Genesis

by Quent Cordair

In the twilight of the Roman Empire, a sculptor struggles to keep an 800-year dream alive while honoring the love of his life and raising his adoptive son. Part I of the epic five-part Idolatry series, in which a wealthy young heir and a devout Christian girl find themselves at the heart of a 2400-year struggle for the soul of Western Civilization.

Genres: Historical Fiction

148 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2014

About the author

Quent Cordair was born in 1964 in southern Illinois. Raised in an insular fundamentalist religion, the local library became a treasured gateway to the outside world. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he taught himself how to paint and soon began taking portrait commissions to support his writing. His first short story, “A Prelude to Pleasure,” was published by The Atlantean Press Review in 1991. In 1996, Quent Cordair Fine Art opened in Burlingame, California. Now located in Jackson, Wyoming, the gallery represents the work of thirty Romantic Realist painters and sculptors. The author’s acclaimed novels, short stories, poetry, and screenplays are drawn from a lifetime of experience and interest in adventure, romance, history, philosophy, and art. Quent lives and works in Jackson with his wife, Linda, who manages the gallery when the couple aren’t hiking or fishing with their labradoodle, Sophie, or traveling to dote on their granddaughters, Ella, Everly, Emerson, and Harlow.

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genesis beautifully brings together art, history, love, and philosophy in order to show an artist’s struggle to maintain his love of life in the face of injustice. Perfectly paced and with an almost lyrical style Quent causes you to dance through his story with ease. His descriptions of scenes and characters are poetically precise allowing the reader to imagine the scenes with a joyful simplicity, yet possess striking clarity no matter what your imaginative skills are. The character’s passion and vibrancy make them irresistibly intriguing. From their first words and actions to their last I was rooting for them as if they were my best friends. Ending in a blaze of action, part one leaves you starving for more by implying that this story is going to develop into an epic objectification of an abstract struggle as timeless as civilization itself. Our contemporary culture is starving for value-oriented art and Genesis is a perfect example of what we hunger for.

[B.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think any review I write could do this story justice. And anything I could say about it seems trite and formulated. It's gripping, but so much more. It's beautiful in a way beyond explaining. It's touching and uplifting and inspiring and yet saddening and infuriating and it left me a little bereft.

And now I'm left waiting for Part 2 to be finished.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, and can't wait the book II. The setting of the story was in Alexandria of ancient Egypt. A great sculptor of his time Apollonius, while attending her lecture was mesmerized by her beauty and intellect. Twenty years had passed, he just wanted to live, but Apollonius past had followed him. He has to faced the past for the love that he had for her.

The story is excellent! Fascinating lead characters, courageous hero/heroine.... a fun historical. This book is worth adding to your reading list.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Genesis, Cordair's romantic storytelling masterfully creates an ancient world, with characters that are the breathing embodiment of the author's radiant sense of life. His heroes beautifully illustrate an uncompromising individualism, and an unwavering admiration for the exalted in man. Set in the backdrop of the encroaching Dark Ages, Genesis takes you to a time and place that ominously reflects our present. This was a great read and I can't wait for Idolatry Book 2. To say I highly recommend reading this book is an understatement of mammoth proportions!

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been quite some time since I have been so completely hooked by a story. So many powerful emotions came through while reading "Genesis". The entire read was an engaging experience, and I can't wait to start "A New Eden". I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends and family. Well done, Quent!

[Erik Wingren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good -- and left me so stunned and hanging waiting for more, that it is hard to write an appropriate review. Perhaps I will come back and attempt to edit, but for now, let me just say, get and read.

[Dwayne Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary story told superbly.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece in 5 parts!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice prose, with (so far) a very simplistic story. It is just interesting enough that I am willing to keep going, but I want a bit more substance to match the very nice writing.

Good knowledge and understanding of art, and as an art nerd I definitely appreciate that. But I don't quite love the characters yet and need more of a connection to them other than just their love of art. Interested in reading the next one.

[Pavel Urubčík · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've read a book and had moments when I had to keep reading. Enjoyed this memorable story. Even though it's a fiction, the story is all well too known in human history and references to historical figures make it even more memorable experience.
Received as a gift.

[Hunter Satterfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was on my list for awhile as I had seen reviews of it that compared to other books I loved. It was solid for historical fiction. Gorgeous writing is what carried it more than anything. For fans of modern lit/historical fiction this is right up your alley.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great author and great book. I thoroughly enjoyed Part 2, and it made me want to go back and read Part 1 again. Actually, this was my third read of Part 1.

As an educator, I sometimes feel it is like a battle teaching rational values (and the virtues necessary to obtain them) to teenage students on the brink of adulthood in our messed up world. However, the occasional bright and shining star student who actually gets it is a treasure that restores my spirit. In this story two of the youths in particular come to understand what they value, so the best of their life story is no doubt yet to come. Treasures for sure.

But what can a person do when the whole world will no longer stand for what is good and true and right? And what of a child, on the verge of adulthood, with a whole life on the horizon, who must face the reality - This isn't my world anymore...

(Oh, almost forgot to say...There are other good characters too...and some love, romance, adventure, humor, history, and more. So read it!)

[Donald Edsel · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I began to read this book on July 28, and with a finish date of August 28, moments ago, this timeframe is misleading in that I was not in a position to read for at least a week in between. Between the first 2 days of reading and the last 2, I found myself very absorbed with the vivid imagery "from the beginning" - no pun intended. This perception is magnified by the fact that I am not a "reader". On top of that, I am also not very schooled in the "art" of providing an electronic review. Can you tell that I am "old school" when it comes to real pages with pen and paper book reports ? Regardless, I surprised even myself in that even while I was away from the characters, descriptions and inter-connections, I was still carrying the moments with anticipation for what would follow. Superb reading, and I trust to have managed this "creation" of a 5 star electronic review. I also look forward to ordering Part II in paper page fashion and continuing with this new read. *****

[jodi watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. Quick paced. Loved the era of time this book centers around. Great character descriptions, you as the reader could actually feel you were standing in the plaza looking at the sculpture....I finished the book and readily picked up the 2nd book in the series, only to be somewhat confused as it does not immediately follow the first - I am 4 chapters into the 2nd and enjoying it but still curious as the outcome of the first? the book statements claim this is a "story" told in 5 parts, however part 2 came out in 2016...waiting to see how all ties together...

[Kyle Halmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great achiever in a world that hates achievement

This book was a delight to read. Cordair captures the romantic view of life akin to Rand's works at a time long before our own but with problems that are disturbingly similar. Within such a small book lies a powerful story of a great achiever in an age which has chosen to hate achievement.

Further, Corsair has worked to perfect his literary style. Genesis showcases the author's growth from previous works, and I cannot wait to read the next installment.

[Jeffrey Falk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This page turner is the best of both worlds: the stylization of art with the pace of riveting entertainment; singular, individualistic characters with timeless themes and abstractions; harrowing, high-stakes, life-or-death conflict set in a universe that is a kind of heaven on Earth; and proper, effective literature that is also cinematic in the vividness of its prose (someone should adapt it visually).

[Rúnar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is a painter, and it shows. Quent Cordair has the ability to vividly describe people and places in concise prose. This book is brief, as the first part of a longer story, but it's a complete short story in its own right, like a painting in a collection. I've read many of the author's other published stories, and this is his best work so far, by far.