Emily Arsenault has written three novels. I just finished In Search of the Rose Notes. Although it is a dreadful title, the book shows great promise. It is the story of a teenage girl, presumed dead, a decade after her disappearance. I would not classify it as a mystery, as it has a lot more substance and is much more grounded in realism than most books of the genre. There is only one crime and nothing occurs in the narrative that strains credulity. The characters are intricately realized and thoroughly believable. The prose and dialogue are fine. My only criticism is that is drawn out. It could have been tighter. Its 369 pages did not fly by. Then again, perhaps I'd been expecting a typical mystery, and this novel is so much more. Curious, I checked out the sales rankings, print and Kindle, of Arsenault's three books at Amazon, and was surprised to find them relatively paltry, way better than mine, but not much for someone published by a major house. That is often the case with serious work. I hope she isn't discouraged. In Search of the Rose Notes is the work of someone who wishes to create literature. On a scale of five, I rate it 3.25.
There was an amusing moment during today's session of the floating book shop. A man of about 30 approached and asked, in a thick accent, if I knew where the office of the doctors who treat people with mental problems was. I directed him to a building around the corner, although I wasn't sure it was the one he was seeking. I laughed to myself, wondering if the fact that I was selling books on the street on such a frigid day had him assume I was a fellow traveler. It certainly felt like insanity standing there in the wind. I also had a brief visit from the author of Ghost Runners and The White Bridge, Bob Rubenstein, who pulled his car along the bus stop. Almost 70, he has met a Hungarian immigrant and plans to marry. He will travel to her country to meet her parents. Good luck, Bob, and my thanks the Mrs. Eclectic's husband, who purchased a book on grammar, and to the young man who bought the large print Bible. If the forecast is correct, there will be relief at last from the weather tomorrow. It was a tough week to sell books outdoors - but tough compared to what? Most people with real jobs have it tougher than me.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
No comments:
Post a Comment