first newspaper review for “the sound of building coffins”

[louismaistros]

I only know this because I have discovered the wonder of “google alerts.” It’s a good way to see if anyone is talking about you on the net without having to endure the private humiliation of pathetically googling yourself all the time.

Anyway, hot off the presses, here’s the first newspaper review for my novel The Sound of Building Coffins, as

Comments

[sm23]

Congrats! I'm sure many more will follow. I'm currently about a quarter ways into the book and am already dreading the end because I know I will hate it when this story is over. It's the kind of writing that compels me with an urgent desire to read bits (Chapter 2, for example) to complete strangers out of sheer bliss. Beautiful stuff.

[louismaistros]

Thank you so much for your kind comment -- I'm glad you are liking the book, and hope you continue to do so till the end.

Funny thing about Chapter Two -- it almost didn't make it to the final cut of the novel. So many "industry people" advised me that it was overly poetic and too difficult to fathom for the average reader, that I finally caved and took it out. After I found a publisher, I asked the editor if she would mind my putting it back in. She loved it, and was amazed that anyone ever suggested to remove it.

It really is shocking how much pressure there is for authors to "dumb it down for the masses." It's very sad.

[sm23]

Yeah, I worked in bookstores for quite a few years, so I've seen a lot of evidence of the dumbing down you speak of. It's a sad thing, and it makes books like yours even more special. Finished last night, and am even more grateful that your editor had the sense to leave in Chapter 2.

There's a lot I'd like to comment on, but don't want to give away anything to anyone reading this, so I'll use the device someone else did and refer to page 332, toward the bottom there. I had to pause after reading it while everything - the past, present and future - just coalesced and hit that crescendo so wonderfully, like a song, if you will. It was one of those moments that, as a reader, I'm always looking for and rarely find. The line between magical and realism blurred in all the right places, the history of my favorite city coming to life beautifully. At the risk of sounding gushing (too late now, ha!), it was just a sublime story all around. Thanks for writing it.

[louismaistros]

Hello

[arielstarshadow]

Re: Page 226...

Oh my....he's not going to....no, he wouldn't...Oh my GOD, he IS! AUGH!!!

*runs around flailing*

He DID! AAAAUUUUGH!!!

*more flailing*

DA-UHM!

(Loving the book, in case you couldn't tell)

[louismaistros]

So goes the game of tat. Your note gave me a smile, thanks.

Everyone busts my chops about that bit. No one sees it coming. I'll explain why that was necessary after you're finished, if you want ;-)

Thanks so much for reading it, and I'm so glad you like it.

:)
L

[arielstarshadow]

Well, while I'd been reading it a few chapters at a time, I pretty much had to blaze through the rest of the book after that, so I finished it about a half-hour ago.

It's made me thinky - and slightly grumpy, and that's not really meant as a criticism. I'm sitting here, grouchy because people who didn't deserve such suffering...well, you know. And that the one who did deserve it went so long without it. But then again, that's life, isn't it? Not to mention, the sheer humanity of the characters - these were real people. And I think maybe some of it is that unknown-ness of what does come after death? I think that, given that it would be impossible for anyone to describe the afterlife in a way that would fit with anyone else's idea of it, you did a pretty darn good job of at least letting us see what their idea of it is...I'd say more, but I don't want to put specific spoilers here in case someone comes along and reads this before they're finished with the book

[louismaistros]

Hi