Curiosity

by Helen Valentina

Peter Graham believes the world ended some time ago and nobody noticed. He is a young man driven by one essential quality-curiosity. But when he couples that with his feeling that nothing matters anymore, he does something reckless that catapults him into the media eye as an unlikely modern hero. Peter goes through the dance of media and political opportunity to further exploits, which he uncovers through his overwhelming curiosity. All the while, he writes in his private journal, determined to prove the world has ended; his outside adventures have done nothing to dissuade him from the truth of his view. Meanwhile, his family and friends struggle to keep up with his recklessness, understand him, and keep him safe from his own inherent, happy nihilism. Curiosity is the darkly comedic tale of a somewhat benign sociopath who, while dancing through a celebrity-worshipping age, takes risks and burrows into a surreptitious modern world where every secret worth finding is deep and dark.

284 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2013

About the author

By day I work in an office environment as a senior human resources manager, but that pays the bills rather than nourishing my heart.

I come to Goodreads for that soul nourishment - the love of books, reading and writing. The love of communicating and inter-acting with people who share similar loves and interests. The love of starting a new journey as a self published author, a new way to express myself and how I view the world that is totally different to my day to day concerns.

I write poetry, novels and prose to express in very broad terms different aspects of the elements. My first novel The Seed is about love and its consequences, and so expresses Water. My next novel will be a black comedy and so expresses Air. And so forth. It means that my novels, like my poetry, will cross genres, so I hope that isn't too confusing! What it all has in common is the exploration of what makes us human, what makes us do what we do and be who we are.

My poetry blog at Wordpress gives a good idea of the way I write and the themes I use. It also has details of where my novel The Seed can be purchased if this interests you. It can be found at:

http://helenvalentina.com


I look forward to sharing this journey with other readers and writers on Goodreads.

Reviews

[Ionia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much different than Helen Valentina's previous release, "The Seed," this book explores the darker depths of the human psyche and the choices we make when we are put into unusual situations. I must agree completely with the title of this book. The main character is certainly "curious," as is the overall book. This is a story that will make you think, comes at you with blunt force and will not cease to surprise you.

Would I say that this book will be for everyone? Certainly not. There is an abundance of foul language (I happen to agree with the philosophy that people talk this way in the real world and without it this book would not have been able to be what it was.) If this type of thing bothers you, then this might not be for you. I think you have to be able to handle reality and have an open mind to make this book work.

The outlook of the main character is at times a bit twisted and it seems his view of things is skewed, but other times he makes so much sense that you can't help but nod your head in agreement. This book reminded me, in some ways, of a social experiment. How would we react to the same situation that the MC faced? It is hard to say. I liked the ripped from the headlines quality of this novel and the dark humour kept me turning the pages in anticipation of the next funny revelation from the characters.

This book will make you question the things you think you are sure of and make you wonder about your own morals and personal reasoning. Helen Valentina creates the type of characters that stay with you, long after the book is finished.

I would recommend this book to people who like to get away from the mainstream once in a while. If you enjoy reading books that are thought provoking and "curious," you should check this out.

[Laurie Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benign sociopath is right, Peter the protagonist is Curious, and we as the reader are curious as to what has made him this way. His journal entries chronicle a personal philosophy that is hard to refute and I admit to spending some time after putting this book down coming up with proofs of my own and wondering if Peter is right.

Curiosity shows just how wrong place/right time and a little curiosity can change the actions of an ordinary person and take on a voracious life of its own.

Helen Valentina brings her characters to life in such a realistic way that I am now looking at the people around me wondering if they are Curious, or if they are obsessing over the ego driven behaviour of those around them and sitting in judgement. Once again her secondary characters bring the story to life as they do in her first novel, “The Seed”. Though Curiosity is a different beast altogether it is a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging read that makes you question the reality and rise of the modern celebrity or politician and the media that bring them to life.

Peter’s mother had me checking for hot coffee everywhere I looked and I think I will be watching the local news programs with a slightly more discerning eye from now on. The blog and message board entries are brilliantly written, very realistic and entertaining. I wanted to visit the websites myself! And then there is the politician Patrick and his incredulous plan which I have the horrifying thought that someone out there has actually attempted to bring into being! And I had to laugh over Peter’s responses to Bridget!

Helen Valentina’s social media, celebrity and political commentary is a delight to read and in fact I think she could write a whole book just on the life and death mythology created by rampant social media and its worship of celebrity, or the reality of political power in her dry and witty questioning of morality in the modern computer age.

I really loved and enjoyed this book and can’t wait for more from this new and very clever writer.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an extremely entertaining read. I particularly enjoyed all of Peter's "proofs".

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good black comedy with a political bent.

Very much looking forward to reading other books by this author.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One dark and disturbed man!! Loved it!