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Woke Up in a Strange Place
Winner of One Perfect Note (Overall Honorable Mention) in the 2011 Rainbow Awards.Joe wakes up in a barley field with no clothes, no memories, and no idea how he got there. Before he knows it, he's off on the last great journey of his life. With his soul guide Baker and a charge to have courage from a mysterious, alluring, and somehow familiar Stranger, Joe sets off through a fantastical changing landscape to confront his past.The quest is not without challenges. Joe's past is not always an easy thing to relive, but if he wants to find peace—and reunite with the Stranger he is so strongly drawn to—he must continue on until the end, no matter how tempted he is to stop along the way.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2011
27 people are currently reading
1447 people want to read
About the author
Eric Arvin
47 books565 followersEric Arvin resided in the same sleepy Indiana river town where he grew up. He graduated from Hanover College with a Bachelors in History. He has lived, for brief periods, in Italy and Australia. He has survived brain surgery and his own loud-mouthed personal demons. Eric is the author of WOKE UP IN A STRANGE PLACE, THE MINGLED DESTINIES OF CROCODILES & MEN, SUBSURDITY, SIMPLE MEN, and various other sundry and not-so-sundry writings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
May 17, 2014
ETA May 17th 2014:
Funny, how life works.
I wrote this review almost three years ago, without the slightest inkling of what it would bring. I loved the book. I still do. I re-read it today because I was missing Eric something fierce. I could hear his voice in every single word. This book takes on a whole different meaning after all we've been through. All of the words he wrote. Life and death. Love and laughter. The sadness of a planned life ending. The determination of a new life beginning.
I regret nothing. I would do it all again. And again. And again.
I wrote this review in October of 2011. In November of 2014, Eric and I are going to get married.
Funny, how life works.
****
Original review:
I just posted about this and other books in my blog, wondering why Woke Up In A Strange Place doesn't have more reviews, and is not infinitely more popular than it is.
Do I know Eric Arvin? Aside from both being authors for Dreamspinner and being friends on Facebook, no I do not. I am hoping that people that have read my book BOATK will give this one a chance if they haven't done so already.
Eric Arvin has created the most romantic book I've ever read, and those aren't words that I use lightly. I'm not facetious by nature, and I suppose you'll just have to take my word for it. Joe is a wonderful everyman who does just what the title suggests. But from there, his journey is flat out amazing. Is it a perfect book? No. But god forbid the day should come when I read a "perfect" book. But this? This is pretty damn close.
I don't want to discuss any part of the plot aside to say those looking for a usual M/M romance should probably look elsewhere. The sex is minimal in this book (although the "frat house" is absolutely a gem). And as a matter of fact, Joe doesn't even really connect with the object of his heart until near the very end of the story. But again, it's not about the ending, it's about the journey and Arvin has, in my opinion, created a masterpiece. READ THIS BOOK!
TJ
Funny, how life works.
I wrote this review almost three years ago, without the slightest inkling of what it would bring. I loved the book. I still do. I re-read it today because I was missing Eric something fierce. I could hear his voice in every single word. This book takes on a whole different meaning after all we've been through. All of the words he wrote. Life and death. Love and laughter. The sadness of a planned life ending. The determination of a new life beginning.
I regret nothing. I would do it all again. And again. And again.
I wrote this review in October of 2011. In November of 2014, Eric and I are going to get married.
Funny, how life works.
****
Original review:
I just posted about this and other books in my blog, wondering why Woke Up In A Strange Place doesn't have more reviews, and is not infinitely more popular than it is.
Do I know Eric Arvin? Aside from both being authors for Dreamspinner and being friends on Facebook, no I do not. I am hoping that people that have read my book BOATK will give this one a chance if they haven't done so already.
Eric Arvin has created the most romantic book I've ever read, and those aren't words that I use lightly. I'm not facetious by nature, and I suppose you'll just have to take my word for it. Joe is a wonderful everyman who does just what the title suggests. But from there, his journey is flat out amazing. Is it a perfect book? No. But god forbid the day should come when I read a "perfect" book. But this? This is pretty damn close.
I don't want to discuss any part of the plot aside to say those looking for a usual M/M romance should probably look elsewhere. The sex is minimal in this book (although the "frat house" is absolutely a gem). And as a matter of fact, Joe doesn't even really connect with the object of his heart until near the very end of the story. But again, it's not about the ending, it's about the journey and Arvin has, in my opinion, created a masterpiece. READ THIS BOOK!
TJ
August 30, 2018
3.5 Stars
This story was beautiful and affecting. I truly loved the concept and I hope more than anything this is the kind of experience we all get gifted with when this life is over.
This story was beautiful and affecting. I truly loved the concept and I hope more than anything this is the kind of experience we all get gifted with when this life is over.
May 5, 2013
**3.5 stars**
All of my lovely GR friends, don't kill me, but this wasn't a 5 star read for me. ::ducks popcorn being thrown at my head::
I have been lusting over this book for a long long while. Some of my most trusted Goodreads friend love this book and I have been dying to read Eric Arvin for some time. I don't like to read too much about the content of a book before I start it, so for some mixed up reason, I had in my mind that this book was about aliens. Yes, I know. Totally off base. I have no idea why I thought that, but it took me a little while to adjust to the change in theme.
This book is a beautiful, imaginative journey through one young man's afterlife. My favorite part was the different vignettes of the post-mortum; Eric Arvin describes these fantastical scenes so vividly and with such perfection that I could imagine myself there. I actually found myself thinking that the afterlife is probably a lot like this- he has converted me to his Arvin-ism religion! I found this book to be philosophically very intriguing with its unique perspective of Heaven and Hell.
What I was less moved by- which is what makes other people adore this book- was the romance. I actually was not feeling it at all. This shocked me because most people found this book to be a terribly romantic tear-jerker. I think that the ideas in this book were very romantic (soul-mates and reuniting in the afterlife) but I actually didn't feel much chemistry between Joe and Lou. I think it is because they don't have that many scenes together? Possibly? The only time I came close to crying was . I don't know. I think also because I wasn't surprised by anything in this book- I knew what was going to happen in the end and kind of saw how it would all play out.
I think that overall, I appreciate this book for its special-ness and creativity but it wasn't my favorite book from a romantic perspective.
All of my lovely GR friends, don't kill me, but this wasn't a 5 star read for me. ::ducks popcorn being thrown at my head::
I have been lusting over this book for a long long while. Some of my most trusted Goodreads friend love this book and I have been dying to read Eric Arvin for some time. I don't like to read too much about the content of a book before I start it, so for some mixed up reason, I had in my mind that this book was about aliens. Yes, I know. Totally off base. I have no idea why I thought that, but it took me a little while to adjust to the change in theme.
This book is a beautiful, imaginative journey through one young man's afterlife. My favorite part was the different vignettes of the post-mortum; Eric Arvin describes these fantastical scenes so vividly and with such perfection that I could imagine myself there. I actually found myself thinking that the afterlife is probably a lot like this- he has converted me to his Arvin-ism religion! I found this book to be philosophically very intriguing with its unique perspective of Heaven and Hell.
What I was less moved by- which is what makes other people adore this book- was the romance. I actually was not feeling it at all. This shocked me because most people found this book to be a terribly romantic tear-jerker. I think that the ideas in this book were very romantic (soul-mates and reuniting in the afterlife) but I actually didn't feel much chemistry between Joe and Lou. I think it is because they don't have that many scenes together? Possibly? The only time I came close to crying was . I don't know. I think also because I wasn't surprised by anything in this book- I knew what was going to happen in the end and kind of saw how it would all play out.
I think that overall, I appreciate this book for its special-ness and creativity but it wasn't my favorite book from a romantic perspective.
March 29, 2017
Okay, the super hardcore Christians would roll the fuck over in their graves over this book. No joking at all on that here. No spoilers, but St. Peter is out of a job. *gasp* : )
The book is basically a trip through Joe's afterlife, where he must regain the memories from the life (one of probably many such lives) which just ended by encountering various people from that life.
Through these meetings, Joe pieces together that life like a big jigsaw puzzle, with some pieces being very pleasant and other extremely painful. In other words, just like life itself.
I thought the author might have been anti-Christian at one point when all of the 'blind faith' types ended up in a Hell of their own making, but shortly after that the atheists got their own little smackdowns.
Bottom line, the author was saying that you need to live your life believing in something, or at least the possibility of it, using your own brain when choosing those beliefs. Growing up as a gay Southern Baptist in a town of 500 white Republicans, I liked that. A whole, whole lot.
The first part of the book I absolutely loved. I wouldn't have changed a thing until after Joe's visit with the winged man. However, the parts with the animal party, the bicycle balloon and fraternity house felt more like a distraction. They just seemed off and out of place to me.
The book was sooooo not your typical read, which I appreciated, but I'm sure some would hate. That being said, if you're up for something different and can keep an open mind, I'd suggest giving it a try.
➍ ★'s.
January 9, 2012
**Possible spoilers - read the blurb of the book**
Joe wakes up in a field of barley. Naked, alone and with no memory of anything except his name. He knows he is dead, but of his life prior to this - nothing. He's not scared, just curious.
As he begins looking around, he sees a dog in the distance, and is greeted by a man he doesn't know, whom he dubs The Stranger. Strangely familiar, he senses a connection, but The Stranger tells him he will remember in time, everything in time. And he will be waiting. When The Stranger leaves, Joe senses a restlessness and begins to walk. Starting his journey. And has his first memory - he is a little boy, walking with his mother and spies another little boy with his mother. Louis.
He soon comes upon a huge, wonderful tree, with a house built among the branches. The sound of music draws him in, and there he meets Bailey, who will be his Guide through this journey. He is expected.
And so begins Joe's journey to reclaim the memories of his life, and to discover truths, some familiar, some long buried and forgotten. Some painful, some joyful. Some a revelation, some obvious.
"It's interesting," Joe said, "how a heart can break just as easily in heaven as it can on earth."
The best writers keep their ideas simple, their narrative clean and uncomplicated, their characters honest and within themselves, and treat the reader with respect and integrity. And Eric Arvin delivers.
Take a man. Have him relive the memories of the people and events most important in his life. Have him come to peace with them. So utterly simplistic, so cunningly devastating. And so heartbreaking. And, but oh Christ did this book break my heart. This simple, joyous, stunning jewel of a book, just took it and splintered it and put it back together and make me whole.
This book was quite simply a revelation.
The characters were amazing - from Joe to Bailey to 3P to Grandpa Joe to his Grandmother, Violet, Declan, Guy. Again, simple. The people that color and give texture to his life (our lives), laid bare in burst after burst of love and family and friendship and pain and joy and life. All the "ah hah" minutes. The misunderstandings, the losses, the hurts. And he has a chance to forgive, heal, celebrate.
And the prose. Mr. Arvin takes the words and makes hymns, love songs to my heart and soul. Quiet, gentle truths.
"No, if there were a true hell, it lay at the bottom of the sea, and was populated by every regret one ever had."
"He felt a connection forming between them, like a bridge being built with invisible but sturdy stones."
"And they realized forgiveness was the greatest gift they could give themselves or anyone around them."
And then, and then we find out all that we want to know at the end. How Joe died. What happened to Lou. Who Bailey is. Who The Stranger is. Answer after answer, brick after brick, tear after tear. Till this beautiful, loving man - not special, just one of us - is whole again, complete with his soul mate and his family.
"All of it but a simple, longed-for embrace neither time nor death could contain."
Please, let us all have this. Because if Mr. Arvin can dream it, can't it be?
If you haven't read this book, do yourself a favor. Buy it. Read it. Share it.
Tom
Joe wakes up in a field of barley. Naked, alone and with no memory of anything except his name. He knows he is dead, but of his life prior to this - nothing. He's not scared, just curious.
As he begins looking around, he sees a dog in the distance, and is greeted by a man he doesn't know, whom he dubs The Stranger. Strangely familiar, he senses a connection, but The Stranger tells him he will remember in time, everything in time. And he will be waiting. When The Stranger leaves, Joe senses a restlessness and begins to walk. Starting his journey. And has his first memory - he is a little boy, walking with his mother and spies another little boy with his mother. Louis.
He soon comes upon a huge, wonderful tree, with a house built among the branches. The sound of music draws him in, and there he meets Bailey, who will be his Guide through this journey. He is expected.
And so begins Joe's journey to reclaim the memories of his life, and to discover truths, some familiar, some long buried and forgotten. Some painful, some joyful. Some a revelation, some obvious.
"It's interesting," Joe said, "how a heart can break just as easily in heaven as it can on earth."
The best writers keep their ideas simple, their narrative clean and uncomplicated, their characters honest and within themselves, and treat the reader with respect and integrity. And Eric Arvin delivers.
Take a man. Have him relive the memories of the people and events most important in his life. Have him come to peace with them. So utterly simplistic, so cunningly devastating. And so heartbreaking. And, but oh Christ did this book break my heart. This simple, joyous, stunning jewel of a book, just took it and splintered it and put it back together and make me whole.
This book was quite simply a revelation.
The characters were amazing - from Joe to Bailey to 3P to Grandpa Joe to his Grandmother, Violet, Declan, Guy. Again, simple. The people that color and give texture to his life (our lives), laid bare in burst after burst of love and family and friendship and pain and joy and life. All the "ah hah" minutes. The misunderstandings, the losses, the hurts. And he has a chance to forgive, heal, celebrate.
And the prose. Mr. Arvin takes the words and makes hymns, love songs to my heart and soul. Quiet, gentle truths.
"No, if there were a true hell, it lay at the bottom of the sea, and was populated by every regret one ever had."
"He felt a connection forming between them, like a bridge being built with invisible but sturdy stones."
"And they realized forgiveness was the greatest gift they could give themselves or anyone around them."
And then, and then we find out all that we want to know at the end. How Joe died. What happened to Lou. Who Bailey is. Who The Stranger is. Answer after answer, brick after brick, tear after tear. Till this beautiful, loving man - not special, just one of us - is whole again, complete with his soul mate and his family.
"All of it but a simple, longed-for embrace neither time nor death could contain."
Please, let us all have this. Because if Mr. Arvin can dream it, can't it be?
If you haven't read this book, do yourself a favor. Buy it. Read it. Share it.
Tom
December 21, 2014
It's time's like these that I wish I had some talent as a writer or some way to communicate my feelings with words that didn't seem so inadequate. I will do my best but I know I lack the ability to write a review that will do this story justice.
Normally, I am a quick reader who averages a book every day or two. I'll admit I often overlook many of the small details in the stories I read, but usually I'm okay with that. With Woke Up In A Strange Place, I found myself with a desire, no a need, to slow down and really read every word on every page. I had to stop and digest chapters and really think about how each new revelation tied into the whole. How Joe's journey led him from one realization and understanding to the next. Many times I had to close the book and contemplate what I had read. It opened an idea, a hope that maybe there is more to our existence then what I had previously believed. By the time I completed this book, I was surprised to see almost a week had passed and I don't know how that happened!
I don't think I have ever said this about a story I have read, but I think I have more hope and a more positive outlook on life just for having read this. I'm not a religious person and I never have been, but following Joe's journey was a revelation. If nothing else, it is nice to think of the possibilities! Thank you Eric Arvin for this gift! I plan to reread and revisit this story often. :)
Normally, I am a quick reader who averages a book every day or two. I'll admit I often overlook many of the small details in the stories I read, but usually I'm okay with that. With Woke Up In A Strange Place, I found myself with a desire, no a need, to slow down and really read every word on every page. I had to stop and digest chapters and really think about how each new revelation tied into the whole. How Joe's journey led him from one realization and understanding to the next. Many times I had to close the book and contemplate what I had read. It opened an idea, a hope that maybe there is more to our existence then what I had previously believed. By the time I completed this book, I was surprised to see almost a week had passed and I don't know how that happened!
I don't think I have ever said this about a story I have read, but I think I have more hope and a more positive outlook on life just for having read this. I'm not a religious person and I never have been, but following Joe's journey was a revelation. If nothing else, it is nice to think of the possibilities! Thank you Eric Arvin for this gift! I plan to reread and revisit this story often. :)
December 22, 2017
4.5. Stars
Really just a beautiful and thoughtful meditation on what happens to us after we’ve passed away. It’s not all hearts and flowers, nor is it all doom and gloom, this is a place where one goes to hopefully find peace and make amends despite past mistakes and wrongs.
Our hero Joe awakens in an unknown realm. It’s fascinatingly wondrous but there’s a pressing urgency for him to rediscover himself down memory lane so that he can fully reap the benefits of his new existence. As Joe slowly remembers, there’s many a sucker punch of emotions through glimpses of his struggles, both triumphant and terribly painful, but most importantly is finally finding his true love - someone who’s everything to him, someone who he must reunite with.
Arvin’s take is not black and white but pervasive with redemption, forgiveness, and a tentative happiness should one be brave enough to take a chance at seizing it. Though perhaps Joe didn’t get his ultimate fairy tale ending when alive, rest assured he finds his blissful forever in Arvin’s blending of many interpretations, creating a unique (and personally preferred) alternative to the paradigm.
Overall affecting and thought provoking with a truly wonderful, and for once, both literally and figuratively, happily ever after.
Really just a beautiful and thoughtful meditation on what happens to us after we’ve passed away. It’s not all hearts and flowers, nor is it all doom and gloom, this is a place where one goes to hopefully find peace and make amends despite past mistakes and wrongs.
Our hero Joe awakens in an unknown realm. It’s fascinatingly wondrous but there’s a pressing urgency for him to rediscover himself down memory lane so that he can fully reap the benefits of his new existence. As Joe slowly remembers, there’s many a sucker punch of emotions through glimpses of his struggles, both triumphant and terribly painful, but most importantly is finally finding his true love - someone who’s everything to him, someone who he must reunite with.
Arvin’s take is not black and white but pervasive with redemption, forgiveness, and a tentative happiness should one be brave enough to take a chance at seizing it. Though perhaps Joe didn’t get his ultimate fairy tale ending when alive, rest assured he finds his blissful forever in Arvin’s blending of many interpretations, creating a unique (and personally preferred) alternative to the paradigm.
Overall affecting and thought provoking with a truly wonderful, and for once, both literally and figuratively, happily ever after.
May 6, 2013
Well, this book was a revelation.
It needs your total concentration, and once you commit yourself to it, it doesn't let you down. A voyage of self-discovery, it's almost as if Joe is a knight of old, on a personal quest to discover his lost love, Lou.
I loved the part where Joe meets his grandfather (because he never really knew him), and what he learns explains so much about the relationship between his grandfather and grandmother. I also loved the fact and I really loved Phil and Buck.
I loved the fact that there are gay angels
(who sounded and looked as though they were about to go clubbing), and they are all the rage in heaven!
Many thanks for this journey Eric. A lovely, lovely book.
It needs your total concentration, and once you commit yourself to it, it doesn't let you down. A voyage of self-discovery, it's almost as if Joe is a knight of old, on a personal quest to discover his lost love, Lou.
I loved the part where Joe meets his grandfather (because he never really knew him), and what he learns explains so much about the relationship between his grandfather and grandmother. I also loved the fact and I really loved Phil and Buck.
I loved the fact that there are gay angels
(who sounded and looked as though they were about to go clubbing), and they are all the rage in heaven!Many thanks for this journey Eric. A lovely, lovely book.
October 22, 2011
Brilliant, a dreamlike wondrous journey that grabs you with its vivid descriptions of the world and its weird and colorful characters. Lovely thought provoking and yes romantic! Highly recommended, fantastic and imaginative writing.
February 28, 2011
I was drawn to this book immediately the moment I saw its cover on the Dreamspinner website. The gorgeous cover, painted by artist and cover artist Paul Richmond, was strangely serene and peaceful, and I remember at the time hoping that the beautiful art on the cover accurately represents the pages within. I bought the book the day it came out, and immeditely upon reading, I was captivated. This story is based on a single idea — one that has been explored countless times in literature and film, yet which when paired with Eric Arvin’s beautiful prose and the genre of m/m romance itself, becomes truly unique — the travel into the afterlife for answers about life. death, and the love that you found along the way. Here, Eric Arvin takes our young Odysseus through an epic adventure in the afterlife, each encounter with a strange being or situation demonstrating a major moment of his life that Joe is due to remember, for only in acceptance and remembrance of his successes and failures in life will Joe learn from them and be able to move on. From childhood friends to teenage heartbreak, from struggling to come out to finding love and failure as an adult, Joe’s memories get succeedingly difficult to face, until becoming too difficult all together. If he does not face his past and find a way to understand it, he will never move on, stuck in the limbo of his Journey. Even more upsetting, if he doesn’t finish his Journey, he might never learn who the alluring stranger is who periodically shows up to give him courage, and as a result, Joe might never unravel the greatest mystery of all — his death.
He doesn’t even remember his name when he wakes up naked in the field of barley. He doesn’t know who he his, where he is, or who the strange and beautiful man is who shows up with an eager dog and tells him that if he has the courage, they will meet again and the end of the journey the man insists Joe must take. When the man disappears and he has nothing more to do, he sets off to explore. It seems as if each little thing, the feel of the grass on his toes, or the image of the night sky brings upon a memory. Slowly at first, he starts to remember things: his name, the face of his mother, his first memories. So far he has let his feet wander where they may and he has come across the largest tree that he’s ever seen, with the largest treehouse he’s ever seen, spiraling level after level into the boughs. Feeling compulsed, David follows a big of music into the treehouse and comes across a man playing a guitar. He says his name is Baker and that he is to be Joe’s guide through the Second Existence, and his Journey. They set off, getting to know one another and bonding like old friends as they take on and deal with one encounter after another of people from Joe’s life that he is destined to face.
I loved this book so much for the breadth of scope it encompasses. It is insightful into the nature of celebrating life and honoring it in a way that includes honoring death as well, not as an ending, but as a transistion from one form to another. The story was also hilarious at times, as Eric Arvin took real advantage of certain situations to show the difference between different periods of Joe’s life and how they manifest themselves after death — Joe’s childhood friend 3P, who teaches Joe how to regain his childhood; Joe’s grandfather, who in life was keeping some secrets of his own, but who, in the afterlife, has wings like an angel and loves to swoop through the pink candy clouds and roll and dive through the air, joyous in a way he never was in life; and also Guy, Joe’s vain best friend from college, who is more of himself in death than he even was in life, having made his body into a monstrous display of masculinity, a giant with a giant penis and the leader of a fraternity of men who spend the afterlife playing naked wrestling, having constant sex, and being a group of brothers in a glaring tribute to the Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue scenes of frolicking half-naked men. These were only a drop in the bucket of the amazingly varied characters Joe meets in the afterlife, each a bit more magnanimous than they were in life. I particularly loved Phil and Mitch, the gay talking horses
The world itself is beautifully built, a place that is an extension of the mind. It isn’t unusual to see the world quite literally shifting around a character to reflect their mood. It is a place a bit like Oz, yet also with the depth of the dreamscape in the movie Inception. The place is like a blank canvas, it only limitation being the boundaries of the mind. This lends to each day being an act of creation, and we see this as we learn who Joe is along with him. The slow reveal of each piece of Joe’s life builds the suspense of what is coming. We, the reader, nor Joe understand exactly what that is, but we know that there are things coming that he will have to face that are difficult. In the end, how did he die, and what role in his death did the Stranger have?
For the full review, please visit Reviews by Jessewave.
He doesn’t even remember his name when he wakes up naked in the field of barley. He doesn’t know who he his, where he is, or who the strange and beautiful man is who shows up with an eager dog and tells him that if he has the courage, they will meet again and the end of the journey the man insists Joe must take. When the man disappears and he has nothing more to do, he sets off to explore. It seems as if each little thing, the feel of the grass on his toes, or the image of the night sky brings upon a memory. Slowly at first, he starts to remember things: his name, the face of his mother, his first memories. So far he has let his feet wander where they may and he has come across the largest tree that he’s ever seen, with the largest treehouse he’s ever seen, spiraling level after level into the boughs. Feeling compulsed, David follows a big of music into the treehouse and comes across a man playing a guitar. He says his name is Baker and that he is to be Joe’s guide through the Second Existence, and his Journey. They set off, getting to know one another and bonding like old friends as they take on and deal with one encounter after another of people from Joe’s life that he is destined to face.
I loved this book so much for the breadth of scope it encompasses. It is insightful into the nature of celebrating life and honoring it in a way that includes honoring death as well, not as an ending, but as a transistion from one form to another. The story was also hilarious at times, as Eric Arvin took real advantage of certain situations to show the difference between different periods of Joe’s life and how they manifest themselves after death — Joe’s childhood friend 3P, who teaches Joe how to regain his childhood; Joe’s grandfather, who in life was keeping some secrets of his own, but who, in the afterlife, has wings like an angel and loves to swoop through the pink candy clouds and roll and dive through the air, joyous in a way he never was in life; and also Guy, Joe’s vain best friend from college, who is more of himself in death than he even was in life, having made his body into a monstrous display of masculinity, a giant with a giant penis and the leader of a fraternity of men who spend the afterlife playing naked wrestling, having constant sex, and being a group of brothers in a glaring tribute to the Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue scenes of frolicking half-naked men. These were only a drop in the bucket of the amazingly varied characters Joe meets in the afterlife, each a bit more magnanimous than they were in life. I particularly loved Phil and Mitch, the gay talking horses
The world itself is beautifully built, a place that is an extension of the mind. It isn’t unusual to see the world quite literally shifting around a character to reflect their mood. It is a place a bit like Oz, yet also with the depth of the dreamscape in the movie Inception. The place is like a blank canvas, it only limitation being the boundaries of the mind. This lends to each day being an act of creation, and we see this as we learn who Joe is along with him. The slow reveal of each piece of Joe’s life builds the suspense of what is coming. We, the reader, nor Joe understand exactly what that is, but we know that there are things coming that he will have to face that are difficult. In the end, how did he die, and what role in his death did the Stranger have?
For the full review, please visit Reviews by Jessewave.
November 18, 2017
*blink*
Whoa.
*clears throat*
I’m nearly speechless, which is never a good thing when you're trying to recount your feelings and then attempt to actually express them.
So please, bear with me here...
Read the blurb… it’s critical or you could pull a Geronimo like I did and jump.
This is an elegantly depicted tale about a man’s journey after death, a collection of memory breadcrumbs of sorts. With each breadcrumb he captures another flashback and relives a significant ripple in time.
Joe must navigate the afterlife searching for beacons of light from his life: memories, key souls, and defining moments. This is somewhat ironic considering most of these beacons were from the darkest times in his life, raw and burning flashes of life-altering events.
To complete his passage he must summon 'great courage'.
*ahem*
This ain't no joke.
I was merely tagging along and I was forced to take a time-out more than once. Can you imagine facing your own demons and nightmares again and again? It was intense and my heart shattered.
Sometimes the hardest part, the most challenging part, and quite possibly the unforgiving part is the twisted trek getting there.
What if you lose your way? What if you forget your purpose? Will anyone be waiting for you at the last stop?
It wasn’t just enlightening, it was blinding.
It wasn’t just clever, it was brilliant.
It was just moving, it was the perfect storm.
A dash of faith, a sprinkle of mythology with a touch of ideology creates a vision; a peerless vision which left me completely enamored. All of the characters made a lasting impression, even Spooner the lovely pup. I could rattle off my favorite quotes and I could bore you with my gushing adoration of this vivid fantasy ride, but I don’t want to spoil it. I want you to relish firsthand in the remarkable adventure that awaits you. I should disclose that though this may appear to be a romance it’s more of a quest of passion, soul mates and eventually home.
My advise?
Be patient. Be attentive. But most of all, be prepared to take a flying leap on this epic story. I can promise you, you've never read anything like this before and I imagine you'll never find anything else that compares.
*5 tearstained-treasured-trek stars*
Whoa.
*clears throat*
I’m nearly speechless, which is never a good thing when you're trying to recount your feelings and then attempt to actually express them.
So please, bear with me here...
Read the blurb… it’s critical or you could pull a Geronimo like I did and jump.
This is an elegantly depicted tale about a man’s journey after death, a collection of memory breadcrumbs of sorts. With each breadcrumb he captures another flashback and relives a significant ripple in time.
Joe must navigate the afterlife searching for beacons of light from his life: memories, key souls, and defining moments. This is somewhat ironic considering most of these beacons were from the darkest times in his life, raw and burning flashes of life-altering events.
To complete his passage he must summon 'great courage'.
*ahem*
This ain't no joke.
I was merely tagging along and I was forced to take a time-out more than once. Can you imagine facing your own demons and nightmares again and again? It was intense and my heart shattered.
Sometimes the hardest part, the most challenging part, and quite possibly the unforgiving part is the twisted trek getting there.
What if you lose your way? What if you forget your purpose? Will anyone be waiting for you at the last stop?
It wasn’t just enlightening, it was blinding.
It wasn’t just clever, it was brilliant.
It was just moving, it was the perfect storm.
A dash of faith, a sprinkle of mythology with a touch of ideology creates a vision; a peerless vision which left me completely enamored. All of the characters made a lasting impression, even Spooner the lovely pup. I could rattle off my favorite quotes and I could bore you with my gushing adoration of this vivid fantasy ride, but I don’t want to spoil it. I want you to relish firsthand in the remarkable adventure that awaits you. I should disclose that though this may appear to be a romance it’s more of a quest of passion, soul mates and eventually home.
My advise?
Be patient. Be attentive. But most of all, be prepared to take a flying leap on this epic story. I can promise you, you've never read anything like this before and I imagine you'll never find anything else that compares.
*5 tearstained-treasured-trek stars*
January 5, 2016
Wow! This book simply took my breath away. I've been transported to another world I've never been able to imagine myself. I am ashamed that my mind failed to roam such recesses before -- an idea so simple yet it left me awestruck due to its sheer ingenuity. Many times I tried to compare the place to Narnia, Wonderland, and even Oz. But whereas those worlds boast of joyful and epic adventures, the world Eric Arvin created fills you with nostalgia and of happiness forgotten.
His world started a storm of emotions building inside me. Emotions that can't be explained but give me goosebumps nonetheless. Emotions that cut deep, feeding my soul with a sense of peace and tranquility I haven't felt before.
There's just so much to love about this book. It is clear the author really knows his history and is very fond of philosophy, mythology, architecture, and the arts because the story is filled with and, if I may say so, rooted to these studies. Profound opinions relating to religion, sexuality, life, and the afterlife permeate the book. While they can be argued, I don't find them offensive and obstructive to one's beliefs and ideologies. The author's ideals were introduced very matter-of-factly and in a non-preaching manner. As if the author just wanted to share his credence which I find equally respectable and commendable.
I loved how the book took me around the world in just a day. I loved how every chapter held new discoveries and introduced a part of the world I've often wondered but never got the courage to see. In a way, it's as if I was also traveling while discovering myself along with Joe. Each chapter had its own story. All of the characters introduced in each one are exciting, unique, and memorable. Each memory that Joe acquired with each chapter and new character he meets in his journey speaks of a reality wrapped up in a magical world of possibilities. I loved that there were no limitations and boundaries, and yet it didn't feel contrived and unnatural. It felt every bit real and authentic.
I very much appreciated how my reading experience with the book felt very spiritual and enlightening despite the beautiful melancholy surrounding the story. I laughed, cried, and felt the love, sorrow, and pain with every turn and twist the plot took. Although the hints were pretty much obvious and the twists sometimes predictable, the author made sure that the feelings associated with each turnaround didn't diminish in intensity.
And each lesson that the journey gifted Joe has been a lesson to me as well. It got me wondering what my own journey would look like. Who will be there to welcome me and what lessons will be waiting for me? Most of all, how many lives had I been able to touch and impact?
April 26, 2017
A Beautiful Place to Get Lost
I'm so delighted to read another Eric Arvin story. Even though 'Paranormal' is not my favorite genre, his imaginary rich prose made me crazy. The way he phrased this tale. I was so detached to his writing mastery at the beginning, so I did not pay enough attention to the story line.
It's the story of Joe, who wakes up in a barley field with no clothes, and no memories. His "soul guide" Baker leads him on a journey through his life, through his afterlife, where he regains the memories from the life by encountering various people from that life. The desire to reach a mysterious stranger, who is somewhere in the distance, and Baker's guidance give him the strength he needs to go further.
What a Spiritual Journey! As Joe nears the end of his quest, his discovery become harder and harder to find himself. Many things he's got to finish. See things through so as to truly understand them!
Why?
I'm so sad. It's over!
No more journey?
Every adventure has to end. How else would other adventures begin!?
'Wars and businesses come and go in every life, but the aesthetic and sensual qualities of the spirit lift us above those things.' - Arvin, Eric. Woke Up in a Strange Place
Sounds so current!
I'm so delighted to read another Eric Arvin story. Even though 'Paranormal' is not my favorite genre, his imaginary rich prose made me crazy. The way he phrased this tale. I was so detached to his writing mastery at the beginning, so I did not pay enough attention to the story line.
It's the story of Joe, who wakes up in a barley field with no clothes, and no memories. His "soul guide" Baker leads him on a journey through his life, through his afterlife, where he regains the memories from the life by encountering various people from that life. The desire to reach a mysterious stranger, who is somewhere in the distance, and Baker's guidance give him the strength he needs to go further.
What a Spiritual Journey! As Joe nears the end of his quest, his discovery become harder and harder to find himself. Many things he's got to finish. See things through so as to truly understand them!
Why?
I'm so sad. It's over!
No more journey?
Every adventure has to end. How else would other adventures begin!?
'Wars and businesses come and go in every life, but the aesthetic and sensual qualities of the spirit lift us above those things.' - Arvin, Eric. Woke Up in a Strange Place
Sounds so current!
November 13, 2011
I was thinking about this book the other day, and I realized how many people have not read this. This book is flat out amazing. Its not your standard m/m romance, but it is a love story. Its a love story about the main character's life and who and what has been a part of it. You never know what parts of your life will remain, what your brain or heart will hold on to. Some things might be painful and some might be joyous. Some people will always stay in your heart just a bit away, but situations surrounding them are so painful that you fight to push it away. Some aspects of your life seem so insignificant at the time, but years later you remember some blip of them. All of it somehow makes up your life and the love you've shared with people.
Joe wakes up one day with no memories stumbling through seemingly random at times moments or people that have been apart of him. He has a guide that leads him along the way, and as a reader you just have to go with it because you are just as lost and confused as he is. Trust me, its a great kind of confusion. Nothing is predictable, and while sad at times this book couldn't, shouldn't have ended any other way. This book is dreamlike,beautiful, important. I ugly-faced cried when it was over.
I highly, highly recommend you read now. One of those special, unique, wonderful pieces of work.
Joe wakes up one day with no memories stumbling through seemingly random at times moments or people that have been apart of him. He has a guide that leads him along the way, and as a reader you just have to go with it because you are just as lost and confused as he is. Trust me, its a great kind of confusion. Nothing is predictable, and while sad at times this book couldn't, shouldn't have ended any other way. This book is dreamlike,beautiful, important. I ugly-faced cried when it was over.
I highly, highly recommend you read now. One of those special, unique, wonderful pieces of work.
November 4, 2012
This was one of the most unusual mm books I have ever read. But do you know what. I loved it. This book had such a sweet, beautiful romance, that was about rediscovering it in the afterlife. Now I will admit this book will not be everybody's cup of tea, but I found myself in love with this book.
Joe and Lou were the couple in this book, but Joe was the MC and he was a very good one. Some little tiny things were not great in this book but overall I enjoyed reading it. Especially once Joe and Lou were reunited and found their slightly unusual HEA.
Thank you Cindi for telling me about this book, I would not have read it as quickly if it was not for you. :)
Joe and Lou were the couple in this book, but Joe was the MC and he was a very good one. Some little tiny things were not great in this book but overall I enjoyed reading it. Especially once Joe and Lou were reunited and found their slightly unusual HEA.
Thank you Cindi for telling me about this book, I would not have read it as quickly if it was not for you. :)
March 8, 2017
that for me was so amazing that I just can't even begin to explain it
August 11, 2013
Wow. This was (by far) one of the most unusual and unique books I have ever read. While looking for something new to read I saw the author's name on a site. I saw this book. I wasn't sure about it until I read a recommendation by another author (T.J. Klune) that I had just read the day before. That pushed me in the right direction and I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did.
I am totally at a loss as to what to say about this book. If I go into the story, I will give it away. I do not want to do that. All I will say is that it is a story of self-discovery, told in a way that I have never seen before. Yes, it is a love story. But the love story, while the ultimate goal of the story, is not front and center for the entire book. While it is always there in the background for the main character (Joe) there are other things that must be resolved along the way during his Journey. The characters introduced during Joe's Journey are funny, some are silly, and some are heartbreaking.
It takes a lot for a book to affect me to the point of tears. This one did. There were the good tears but there were also the sad ones. Joe's road to self-discovery is not always told in a good or happy way. That is what made the book so good.
I could go on and on about how much I love this book but I won't. Just read it. It's not an overly sexual book. There is not a lot of graphic stuff here. But the love story is amazing. This is one that will stick with me long after I completed it.
Review can also be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
I am totally at a loss as to what to say about this book. If I go into the story, I will give it away. I do not want to do that. All I will say is that it is a story of self-discovery, told in a way that I have never seen before. Yes, it is a love story. But the love story, while the ultimate goal of the story, is not front and center for the entire book. While it is always there in the background for the main character (Joe) there are other things that must be resolved along the way during his Journey. The characters introduced during Joe's Journey are funny, some are silly, and some are heartbreaking.
It takes a lot for a book to affect me to the point of tears. This one did. There were the good tears but there were also the sad ones. Joe's road to self-discovery is not always told in a good or happy way. That is what made the book so good.
I could go on and on about how much I love this book but I won't. Just read it. It's not an overly sexual book. There is not a lot of graphic stuff here. But the love story is amazing. This is one that will stick with me long after I completed it.
Review can also be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
January 14, 2013
Reviewed on Hearts On Fire... http://heartsonfirereviews.com/
Joe is dead and standing in a barley field. He has no memories but feels a strong attraction to a Stranger he meets who tells Joe to have "great courage". Along with his guide, Baker, Joe heads off to rediscover the life he lived and to make things right. This was an awesome story of one soul's journey through his life reliving the happiness and tragedies and learning the many things that he missed the first time around. It reminded me very much of the Hindu belief in reincarnation and the road to Nirvana. The vivid descriptions and the free style writing made this story a joy to read. I enjoyed the way that each important place on Joe's journey was packed with things that Joe either didn't want to face or had completely missed his first time around. Some stops were fun while other were heart wrenching. The whole theme of heaven is what you make it goes so much more for life itself. The story flowed beautifully and read easily. All of the secondary characters were wonderful and quirky and kept reinforcing in Joe that you just need to be yourself. This is a great book to read when you have time to sit and think about it because the story will not leave your mind alone.
Joe is dead and standing in a barley field. He has no memories but feels a strong attraction to a Stranger he meets who tells Joe to have "great courage". Along with his guide, Baker, Joe heads off to rediscover the life he lived and to make things right. This was an awesome story of one soul's journey through his life reliving the happiness and tragedies and learning the many things that he missed the first time around. It reminded me very much of the Hindu belief in reincarnation and the road to Nirvana. The vivid descriptions and the free style writing made this story a joy to read. I enjoyed the way that each important place on Joe's journey was packed with things that Joe either didn't want to face or had completely missed his first time around. Some stops were fun while other were heart wrenching. The whole theme of heaven is what you make it goes so much more for life itself. The story flowed beautifully and read easily. All of the secondary characters were wonderful and quirky and kept reinforcing in Joe that you just need to be yourself. This is a great book to read when you have time to sit and think about it because the story will not leave your mind alone.
November 21, 2016
This was a grand journey and I'm sorry that it has ended or has it? My journey with Joe might have ended yes but what he went through, what he learnt taught him something and taught me as well. So it is up to me to continue the journey. I'm just hoping for great courage and and an open heart.
January 12, 2012
This book was so fucking awesome. I'm not even sure where to put it on my shelves though....its not like any other book that I've read.
This wasn't what I would call a "traditional" romance but a romance just the same. The whole story is about Joe's journey
This wasn't what I would call a "traditional" romance but a romance just the same. The whole story is about Joe's journey
October 27, 2012
This is a hard book to review or even classify. It's beautifully written and the journey that Joe takes is at once heartbreaking and life affirming. It's a languid journey through rediscovering who we are and who matters most. The world building is just phenomenal, with out being preachy or judgmental Arvin creates a wholly realistic and unique afterlife. Joe's journey is languid and meandering but this is a book to be savored and can not be rushed. But most of all this is a book about love and how love impacts us. It's about family and soul mates and beginnings and endings. This is a densely packed book that grabbed me and didn't let go. Several times I went to put it down, thinking to myself this just isn't my type of book, only to keep reading because the prose too beautiful to deny. I highly recommend this book but be prepared to fall into the rabbit hole and not surface until the journey has ended.
February 26, 2013
Shit! I don't know what to say? .....So...No, I really don't know what to say.
Trying.....
OK. - I really liked/loved reading this book. The prose is, poetic...old fashioned even...in that Victorian/Edwardian sort of literature-sort-of way. It's a little like reading Shakespeare because you want to, not because you have to and it feels good, but it also makes your mind wander, a little. The only novel I can liken this to is "Alice in Wonderland" (for adults)it's a little spaced out.
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone that likes sex in a novel, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone suffering depression and it's really not for "Born Again" types, or really anyone from a devout, religious persuasion.
A novel about True Love conquering and I loved the read. I think I need to read another Eric Arvin novel to appreciate this novel properly, and I will. Now I need to read something light(er).
Trying.....
OK. - I really liked/loved reading this book. The prose is, poetic...old fashioned even...in that Victorian/Edwardian sort of literature-sort-of way. It's a little like reading Shakespeare because you want to, not because you have to and it feels good, but it also makes your mind wander, a little. The only novel I can liken this to is "Alice in Wonderland" (for adults)it's a little spaced out.
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone that likes sex in a novel, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone suffering depression and it's really not for "Born Again" types, or really anyone from a devout, religious persuasion.
A novel about True Love conquering and I loved the read. I think I need to read another Eric Arvin novel to appreciate this novel properly, and I will. Now I need to read something light(er).
December 8, 2013
Reviewed on: http://totallybookedblog.com/2013/12/...
5++ Beautiful Stars
Wow, so you know that moment you discover a new Author and he blinds you with a beauty so stunning it leaves you breathless?! Well Eric Arvin did just that to me with ‘Woke Up in a Strange Place’, an m/m romance.
The writing is beautiful, incredibly visual and creative it touched me so deeply, I think I had permanent steady tears throughout. Every single sense awakens in this story, truly inspirational, heart-breaking and thought provoking.
“No, if there was a true hell, it lay at the bottom of the sea and was populated by every regret one ever had.”
I love when I read a story that makes me question thoughts, beliefs and assumptions and this one does just that. Woven into an emotional exploration of the grandest proportions is the journey into an afterlife so vivid and curious. Our hero must make a journey of self-discovery in death to make sense of his life. The people, creatures and situations he comes across and his surprising experiences all serve the purpose of remembering and gaining an understanding; a lesson learned I suppose.
As our unsure hero embarks upon his journey deep into his afterlife, his memory sharpens, he sees with ‘new’ eyes as he looks on with an alternate perspective.
‘All of these memories glided around him like spirits in the night air, as if memory was an entity in and of itself.’
He sees the details and the bigger picture. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and if we had the chance to fully examine would we act differently or are we too involved in the moment. Do we let moments slide by through unobservance? Upon reliving these moments is that when we gain a greater comprehension and come to terms with cause and consequence?
“Well, human beings have always done one thing very well, and that is create their own hells and bask in their own misery. They complain about what they create for themselves; they relish the pain. What they don’t do so well most of the time is find a way out of it.”
Those moments in life where an action or decision taken lightly, perhaps on a whim, as opposed to taken with the weight that it may possibly deserve or necessitate. Well, for our hero and myself the reader, as we joined him on his emotional journey, we had moments with childhood friends, past lovers and family. We learnt of love, losses, pain and true happiness. We learnt that our hero must come to terms with his life as was, understand it, to find and reclaim the love of his life, in the afterlife. Some discoveries made by our hero are so incredibly emotional my heart melted. The exploration and surprising encounters made this journey kind of magical and very sensory.
‘Immediately, it was as if two halves became whole once again. The sky flashed colors overhead as they stood together: day to night, night to day. They stood motionless and kissing for so long a period that they might have been mistaken for part of the landscape, as vines climbed up their legs and grass grew around them; as dirt gathered and buried even more the scattered fragments of the abbey. Only the keepers of time knew that lifetimes did indeed pass, possibly entire eras. And yet it was but a scant moment….. All of it but a simple, longed-for embrace neither time nor death could contain.”
I urge all readers of all genres to read this stunning story and revel in its beauty and poignancy. It’s a very different read, the romance is emotional and not graphic. The story-line is imaginative and heart-felt. The humour is spot on and is threaded perfectly through and amongst the tear jerking moments.
Eric Arvin, you made me cry from a broken heart, a lost love, a destination unknown, a forgotten memory, a discovery, a strength and an incredible courage. You made me laugh through my tears but most of all you made me fall in love. Thank you for writing one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. This will forever be a favourite.
“Here’s where you’re supposed to be.”
5++ Beautiful Stars
Wow, so you know that moment you discover a new Author and he blinds you with a beauty so stunning it leaves you breathless?! Well Eric Arvin did just that to me with ‘Woke Up in a Strange Place’, an m/m romance.
The writing is beautiful, incredibly visual and creative it touched me so deeply, I think I had permanent steady tears throughout. Every single sense awakens in this story, truly inspirational, heart-breaking and thought provoking.
“No, if there was a true hell, it lay at the bottom of the sea and was populated by every regret one ever had.”
I love when I read a story that makes me question thoughts, beliefs and assumptions and this one does just that. Woven into an emotional exploration of the grandest proportions is the journey into an afterlife so vivid and curious. Our hero must make a journey of self-discovery in death to make sense of his life. The people, creatures and situations he comes across and his surprising experiences all serve the purpose of remembering and gaining an understanding; a lesson learned I suppose.
As our unsure hero embarks upon his journey deep into his afterlife, his memory sharpens, he sees with ‘new’ eyes as he looks on with an alternate perspective.
‘All of these memories glided around him like spirits in the night air, as if memory was an entity in and of itself.’
He sees the details and the bigger picture. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and if we had the chance to fully examine would we act differently or are we too involved in the moment. Do we let moments slide by through unobservance? Upon reliving these moments is that when we gain a greater comprehension and come to terms with cause and consequence?
“Well, human beings have always done one thing very well, and that is create their own hells and bask in their own misery. They complain about what they create for themselves; they relish the pain. What they don’t do so well most of the time is find a way out of it.”
Those moments in life where an action or decision taken lightly, perhaps on a whim, as opposed to taken with the weight that it may possibly deserve or necessitate. Well, for our hero and myself the reader, as we joined him on his emotional journey, we had moments with childhood friends, past lovers and family. We learnt of love, losses, pain and true happiness. We learnt that our hero must come to terms with his life as was, understand it, to find and reclaim the love of his life, in the afterlife. Some discoveries made by our hero are so incredibly emotional my heart melted. The exploration and surprising encounters made this journey kind of magical and very sensory.
‘Immediately, it was as if two halves became whole once again. The sky flashed colors overhead as they stood together: day to night, night to day. They stood motionless and kissing for so long a period that they might have been mistaken for part of the landscape, as vines climbed up their legs and grass grew around them; as dirt gathered and buried even more the scattered fragments of the abbey. Only the keepers of time knew that lifetimes did indeed pass, possibly entire eras. And yet it was but a scant moment….. All of it but a simple, longed-for embrace neither time nor death could contain.”
I urge all readers of all genres to read this stunning story and revel in its beauty and poignancy. It’s a very different read, the romance is emotional and not graphic. The story-line is imaginative and heart-felt. The humour is spot on and is threaded perfectly through and amongst the tear jerking moments.
Eric Arvin, you made me cry from a broken heart, a lost love, a destination unknown, a forgotten memory, a discovery, a strength and an incredible courage. You made me laugh through my tears but most of all you made me fall in love. Thank you for writing one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. This will forever be a favourite.
“Here’s where you’re supposed to be.”
October 26, 2011
Woke Up in a Strange place was wonderful. It was beautiful. Beautiful and sad. Beautiful and sad and lovingly full of hope.
The entire novel reminded me of reading Pilgrim’s Progress as a kid—except the gay version, and much more impactful.
The writing is vivid and flowing. The creativity is astounding. The love story is achingly painful and sweet (as genuine love is). A very different book than what I normally read. It didn’t feel like I was simply reading a fantasy novel, this was truly a spiritual journey.
Small spoiler:
One of my favorite parts was about Hell. In this version of the afterlife, there is no Heaven or Hell. It is all our own creating, mostly. However, in this section, there were scores and scores of people who were in Hell, in the fiery pit, burning eternally. The main character, Joe, asks how this could be since there is no Hell. For these people, the believed it so much they couldn’t let go of their belief in Hell. If they chose, they could have walked away anytime. This was the response Joe received:
“Well, human beings have always done one thing very well, and that is create their own hells and bask in their own misery. They complain about what they create for themselves; they relish the pain. What they don’t do so well most of the time is find a way out of it.
Arvin, Eric (2011). Woke Up in a Strange Place (Kindle Locations 2004-2006). Dreamspinner Press. Kindle Edition.
Those lines hit me as such truth. We all do that, and I am the King. Whether convincing ourselves we will never be happy again. Whether we believe we are damned due to being gay. Whether, whatever…. So many of us live, and/or have lived within our own Hells for most of our lives.
Another quote I loved was describing what the gay main character experienced in regard to acceptance of family and other gay men. I’ve often tried to understand this concept myself, but was never able to put it into words. I think this nailed it for me:
It wasn’t the same kind of acceptance he had felt with Grandpa Joe. This was tribal, not kindred.
Arvin, Eric (2011). Woke Up in a Strange Place (Kindle Location 3459). Dreamspinner Press. Kindle Edition.
Such a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful novel!!!
The entire novel reminded me of reading Pilgrim’s Progress as a kid—except the gay version, and much more impactful.
The writing is vivid and flowing. The creativity is astounding. The love story is achingly painful and sweet (as genuine love is). A very different book than what I normally read. It didn’t feel like I was simply reading a fantasy novel, this was truly a spiritual journey.
Small spoiler:
One of my favorite parts was about Hell. In this version of the afterlife, there is no Heaven or Hell. It is all our own creating, mostly. However, in this section, there were scores and scores of people who were in Hell, in the fiery pit, burning eternally. The main character, Joe, asks how this could be since there is no Hell. For these people, the believed it so much they couldn’t let go of their belief in Hell. If they chose, they could have walked away anytime. This was the response Joe received:
“Well, human beings have always done one thing very well, and that is create their own hells and bask in their own misery. They complain about what they create for themselves; they relish the pain. What they don’t do so well most of the time is find a way out of it.
Arvin, Eric (2011). Woke Up in a Strange Place (Kindle Locations 2004-2006). Dreamspinner Press. Kindle Edition.
Those lines hit me as such truth. We all do that, and I am the King. Whether convincing ourselves we will never be happy again. Whether we believe we are damned due to being gay. Whether, whatever…. So many of us live, and/or have lived within our own Hells for most of our lives.
Another quote I loved was describing what the gay main character experienced in regard to acceptance of family and other gay men. I’ve often tried to understand this concept myself, but was never able to put it into words. I think this nailed it for me:
It wasn’t the same kind of acceptance he had felt with Grandpa Joe. This was tribal, not kindred.
Arvin, Eric (2011). Woke Up in a Strange Place (Kindle Location 3459). Dreamspinner Press. Kindle Edition.
Such a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful novel!!!
October 10, 2012
I have never reviewed a book before but by the time I was done the first chapter of “Woke Up in a Strange Place” I knew I would have to step out of my comfort zone and review it!
This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I LOVED, loved, loved it! If I could I would give it bonus stars!
I had “Woke Up in a Strange Place” for months before I decided to finally read it. I was worried it was too much out of reality for me since I don’t read a lot of fantasy and adventure genres. But the premise of the book is so unique I found myself believing the fantasy aspect easily and not only that, really enjoying it! This book is so special. It is not just fantasy, romance or adventure. It’s everything rolled into one.
Eric Arvin’s writing is beautiful and poetic and never pretentious. The mood was a mix of melancholy and hope and I never found it to be depressing. The romantic aspect of the story was always present like background music that helped guide you along.
“Woke Up in a Strange Place” took my soul on a journey at a slow and steady pace (NEVER boring) and I found myself engrossed in what was being described to me. I was one with the MC, feeling what he was feeling, tasting and smelling everything that he encountered. It was a total sensory experience. There were parts that shocked and surprised me. I smiled, I teared up, I loved it all! Also, I felt that the idea of the afterlife was handled really well, without offending anyone (IMHO). I loved that Florence was part of the story as it’s my absolute favourite city in the world and was a perfect choice because I think the city carries a similar energy as the book.
I think everyone should read this book. If you’re having doubts I suggest buying from a place where you can get a free sample and you’ll get sucked right in. I have never read anything like it and I’ll be rereading it over and over.
This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I LOVED, loved, loved it! If I could I would give it bonus stars!
I had “Woke Up in a Strange Place” for months before I decided to finally read it. I was worried it was too much out of reality for me since I don’t read a lot of fantasy and adventure genres. But the premise of the book is so unique I found myself believing the fantasy aspect easily and not only that, really enjoying it! This book is so special. It is not just fantasy, romance or adventure. It’s everything rolled into one.
Eric Arvin’s writing is beautiful and poetic and never pretentious. The mood was a mix of melancholy and hope and I never found it to be depressing. The romantic aspect of the story was always present like background music that helped guide you along.
“Woke Up in a Strange Place” took my soul on a journey at a slow and steady pace (NEVER boring) and I found myself engrossed in what was being described to me. I was one with the MC, feeling what he was feeling, tasting and smelling everything that he encountered. It was a total sensory experience. There were parts that shocked and surprised me. I smiled, I teared up, I loved it all! Also, I felt that the idea of the afterlife was handled really well, without offending anyone (IMHO). I loved that Florence was part of the story as it’s my absolute favourite city in the world and was a perfect choice because I think the city carries a similar energy as the book.
I think everyone should read this book. If you’re having doubts I suggest buying from a place where you can get a free sample and you’ll get sucked right in. I have never read anything like it and I’ll be rereading it over and over.
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January 24, 2023I am really struggling to articulate or even understand my feelings for this book. When it comes down to it, I think the best way to express how I feel is to say I appreciated the story rather than loved it.
I found it difficult to feel fully engaged in Joe's story. To be perfectly honest, I think the fantasy element dampened my enthusiasm. I don't read a lot of this genre, and Joe's journey, filled with mythical creatures and other wonders, just didn't do it for me. To the extent that I actually struggled to read the first half of the book.
The concept of the afterlife was fascinating and I appreciated the journey, the descriptions, the imagination.
What was interesting was my surprise to find myself a bit teary near the end of the story. Somehow, along the journey, I had found myself emotionally invested in the outcome.
This is the type of book that is thought provoking and definitely very unique. While I struggle to say I loved it, and in all honesty found the first half hard going, it was a book I am glad I completed. Would I recommend it? According to other people's reviews and it's overall rating, yes, but from a personal perspective, maybe not. The best option would be to suggest readers check out other reviews or maybe even read the book themselves to make up their own mind.
I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
I found it difficult to feel fully engaged in Joe's story. To be perfectly honest, I think the fantasy element dampened my enthusiasm. I don't read a lot of this genre, and Joe's journey, filled with mythical creatures and other wonders, just didn't do it for me. To the extent that I actually struggled to read the first half of the book.
The concept of the afterlife was fascinating and I appreciated the journey, the descriptions, the imagination.
What was interesting was my surprise to find myself a bit teary near the end of the story. Somehow, along the journey, I had found myself emotionally invested in the outcome.
This is the type of book that is thought provoking and definitely very unique. While I struggle to say I loved it, and in all honesty found the first half hard going, it was a book I am glad I completed. Would I recommend it? According to other people's reviews and it's overall rating, yes, but from a personal perspective, maybe not. The best option would be to suggest readers check out other reviews or maybe even read the book themselves to make up their own mind.
I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
April 17, 2011
What a wonderous ride! This book just makes you feel a childlike giddiness as you become a part of Joe's journey. There are definately very serious moments and situations, but there is awe throughout the book.
I also think you have to be in the right mood to read this book, it might be too fantastical if you aren't in the right mindset. It was the right time for me and I truly enjoyed reading it.
I also think you have to be in the right mood to read this book, it might be too fantastical if you aren't in the right mindset. It was the right time for me and I truly enjoyed reading it.
November 19, 2012
4.80 stars
April 25, 2015
This is possibly the most beautiful book I've ever read.
When I chose it I had no idea what it was about. I knew I wanted to read one of Eric Arvin's books (I hear of an author new to me and I want to check out their work) so I looked up what he'd written and was just drawn to the title - I love it. I didn't read past the first sentence of the blurb - sort of book roulette, I definitely dodged the bullet - so for some reason I had it in my head it was going to be similar to the film Memento. It wasn't.
Though this is an M/M romance story it is far from typical. It is about Joe's search through the next life for his soul mate, before he can find him though he has to confront the many memories and people who shaped his earth life.
Firstly I would say the prose is beautiful, the imagery Eric Arvin creates is amazing. He is a master at writing sentences that make the ever changing, ever shifting landscape of Joe's story feel real and tangible. The afterlife Eric Arvin composes is purely made up of each human's beliefs and experiences. 'Hell', when Joe comes across it, only exists because the people there believe it is where they should be, it is truly a product of their own beliefs, all it takes to escape is the realisation that they can, they don't have to be there.
Pg 80 "Well, human beings have always done one thing very well, and that is create their own hells and bask in their own misery. They complain about what they create for themselves; they relish the pain. What they don't do so well most of the time is find a way out of it."
How true is this?
Imagery continues in this vein, for moments of happiness, regret, the mists of those trapped between worlds while machines support their lives on earth but their souls want to be freed. It is perhaps more than a novel, a message we should understand. We are here, we are now, don't have regrets. Life isn't always going to be a bed of roses, sometimes things seem out of control; but we are the only ones who can make our lives what we want them to be. It may sound trite but life is for living and reading this novel makes you want to make the most of every second in the way that is right for you. Loudly, quietly, alone, with friends, a partner, family or a party.
So we follow Joe through his journey into the after life, are with him as he experiences all the earthly memories he has forgotten,both those that seemed significant to him and those that didn't. It brings forward the realisation that our actions and words can affect others, even when they seem insignificant to us. We are with Joe as he is eventually reunited with his soul mate. It truly is a love story.
I usually try not to contain spoilers when I write reviews - the blurb (if you read it) usually gives you enough of the story to tantalise - but with this book I found it almost impossible to write without spoilers. I am sure many others will and have reviewed this story far more succinctly than I, I know I'm gushing - I'm embarrassed even as I type - but honestly it is the most beautiful story. Beautiful. I will most definitely be re-reading it.
When I chose it I had no idea what it was about. I knew I wanted to read one of Eric Arvin's books (I hear of an author new to me and I want to check out their work) so I looked up what he'd written and was just drawn to the title - I love it. I didn't read past the first sentence of the blurb - sort of book roulette, I definitely dodged the bullet - so for some reason I had it in my head it was going to be similar to the film Memento. It wasn't.
Though this is an M/M romance story it is far from typical. It is about Joe's search through the next life for his soul mate, before he can find him though he has to confront the many memories and people who shaped his earth life.
Firstly I would say the prose is beautiful, the imagery Eric Arvin creates is amazing. He is a master at writing sentences that make the ever changing, ever shifting landscape of Joe's story feel real and tangible. The afterlife Eric Arvin composes is purely made up of each human's beliefs and experiences. 'Hell', when Joe comes across it, only exists because the people there believe it is where they should be, it is truly a product of their own beliefs, all it takes to escape is the realisation that they can, they don't have to be there.
Pg 80 "Well, human beings have always done one thing very well, and that is create their own hells and bask in their own misery. They complain about what they create for themselves; they relish the pain. What they don't do so well most of the time is find a way out of it."
How true is this?
Imagery continues in this vein, for moments of happiness, regret, the mists of those trapped between worlds while machines support their lives on earth but their souls want to be freed. It is perhaps more than a novel, a message we should understand. We are here, we are now, don't have regrets. Life isn't always going to be a bed of roses, sometimes things seem out of control; but we are the only ones who can make our lives what we want them to be. It may sound trite but life is for living and reading this novel makes you want to make the most of every second in the way that is right for you. Loudly, quietly, alone, with friends, a partner, family or a party.
So we follow Joe through his journey into the after life, are with him as he experiences all the earthly memories he has forgotten,both those that seemed significant to him and those that didn't. It brings forward the realisation that our actions and words can affect others, even when they seem insignificant to us. We are with Joe as he is eventually reunited with his soul mate. It truly is a love story.
I usually try not to contain spoilers when I write reviews - the blurb (if you read it) usually gives you enough of the story to tantalise - but with this book I found it almost impossible to write without spoilers. I am sure many others will and have reviewed this story far more succinctly than I, I know I'm gushing - I'm embarrassed even as I type - but honestly it is the most beautiful story. Beautiful. I will most definitely be re-reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did not finish
December 28, 2016I just saw that the author has passed away a few weeks ago, I don't think I can read this anymore now. I read only about 15%
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