The Crying Heart Tattoo: A Novel

by David Lozell Martin

An international cult classic and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, The Crying Heart Tattoo follows the unlikely romance between a young man and a woman more than twice his age. Beginning their relationship when Sonny is just fourteen and Felicity thirty-four, the couple share a poignant history together that ends only upon Felicity's passing — despite four marriages, numerous obstacles, and enough misadventures to challenge the most loyal of lovers.

At once heartbreaking and euphoric, their story mirrors the tale that Felicity has passed down to Sonny, a story uncanny in its similarity to their own: when a prehistoric outcast locates her former tribe, she falls in love with a young boy.

A masterful novel first published a quarter of a century ago, The Crying Heart Tattoo keeps the impossible within reach, proving once and for all that the struggle for true love is worth everything.

Genres: Fiction, Romance

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

David Martin is the author of ten novels that range from the international bestselling thriller Lie To Me to the acclaimed love story, The Crying Heart Tattoo.

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Use to be one of my all time favorites.

Just reread this for probably the 3rd time in my life. I really enjoy rereading books at different ages just to see how my perspective on the characters have change.

I think I was originally drawn to this book by the characters name - Felicity. I've always loved that name. I also loved the story within a story concepts and this is the book that gave me that love.

Now that I am in my 50's, I kept wondering what would draw a woman 20 years older to a teenager and what in the world would you have in common. I also thought about all the news stories of teachers and their male students getting in trouble that have been in the news. Because of both of those "prejudices" I think I enjoyed the book much less than I have in the past.

Also back in the 80's and 90's when I read this originally, people, especially women, with tattoo's were more nontraditional. Now, it seems everyone has at least one and usually many more. So the thought of getting a broken heart tattoo for someone is no longer exotic, but more of a cliche in 2017.

[Suzanne Thackston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and I'm not even sure why. I guess it's a great example of how a storyteller can tap into something ephemeral and sweep you away, even when the protagonists are not particularly likable, and the writing is sometimes oddly disharmonious.
But I couldn't put it down.

Okay, re-reading it at 60, decades later, I'm dropping a star just because I'm having such trouble with the protagonists, especially the narrator. This is NOT a writing flaw. The writing is good enough that I still love this book in spite of them, which I suppose really rates more stars, doesn't it? And maybe if I re-read at 70 the issues with how relentlessly horribly Sonny treats Felicia, juxtaposed with Felicia sexually abusing a minor and possibly being the reason he's such a ghastly human being for the rest of his life, will have mellowed for me. Or show up as great writing/awful people which is a great thing to pull off. The frame narrative is completely necessary for the odd inner story, which is the beating heart of this story, to work. It's just so much harder to read.

Dammit. I'm putting the star back. The very fact that this book is causing me such emotional upheaval warrants it. Even though I'm still very torn.

Another thing I'm stumbling over is the sneaking suspicion that the author is just like his protagonist. His smarmy back cover photo screams it. And yet even that is a twisty backhanded plus. If he's really such a douche, and is able to put his douchery onto the page so honestly, he's a great writer and a douche.

Dammit.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Makes you laugh, makes you cry"

I love The Crying Heart Tattoo. Two major characters, each of them told a story. The protagonist Sonny told us his story of the life-long love affair with a much older woman Felicity; Felicity in turn told of the imaginative story of Graveda and Genipur, mirror-imaging that of her relationship with Sonny. "The Crying Heart Tattoo" is full of surprises. David Lozell Martin thoughtfully made you laugh with sad sentences, while creating seemingly happy incidences that broke your heart. This is a story that reminds us of how much we have done to accidentally hurt the ones we love, at moments when we were unaware, when we did not mean it, and when we forgot to seize the chance to say I love you and that you are important to me.

[Noreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this long ago. What I remember is the main character was so stupid about women, I wrote a letter to the author.

[David Curry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m grateful to Jim Harrison for many things, but not for his having spoken so enthusiastically in an interview with regard to David Martin’s 1982 novel The Crying Heart Tattoo that I was persuaded to read the damned thing.

For awhile, Martin’s book, which tracks a relationship in which the narrator is 14 years old and his lover is 34 when they meet, is intermittently amusing, but it soon wears mighty thin, and the story within the story becomes exasperatingly, almost unreadably pointless I thought back to John Gardner’s remarkable 1976 novel October Light, where the perfectly calculated awfulness of the story within the story is a comic treasure. (Why did Gardner’s reputation so recede after his too early death? How many American authors have given us three novels as impressive as Gardner’s The Sunlight Dialogues, October Light, and Nickel Mountain? Kudos to the indispensable New Directions Publishing for bringing his major works back into print.)

I get the impression that Martin’s book has a cult following. I ‘m not at all sure I would want to spend time around members of the cult.

[Bob Rinehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book over and over and over again. It is one of my go-to's. It still strikes me as innovative, quirky, inspiring, positive. One of my all-time favourites.

[Ann Burgess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my typical read so it took me awhile to finish

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

idk about this one man

[Orishaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago. I remember being fascinated by it but thought it was weird. Lost my copy, however, but I will try to get another copy so I can read it again and see if my original rating sticks.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at the Gulfport Library Sale for 25 cents. I loved the artwork on the dust jacket. What a great book. I was howling at parts of it. I even thoroughly enjoyed the "storytelling" part.

[Julie]

Don't read this. You'll probably never see this book anywhere, but if you do, don't bother.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing and twisted!

[Josette]

One of my favorite reads ever. I started realizing I lovoed books that mixed "reality" and part fantasy

[Nicole LaMonte-DeGolier · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of all time. Unlike anything else I've ever read. I cry and laugh each time I read it, over and over and over. David Lozell Martin is brilliant!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book ever!

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorites, too. One of the few books I've moved with me for 20+ years. So glad others feel the same!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the structure of this book, using a familiar theme but in a different way.

[Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Maria Savic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story...contemporary, quirky, romantic