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Beauty Rising
An unlikely request. An unlikely adventure. An unlikely love. On his death bed, a Vietnam vet asked his estranged son a huge request - return his ashes to Vietnam. Martin Kinney Jr. does just that, but when his wallet is stolen at a Vietnamese festival, it sets in motion a series of events which will change his life and family forever. Two perspectives, one incredible and tragic story of love.
"My heart sank. I dumped my father’s ashes in the heart of communist Vietnam – over a thousand miles from the death of his comrades – over a thousand miles from the smile of that girl. How could I have been so stupid?"
Only the bumbling, overweight, thirtyish, stay-at-home Martin Kinney could have mistakenly flubbed his dying father’s request with such gusto. This thousand mile mistake awakens the ghosts of long-held family secrets and puts Martin on a fateful course with an unlikely romantic interest – a young, beautiful, yet troubled Vietnamese woman named My Phuong.
With its cross-cultural setting and unlikely romance, the 61,000 word novel Beauty Rising creates a powerful, unique voice in today’s literature. In a swift-moving, dialogue-driven prose which is funny, honest, tragic and unpredictable, Beauty Rising explores the depths of culture, family, and love as the Vietnam War, a generation removed, continues to hang on the periphery of society, cursing families and causing destruction.
"My heart sank. I dumped my father’s ashes in the heart of communist Vietnam – over a thousand miles from the death of his comrades – over a thousand miles from the smile of that girl. How could I have been so stupid?"
Only the bumbling, overweight, thirtyish, stay-at-home Martin Kinney could have mistakenly flubbed his dying father’s request with such gusto. This thousand mile mistake awakens the ghosts of long-held family secrets and puts Martin on a fateful course with an unlikely romantic interest – a young, beautiful, yet troubled Vietnamese woman named My Phuong.
With its cross-cultural setting and unlikely romance, the 61,000 word novel Beauty Rising creates a powerful, unique voice in today’s literature. In a swift-moving, dialogue-driven prose which is funny, honest, tragic and unpredictable, Beauty Rising explores the depths of culture, family, and love as the Vietnam War, a generation removed, continues to hang on the periphery of society, cursing families and causing destruction.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2012
9 people are currently reading
2397 people want to read
About the author
Mark W. Sasse
27 books96 followershttps://www.mwsasse.com
https://www.facebook.com/markwsasse
Mark is a proud Western PA native but has lived most of the last twenty years in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. His overseas experiences have redefined everything including his palate, his outlook on life, and naturally his writing.
He has written ten novels, including his brand new Forgotten Child Trilogy.
His interests cast a wide net - from politics to literature - to culture and language - to history and religion - making his writing infused with the unexpected as he seeks to tell authentic and engaging stories about people from all walks of life. His writing is straightforward and accessible to all, especially those who enjoy writing injected with doses of culture, history, adventure, and delightful humor. You never know what you might get when you pick up a Sasse novel.
Besides novel-writing, Sasse is a prolific dramatist, having written and produced more than a dozen full-length dramatic productions. He especially is fond of the short play format and has twice won the Best Script award at the Short & Sweet Theatre Festival Penang. His plays and short musicals have also been produced in New York City, Kuala Lumpur and Sydney. His play "The Last Bastion" was awarded the Greywood Arts Winter Residency 2018 in Ireland. Performances of his scripts also won Gold and Bronze medals at the Southeast Asian Forensics Competition 2014.
His professional background is as diverse as his writing. He holds Master's degrees from California State University Dominquez Hills and Azusa Pacific University in Humanities and TESOL respectively. His undergraduate degree was in English, which helped him develop his passion for creative writing. He has extensive experience in teaching English, history, and drama.
On top of all of this, he loves to cook everything from gourmet pizzas, to Mexican, to various Asian dishes. Flavor is the key of both his cooking and his writing. He very much hopes you enjoy the taste.
Published Novels and Short Stories of Mark W. Sasse
2021 A Diamond for Her: Myths and Tales of the Winasook Iron Horses
2020 Moses the Singer
2019 The Forgotten Child (Book 3)
2018 The African Connection (Forgotten Child Trilogy Book 2)
2017 A Man too Old for a Place too Far (Forgotten Child Trilogy Book 1)
2016 Which Half David: A Modern-day King David Story
2015 A Love Story for a Nation (coming in July) - Kindle & Paperback
2014 If Love is a Crime: A Christmas Story - Kindle only
2014 The Reach of the Banyan Tree - Kindle & Paperback
2013 The Recluse Storyteller - Kindle & Paperback
2012 Beauty Rising - Kindle & Paperback
https://www.facebook.com/markwsasse
Mark is a proud Western PA native but has lived most of the last twenty years in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. His overseas experiences have redefined everything including his palate, his outlook on life, and naturally his writing.
He has written ten novels, including his brand new Forgotten Child Trilogy.
His interests cast a wide net - from politics to literature - to culture and language - to history and religion - making his writing infused with the unexpected as he seeks to tell authentic and engaging stories about people from all walks of life. His writing is straightforward and accessible to all, especially those who enjoy writing injected with doses of culture, history, adventure, and delightful humor. You never know what you might get when you pick up a Sasse novel.
Besides novel-writing, Sasse is a prolific dramatist, having written and produced more than a dozen full-length dramatic productions. He especially is fond of the short play format and has twice won the Best Script award at the Short & Sweet Theatre Festival Penang. His plays and short musicals have also been produced in New York City, Kuala Lumpur and Sydney. His play "The Last Bastion" was awarded the Greywood Arts Winter Residency 2018 in Ireland. Performances of his scripts also won Gold and Bronze medals at the Southeast Asian Forensics Competition 2014.
His professional background is as diverse as his writing. He holds Master's degrees from California State University Dominquez Hills and Azusa Pacific University in Humanities and TESOL respectively. His undergraduate degree was in English, which helped him develop his passion for creative writing. He has extensive experience in teaching English, history, and drama.
On top of all of this, he loves to cook everything from gourmet pizzas, to Mexican, to various Asian dishes. Flavor is the key of both his cooking and his writing. He very much hopes you enjoy the taste.
Published Novels and Short Stories of Mark W. Sasse
2021 A Diamond for Her: Myths and Tales of the Winasook Iron Horses
2020 Moses the Singer
2019 The Forgotten Child (Book 3)
2018 The African Connection (Forgotten Child Trilogy Book 2)
2017 A Man too Old for a Place too Far (Forgotten Child Trilogy Book 1)
2016 Which Half David: A Modern-day King David Story
2015 A Love Story for a Nation (coming in July) - Kindle & Paperback
2014 If Love is a Crime: A Christmas Story - Kindle only
2014 The Reach of the Banyan Tree - Kindle & Paperback
2013 The Recluse Storyteller - Kindle & Paperback
2012 Beauty Rising - Kindle & Paperback
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 9, 2019
I received my copy through Goodreads First Reads.
While the story is nice, I felt like a lot of it could have been improved. First, there were some grammatical errors ranging from punctuation to tense. A lot of commas were left out, especially before names in direct addresses, and there were three times when the tense changed from past to present (one even happening mid-sentence).
The other problem was the lack of character depth in some areas. For instance, all we know about the mother is that she has some left over bitterness from when her husband served in Vietnam so she hates everything to do with that country. However, while there is some backstory to her hatred, I don't feel like it did enough to counterbalance her character so that she didn't seem so much like a villain. I wanted to sympathize with her over more than just her history, but also with how it still affects her even after the death of her husband, which I don't see in the story, therefore, I can't sympathize. Also, why does she treat Martin the way that she does? Does she think he'll be like his father no matter what, or genuinely think he's stupid, or just needs to have control over him so that he doesn't make mistakes of his own? All three are pretty likely, but I want to hear her say why she acts the way she does towards him and if she ever feels like she hasn't been a good mother.
I also wanted to see more of My Phuong when she was with Martin. There are parts where her actions show her love for Martin, but after reading a third of the book from her perspective, I want to know in her own words how she feels about Martin and whether she considers him luckier than his license. This would also help to understand Martin from an outsider's perspective. All we know about him is what he tells us and My Phuong is the perfect opportunity to show what kind of person he is to another person (besides when she views him as a target for pickpocketing).
Not only is there a problem with character depth, but also voice. Martin and My Phuong sound too similar in their narratives; nothing really made them distinguishable except for setting and their own stories. If all proper nouns were taken out so that setting and secondary characters weren't mentioned, it would seem as if the same character spoke throughout the novel instead of two.
Overall, the book wasn't bad, but it could have gone a bit deeper with characters as well as gone through more proofreading.
While the story is nice, I felt like a lot of it could have been improved. First, there were some grammatical errors ranging from punctuation to tense. A lot of commas were left out, especially before names in direct addresses, and there were three times when the tense changed from past to present (one even happening mid-sentence).
The other problem was the lack of character depth in some areas. For instance, all we know about the mother is that she has some left over bitterness from when her husband served in Vietnam so she hates everything to do with that country. However, while there is some backstory to her hatred, I don't feel like it did enough to counterbalance her character so that she didn't seem so much like a villain. I wanted to sympathize with her over more than just her history, but also with how it still affects her even after the death of her husband, which I don't see in the story, therefore, I can't sympathize. Also, why does she treat Martin the way that she does? Does she think he'll be like his father no matter what, or genuinely think he's stupid, or just needs to have control over him so that he doesn't make mistakes of his own? All three are pretty likely, but I want to hear her say why she acts the way she does towards him and if she ever feels like she hasn't been a good mother.
I also wanted to see more of My Phuong when she was with Martin. There are parts where her actions show her love for Martin, but after reading a third of the book from her perspective, I want to know in her own words how she feels about Martin and whether she considers him luckier than his license. This would also help to understand Martin from an outsider's perspective. All we know about him is what he tells us and My Phuong is the perfect opportunity to show what kind of person he is to another person (besides when she views him as a target for pickpocketing).
Not only is there a problem with character depth, but also voice. Martin and My Phuong sound too similar in their narratives; nothing really made them distinguishable except for setting and their own stories. If all proper nouns were taken out so that setting and secondary characters weren't mentioned, it would seem as if the same character spoke throughout the novel instead of two.
Overall, the book wasn't bad, but it could have gone a bit deeper with characters as well as gone through more proofreading.
March 19, 2013
"My heart sank. I dumped my father’s ashes in the heart of communist Vietnam – over a thousand miles from the death of his comrades – over a thousand miles from the smile of that girl. How could I have been so stupid?" Only the bumbling, overweight, thirtyish, stay-at-home Martin Kinney could have mistakenly flubbed his dying father’s request with such gusto. This thousand mile mistake awakens the ghosts of long-held family secrets and puts Martin on a fateful course with an unlikely romantic interest – a young, beautiful, yet troubled Vietnamese woman named My Phuong. With its cross-cultural setting and unlikely romance, the 61,000 word novel Beauty Rising creates a powerful, unique voice in today’s literature. In a swift- moving, dialogue-driven prose which is funny, honest, tragic and unpredictable, Beauty Rising explores the depths of culture, family, and love as the Vietnam War, a generation removed, continues to hang on the periphery of society, cursing families and causing destruction.
Review"Author Mark W. Sasse has written an emotionally charged and engrossing story. . . .The two main characters, Martin and My Phoung, are portrayed with great depth of emotion and their quest for redemption and self-acceptance is stunning.... I can't say enough about this book; it's a story that you don't want to miss!!" - Marilou George, Kindle Book Review
"...a one-night read." "This is a tragic story . . . written so beautifully." 5 STARS - Charlene, Literary R & R
About the AuthorMark W. Sasse teaches drama, history, and English when he isn't writing. He lived in Vietnam for nearly ten years which provided the rich background of modern day Vietnam in his first novel "Beauty Rising" released in December 2012. He is passionate about live theater and has published a series of plays of different genres including "Spy Blue", "Take Two: Who Directs Your Life", "Life with Stewart" and "Fifteen 10-Minute Plays for the Stage." He also produced and directed all of these as original stage productions. His dramatic production, "Drive All Night" premiered in November 2012 at the Penang Performing Arts Centre. He currently resides in Malaysia.
July 29, 2014
I received this book through first reads.... thank you bunches for that.
This is a beautiful late coming-of-age story that is about "real life" situations. The ending was much appreciated and went well with the telling of the story. Also I loved the characters.
Thank you, Mark!
This is a beautiful late coming-of-age story that is about "real life" situations. The ending was much appreciated and went well with the telling of the story. Also I loved the characters.
Thank you, Mark!
Want to read
July 25, 2013Oh a book involving my country! So excited to read, hope I'll win it. Cảm ơn rất nhiều ^^
February 11, 2013
Beauty Rising: Mark W. Sasse
Imagine being 250 pounds, working a mundane job and having little or no social life. Imagine living with two parents that spend most of their time belittling you, making you feel unwanted and never really cared about you as a person. Two parents who spent their lives hating each other, living in the same house yet in separate worlds. At 36 years old Martin Finney Jr. would finally rise above, step up to the plate and honor his father’s wishes plus become his own man. Knowing that he was about to take his last breath his father asks for a private meeting with the son he ignored all of his life. What is revealed is quite compelling as he tells his son about his tour in Vietnam, an incident that he will never forget as his friends decided to take a swim in a lake and he never quite made it as he decided to linger behind, found a banana tree and then a young girl, an angel you might say appeared and what happens remained with him forever. When her image faded and his friends found him they needed to find their way back to their unit and safety. The time period was the Vietnam War, the place the rice fields or battle zone and the end result tragic as two young men lose their lives right in front of his father causing him to become the man Martin knew all of his life. From never taking a drink to living his life with the bottle as his primary comfort, what his father requests on his death bed would send his mother reeling in anger but would finally allow him to be his own man. Asking that he be cremated and buried in the exact place that his two army friends died, Martin argues with his mother about the service, the cremation and more but in the end he honors his father’s wishes.
The author describes in detail the area where this burial of the ashes takes place, the unlikely way they get buried, Martin’s inner most thoughts as he tries to honor his father’s wishes, tells his father he tried and hopes to move on with his life. But, the author begins his journey somewhere in the middle as we learn about an encounter with a young girl; his feelings that she stole his wallet and the end result leaving him without any money.
As we learn more about Martin, his father and mother we realize that they lived their lives in serious discord. His parents never really had a chance to unite as a proper couple before Martin enlisting in the army and doing a tour in Vietnam. All the while Jane, Martin’s mother became involved in the church, worked with the children, told stories and helped them learn many songs. Added in Jane befriended Martin’s mom and things seem to progress nicely until Martin stopped writing and keeping in contact with her. The author flashes back and forth between the present and Martin’s trip to Vietnam to bury his father’s ashes. Listening him speak, his inner most thoughts, the fact that he tries to honor his father’s wishes but winds up burying his ashes in the wrong part of the country only proves that Martin Jr. still has a long way to go to not only accept himself for who he is but to become his own person as he chastises himself for what happens with the ashes, thinks his parents assessment of him is correct and begins to take a defeatist attitude. But, with the help of a wonderful taxi driver, he learns a lot about Vietnam in the present, the meaning of friendship and is offered financial help when his mother turns him away. Then we learn more about Reverend Fox, the man who performs the service and why his mother insulted him after giving his opening remarks. Martin learns a lot that day and understands his mother’s resentment and hate for the church, for this man and what caused her to reject him and I guess men in general. Betrayals seem to run high in her mind and although what happened between her and the Reverend was mutual, the end result more than hardened her.
Let’s meet My Phuong and hear her voice and her story as we learn why she stole Martin’s wallet, the tragic life she lived and how their lives intersected. My Phuong learned to life by her own instincts after the brutal treatment she received at the hands of so many. Working in a salon and living with a friend she lived a life that she thought was safe but was it? Vietnam is pictured as a thriving place filled with life and much beauty but where she comes from and the people she interacts with are anything but the elite. However, one incident, one change encounter would change her life for a short time as she becomes a tutor to a wealthy man and then escalades to mistresses. But, somehow things change and events turn sour and she is brutally beaten and thrown to live on the streets when her activities are found out and she left to fend for herself. She is smart and one last chance at freedom would cost a life but would free her she hoped from the bonds of terror forever. What happens and where she winds up is really where the next part of our story begins as she winds up in America, finds the one person who is wronged from the start and hopes to begin a new life free and guilt, fear and harm.
Good luck charms come in many different shapes, sizes and forms as we learn in this story. Hers was the driver’s license she stole when she picked Martin Kinney’s pocket. Learning that he was also a friend of Jason the man who helped him when he had nowhere to go she finds his house and what happens next is right out of a script for a movie. For the three years after her face, his feelings for the country and the one memento he received from Tan haunted returning from Vietnam Martin the taxi driver that he kept hidden in a special book away from his mother’s prying eyes. As we learn the real meaning of the word Phuong and the derivation of many other customs and words the author through My Phuong teaches the reader that it means Beauty Rising, the title of this outstanding novel.
Replete with history, vivid descriptions of the country, customs and a story will endear you to one overweight, kind and wonderful man whose beauty comes from within and whose love for one woman was boundless. But, what about this young girl and what are her feelings for him as he asks Reverend Fox to help her find a place to stay and she searches for a job. With a mother that was unyielding, narrow minded, hateful, lifeless and unfeeling would she ever relent, open her eyes to her son’s happiness or would she remain angry until the bitter end? Added in no matter how hard he tried, no matter how he explained it to her she refused to understand that he was an adult, belittled him and blamed her plight on Vietnam and what happened to his father.
Secrets, lies, betrayals and one man who just wanted to find a place in this world and a home. When he finally realizes who and where he wants to be what happens will more than shock the reader and take not only Martin but also everyone back to where it all began. Will he ever find peace? Will Martin take what remains of the father’s ashes and find the right place to bury them? Will Martin ever be proud of who he is? An ending that you won’t expect and a final decision that one man has to make in order to show that Beauty rises out of the ashes like the phoenix the ancient bird that at the “end of its life burns up and then out of the ashes rises another Phoenix bird.” Beauty Rising teaches many lessons to readers and hopefully some will be learned as prejudice, hate, narrow mindedness, fear, lies and deceit do more than rear their ugly heads throughout this well written, creatively crafted novel. But, one thing rings true throughout the courage, kindness, and the perseverance and love that one man has for his father’s final wishes and the final tribute he pays to the ones he loves. Fear can make us do things that we often regret; love can bring that fear out into the open and full circle to sometimes, even for a short moment to bring us the joy we so deserve. Martin Kinney Jr. never really enough of those moments living with his mother until he decided it was his turn to live and see his own inner Beauty Rising for the world to see and embrace.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
Imagine being 250 pounds, working a mundane job and having little or no social life. Imagine living with two parents that spend most of their time belittling you, making you feel unwanted and never really cared about you as a person. Two parents who spent their lives hating each other, living in the same house yet in separate worlds. At 36 years old Martin Finney Jr. would finally rise above, step up to the plate and honor his father’s wishes plus become his own man. Knowing that he was about to take his last breath his father asks for a private meeting with the son he ignored all of his life. What is revealed is quite compelling as he tells his son about his tour in Vietnam, an incident that he will never forget as his friends decided to take a swim in a lake and he never quite made it as he decided to linger behind, found a banana tree and then a young girl, an angel you might say appeared and what happens remained with him forever. When her image faded and his friends found him they needed to find their way back to their unit and safety. The time period was the Vietnam War, the place the rice fields or battle zone and the end result tragic as two young men lose their lives right in front of his father causing him to become the man Martin knew all of his life. From never taking a drink to living his life with the bottle as his primary comfort, what his father requests on his death bed would send his mother reeling in anger but would finally allow him to be his own man. Asking that he be cremated and buried in the exact place that his two army friends died, Martin argues with his mother about the service, the cremation and more but in the end he honors his father’s wishes.
The author describes in detail the area where this burial of the ashes takes place, the unlikely way they get buried, Martin’s inner most thoughts as he tries to honor his father’s wishes, tells his father he tried and hopes to move on with his life. But, the author begins his journey somewhere in the middle as we learn about an encounter with a young girl; his feelings that she stole his wallet and the end result leaving him without any money.
As we learn more about Martin, his father and mother we realize that they lived their lives in serious discord. His parents never really had a chance to unite as a proper couple before Martin enlisting in the army and doing a tour in Vietnam. All the while Jane, Martin’s mother became involved in the church, worked with the children, told stories and helped them learn many songs. Added in Jane befriended Martin’s mom and things seem to progress nicely until Martin stopped writing and keeping in contact with her. The author flashes back and forth between the present and Martin’s trip to Vietnam to bury his father’s ashes. Listening him speak, his inner most thoughts, the fact that he tries to honor his father’s wishes but winds up burying his ashes in the wrong part of the country only proves that Martin Jr. still has a long way to go to not only accept himself for who he is but to become his own person as he chastises himself for what happens with the ashes, thinks his parents assessment of him is correct and begins to take a defeatist attitude. But, with the help of a wonderful taxi driver, he learns a lot about Vietnam in the present, the meaning of friendship and is offered financial help when his mother turns him away. Then we learn more about Reverend Fox, the man who performs the service and why his mother insulted him after giving his opening remarks. Martin learns a lot that day and understands his mother’s resentment and hate for the church, for this man and what caused her to reject him and I guess men in general. Betrayals seem to run high in her mind and although what happened between her and the Reverend was mutual, the end result more than hardened her.
Let’s meet My Phuong and hear her voice and her story as we learn why she stole Martin’s wallet, the tragic life she lived and how their lives intersected. My Phuong learned to life by her own instincts after the brutal treatment she received at the hands of so many. Working in a salon and living with a friend she lived a life that she thought was safe but was it? Vietnam is pictured as a thriving place filled with life and much beauty but where she comes from and the people she interacts with are anything but the elite. However, one incident, one change encounter would change her life for a short time as she becomes a tutor to a wealthy man and then escalades to mistresses. But, somehow things change and events turn sour and she is brutally beaten and thrown to live on the streets when her activities are found out and she left to fend for herself. She is smart and one last chance at freedom would cost a life but would free her she hoped from the bonds of terror forever. What happens and where she winds up is really where the next part of our story begins as she winds up in America, finds the one person who is wronged from the start and hopes to begin a new life free and guilt, fear and harm.
Good luck charms come in many different shapes, sizes and forms as we learn in this story. Hers was the driver’s license she stole when she picked Martin Kinney’s pocket. Learning that he was also a friend of Jason the man who helped him when he had nowhere to go she finds his house and what happens next is right out of a script for a movie. For the three years after her face, his feelings for the country and the one memento he received from Tan haunted returning from Vietnam Martin the taxi driver that he kept hidden in a special book away from his mother’s prying eyes. As we learn the real meaning of the word Phuong and the derivation of many other customs and words the author through My Phuong teaches the reader that it means Beauty Rising, the title of this outstanding novel.
Replete with history, vivid descriptions of the country, customs and a story will endear you to one overweight, kind and wonderful man whose beauty comes from within and whose love for one woman was boundless. But, what about this young girl and what are her feelings for him as he asks Reverend Fox to help her find a place to stay and she searches for a job. With a mother that was unyielding, narrow minded, hateful, lifeless and unfeeling would she ever relent, open her eyes to her son’s happiness or would she remain angry until the bitter end? Added in no matter how hard he tried, no matter how he explained it to her she refused to understand that he was an adult, belittled him and blamed her plight on Vietnam and what happened to his father.
Secrets, lies, betrayals and one man who just wanted to find a place in this world and a home. When he finally realizes who and where he wants to be what happens will more than shock the reader and take not only Martin but also everyone back to where it all began. Will he ever find peace? Will Martin take what remains of the father’s ashes and find the right place to bury them? Will Martin ever be proud of who he is? An ending that you won’t expect and a final decision that one man has to make in order to show that Beauty rises out of the ashes like the phoenix the ancient bird that at the “end of its life burns up and then out of the ashes rises another Phoenix bird.” Beauty Rising teaches many lessons to readers and hopefully some will be learned as prejudice, hate, narrow mindedness, fear, lies and deceit do more than rear their ugly heads throughout this well written, creatively crafted novel. But, one thing rings true throughout the courage, kindness, and the perseverance and love that one man has for his father’s final wishes and the final tribute he pays to the ones he loves. Fear can make us do things that we often regret; love can bring that fear out into the open and full circle to sometimes, even for a short moment to bring us the joy we so deserve. Martin Kinney Jr. never really enough of those moments living with his mother until he decided it was his turn to live and see his own inner Beauty Rising for the world to see and embrace.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
August 7, 2017
A sad but true story in many ways. Am sure Vietnam did many veterans this way and families suffered. Was impressed with the cultural aspects of book.
June 29, 2019
Beauty rising. Was a lovely story
So sad, but so heart warming For Martin to fine the people so kind and nice and helpful. I only hope things might turn out better for hi
So sad, but so heart warming For Martin to fine the people so kind and nice and helpful. I only hope things might turn out better for hi
March 31, 2013
I feel like I am at a loss for words to fully express my sentiments regarding this incredible novel. Perhaps, it is best to refer to "Beauty Rising" as a personal journey or remarkable experience rather than merely reading a fictional novel.
This debut novel by gifted Author Mark W. Sasse is beyond words. It is a positively poignant presentation of the tragic lives of two very different individuals...how and why their paths crossed, and the destiny that ensued between them following this initial encounter. This memorable event takes place in Vietnam when a naive, somewhat overweight, red-haired man, Martin Kinney Jr., decides to honor the deathbed wishes of his poor excuse for a father. His father has been abusive toward him his entire life...yet Martin, the devoted son, agrees to take his cremated remains to be buried in Vietnam as requested.
At 36 six years old, Martin still lives at home in one of the most dysfunctional families imaginable...a dysfunction which has its source at the bottom of many untold secrets. As some of these unfold, Martin begins to get a better understanding of his desire and determination to honor his father's last wishes. He does so without his mother's blessings. Nonetheless, and after a barrage of verbal abuse spewed upon him, he pretty well uses the majority of his life's savings to make this unprecedented trip. Upon his arrival and during a busy Vietnamese Festival, Martin's wallet is expertly pinched from his back pocket by none other than a young beautiful woman very similar to the one described to him by his dying father. Unknown to him at the time, her name is My Phoung. For one reason or another, My Phoung hangs onto Martin's driver's license and keeps it as a good luck charm on her key chain. Martin, who is now stranded, is showered with kindness by his Vietnamese cab driver Tan, and Tan's American friend Jason. After three days, he returns home to his mundane life which, in the not too distant future, is about to take an unexpected turn. The reader is also taken on My Phuong's incredible journey and gets an inside view of her past, present, and ominous future. I could not read fast enough as I became so entranced with every detail of her story.
"Beauty Rising" has touched me at such a deep level. It is an absolutely heartwrenching story that took my breath away. Author Mark Sasse has a wonderful gift. He has the ability to draw the reader right into the skin and essence of the characters he so richly describes. I not only felt their anguish, sorrow, love and joy, I also became a part of their personal journies and experienced their plight every step of the way. I would like to say "thank you" to this author for sharing his gift. This reading journey is an incredible experience and not one I am soon to forget! Memorable...and exquisite!!
This debut novel by gifted Author Mark W. Sasse is beyond words. It is a positively poignant presentation of the tragic lives of two very different individuals...how and why their paths crossed, and the destiny that ensued between them following this initial encounter. This memorable event takes place in Vietnam when a naive, somewhat overweight, red-haired man, Martin Kinney Jr., decides to honor the deathbed wishes of his poor excuse for a father. His father has been abusive toward him his entire life...yet Martin, the devoted son, agrees to take his cremated remains to be buried in Vietnam as requested.
At 36 six years old, Martin still lives at home in one of the most dysfunctional families imaginable...a dysfunction which has its source at the bottom of many untold secrets. As some of these unfold, Martin begins to get a better understanding of his desire and determination to honor his father's last wishes. He does so without his mother's blessings. Nonetheless, and after a barrage of verbal abuse spewed upon him, he pretty well uses the majority of his life's savings to make this unprecedented trip. Upon his arrival and during a busy Vietnamese Festival, Martin's wallet is expertly pinched from his back pocket by none other than a young beautiful woman very similar to the one described to him by his dying father. Unknown to him at the time, her name is My Phoung. For one reason or another, My Phoung hangs onto Martin's driver's license and keeps it as a good luck charm on her key chain. Martin, who is now stranded, is showered with kindness by his Vietnamese cab driver Tan, and Tan's American friend Jason. After three days, he returns home to his mundane life which, in the not too distant future, is about to take an unexpected turn. The reader is also taken on My Phuong's incredible journey and gets an inside view of her past, present, and ominous future. I could not read fast enough as I became so entranced with every detail of her story.
"Beauty Rising" has touched me at such a deep level. It is an absolutely heartwrenching story that took my breath away. Author Mark Sasse has a wonderful gift. He has the ability to draw the reader right into the skin and essence of the characters he so richly describes. I not only felt their anguish, sorrow, love and joy, I also became a part of their personal journies and experienced their plight every step of the way. I would like to say "thank you" to this author for sharing his gift. This reading journey is an incredible experience and not one I am soon to forget! Memorable...and exquisite!!
April 26, 2016
I was hoping to read Mark W. Sasse's Beauty Rising since I first heard about this new release in literary fiction. Over the last several months, I think I entered every Goodreads Giveaway for the book without a single exception. I finally beat the dizzying odds necessary to win a signed copy(!) Was it worth the anticipation? Definitely. Was it what I thought it would be? No, not exactly.
I didn't expect the novel to be told in the first person, let alone in the voices of more than one character! The protagonist, our first narrator, Martin Kinney comes off as charmingly relatable (to me, at least) immediately -- within 2 pages tops. The subject matter of this book -- having to do with the legacy of the Vietnam War is naturally very serious business. And, this book does indeed deal with the son's grappling with his father's experience and legacy as well as his own issues. But, I had expected an unremittingly serious plot, and I found Sasse draws more than a fair share of laughs from the reader over the course of his story considering the serious content elsewhere. I also found the love story unexpectedly delightful. I didn't think it would feature so prominently in the protagonist's development. I usually avoid them as a rule, but I found myself entering into dear Martin's feelings as they developed.
Beauty Rising is a book of thematic depth and emotional resonance, but it's not the most demanding nor the most rewarding fiction I've come across this year. It is, however, a book many novel-lovers will enjoy, so go ahead and check it out!
Thanks for taking the time to read my impressions of this very good read; I hope they're useful to someone out there.
I didn't expect the novel to be told in the first person, let alone in the voices of more than one character! The protagonist, our first narrator, Martin Kinney comes off as charmingly relatable (to me, at least) immediately -- within 2 pages tops. The subject matter of this book -- having to do with the legacy of the Vietnam War is naturally very serious business. And, this book does indeed deal with the son's grappling with his father's experience and legacy as well as his own issues. But, I had expected an unremittingly serious plot, and I found Sasse draws more than a fair share of laughs from the reader over the course of his story considering the serious content elsewhere. I also found the love story unexpectedly delightful. I didn't think it would feature so prominently in the protagonist's development. I usually avoid them as a rule, but I found myself entering into dear Martin's feelings as they developed.
Beauty Rising is a book of thematic depth and emotional resonance, but it's not the most demanding nor the most rewarding fiction I've come across this year. It is, however, a book many novel-lovers will enjoy, so go ahead and check it out!
Thanks for taking the time to read my impressions of this very good read; I hope they're useful to someone out there.
January 16, 2013
Author Mark W. Sasse has written an emotionally charged and engrossing story that had me so invested in the characters and circumstances that I read it in one sitting. The writing is thoughtful, gripping and extremely moving as readers become observers in the lives of a dysfunctional family firmly embroiled in a bitter existence and the struggles that overwhelm them.
Martin is called to the bedside of his dying father, a father that has verbally abused and ignored him much of his life, to hear his final wishes. In order to carry out these wishes Martin must stand up to his mother, a bitter and verbally abusive woman, and for the first time in his 30 years go against her by standing firm and taking control. He travels to Vietnam to spread his father's ashes and has a disturbing encounter with a beautiful Vietnamese girl named My Phoung. This encounter will thrust him into circumstances and events that will be life changing.
The two main characters, Martin and My Phoung, are portrayed with great depth of emotion and their quest for redemption and self-acceptance is stunning. The characters in this story all play an important part in the feeling and complexity of the story and are woven together with compassion and grace.
The descriptive writing of the places and people of Vietnam is colorful, informative and written with great feeling and intelligence. This story brings to the surface the emotional struggles that Vietnam Veterans faced not only while in Vietnam but also when they returned home.
I highly recommend this book, it is a tremendous story and I never wanted it to end. I can't say enough about this book; it's a story that you don't want to miss!!
Martin is called to the bedside of his dying father, a father that has verbally abused and ignored him much of his life, to hear his final wishes. In order to carry out these wishes Martin must stand up to his mother, a bitter and verbally abusive woman, and for the first time in his 30 years go against her by standing firm and taking control. He travels to Vietnam to spread his father's ashes and has a disturbing encounter with a beautiful Vietnamese girl named My Phoung. This encounter will thrust him into circumstances and events that will be life changing.
The two main characters, Martin and My Phoung, are portrayed with great depth of emotion and their quest for redemption and self-acceptance is stunning. The characters in this story all play an important part in the feeling and complexity of the story and are woven together with compassion and grace.
The descriptive writing of the places and people of Vietnam is colorful, informative and written with great feeling and intelligence. This story brings to the surface the emotional struggles that Vietnam Veterans faced not only while in Vietnam but also when they returned home.
I highly recommend this book, it is a tremendous story and I never wanted it to end. I can't say enough about this book; it's a story that you don't want to miss!!
July 7, 2013
What a lovely story: a story that marries romance, war, hardship, and tragedy. Not only was it beautifully written, but skilfully too. The use of the first person narrative for each of the main characters was executed extremely well.
The main character, Martin, comes in the form of a lumbering, overweight, ginger-haired man, who, at thirty-six, still lives with his mother—a mother embittered by her empty marriage to his father, a veteran of the Vietnam war that changed him irrevocably.
Martin is an unlikely hero, but what is so appealing about him is his development from a bland, stay-at-home character, who has a boring and mundane job, to a wholesome and determined person.
When his dying father asks Martin to scatter his ashes in Vietnam, Martin manages to bungle the request big time: little does he know that his error will eventually lead him to the mysterious and beautiful Vietnamese My Phuong. Vietnam is an unwelcome word in his mother’s vocabulary, and its new prominence in Martin’s life opens up a box of family secrets, regrets. and renewed resentment. A resentment so strong, she is determined that Vietnam will not ruin her son’s life like it ruined her own.
The ending stuns and astounds you, and Martin brings his story to a poignant, touching, and satisfying conclusion.
There’s no doubt that the author was passionate not only about his characters, but about Vietnam too: that passion shone through clearly and embraced a first-class story.
The main character, Martin, comes in the form of a lumbering, overweight, ginger-haired man, who, at thirty-six, still lives with his mother—a mother embittered by her empty marriage to his father, a veteran of the Vietnam war that changed him irrevocably.
Martin is an unlikely hero, but what is so appealing about him is his development from a bland, stay-at-home character, who has a boring and mundane job, to a wholesome and determined person.
When his dying father asks Martin to scatter his ashes in Vietnam, Martin manages to bungle the request big time: little does he know that his error will eventually lead him to the mysterious and beautiful Vietnamese My Phuong. Vietnam is an unwelcome word in his mother’s vocabulary, and its new prominence in Martin’s life opens up a box of family secrets, regrets. and renewed resentment. A resentment so strong, she is determined that Vietnam will not ruin her son’s life like it ruined her own.
The ending stuns and astounds you, and Martin brings his story to a poignant, touching, and satisfying conclusion.
There’s no doubt that the author was passionate not only about his characters, but about Vietnam too: that passion shone through clearly and embraced a first-class story.
December 28, 2019
BEAUTY RISING is both a romance and a historical novel. Martin, the 30-year-old son of highly dysfunctional parents, is determined to fulfill his father’s death wish – to scatter his ashes near a large protruding rock under two banana trees, by a lake in Vietnam. Martin scatters his dad’s ashes according to his wishes, but soon discovers he took them to the wrong lake, wrong banana trees. Only the beginning of his bad luck, Martin’s wallet is stolen, and without any money or credit cards, he comes under the wing of a Vietnamese taxi driver and an American English teacher for the remainder of his stay. After returning home, Martin is unable to forget the beautiful, young woman who he believes stole his wallet.
My Phuong’s life couldn’t get any worse. The daughter of a pastor, My Phuong escaped as the corrupt ruling party arrested her parents and brothers for illegally praying in the open. After hearing that her parents were dead, she left her home and traveled north. Reduced to life as a pickpocket, hairdresser, and prostitute, My Phuong flees Vietnam to save her life.
Sasse portrays the two main characters and their emotional struggles with sensitivity. This colorfully written saga of two unfortunate people across the miles from the United States to Vietnam and back, clearly shows the author researched his book in depth.
An emotionally charged story of love, redemption, and heartbreak, BEAUTY RISING is a book you do not want to miss.
My Phuong’s life couldn’t get any worse. The daughter of a pastor, My Phuong escaped as the corrupt ruling party arrested her parents and brothers for illegally praying in the open. After hearing that her parents were dead, she left her home and traveled north. Reduced to life as a pickpocket, hairdresser, and prostitute, My Phuong flees Vietnam to save her life.
Sasse portrays the two main characters and their emotional struggles with sensitivity. This colorfully written saga of two unfortunate people across the miles from the United States to Vietnam and back, clearly shows the author researched his book in depth.
An emotionally charged story of love, redemption, and heartbreak, BEAUTY RISING is a book you do not want to miss.
May 14, 2013
Strong and solid prose highlight the character driven story and bring the beauty that is Vietnam and her people to light. Tragedies make strange bedfellows, as the two main characters in this story, Martin and My Phuong can attest, after several twists and turns bring them together in intersecting journeys.
Compelling and captivating, there were moments where the characters could have been developed more fully, or the pacing could have had better balance, but the ultimate struggles and juxtaposition between inherently ‘western’ and ‘eastern’ values, behaviors and traditions provide a solid feel of the struggle and joys in a cross-cultural experience. The story does manage to engage readers and keep them reading until the last page. Sasse is talented, with an ability to provide readers with an enjoyable, captivating story in Beauty Rising, and leaves me curious about his future work and growth.
I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Compelling and captivating, there were moments where the characters could have been developed more fully, or the pacing could have had better balance, but the ultimate struggles and juxtaposition between inherently ‘western’ and ‘eastern’ values, behaviors and traditions provide a solid feel of the struggle and joys in a cross-cultural experience. The story does manage to engage readers and keep them reading until the last page. Sasse is talented, with an ability to provide readers with an enjoyable, captivating story in Beauty Rising, and leaves me curious about his future work and growth.
I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
September 21, 2014
Got this book from Goodreads' First Reads. Yay, thank you!
Review-nya pake Bahasa Indonesia aja ya, hehe.
Sejujurnya, saya bukan seorang penikmat kisah cinta (alias segala yang bergenre romance). Lalu, mengapa saya ikut-ikut coba untuk mendapatkan buku ini? Tidak lain dan tidak bukan adalah karena pada awalnya saya kira buku ini bercerita tentang sejarah. Jengjeng.
Yak, gak meleset juga sih. Saya mendapatkan apa yang saya mau: sedikit pelajaran sejarah dan kebudayaan Vietnam. Banyak di awal, sedikit di akhir. Lingkup ceritanya pun sangat religius, saya suka (meski agama yang dianutnya berbeda dengan saya sih).
Kalo bicara tentang kisah cintanya, hmm... Rasanya gak ada sesuatu yang baru di sini. Plot twist-nya pun kurang menge-twist. Lebih banyak dialog daripada narasi (saya pribadi sih lebih suka narasi). Tidak banyak juga life lesson yang dapat saya ambil, karena jalan hidup saya jauh bertentangan dengan para tokoh di buku ini. Di sisi lain, saya jadi lebih mengenal dunia luar dan hal itu baik.
Sekali lagi, terima kasih!
Review-nya pake Bahasa Indonesia aja ya, hehe.
Sejujurnya, saya bukan seorang penikmat kisah cinta (alias segala yang bergenre romance). Lalu, mengapa saya ikut-ikut coba untuk mendapatkan buku ini? Tidak lain dan tidak bukan adalah karena pada awalnya saya kira buku ini bercerita tentang sejarah. Jengjeng.
Yak, gak meleset juga sih. Saya mendapatkan apa yang saya mau: sedikit pelajaran sejarah dan kebudayaan Vietnam. Banyak di awal, sedikit di akhir. Lingkup ceritanya pun sangat religius, saya suka (meski agama yang dianutnya berbeda dengan saya sih).
Kalo bicara tentang kisah cintanya, hmm... Rasanya gak ada sesuatu yang baru di sini. Plot twist-nya pun kurang menge-twist. Lebih banyak dialog daripada narasi (saya pribadi sih lebih suka narasi). Tidak banyak juga life lesson yang dapat saya ambil, karena jalan hidup saya jauh bertentangan dengan para tokoh di buku ini. Di sisi lain, saya jadi lebih mengenal dunia luar dan hal itu baik.
Sekali lagi, terima kasih!
November 29, 2016
DISCLAIMER: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
When I first started it, I had no idea where the author was going with the story. But Sasse’s writing style and dedication to deep character development packed a hard punch at the beginning of My Phuong’s story through the end of the novel.
This is an untraditional love story between an awkward almost forty year old, Martin, who lives with his mother and a Vietnamese woman who has overcome much in her past. Without giving too much away, the two meet due to happenstance in the death of Martin’s father and My Phuong’s place in life. The story continues to build and build until the climax, which broke my heart for the characters involved. Sasse does provide closure in the last chapter and it really embodies the phrase... Beauty Rising.
When I first started it, I had no idea where the author was going with the story. But Sasse’s writing style and dedication to deep character development packed a hard punch at the beginning of My Phuong’s story through the end of the novel.
This is an untraditional love story between an awkward almost forty year old, Martin, who lives with his mother and a Vietnamese woman who has overcome much in her past. Without giving too much away, the two meet due to happenstance in the death of Martin’s father and My Phuong’s place in life. The story continues to build and build until the climax, which broke my heart for the characters involved. Sasse does provide closure in the last chapter and it really embodies the phrase... Beauty Rising.
January 15, 2013
Beauty Rising is a compelling read with captivating imagery and characters. It moves quickly, sometimes leaving the reader wanting a little more, but it is an easy yet poignant read. Certain parts of the novel—including the ending—provide a feeling of being both riveted and rushed; the reader may be desiring more development, but the story provides satisfying plot elements that will keep you engaged. The characters are well-developed, although the dialogue at times feels a bit forced, and it is easy to connect with the dual stories of Martin and My Phuong and follow the connection between the two of them. This is particularly worth a read if you are interested in the juxtaposition of cultures or the dynamics of engaging different worldviews.
May 6, 2013
This book was messed up. In a good way. I can not believe the ending. I am still thinking about it. Did that really happen? Did the author seriously do that? The Vietnam War was not good for anyone. This book showed what happened to so many of the US soldiers, that I believe to be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The soldier's (Martin's dad) life was ruined, and he came home a different man, negatively affecting his family.
The secret about Martin's mom was also very shocking, especially for the time period it took place in. The characters were all intertwined and I loved watching them interact. I also loved how the author ended the book for Martin. I definitely recommend this book. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.
The secret about Martin's mom was also very shocking, especially for the time period it took place in. The characters were all intertwined and I loved watching them interact. I also loved how the author ended the book for Martin. I definitely recommend this book. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.
January 18, 2014
Beauty Rising might best be described as a “late coming of age” story. The protagonist, Martin, hasn’t managed to break away from his overbearing parents. But his father’s dying request sets him on a journey where he comes to understand both his parents better, and in the process becomes his own man.
A large part in the middle of the book takes place in Vietnam, with the different setting and culture adding spice to the story. I found this part interesting and assume, since the author’s bio indicates he’s lived in this part of the world, should be an accurate portrayal.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
A large part in the middle of the book takes place in Vietnam, with the different setting and culture adding spice to the story. I found this part interesting and assume, since the author’s bio indicates he’s lived in this part of the world, should be an accurate portrayal.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
May 19, 2013
Great read! Held me through the entire book. Hard to put down to sleep! Travels, mystery, love, hate all wrapped in together. Martin is a fellow you can't help but feel for and pull for him. He finds love, learns to stand up for himself, then as quickly as he finds true happiness the cruel, selfish act of the last person you would think should do something so tragically wrong, it is all jerked away from Martin in a split second. Martin finally finds his home!
Highly recommend to everyone! Loved!!!!
Highly recommend to everyone! Loved!!!!
September 12, 2013
I got this as a free book through one of the email subscriptions I have. I finally decided to read it and overall I enjoyed the read.. The story was heart-breaking, depressing, fun and poignant - all wrapped together. The story that weaves two lives together in an amazing way and is told from two different points of vie. The two main characters get together as a result of seemingly impossible coincidences that are just close enough to reality to make pull the reader in and believe it could be true in the end. I didn't want to put it down, but I had too! :) I enjoyed the read.
December 29, 2012
Mark has written a beautiful novel that contrasts two very different cultures that were be united by love, forgiveness and redemption. The underlying Biblical themes were woven into a timeless tragic love story. His development of the characters made me identify with Martin and I found myself missing South East Asia. For his first novel Mark has written a classic. I have read his other plays and a novella and all I can say is I cannot wait for his next novel. Mark has been an inspiration to me.
May 6, 2013
Mark Sasse is a relative of one of my coworkers. He self-published this book so I am planning on reading it through the Prime Owners Lending Library. It got good reviews on Amazon.
I started reading this on my Kindle and I can hardly put it down. I am loving this book. It is a great story of a really dysfunctional family. The setting is Pittsburgh when not in Viet Nam so I love the references to places and things I am familiar with--like the Steelers!
I started reading this on my Kindle and I can hardly put it down. I am loving this book. It is a great story of a really dysfunctional family. The setting is Pittsburgh when not in Viet Nam so I love the references to places and things I am familiar with--like the Steelers!
July 15, 2013
Writing: C
Vocabulary: C
Plot: A
Level: Easy
Rating: PG13 (murder, prostitution, sexual abuse, political corruption, theft, fornication, racial prejudice, hypocrisy)
Worldwide: Christianity
Highly recommended for just about everybody! This short story twists & turns in a manner true to life.
American Martin and Vietnamese My Phuong both live harsh lives where the people who should take care of them don't. They both walk away from God, but find His love reflected in surprising ways.
Vocabulary: C
Plot: A
Level: Easy
Rating: PG13 (murder, prostitution, sexual abuse, political corruption, theft, fornication, racial prejudice, hypocrisy)
Worldwide: Christianity
Highly recommended for just about everybody! This short story twists & turns in a manner true to life.
American Martin and Vietnamese My Phuong both live harsh lives where the people who should take care of them don't. They both walk away from God, but find His love reflected in surprising ways.
June 7, 2013
I loved this book. It was a page turner and even from someone like me with a short attention span, I couldn't put the book down. An everyday guy who lives at home and works at k-mart hears from his abusive father on his father's deathbed a secret event and a complex request. This changes Martin life in extraordinary ways and takes us all on an adventure of sadness, humor, friendships, kindness, terror, love, gratefulness and an explosive yet tender ending. What a story!
August 15, 2014
I completed reading this novel in one day (not often that I do that)as the style was easy and the story compelling. However, there were several grammatical errors that stood out and the last third seemed rushed and a little awkward. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural at times, particularly in the sections set in America. I found the Vietnam settings more riveting and the story better developed in those chapters.
October 4, 2013
I really loved this story. My heart went out to this 250 pound man who lived with abusive parents. His father on his death bed requested that he take his ashes to Vietnam. This was the most heart felt conversation he had ever had with his father, and he followed through on his request. Prior to this he had never traveled out of Pennsylvania. His mother was furious with his decision and the journey was not an easy one. It was a very powerful story and well written.
April 13, 2014
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The book was slow to start with, but once I got past maybe two chapter's, I couldn't put the book down.
The story was captivating and even though the story didn't stay with the same character through the whole book, the story still flowed in a logical way that you could easily follow.
The ending was cruel but is consistent with the whole story, such is life.
Great read, thank-you Mark for the signed copy.
The book was slow to start with, but once I got past maybe two chapter's, I couldn't put the book down.
The story was captivating and even though the story didn't stay with the same character through the whole book, the story still flowed in a logical way that you could easily follow.
The ending was cruel but is consistent with the whole story, such is life.
Great read, thank-you Mark for the signed copy.
January 13, 2015
This is not an important work of literature but also it is anything but a cheap romance novel. It is a story of pain, healing, redemption and love. The primary characters suffer from arrested development due to life's bleak circumstances. Both stores are told individually, taking the reader through the pain of alcoholic abusive parents and the seedy world of Asian human trafficking. It is,a bittersweet tale, yet affords the reader a sense of fulfillment and closure.
December 29, 2012
A surprisingly captivating story that weaves two lives together in an amazing way. I love a story told from two different points of view and this one adds the element of star crossed lovers with seemingly impossible coincidences that are just close enough to reality to make pull the reader in and believe it could be true in the end.
February 16, 2013
A great read! Two people on the outside of their respective cultures, for very different reasons, meet under not the best of circumstances.... It also touches on how hard some people find it to let go of the past and the repercussions that can come from this. Humour, love, tragedy and hope all shine through this wonderful little book. Would wholeheartedly recommend it!
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