I’ve been getting quite a few fairly exceptional reader responses to my latest published novel, Children of the Resolution. Many of them can be read over here on my Amazon review page.
However, I also occasionally receive e-mails via this website and comments on Twitter etc and the impact that Children seems to be having, whilst still relatively small at this stage, is deeply satisfying (not to mention often very moving).
One e-mail I received a few days ago (reproduced with permission):
Dear Gary,
First, Children of the Resolution is such a wondrously courageous novel. The depth of your humor, sensitivity and compassion both delight and mystify me. It’s strange, but as I read your novel all I could think of was how heightened and controlled your voice is . . . spiraling towards the realms of Julian Barnes and beyond . . . making my own words sound like a backroom brawl with Charles Bukowski biting the tops of beer bottles off while shrieking murderous prose at some imperceptible offender. Where I seek the merciless, and unpardonable, realms of silent narration with unreliable narrators you speak the heartfelt truth and nothing but the heartfelt truth, most admirably. Yes, Johnny reminded me of my dearest friend who likewise has just died. He was a drinking, wenching, pirate of an architect from Boston. He taught me and all of his friends more about bravery, fortitude, fatherhood, and humor than any two war heroes. When I first met him, he would merely “Arghhh” into the saloon (sans parrots or any fowl, dead or alive) and swing his semi-dwarfish carcass up on to the barstool while, ruthlessly, announcing his presence by verbally insulting friend and foe alike, in equal strengths. But as the years wore on not only did his parts begin to fall off forcing him into a wheelchair, but his mechanical-engineering-ish hands turned into the gnarly limbs of an olive tree. I lectured, “My dearest Michael, you must have been one really bad dude in a previous life, because ol’ JC is gnawing away at you like a cannibal on crack cocaine.” I just loved that man and miss him dearly . . . exactly the emotion your ending flooded me with all over again. And for that I can only thank you and wish you luck in all your endeavors.
So, proud and honored to have read your book—I have the highest respect for the quality of your mind,
Peter Jacob Streitz
Read your free sample of Children of the Resolution, please click here.
To buy from the UK, click here – and American customers can buy here. (Also available on Kindle. UK. US.)
© 2011 Gary William Murning
