Moristoun Kevin McAllion Austin Macauley Publishers 2016 London ISBN 978 1 78455 284 8 (Paperback) ISBN 978 1 78455 285 5 (eBook) Moristoun by Kevin McAllion is an introspective look the reasons for suicide. It is a deeply intellectual world. McAllion dissects the modern world and takes an in-depth look at the dark side of consumer culture. The secrets of Moristoun unravel as the novel progresses and the main character James Patrick McSorely is left to decide what meaning he finds in life. The novel looks at the world through a dark and dispirited lens yet the characters still manage to go on. The novel begins with Moristoun’s lawyer Buchan. Buchan is assigned McSorely as a case at and decides to lure him to Moristoun. At the same time, Hogg is on trial for attempted murder. By hiring McSorely to assist in Hogg’s case and watch over the newly orphaned Munchkin (a Scottish Deerhound whose owner has passed on) Buchan hopes to bring meaning back into McSorely’s life. McSorely becomes fascinated with Hogg’s case but he doesn’t truly come back to life until he meets Gail at her father’s pub the Tortured Soul. Attracting Gail’s attention motivates McSorely to try reading and to attempt to win Hogg’s case. Sadly, Hogg’s case is hopeless and McSorely cannot bring himself to finish Gail’s favorite book. When he enters the jail to speak to Hogg after sentencing in one last attempt to be the hero McSorely is told the secret of Moristoun. Will he destroy Gail in his attempt to live happily ever after or will Buchan reach the in time? Moristoun is an incredibly thought provoking book. While for the most part it offers a bleak look at our consumer driven, technology-laden society it also offers hope. The message is as long as you stay in the game, stay alive, some good can still come your way. Gail acts as a beacon of light in the despair that consumes Moristoun. She knows what the world is like but she is still eager to get out and be a part of it. Moristoun is well written though it tends to have a highly intellectual tone that talks down to those how don’t understand it. Less dense language would make the novel more approachable to a wider audience. The novel does preach at times but avoids organized religion in favor of a more spiritual view. Overall an interesting take on what happens to those who commit suicide. Reminiscent of the movie Wristcutters: A Love Story.
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Love is timeless. Hank has been through two divorces and has been drifting since he lost his IT job. His first marriage broke up because he didn't want children and his second fell apart when he caught his wife in bed with his best friend. Having been given the boot by yet another woman after losing his job, he is now travelling the country in an RV and making ends meet by taking contract jobs. He has become lost, drifting through life. Then he stops in Texas by the Laguna Madre and meets Esmeralda. She blows him away and he thinks that love may still have a role in his life. Esmeralda is desperate. According to her father's will, if she doesn't marry before her birthday, half her grapefruit farm and oil rights will go to her cousin. This means that she will no longer have enough money to live on. Having spent her entire life looking after her father and tending the farm, Esmeralda can't imagine any other life. The only problem is that she's also never had a man in her life and fears that she is too old for love. Then Hank asks her to dance. Though leery of Hank's previous failures and afraid he is a fortune hunter, Esmeralda still allows him into her life. As their relationship develops, Hank helps Esmeralda understand her oil payments and Esmeralda brings Hank's ambition back to life as he wants to provide for her. Yet Esmeralda dreams not only of love but of a child. Has Hank grown enough to give her the life she wants? Ms. Roman has a light and breezy style. She skims over the surface of the story and rushes readers to the finish line. This causes the story to lack depth. It has the broad strokes but lacks fine detail. There is a point where telling is needed. Scenes need to be set, characters developed, themes and symbols added. Ms. Roman is very good at showing and if you are looking for a light, breezy read this is it. To be something more than a one-time read, the author needs to add more flesh to the solid bones of her story. She has hold of an interesting idea and it would be nice to see her fully develop it. - See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=20886#sthash.2VrsyFwY.dpuf |
AuthorElizabeth Ramsay is English tutor and ESL Teacher. Archives
February 2018
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