years in prison for a murder he didn't commit – his wife! On release, Wheaton returns to Hammond Beach, a sleepy hamlet, where his priority is re-establishing ties to his estranged... More > children, themselves sent to live with different families when he was incarcerated. He strives to establish a new business and opens his heart to a new woman. Obtaining information leading him to believe Shelly's family has knowledge of circumstances of her death, he craves revenge and desires to deprive those responsible of what they took from him – material possessions, his livelihood's rewards for years of dedicated work, his dignity, and respect. Will the murderous truth remain elusive? He intimidates the family through knowledge of their business and personal lives, exposes them, then succeeds in forcing all to come together in a situation where they must gamble their success, wealth, and happiness. Realizing most of his goals, then achieving nearly all he sets out to do, will he accomplish everything? (398 pgs)< Less
A young man, launched into adulthood through a frequently blissful yet largely bittersweet life, is forced to turn a blind corner after the sudden tragic death of his parents, unexpectedly inheriting... More > a faraway house he's no prior knowledge of. Intending to sell it, he's shocked on arrival to discover his forgotten grandfather is an occupant, and the two establish a relationship. His story, along with the tale of the man he only vaguely remembers from his youth, are told through the eyes of different characters, who reveal Marcus's rocky relationship with family, his wonderful yet sad past, and the women who loved him and touched him. Enticed by the older man's strange but adventurous years, as well as by his persona, Marcus is unable to resist the lure of inevitable change that overtakes him. Desire for stability in his life is shattered by his grandfather's influence, and Marcus succumbs to moves in directions that previously would have been impossible to envision. (227 pgs)< Less
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