Dissolute Kinship: A 9/11 Road Trip was reviewed twice in two days this week, and both were of the 5 Star variety. They were also genuine, emotional and compassionate.
The first came courtesy of a promising Peruvian writer named Patricia Awapara whose own work is remarkable in that English is not her native tongue. The review is on Amazon, but I'm also going to link to Patricia's own website in an attempt to give her more exposure (although I suspect her blog gets more hits than my own). Anyway, here's her kind review:
From the moment I picked up the book, I was moved by David Antrobus’ words. Beautifully written, this short story starts moments after the world goes into shock about the 9/11 tragedy. The author takes a road trip, from Canada to New York. He describes the city’s emotional state and his reaction to this horrific event with much insight and warmth. His words took me back in time. I felt as though I was there with him, with all those people. I felt their hurt and despair. It made me cried, but his word also carried hope and unity. I recommend it!
I wish I could write Spanish as well as she writes English.
Next up is Linda Rae Blair, another writer I've run into in various social media sites. Again, I am struck by the sheer emotional impact my book has on people. Of course, it was very emotional to write (and to experience), and you always hope you can convey the visceral essence of that, but it's incredibly gratifying all the same when you find you have indeed succeeded. As I said, this is another 5 Star review and is up on Smashwords:
This is a work I knew would be great, knew I would regret if I didn't read, knew would be painful to read—so, what did I do? I put it off, kept it neatly tucked away in my Kindle To Be Reads where it haunted me like a personal ghost. Well, I was yanked from my frozen state into action when someone else's review crossed by screen. "Coward," I called myself and reached for my Kindle. Half an hour later, with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes, a knot in my stomach, I knew I was right to read it. Glad I didn't try sooner, but glad I had finally gotten beyond my own PTS. David has done a tremendous job, putting his own perspective to this painful topic, as well as jarring us into facing our own pain in the memory. Thank you, David. It was beautiful, sad, and oh, so very accurate. And, as a southern neighbor, I am so very glad you took the trip that I have yet to face.
I love the way she provides a short backstory for her process in relation to the book. I imagine it sitting on her (virtual) coffee table ticking quietly like a time bomb for months.
Anyway, it goes without saying that I love and appreciate these reviews, and indeed anyone who takes the time not only to read my strange little book, but to throw some thoughts at the screen afterward.