This year I have challenged myself to read some books outside of my usual reading box, and so far it has been rewarding. I won this book from a raffle in exchange for an honest review, and what follows is a collection of my thoughts on this book.
I want to start off by saying that I had a hard time getting into the book based on the first chapter. I was concerned that maybe I should have not entered in for a chance to read this book. However, I am rather stubborn and I never give up before 100 pages. The first chapter starts with a man,Cohen, walking into the family funeral home and finding his father laying on the floor in a pool of blood. Cohen appears not to be too concerned about the fact that his father is potentially dead and that is what gave me pause right from the start. As I mentioned earlier, I do not give up, and I am so glad that I pushed on. This book has so many good features to it that some may miss if they are not truly paying attention to what the author is showing them. Cohen has a huge heart and it is one he protects in his own way. His father was once a preacher and then life took a nasty turn and he became the owner of a funeral home. Cohen has a strained, if nonexistent, relationship with his stern mother. His relationship with his sister is better despite not seeing her as much as he would have liked growing up. Throughout the book, Cohen has to deal with the inevitable loss of his father, his guilt for past wrongs he and his father did to each other, and coming to terms with the fact that life does not always go the way a person wants it to.
I believe that Cohen learns to grieve all aspects of the disappointments in his life growing up in a healthy way, and I found myself cheering him on to learn to move forward with his life. His grieving and guilt is a gradual healing, one that some people may see as simply a page filler is actually deeper than it first appears. Another aspect I liked about the book (though I guessed early on) was the paranormal flashbacks that happen from his past. During the book, it constantly switches back and forth between the present and the past, allowing the reader to see his fears and the dark being that haunts his youth for a short time. Overall, I LOVED this book. This was a fast read for me once I got past the first chapter and I cannot wait to see what else this author has swirling around in their brain.
I want to start off by saying that I had a hard time getting into the book based on the first chapter. I was concerned that maybe I should have not entered in for a chance to read this book. However, I am rather stubborn and I never give up before 100 pages. The first chapter starts with a man,Cohen, walking into the family funeral home and finding his father laying on the floor in a pool of blood. Cohen appears not to be too concerned about the fact that his father is potentially dead and that is what gave me pause right from the start. As I mentioned earlier, I do not give up, and I am so glad that I pushed on. This book has so many good features to it that some may miss if they are not truly paying attention to what the author is showing them. Cohen has a huge heart and it is one he protects in his own way. His father was once a preacher and then life took a nasty turn and he became the owner of a funeral home. Cohen has a strained, if nonexistent, relationship with his stern mother. His relationship with his sister is better despite not seeing her as much as he would have liked growing up. Throughout the book, Cohen has to deal with the inevitable loss of his father, his guilt for past wrongs he and his father did to each other, and coming to terms with the fact that life does not always go the way a person wants it to.
I believe that Cohen learns to grieve all aspects of the disappointments in his life growing up in a healthy way, and I found myself cheering him on to learn to move forward with his life. His grieving and guilt is a gradual healing, one that some people may see as simply a page filler is actually deeper than it first appears. Another aspect I liked about the book (though I guessed early on) was the paranormal flashbacks that happen from his past. During the book, it constantly switches back and forth between the present and the past, allowing the reader to see his fears and the dark being that haunts his youth for a short time. Overall, I LOVED this book. This was a fast read for me once I got past the first chapter and I cannot wait to see what else this author has swirling around in their brain.