Distant Relatives

by John Agostino

"DISTANT RELATIVES" A Novel by John Agostino Jack Treglia suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. An unfortunate result of two tours of duty in Vietnam. In an effort to forget, the ex-Marine keeps his Bronze Star tucked away in his underwear drawer---well, he did before the tornado. After one of his Vietnam War flashbacks---the one when he can’t save a small child from enemy fire---he wakes up in a hospital, blind and suffering from partial amnesia. He remembers his wife and children. He just can’t remember what happened to them. Jack befriends a nurse who resembles his wife. Together they try to discover what happened to his family. She helps him remember things, bizarre things, including the massive Coronary Embolism that killed him. That’s right, dead! But that won’t stop him from finding his family. And his death is nothing compared to what he learns about his nurse! If you love to root for the underdog and you believe in guardian angels, then you'll love this novel about life, family, and the distant relatives we'll someday meet in heaven. ***SCROLL UP AND GRAB A COPY NOW!***

Genres: Drama, Fiction, Suspense

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2011

About the author

John Agostino is an American Novelist born on September 3, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York. As the son of Italian immigrants, he effortlessly translates this robust culture and uses it as a rich, but subtle backdrop for his novels.

John's tenth grade English teacher, Ms. Carmichael, spotted him as a true writer when she read his Thanksgiving essay written from the turkey's perspective. He waited many years before heeding her advice to make writing a profession, but his perspective is still both haunting and hilarious.

Reality dominated the years between those early works and today. According to John, it's been a good reality---one not completely dissimilar from that of the loving and bewildered protagonists in his stories. John and his wife are the proud parents of four children.

His reality is fine; however, his passion involves escaping reality. This is what makes John an effective fiction writer. Readers grab his stories and hang on, much in the way we all navigate life at times.

John says his qualifications for the writing profession are the ingredients of a happy life, an overactive imagination, and a willingness to work hard.

Mostly though, he loves to write.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I hope that I meet up with my relatives just like this I know it's fiction but it makes death less scary to me!

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

What starts as a nice story rather quickly gives way to bubblegum religious proclamations and an overly-simplified, silly heavenly tale.

As a Christian, I found some of the religious explanations down-right offensive. For example, God proclaims that disease was created to thin out the population; and He allows the suffering that goes along with it as a test to see who is really faithful. I am not sure about Mr. Agostino's God, but mine does not "test" people.

For a much richer, and more interesting story, check out Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would call this Christian fiction fantasy and it mostly deals with the unborn souls of abortions. I gave it 4 stars because at times I felt like I was reading a YA story with the simple way the sentences felt at times. It was different dealing with death, heaven and hell and the aborted souls leaving you thinking and wondering about abortion.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a cute story, but not what I was expecting. I was okay with the very definitely religious message, offbeat as it was. But it was a little too fantastic for me. Not a bad story, just not really for me.

[John Agostino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, but I may be a bit bias since I wrote it. Read it and let me know what you think!

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't care much for this one. I know it's fiction, but it was so far removed from the Biblical view of heaven, that I just couldn't enjoy it.

[Jama Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read!

I really didn't know what to expect when I started this book. Wow is all I can say! Well written story of life decisions, and family. It explores a lot of things we asked ourselves on a daily basis. Well done!

[Cheryl Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good work of fiction

"A note from the author:
This novel deals with the unknown and tackles subjects like death, heaven and hell, premarital sex, and abortion. It is not meant to be pro life or pro choice in nature and is not meant to proselytize. It is not biblically, spiritually, or theologically correct. It's just a story, and I hope you enjoy it!"

After reading this book, in researching a little more, before writing my review, I found the above note from the author, and I must say, it helped me to understand and enjoy this book!

Jack is suffering from PTSD from his Vietnam days. He is a husband and father to 5 children. When a tragedy happens, Jack finds himself in Heaven meeting his family who have already gotten there. He goes through a lot of emotions; sadness, unsettledness, happy, excited, questions a lot, but in the end, finds peace.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book on the after life, but not one of MY favorites. It was an ok book something to read. It had a really fast start, so I kept reading thinking it would get better, but halfway thru I just wanted to see how it ended. Not my best read...

[Gail · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish. It seems to be a lecture about abortion wrapped in a fantasy about heaven.

[Shantanu]

Cheesy....