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Cane and Able
"The grass isn't always greener..."
Loosely based on the life of author Jonathan Matos, a near death experience turns a mild-mannered young man's ambitions into obsessions.
Shortly after a brush with death on the operating table, Dennis Caine is convinced his survival means he is destined for greatness. But as Dennis grows into adulthood, his attempts to win the affections of his best friend, Beth Michaels, the praise of his parents, and the accolades of football star Jason Bell consistently fall short. Jason is a high school football star and the son of a grocery store magnate, who longs for the kind of respect Dennis takes for granted. Their rivalry quickly escalates from petty pranks to kidnapping, arson, and a matter of life and death.
Experience the first entry in the Seven Deadly Sins Series, where drama and suspense reach Biblical proportions.
Loosely based on the life of author Jonathan Matos, a near death experience turns a mild-mannered young man's ambitions into obsessions.
Shortly after a brush with death on the operating table, Dennis Caine is convinced his survival means he is destined for greatness. But as Dennis grows into adulthood, his attempts to win the affections of his best friend, Beth Michaels, the praise of his parents, and the accolades of football star Jason Bell consistently fall short. Jason is a high school football star and the son of a grocery store magnate, who longs for the kind of respect Dennis takes for granted. Their rivalry quickly escalates from petty pranks to kidnapping, arson, and a matter of life and death.
Experience the first entry in the Seven Deadly Sins Series, where drama and suspense reach Biblical proportions.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2016
About the author
Jonathan Matos
2 books4 followersJonathan Matos is a publishing army of one. His first novel, 'Cane and Able,' is based on his near death experience at age 11, shortly after a routine scoliosis repair. Jonathan also lives with central core disease, a rare muscle condition. Both conditions are explored in 'Cane and Able,' the first in a forthcoming series based on the "Seven Deadly Sins." Each entry in the anthology will explore a different period in America's dark past, ultimately contrasting the heartache of human error with the redemptive power of the gospel. Jonathan lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 13, 2017
Video review to come!
June 5, 2017
Dennis Caine knows what it’s like to be different. Born with a rare muscle disorder, he is no stranger to surgeries as he goes through his childhood. After a near-death experience during a scoliosis treatment surgery, Dennis’s life is changed and he strives to find purpose in his life. When Dennis reaches high school, his life seems to improve greatly as he retains his first female friend and dives more into chemistry in an ambition to discover a cure for his disorder. But as his life starts to take some bad turns with his newfound friend rejecting him and his increasing rivalry with Jason Bell, the star of the football team, Dennis’s chemistry interest starts to become an obsession. As unfortunate events continue to pile up in his life, the sweet purpose-driven Dennis descends into darker and darker thoughts causing him to act out in devastating ways—including the ultimate crime which changes his life forever. Told in multiple points of view with some interesting twists thrown in, Cane and Able is a well-written debut to Matos’s Seven Deadly Sins series.
With this being a somewhat historical fiction book with it taking place in the 90s, I enjoyed reading about how life was like for teenagers then and comparing it to my own experience in the mid-to-late 00s. When I first started reading this book, I had no idea that there were alternating points of view and I feel that it really added depth to the book. Each of the characters’ points of view had a unique voice which is always something I pay attention to because it is so common for authors to make every character sound the same.
The book did start off slowly for me and I personally don’t feel that the amount of detail given into Dennis’s life before high school was really that necessary. I would’ve been fine with a few pages of explanations with his health hardships and moved on to his current life where the book picked up speed. However, I do really like Matos’s writing style. It is well-written and filled with metaphors that add color to the writing without being irritating in any way which is a difficult balance. Along with that, one of the best things in this book for me was how realistic it was. I am always a fan of raw emotionality in books and this one definitely had it without becoming melodramatic or over-the-top in any way. Reading Dennis’s descent into semi-madness kept me intrigued and had just the right amount of unease and suspense thrown in.
If you’re a fan of complex, YA/A contemporary reads that make you think, this would be a good book to look into. Even with some difficult themes, the writing and emotionality is accessible for all readers. With the next book in the series diving into the 1950s with themes of racism and censorship, this series continues to show promise in producing thought-provoking books.
*I received this book from the author for free in exchange for an honest review*
With this being a somewhat historical fiction book with it taking place in the 90s, I enjoyed reading about how life was like for teenagers then and comparing it to my own experience in the mid-to-late 00s. When I first started reading this book, I had no idea that there were alternating points of view and I feel that it really added depth to the book. Each of the characters’ points of view had a unique voice which is always something I pay attention to because it is so common for authors to make every character sound the same.
The book did start off slowly for me and I personally don’t feel that the amount of detail given into Dennis’s life before high school was really that necessary. I would’ve been fine with a few pages of explanations with his health hardships and moved on to his current life where the book picked up speed. However, I do really like Matos’s writing style. It is well-written and filled with metaphors that add color to the writing without being irritating in any way which is a difficult balance. Along with that, one of the best things in this book for me was how realistic it was. I am always a fan of raw emotionality in books and this one definitely had it without becoming melodramatic or over-the-top in any way. Reading Dennis’s descent into semi-madness kept me intrigued and had just the right amount of unease and suspense thrown in.
If you’re a fan of complex, YA/A contemporary reads that make you think, this would be a good book to look into. Even with some difficult themes, the writing and emotionality is accessible for all readers. With the next book in the series diving into the 1950s with themes of racism and censorship, this series continues to show promise in producing thought-provoking books.
*I received this book from the author for free in exchange for an honest review*
April 29, 2017
Cane and Able had a great plot and while the story was more character driven, both characters, Denis and Jason, were well developed.
I liked the injections of church life because it added to the setting and added a layer of complexity to Denis' personality.
Even so, I was much more interested in Jason Bell’s character. While in the beginning he appears to be very stereotypical for a high school football player, his character gets more and more interesting as the book goes on.
I appreciated that the story wasn't over the top or melodramatic; it was very believable, which made it even creepy. I could see what motivated Denis to act in the end.
One of the biggest criticisms I had with the story is that I wanted more of the relationship between Jason and Denis, and I don't think we really needed to see Beth's POV.
Additionally, the pacing did feel a little slow at times. I wouldn't say boring but it just felt like we stayed on certain scenes more than others that I felt deserved more attention. Plus, the ending felt very rushed.
I liked the injections of church life because it added to the setting and added a layer of complexity to Denis' personality.
Even so, I was much more interested in Jason Bell’s character. While in the beginning he appears to be very stereotypical for a high school football player, his character gets more and more interesting as the book goes on.
I appreciated that the story wasn't over the top or melodramatic; it was very believable, which made it even creepy. I could see what motivated Denis to act in the end.
One of the biggest criticisms I had with the story is that I wanted more of the relationship between Jason and Denis, and I don't think we really needed to see Beth's POV.
Additionally, the pacing did feel a little slow at times. I wouldn't say boring but it just felt like we stayed on certain scenes more than others that I felt deserved more attention. Plus, the ending felt very rushed.
September 14, 2017
The first few chapters of this book felt like a memoir to me. They leaned heavily on stating facts and feelings rather than pulling the reader into the emotion of the circumstances. However, after the main character, Dennis, leaves the rehab and begins interacting with peers, my interest was piqued. The middle third was definitely my favorite! The last third of the story turned a lot more serious and even dark. Dennis turns from a boy struggling to find his purpose and place in the world to someone self-absorbed, bitter, and obsessed. In the final chapter, after drastic and sickening behavior, Dennis verbally delivers the message of the book to his young cousin.
Pros
After what I felt was a somewhat clunky start, the book was pretty well written.
In the middle third of the book, I really enjoyed the portrayal of Dennis learning to cope with his disability, trying to navigate friendship despite having to work harder than most, and the arc of his relationship with Beth.
Cons
The last third of the book felt very un-foreshadowed. It hit me out of left field and left me really concerned about where the ending was leading. Thankfully, there was a final scene where Dennis learns from his mistakes and passes what he's learned on to a young nephew. However, because I still felt like I was catching up to how drastically wrong Dennis had gone, I didn't feel like I had enough time to process or gain resolution from his "lesson learned."
My other con is that I'm not sure how this book fits into the Christian/Secular category. There's definitely church life and some Christian messaging, but not enough for me to ever comfortably recognize and settle into to author's POV. I spent a lot of the story trying to guess at where the author was coming from, and--for me--that distracted from the story a bit.
Conclusion
Cane and Able is not a book that fits neatly into a specific genre or set of expectations. If you enjoy high concept books that come right out and state their message yet still manage to leave you with question marks, this is definitely a read you'll enjoy. Due to violence and a chapter containing a stereotypical bachelor party, I would not recommend the story for young teenagers or below.
/I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own./
Pros
After what I felt was a somewhat clunky start, the book was pretty well written.
In the middle third of the book, I really enjoyed the portrayal of Dennis learning to cope with his disability, trying to navigate friendship despite having to work harder than most, and the arc of his relationship with Beth.
Cons
The last third of the book felt very un-foreshadowed. It hit me out of left field and left me really concerned about where the ending was leading. Thankfully, there was a final scene where Dennis learns from his mistakes and passes what he's learned on to a young nephew. However, because I still felt like I was catching up to how drastically wrong Dennis had gone, I didn't feel like I had enough time to process or gain resolution from his "lesson learned."
My other con is that I'm not sure how this book fits into the Christian/Secular category. There's definitely church life and some Christian messaging, but not enough for me to ever comfortably recognize and settle into to author's POV. I spent a lot of the story trying to guess at where the author was coming from, and--for me--that distracted from the story a bit.
Conclusion
Cane and Able is not a book that fits neatly into a specific genre or set of expectations. If you enjoy high concept books that come right out and state their message yet still manage to leave you with question marks, this is definitely a read you'll enjoy. Due to violence and a chapter containing a stereotypical bachelor party, I would not recommend the story for young teenagers or below.
/I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own./
June 12, 2017
This is book one in The Seven Deadly Sins series and it is subtitled Envy, and that is exactly what is at the core of this story.
The writing was OK. There were some pacing issues. In same places the story dragged and in some it felt rushed. The author relied a bit too much on telling instead of showing, but both of these things are a matter of editing.
The characters is where my problems with the book began. They felt awkward, not as fleshed out as they could be, and often very inconsistent.
Dennis is a very unlikable character and I am sure the author intentionally created him this way to fit the story. Dennis's bitterness is likely a product of his own character as well as the cards he’s been dealt in life. He believes himself to be kind and generous, and we never get to see that in the story. He says he wants to help people and he never does.
He is arrogant and he feels that he is better than others. He has very few friends. The only ones we get to know about are Richard and Beth, and I am not even sure if we can call them that. Especially Richard, since Dennis can’t even remember that he has moved away. He doesn’t treat people nicely. With Dennis it’s all about me me me.
Then we have Jason, a jock with seemingly perfect life, who is for some reason envious of Dennis, which I had a hard time believing. He thinks that people respect Dennis (and that is one of those things we don’t get to see in the book).
We don’t get to see how the conflict between the two boys began either.
Of the two it’s actually Jason who has any kind of a character arch, and even that, how that growth came about, is slightly unrealistic in my opinion. On the other hand, Dennis just gets worse.
I didn't care for the parents in the book either. Most of them were so overprotective it bordered on irrational.
I really liked that there was a lot of talk about God in the book. This not something we see often in YA and I think it is a welcome addition to the genre.
The writing was OK. There were some pacing issues. In same places the story dragged and in some it felt rushed. The author relied a bit too much on telling instead of showing, but both of these things are a matter of editing.
The characters is where my problems with the book began. They felt awkward, not as fleshed out as they could be, and often very inconsistent.
Dennis is a very unlikable character and I am sure the author intentionally created him this way to fit the story. Dennis's bitterness is likely a product of his own character as well as the cards he’s been dealt in life. He believes himself to be kind and generous, and we never get to see that in the story. He says he wants to help people and he never does.
He is arrogant and he feels that he is better than others. He has very few friends. The only ones we get to know about are Richard and Beth, and I am not even sure if we can call them that. Especially Richard, since Dennis can’t even remember that he has moved away. He doesn’t treat people nicely. With Dennis it’s all about me me me.
Then we have Jason, a jock with seemingly perfect life, who is for some reason envious of Dennis, which I had a hard time believing. He thinks that people respect Dennis (and that is one of those things we don’t get to see in the book).
We don’t get to see how the conflict between the two boys began either.
Of the two it’s actually Jason who has any kind of a character arch, and even that, how that growth came about, is slightly unrealistic in my opinion. On the other hand, Dennis just gets worse.
I didn't care for the parents in the book either. Most of them were so overprotective it bordered on irrational.
I really liked that there was a lot of talk about God in the book. This not something we see often in YA and I think it is a welcome addition to the genre.
May 1, 2017
I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review from the author via booktube and my goodreads!
I will start off by saying that the writing in this is wonderful. Jonathan Matos definitely knows his way around and sentence as well as a metaphor; I wouldn't necessarily consider his writing 'flowery' just very well crafted.
I did very much enjoy the faith based plot as those seem to be harder to come by in more modern contemporaries, though this story takes place in the '90s and not current day. I will admit that for awhile there I wasn't sure where the plot was going exactly but I found myself constantly engaged in the story for the most part. Just as something would happen that I felt like could have gotten very tropey, the author would switch it up which I found refreshing. I enjoyed the parallels to the biblical story of Cain and Abel and liked that it stuck fairly close to original text, just in a more modern setting.
I'd also like to mention the parts that I may have grumbled about in my updates about being mildly annoyed with the female love interest and the Pastor were all resolved by the end of the story which honestly really surprised me as I didn't think they would be. I like that there was an explanation for every little thing, which only goes to show how well crafted this novel was as everything comes full circle.
I am very glad to have received this book to review and I would like to give a big thank you to Jonathan for letting me review his book. I am very much looking forward to a sequel in what I understand this be a companion series based on biblical stories.
I will start off by saying that the writing in this is wonderful. Jonathan Matos definitely knows his way around and sentence as well as a metaphor; I wouldn't necessarily consider his writing 'flowery' just very well crafted.
I did very much enjoy the faith based plot as those seem to be harder to come by in more modern contemporaries, though this story takes place in the '90s and not current day. I will admit that for awhile there I wasn't sure where the plot was going exactly but I found myself constantly engaged in the story for the most part. Just as something would happen that I felt like could have gotten very tropey, the author would switch it up which I found refreshing. I enjoyed the parallels to the biblical story of Cain and Abel and liked that it stuck fairly close to original text, just in a more modern setting.
I'd also like to mention the parts that I may have grumbled about in my updates about being mildly annoyed with the female love interest and the Pastor were all resolved by the end of the story which honestly really surprised me as I didn't think they would be. I like that there was an explanation for every little thing, which only goes to show how well crafted this novel was as everything comes full circle.
I am very glad to have received this book to review and I would like to give a big thank you to Jonathan for letting me review his book. I am very much looking forward to a sequel in what I understand this be a companion series based on biblical stories.
May 5, 2017
There were good and not so good for this book for me.
The good: 1. The writing. Very descriptive, it was great! 2. Definitely had that Cain and Abel vibe to it with the jealousy and revenge aspects. I also liked that I was never really sure who was Cain and who was Abel. 3. I appreciated the biblical aspect of it.
The not so good: 1. While this book is supposed to follow Dennis and Jason as the main characters...I wanted more of Jason. I wanted more of his background and his story of what made him to become like he was. The focus was definitely on Dennis. Maybe alternating chapters between those two would have given us more of an equality of stories between them. 2. There were a couple of chapters from Beth's perspective which I didn't think was necessary. She was a side character and I don't think it helped the storyline. 3. There were times where the story moved so rapidly, I didn't understand what was happening. Also there were times when an action was described strangely, like the way Jason was walking while he was intoxicated that made me think of an ape or something. It was a little weird for me. The ending was also a bit rushed and skipped ahead a few times. It was hard to keep up.
Overall, a decent read. The writing was great, the storyline was good, I just wanted a bit more out of it for me personally.
The good: 1. The writing. Very descriptive, it was great! 2. Definitely had that Cain and Abel vibe to it with the jealousy and revenge aspects. I also liked that I was never really sure who was Cain and who was Abel. 3. I appreciated the biblical aspect of it.
The not so good: 1. While this book is supposed to follow Dennis and Jason as the main characters...I wanted more of Jason. I wanted more of his background and his story of what made him to become like he was. The focus was definitely on Dennis. Maybe alternating chapters between those two would have given us more of an equality of stories between them. 2. There were a couple of chapters from Beth's perspective which I didn't think was necessary. She was a side character and I don't think it helped the storyline. 3. There were times where the story moved so rapidly, I didn't understand what was happening. Also there were times when an action was described strangely, like the way Jason was walking while he was intoxicated that made me think of an ape or something. It was a little weird for me. The ending was also a bit rushed and skipped ahead a few times. It was hard to keep up.
Overall, a decent read. The writing was great, the storyline was good, I just wanted a bit more out of it for me personally.
June 3, 2017
This book was sent to me by the author and my full spoiler-free review can be found here https://youtu.be/drOOGMiG5i8
Cane and Able is the first book in a planned series where each book is a modern retelling of a Biblical story. The first one, of course, is Cane and Able. It’s about two men named Jason and Denis and takes place in the 90’s. Denis almost died during a medical surgery for his scoliosis, and he goes on to survive with the belief he’s destined for greatness. Jason’s father owns an empire of grocery stores, and Jason and Denis are both quite envious of each other. The story switches between their points of view, with a small exception, but mostly from their point of view, and the character development was on point.
The characters are an interesting mix of good, questionable and bad. The dialogue and descriptions were quite good as well. Although, I do think the pacing was off. At times the events seemed rushed and other times we lingered too long in one place. And I think if that’s corrected in future books, we’ll have something really special. This book was very refreshing to me. I picked this book to review first because I think it’s such a great example of why I like to read Indie authors. This book was a bit unpolished. But because the author got to retain creative control over the book, we get a treat. This was a very unique, irreverent, insightful story about faith and jealousy.
Cane and Able is the first book in a planned series where each book is a modern retelling of a Biblical story. The first one, of course, is Cane and Able. It’s about two men named Jason and Denis and takes place in the 90’s. Denis almost died during a medical surgery for his scoliosis, and he goes on to survive with the belief he’s destined for greatness. Jason’s father owns an empire of grocery stores, and Jason and Denis are both quite envious of each other. The story switches between their points of view, with a small exception, but mostly from their point of view, and the character development was on point.
The characters are an interesting mix of good, questionable and bad. The dialogue and descriptions were quite good as well. Although, I do think the pacing was off. At times the events seemed rushed and other times we lingered too long in one place. And I think if that’s corrected in future books, we’ll have something really special. This book was very refreshing to me. I picked this book to review first because I think it’s such a great example of why I like to read Indie authors. This book was a bit unpolished. But because the author got to retain creative control over the book, we get a treat. This was a very unique, irreverent, insightful story about faith and jealousy.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews