The Color of Cold and Ice

by J. Schlenker

Sybil has dreams; the prophetic kind, although interpreting them correctly is another matter. Her latest dream involves her sister Emerald, who wants to pursue her art once more and move on with her life after losing her husband. John, once felt he was making a difference as an ER doctor, but finds himself slipping away in his Manhattan practice as well as in his marriage. Allison, John’s wife wants to change her ho hum existence with John into something spectacular. Mark, Allison’s brother, a struggling musician, wants to quit rambling in life and find his purpose.


The cold changes everything.

Genres: Fiction

ebook

First published July 20, 2016

About the author

J. Schlenker, a late-blooming author, lives with her husband, Chris, in the splendid center of nowhere in the foothills of Appalachia in Kentucky, where the only things to disturb her writing are croaking frogs, screaming guineas, and the occasional sounds of hay being cut in the fields.

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed J. Schlender's first book "Jessica Lost Her Wobble"....especially because
of her unique-clever ending.
However, the cleverness and uniqueness in "The Color of Cold and
Ice", doesn't feel right 'for me'.
I'm too aware of technique & style -as a tool - in the crafting of the writing. My attention was on it too much..and it began to get in the way of my natural enjoyment.


Plus.....it's rare that I'm fond of stories where a character has dreams that foretell things. Right from the beginning - I was fighting with my own judgements about Sybil. I wasn't interested in knowing about the dreams she was having. It's nothing personal against this book--I've little interest in hearing about predictions from people's dreams it 'any' story. So, I'm noticing - pretty early on .... this is not the best 'fit' type read for me.

Another thing I wasn't crazy about - which other readers may love- is the power given to 'colors'. If I wanted to read up on the spiritual meaning & symbolism of colors --I'd turn to a very specific non-fiction book on the topic. For me - connecting the importance of 'color' with different characters in this story lacks sincere authenticity. It feels like 'a good idea' -- but it comes off being a predictable gimmick.... or, again, --it might just be, a style, and I can't put my finger on it...but I wasn't looking forward to dialogue of any colors. ( so, it's more the topic and style which wasn't a great fit for me).
The storytelling began to feel like a performance.....( a writing creation without enough purpose).
I turned into an observation-reader, rather than an engaged reader.

Between holistic alternative treatments - biased opinions about yoga & spirituality, - and I like Yoga-- I used to teach for years -I teach less today- ...( primarily Aqua yoga combined with water-fitness for the older- folks).....but I did feel things were bias. Even with positive intentions - something - to me doesn't feel right.

Colors as a major 'theme', a story centered around a coffee shop in New York City - characters that are mostly one dimensional ---I never felt the author had 'enough' mastery on any one of these topics - let alone blend them together.
I would have preferred there be less main characters - with more development. I actually was interested in the relationship-combination between the two sisters, one child - and one living husband. I didn't like when the story shifted from them to the other characters as much. However... this author absolutely has talent.
She is still new. Her first book is really darn good. I look forward to reading more of J.
Schlender's books in the future. I'm sure we will see continued growth. I've see it before with new authors....and its a joy to witness.
Yet for this book - I need to be honest ... It's about a 2 star rating for me- maybe 2.5.

Please read other reviews. Many readers before me love this book. Remember - much of what I didn't like was simply the style.

I 'do' adore the author as a community friend - here on Goodreads - and wish her much success in the future.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Color of Cold and Ice by J. Schlenker is a vivid experience. It is not just reading a story. It is tasting the meaning of colors and watching those colors spread out their fingers into many people’s lives.
The cast of characters is so simple to follow. You can see into their hearts and their minds.

Oh my goodness, the characters are so colorful, as colorful as the cover and just as full of life. This book really is an enchanting story. Complete with the metamorphoses that take place in many of the characters lives. J has a unique vision in her writing and it shines through so well in her new book.

The emotions are so strong in this book. You find yourself rooting for all the characters, especially when things seem so scary and uncertain. I enjoyed reading it so much. It has made me look at life, colors and happiness in a whole new way.

The color of Cold and ice has the mote lovable and charming characters.

[J. Schlenker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Review or More of an Explanation of How the Book Came About –

Designing a book cover is one way I can stay connected to my art degree. I loved designing this cover. Possibly, part of the reason the book came about was because of the paint brush I drew using Art Studio. It was always in the back of my mind to do something with that drawing.
Then, in October my husband and I began taking an online course given by Wim Hof. The course involved meditation, yoga, pranayama, and how to connect with your inner fire in the cold. It is one of the best things my husband and I have ever done together. Around the same time, I was also taking an online writing course given by Eva Shaw. She gave us an assignment to be a color. I chose orange. I loved this assignment. I wanted to do all of the colors.
Along came the month of November, National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. I had already participated the previous two years. “Jessica Lost Her Wobble” came out of my first year. What to write about this year, I thought, which was actually 2015. I was so inspired by both the course and the assignment about color, that I decided to combine the two, as well as somehow use the paintbrush I had drawn for the cover. It didn't hurt that my favorite artist is Van Gogh. The fictional characters grew around these general ideas.
The characters did not come in a linear fashion as they appear in the book. First came Mark, then John, and then Sybil. The book starts with Sybil, then John, and thirdly, Mark….then, Allison and Emerald. These are the five main characters in the book, all at a turning point in their lives. Through color and the cold, their lives change.

[Jennifer S. Alderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say up front that this probably wasn't the right fit for me as a reader.
It tells several tales, all connected to a New York coffee shop. The author intersperses scenes from several characters lives with chapters in which colors 'speak'. This combination often pulled me out of the story. However, readers who are interested in holistic medicine, dream analysis or premonitions would probably enjoy this book.

**I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter was the one that wanted to read this book so I am repeating her honest review for my winning a copy of this book. Thanks so much for book, I am now about halfway through it myself and enjoying it as much as my daughter. Great Goodreads Giveaway!!!

This book is quite skillfully written and cleverly weaves the many color descriptions in each part so that the reader sees a vivid picture in color along with feeling each of the characters emotions in a whole new way. For me this was such an artistic way to write a book and I cannot wait to finish it, not only so my daughter, 17 and I can discuss it in more detail. But so I can hear how she, an artist herself will describe the book in more detail. Hopefully I can also have her stop her busy senior year in high school long enough to write a review on the book herself.

I did not place start and finish dates because I am not sure of the exact dates. Thanks again, I look forward to reading many more books by this writer.

Sincerely, Linda

[Becca Chopra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Color of Cold and Ice is exceptionally creative, weaving the many facets of colors and their chakra associations into the story. Author J. Schlenker beautifully writes of intriguing characters who cross paths throughout the novel, and in the end, become important bridges to balance, passion, health and love for each other.

The novel opens with Sybil, a wife, sister, the owner of a New York City coffee shop, having another of her prophetic dreams. A dream she could not analyze easily, but at least not one like the nightmares that she had seen come true… like the one in which her sister Em’s husband was hit by an object hurtling down from a crane while he and his young son were walking down the street. But this latest dream was pleasant… strange, but pleasant. Nothing foreboding, but indecipherable. She’s standing next to a canal on a bright summer day with her sister, both in orange t-shirts and jeans, then there's a shift in the weather to a wintry day with chunks of ice floating down the canal, and a man immune to the cold jumping out of the water to kiss her sister.

As The Color of Cold and Ice progresses, we see Sybil’s dream(s) come true and wonder if our own dreams should be paid more attention, to see into the future or just into our selves.

Between the narrative chapters in which we become connected to the characters, Schlenker interweaves short chapters titled from black to white, with all the colors of the rainbow, and the chakras, in between. And the characters then exemplify some of the traits of those chakras, so we learn how they affect our day-to-day lives. What better way to learn about the chakras than to hear them speak for themselves? Here is a sampling of the intriguing way Schlenker helps us leap into the world of color and chakras:

RED: “I am the subdued light that makes the flesh appealing, an urban area of brothels… a district in Amsterdam. A narrow piece of silk, that says ‘power, strength, wealth – with this you can’t go wrong,’ the over enthusiastic salesman, clearly fueled by commission, says. I am life itself, pulsing, oozing, erupting from inside the womb…. I am the base chakra. It all starts with me. I govern the material world, the physical body, and the social position in life. If I’m balanced, I will radiate good health and high levels of energy.”

Throughout the drama of the novel, we see the doctor who attended Em’s child after the crane accident lose his passion for both his profession and his wife, then find it again through cold therapy and then other alternative, holistic practices that he integrates into his Internal Medicine practice.

No more spoilers as to the novel’s ending, as I think you should read it for yourself. But I will end my review with words spoken by Sybil: “I don’t know that life is so strange. I think the universe has a plan for us. It works out better when we listen. We’re on a divine trek.”

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 4 out of 5]

About: The Color of Cold and Ice is a fiction novel written by J. Schlenker. This book was published on 7/20/16 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. This book is the author’s second novel and her first was called Jessica Lost Her Wobble which was published in December 2015. Please read more about the author below.

My Experience: I started reading The Color of Cold and Ice on 12/18/16 and finished it on 12/30/16. Normally only books that bored me takes me 2 weeks to read, but this book takes me this long because I was sick (cough, runny nose, sneeze, tired) so I experienced a bit of a reading slump in between. This book is actually very interesting. There is a lot going on and I like that there are many point of views. This book is unlike other books I have read and it’s in a good way. Some chapters in this book describe different colors. Normally, I may able to write 2-3 sentences to describe color black or pink but in this book, the author can write a whole chapter of multiple pages to describe color black or red. I admire that greatly! One thing I don’t enjoy these chapters is that they only describe the color; they don’t point to the plot or how they embedded into the story. They may indirectly point to the plot, but that requires more thinking on the reader’s part.

“Do something before it is too late.” 46%

The characters and plot are likable and interesting. There are two sisters Sybil and Emerald, both married. One with a kid and one without. One loses her husband and one wants a child badly. One owns a coffee shop called The Java Bean and the other helps out. The sisters gets along very well. One sister has these dreams that comes true but it’s not clear enough to know exactly what. One dream foretold a sister will meet Mr. Right. Other characters in the story are the doctor John, his wife Allison, and a struggling musician Mark. At one point, some characters loses their purposes in life, they learn of a guru that teaches them to embrace nature such as walking bare feet in the park or swim in ice water to take back control of their life. This book has so much packed into one that makes it interesting and not confusing at all. I highly recommend this book.

Pro: multiple POVs, entrepreneur, family, beliefs, dreams, art

Con: instalove

I rate it 4 stars!

***Disclaimer: The author invited me to read this book. Many thanks to J. Schlenker for the opportunity to read & review. Please assure that my opinions are honest.

xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Color of Cold and Ice is a novel by J. Schlenker. This is her second novel. I read and reviewed her first novel Jessica Lost Her Wobble. She asked me to read her second novel and review it. I am so glad I said yes. This is a wonderful story of a group of strangers in New York City who come together because of a coffee shop called The Java Bean Factory. The characters are very realistic as are the incidents in the plot. The story is interspersed with chapters on colors. Colors are personified and each color tells about the attributes it has. Color plays an important part in the lives of the characters. The story mainly takes place in the winter, around Valentine’s Day, in New York City. It then expands to Amsterdam and Poland.
Sibyl had a vision to own a coffee shop and with the help of her lawyer husband, Clark, and her sister, Em (short for Emerald), she made her vision become a reality. When she purchased the shop, Em gave up a job she hated to come help her decorate the shop and get it running. It became a lifesaver for Em when her husband was killed in a freak accident. Sibyl also had dreams that foretold things, like Michael’s accident and 9/11. Some dreams were just dreams but all involved color and cold.
John Gray was a GP who had his own practice plus all his student loans and bills. He had worked ER and loved it; but it didn’t give him time for his family. His wife, Allison helped him start his practice but she was a stay-at-home mom with their two children, Molly and Little John. John stopped at The Java Bean Factory because the line at other coffee shops were too long. He thought he recognized Em; but wasn’t sure. Actually, he was the doctor who saved her son Chad’s life after the accident. John loves his job and his family; but something is missing.
Mark is Allison’s little brother. Where she is slightly OCD, he is the exact opposite. He is unmarried but has had several long term girlfriends who were all different and a little flaky. He loves music but hasn’t been able to make much of a living with it. He is still trying to find where he belongs in life.
Their lives collide in New York but one thing resounds with all of them- color. They also are fans of Van Gogh and his colorful paintings. All this is woven together in a lovely story that tears at your heart and makes you laugh at the same time. I totally recommend this book to everyone.

[Edward Vukovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read Schlenker’s first book but was taken in by the premise of this one – a group of strangers brought together through the metaphor of colour. Colour is the central theme that binds each character together. Colour and cold, which considering the plot mainly takes place in the bleakness of winter, the combination provides an interesting palette.

Schlenker uses colour to flesh out the lives of the main characters, breaking each chapter into coloured themes. She intertwines the individual storylines skillfully, as an artist would mesh colours on a canvas, drawing on tidbits from their past to drive the plot forwards.

The characters are relatable and largely likeable and in impressively, feel real, as if they’re people taken from the author’s life. Indeed, there are times when you almost feel as if you’ve been given a brief look into a real life/lives, which is testament to the vivid picture Schlenker paints.

We follow each character from Sibyll, the café owner, to John, the ER doctor, and his family, and find ourselves waiting to see which course they will take – the steady, safe course or the path less travelled.

Schlenker explores the idea of human connection and our emotional response to situations expertly, weaving a thoroughly satisfying and engaging story, complete with a tidy surprise ending. I recommend this book to anyone who loves character driven stories.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a different story about love life and maybe a touch of fate as they intertwine, Meet sisters Sybil and Em (Emerald). Going through their lives, Sybil has dreams that are really more like premonitions. So when she sees her sister, who is trying to get on with her life after losing her husband, with a man what might it mean? The author does a great job of telling this story which unravels and connects several lives and is also combined with interesting links to colors and chakras. I love this authors writing style which touches a readers heart and lets them get lost in the story.

[S.K. Wee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Totally loved this story. I especially loved the different colors creating their own narratives. The story revolves around a New York City coffee shop owner and her sister. Love, fate, and destiny all play a part in the lives of the characters as their lives become entangled with those of an unsatisfied doctor and his family. I highly recommend this book. With the fresh snowfall outside, I almost want to go outside barefoot. Almost.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

GAB This is a very interesting book, tying human emotions and reactions to various colors. I found it to be an odd but enticing slant on our inbuilt responses to stimuli, when added to other core knee-jerk reactions we are all aware of. On top of that it is a good, fast read with people you can understand and sympathize with. I will watch for more by J. Schlenker.

[Patrick Dent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent!

This book absolutely enthralled me. Interlaced between the chapters of the main story are seven vignettes, rich with metaphors and beautiful prose linking colors to all living things; the seven colors representing the seven Hindu Chakras.

As the characters face highly relatable human experiences (a midlife crisis, the loss of a loved one, the search for meaning, a bad diagnosis, the need for love, the angst of loneliness), the author weaves in the themes of colors, spirituality, courage, and the interconnectedness of our lives.

J. Schlenker is clearly an artist on every level and a brilliant writer. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever wanted to connect the dots of this confusing existence we all share.

[Deborah Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written

I enjoyed this book immensely. Romantic without being sappy, heartfelt and sincere. The characters totally believable and the plot was real and unpretentious. I would highly recommend.

[Rose Verde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel revolved around 4 main characters--their lives, love, art, with a unique way of blending colors. It's a nice new twist to writing. Great descriptions, premise and characters.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Color of Cold and Ice is a beautifully written book with characters who are life like and vivid. I would and will reread this book with enjoyment.
I received The Color of Cold and Ice by J. Schlenker via a Good reads giveaway. The fact that I received this book for free did not sway my review in any way. I thank the author for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

[Kim Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Color of Cold and Ice is a beautiful story of strangers brought together through a series of life changing events and their journey to find happiness. A doctor faces the choices that lead to a mundane life that he dreads waking up to each day. Finding the courage to change against the norm, he seeks out holistic treatments that have profound effects on the patients he treats. Each starts their own journey towards a life worth living. A thought provoking story with beautiful artistic touches incorporating the colors of life.

[William Stinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Author does a excellent job of developing interesting characters and intertwining story lines. I like the use of colors and their descriptive feelings that refer to the following chapter narrative. It is an interesting story that keeps the reader engaged throughout. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a engaging story that has all the highs, lows, expectations, fears, struggles, accomplishments, and joy that is real life.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS
13rd March, 2018
TITLE: The Color of Cold and Ice
AUTHOR: J. Schlenker
Star Rating: 5


‘A powerfully written novel driven by strong characters, plot twists – and color! Highly recommended.’


REVIEW
To begin with, let me just say I loved this book from the first page to the very last. So much so, I am now enjoying another of the author’s books, Sally. The Color of Cold and Ice is packed full of small twists and clever turns; and the central characters – a café owner and a doctor – are fully developed and highly interesting.
The story basically follows a small number of characters who battle the everyday problems of life, from the complexity of love to a disgruntled doctor trying to do what he feels is right. There is also a strong element of ‘color’ to the story, that is almost a character too!
Well, I finished the novel two nights later and I did very much enjoy it. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me interested and the characters were interesting and well developed. The author is also confident with ‘speech’ with plenty of ‘showing’ and not ‘telling’, a good sign of a confident author. The author is also not scared to keep a sentence short and simple where it’s needed; and, by doing so, helping to improve the pacing where speed is needed. Finally, the ending was excellent – loved the twist – and, closing my computer, I knew I’d be happy to open another of this author’s books. Which is what I did!
So, would I recommend this book? Yes, absolutely. Who would I recommend it to? To any reader who enjoys richly-developed characters; this, as I say, is predominantly a character-led story, and all of them, even the lesser characters, jump off the page.
I always like to end with a ‘what struck me the most’ comment. Well, ‘what struck me the most’ about this novel was the writing style of author. The author is adept at many aspects of writing, from character development to plot development, from helping the reader to fall in love with the characters, to helping the reader understand the problems they face.
This has been written by a very talented writer; I will be keeping my eyes peeled for her next book too.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk

[Jilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book but I don't quite know what to make of it. I can't quite decide if I really liked it or it was just ok! I can't even quite describe it. It is quite inspiring because it is about all of lifes possibilities and how you can change for the better. What I did like was the chapters on the colours. Each chakra colour has it's own chapter and the descriptions in there were fabulous. Made me look at colours anew and from a different perspective.

*********************************

Sybil has dreams; the prophetic kind, although interpreting them correctly is another matter. Her latest dream involves her sister Emerald, who wants to pursue her art once more and move on with her life after losing her husband. John, once felt he was making a difference as an ER doctor, but finds himself slipping away in his Manhattan practice as well as in his marriage. Allison, John’s wife wants to change her ho hum existence with John into something spectacular. Mark, Allison’s brother, a struggling musician, wants to quit rambling in life and find his purpose.
The cold changes everything.

[Susan Weintrob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A main setting in The Color of Cold and Ice is an eccentric coffee shop that is a place of healing as well as delicious food. The strong characters and compelling plot are presented with an imaginative writing style. Many of the characters change course in their lives because of a dream or a compelling intuition about what path is the best one to take, despite difficulties or obstacles. This is not the first book of Jerri’s that I have read—she is a writer whose books are wonderful to read and I am a fan!

[R.T. Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is more a work of art than literature. A cleverly written tale of normal human experiences woven between the seven Hindu Chakras, "The Color of Cold and Ice" begins with a quote, and keeps you turning the pages. I loved how each color told its own story, and my favorite parts were the color descriptions. Definitions so creative and inspiring, the color's name wasn't necessary for the reader. I highly recommend this book!

[Barbara Daniels Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are one who loves color as I do, then this novel is for you. Ms. Schlenker takes the colors of the chakras, describes them with imagination, weaves each into a character study, and wraps it into an ending with all characters melding together. Never in my reading experience have I ever found a writer of this caliber who was able to stir the reader's imagination in the way she does. Jerri is the Van Gogh of writers!

[Kat Drennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A work of art from the cover to cover. The Color of Cold and Ice is an excellent piece of literary women’s fiction that keeps you invested as you try to work out how a woman’s prophetic dreams will unfold in reality. Schlenker's characters come alive on the page and you find yourself rooting for them all the way through.

[Kari · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t get it

The color characterizations at the beginning of the chapters were odd, random and too long. I saw no pertinence. What did the colors have to do with anything? The Characters were uniformly unlikeable except maybe Emerald. I just couldn’t care less about any of them.

[Janice Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This award-winning novel is a beautiful work of fiction.
The author uses colour to introduce chapters. At first, the colours (Chakras) were a bit disconcerting, it took a bit of research to determine what a Chakra was. That part seems designed to lead the reader deeper into the story. The couples in the story are realistically portrayed, it was hard to put down.

[Johnda Estep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Color of Cold and Ice is a beautifully woven mix of prose and poetry. Schlenker uses the abstract meanings of color to underscore the character's relationships and their growth. I was a wonderful book to read.

[Alma Mesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful!

I enjoyed the color descriptions, definitions, that brought them to life! this sweet story is serendipitous and sentimental! the story came together in the only way this story could work, tied together in a colorful, beautiful bow!

[Sue Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great charcters

This book took a little to get into. The dialog has a stream of consciousness, feeling that was hard for me to initially follow. But like a couple of the characters, I let it go and just kept reading.

I'm glad I continued.

[Anne Carmichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, the complexities of marriage and life. J. Schlenker explores the things that make us tick once again and forces us to confront and examine our own demons.

Highly recommend a read.