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SUKI
When you are young and in love, there is no reason to think of death, no matter how inevitable it is. In SUKI, Dwayne and Savannah are planning their life together when fate throws them an unexpected curve ball. Award winning author, CF Winn, allows her characters their flaws as they face the consequences of their own decisions. The couple is portrayed with humor and honesty as they try to make sense of their imploding world. The powerful voice of the unlikely narrator allows the reader to be a silent spectator, experiencing the unfolding of each event along with the characters, as if what's happening is going on in slow motion and they are powerless to act—exactly the position in which Dwayne and Savannah find themselves. SUKI defies all genres. It is an original—a love story, but like none you’ve read before. Its beautifully profound life lessons will change your perspective. We all assume we know what love is, but think again. It comes in many shapes and sizes. If you knew ahead of time that you’d never see “happily ever after “, would you choose to live at all for the sake of love? SUKI's shocking secret is revealed in a long overdue letter that will make you think about your place and your purpose in this world. The novella delves so deeply into a world rarely talked about, that after the cover is closed, the reader is left with a permanent imprint.
- GenresFiction
151 pages, Unknown Binding
First published November 1, 2012
15 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 25, 2013
Some novels are impossible to classify, and Suki is one of them. The emotional tone throughout the story is real. Dwayne and Savannah embody the characteristics of real couples in love the world over, and their journey is one we either have taken, are taking or will eventually take, and if we don't, life will have a way of putting us in the vicinity of a couple like them. Suki stands alone for its uniquely original voice. Few are those courageous enough to lay their very soul on the page. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to ink personal accounts. You will dream, you will laugh, and you will find it impossible not to heed an impulse to hug those closest to you.
September 26, 2013
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I must say she gave me more than a book, she gave me a gift by letting me meet Suki.
While reading this book I came to the end. My heart was breaking for the characters, I was already feeling the tears running down my face. I was thinking of my friends who had suffered the same situation as this couple, my grief over losing my own father back in 81 and I read this…..
“I urged her to rest. I let her know that she would need all the strength she could muster to survive these two tremendous losses in such a short period of time. But I also told her that the payoff would be that she would always know exactly what love looks like. She would be able to bring it to other people’s lives and have a tremendous impact on them.
I said that she would not be the one to bury Daddy, and that it was better this way because she would never be able to handle it, and all that she came here to do would be washed away in her grief. Instead, I told her, the loss of my dad will remind her not to waste time on fear and sorrow because nothing is more important than the quality of time that she has with her loved ones on Earth.
I wished her great happiness, and assured her that all is well and she will forever be loved.”
This book will make you cry, it will make you think about what you are doing with your life right now. Most of all it will make you think of those you have lost and what valuable gifts they gave to you while they were here. Those gifts can’t be taken from you, they can be given the chance to grow to the point you must share them with others. The other option is you can give those gifts away to the sea of grief and they will be lost forever. It is okay to move on and live life again. This is what they want us to do, take what they gave us and be happy. This was a powerful book, I am so glad I listen to that nagging voice telling me I must read it today because it gave me what I needed.
While reading this book I came to the end. My heart was breaking for the characters, I was already feeling the tears running down my face. I was thinking of my friends who had suffered the same situation as this couple, my grief over losing my own father back in 81 and I read this…..
“I urged her to rest. I let her know that she would need all the strength she could muster to survive these two tremendous losses in such a short period of time. But I also told her that the payoff would be that she would always know exactly what love looks like. She would be able to bring it to other people’s lives and have a tremendous impact on them.
I said that she would not be the one to bury Daddy, and that it was better this way because she would never be able to handle it, and all that she came here to do would be washed away in her grief. Instead, I told her, the loss of my dad will remind her not to waste time on fear and sorrow because nothing is more important than the quality of time that she has with her loved ones on Earth.
I wished her great happiness, and assured her that all is well and she will forever be loved.”
This book will make you cry, it will make you think about what you are doing with your life right now. Most of all it will make you think of those you have lost and what valuable gifts they gave to you while they were here. Those gifts can’t be taken from you, they can be given the chance to grow to the point you must share them with others. The other option is you can give those gifts away to the sea of grief and they will be lost forever. It is okay to move on and live life again. This is what they want us to do, take what they gave us and be happy. This was a powerful book, I am so glad I listen to that nagging voice telling me I must read it today because it gave me what I needed.
January 29, 2022
I just wanted to say thank you to the author C.F. Winn for giving me this beautiful book of hers that she wrote. I finished this book within two days and I didn't want the story to end. SUKI is one of a kind and really makes you think and experience so many different emotions. While reading I felt excitement, happiness, love, joy, loss and grief. This story proves that love comes in many different shapes and sizes but isn't always what it seems. The powerful voice of the narrator guides you through the lives of Savannah and Dwayne and what their relationship entails, along with giving readers a chance to experience such strong emotions. I definitely was left with a permanent imprint after reading this one of a kind short story. If you're looking for a quick easy read that will make you think about the world around you, then I recommend reading Suki.
August 11, 2013
Love. In its many shapes and forms. Does it have a higher purpose?
I was very surprised by Suki. At first I didn't think I would be able to finish it - not due to the content, but due to Winn's writing style. It was not a style I had come across before - it seemed kind of abrupt and disjointed to me. But being a short novella, I decided to try to stick with it.
Am I glad I did?!
I don't know if the writing style improved as it went along, or if I became accustomed to it. But it became almost poetic to me. And the story itself added to this poetry.
This story is incredibly touching and inexplicably moving. How Winn captures the essence of 'true' love as I believe it to be is astounding. And re-reading the Prologue after I finished the story really tipped me over the edge! Just beautiful!
I was very surprised by Suki. At first I didn't think I would be able to finish it - not due to the content, but due to Winn's writing style. It was not a style I had come across before - it seemed kind of abrupt and disjointed to me. But being a short novella, I decided to try to stick with it.
Am I glad I did?!
I don't know if the writing style improved as it went along, or if I became accustomed to it. But it became almost poetic to me. And the story itself added to this poetry.
This story is incredibly touching and inexplicably moving. How Winn captures the essence of 'true' love as I believe it to be is astounding. And re-reading the Prologue after I finished the story really tipped me over the edge! Just beautiful!
July 9, 2014
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL UNIQUE.This novel was a surprise, a joy and heartfelt. SUKI by CF Winn is one heck of a read but better than that it's an experience !!!!!!
March 9, 2019
What makes this story stand out is the unique voice and the viewpoint of the character-narrator. It is impossible not to feel something for this character who is using the first-person viewpoint and offering an empathetic presentation of the other main and secondary characters.
The story is highly sentimental and slow-paced, yet it emits an impression of urgency as the reader keeps on reading, which is what I did. Also, because what happened in the story happened to me decades ago, I felt the pain of a certain occurrence all over again. Making possibly rational people weepy shows this author’s skill in evoking emotion.
In the story, Savannah and Dwayne are a couple in love, and there is one other important being. Savannah has a problem giving herself fully to the relationship, but when she later changes her mind, Dwayne--not realizing what is in Savannah’s mind and in order to appease her--draws back; however, this isn’t what the story is all about and saying more on the plot would be giving away the most important piece of it.
All the main characters are portrayed realistically. Other characters surrounding the couple are also drawn well with their quirks and differences, and the dialogue is believable all around. The way I see it, how loss affects love is the theme of this story.
Having said all that, what I didn’t like about this story is its ending and the way the story’s focus forked away from its center, covering several more years in time. I also couldn't relate well to the female main character in the plot. Above all, probably like most people, I am not a glutton for gloom.
On the other hand, Suki seems to be based on real-life events, at least partially, and if that had an effect on its closure, I can understand its ending's drifting away.
The story is highly sentimental and slow-paced, yet it emits an impression of urgency as the reader keeps on reading, which is what I did. Also, because what happened in the story happened to me decades ago, I felt the pain of a certain occurrence all over again. Making possibly rational people weepy shows this author’s skill in evoking emotion.
In the story, Savannah and Dwayne are a couple in love, and there is one other important being. Savannah has a problem giving herself fully to the relationship, but when she later changes her mind, Dwayne--not realizing what is in Savannah’s mind and in order to appease her--draws back; however, this isn’t what the story is all about and saying more on the plot would be giving away the most important piece of it.
All the main characters are portrayed realistically. Other characters surrounding the couple are also drawn well with their quirks and differences, and the dialogue is believable all around. The way I see it, how loss affects love is the theme of this story.
Having said all that, what I didn’t like about this story is its ending and the way the story’s focus forked away from its center, covering several more years in time. I also couldn't relate well to the female main character in the plot. Above all, probably like most people, I am not a glutton for gloom.
On the other hand, Suki seems to be based on real-life events, at least partially, and if that had an effect on its closure, I can understand its ending's drifting away.
March 19, 2014
It is a love story, but like none you have ever read before. It has been said that writers tell the same stories over and over. SUKI is an original.
I review a lot of books. I almost can't help myself. This is the first time where I wished the entire substance of my review could be a coupon for a free copy of this book. The only way to do it justice is to read it. Twice. Then sit quietly for a while. Then read it again. You will need to plan ahead: put your dog in a kennel, send the kids to Disneyworld, close all the curtains, turn off your phone and disconnect your Internet.
There is no way to talk about the book without giving away the compelling originality of the idea or more spoilers than a cheese shop that lost power three days ago. What I can talk about is the powerful storytelling and the emotions CF Winn pulls out of you. There are whole pages of writing in this book that are downright beautiful.
Love, tragedy, heartache, and hope. Strap yourself in tightly. This one book has it all. You will not be the same once you read it.
I review a lot of books. I almost can't help myself. This is the first time where I wished the entire substance of my review could be a coupon for a free copy of this book. The only way to do it justice is to read it. Twice. Then sit quietly for a while. Then read it again. You will need to plan ahead: put your dog in a kennel, send the kids to Disneyworld, close all the curtains, turn off your phone and disconnect your Internet.
There is no way to talk about the book without giving away the compelling originality of the idea or more spoilers than a cheese shop that lost power three days ago. What I can talk about is the powerful storytelling and the emotions CF Winn pulls out of you. There are whole pages of writing in this book that are downright beautiful.
Love, tragedy, heartache, and hope. Strap yourself in tightly. This one book has it all. You will not be the same once you read it.
February 6, 2014
Suki is a beautifully written love story and quite different than any other that I’ve read. An unlikely and surprising narrator takes the reader through an array of emotions; hope, happiness, excitement, uncertainty, love, laughter, grief, and devastating loss. It takes a brilliant author to write a story that will actually make me cry, and I have to admit, this one did. What does love really look like? We think we might know, but C.F. Winn shows us that it isn’t always what we expect. The point of view choice in this book is quite original and refreshing. Suki really touched my heart, and will be with me for a very long time. Thank you, C.F. Winn, for writing such an amazing story.
November 12, 2014
*** A beautiful tale about the mystery of life ***
SUKI is a novella about love and loss, told from a unique point of view. Ms. Winn shares a deeply personal journey with her readers, and she does it in a most original way.
At times, her catharsis made me feel like a voyeur peeking through a keyhole; it was almost too intimate. To her credit, many scenes played out as dreamy snippets, and the narrative kept me slightly off-balance. Both these techniques created a respite from an otherwise overly emotional story.
SUKI is a beautiful tale about the mystery of life, with an underlying parable to live all our moments to the fullest.
SUKI is a novella about love and loss, told from a unique point of view. Ms. Winn shares a deeply personal journey with her readers, and she does it in a most original way.
At times, her catharsis made me feel like a voyeur peeking through a keyhole; it was almost too intimate. To her credit, many scenes played out as dreamy snippets, and the narrative kept me slightly off-balance. Both these techniques created a respite from an otherwise overly emotional story.
SUKI is a beautiful tale about the mystery of life, with an underlying parable to live all our moments to the fullest.
March 23, 2013
An online friend recommended SUKI. After finishing it, I sat for an hour, just reflecting on the spirit and message of the novel. I really can't think of any way to adequately summarize the story without giving too much away, so I'll just relate that I've never read a love story like it. Once or twice a year, I read a novel that haunts me with the tapestry of emotions it evokes. SUKI is one of those novels.
September 14, 2013
This story is written from a very unique perspective. Beautifully written and highly recommended.
January 20, 2014
Raw emotion wrapped in beauty, Succint yet deep, touching and heart-warming! This is a story that will stay in my heart as a comfort for loss rather than a sharp reminder of pain.
November 16, 2019
Beautifully written book of love and loss. 💕
January 11, 2015
A young couple experiences profound loss.
It is hard to talk about this unique and compelling book without giving too much away, but I'm going to try.
Dwayne and Savannah are young and in love. They're in the midst of planning their life together when fate throws them a curve ball neither could have expected.
The narrator's voice is powerful. It keeps us on the outside looking in and creates an aching quality. The emotion is at a remove and we feel a bit numb, as if what's happening is going on in slow motion and we are powerless to act, which is exactly the position in which Dwayne and Savannah find themselves.
Winn does a good job creating characters the reader can care about. Dwayne and Savannah are both portrayed with humor and honesty. Their creator allows them their flaws and forces them to face the consequences of their own decisions. Savannah's mom and her difficult boss come through especially well. So does "Uncle Aaron."
What I love about this book is how it bends so many of the "rules" of storytelling (tells rather than shows, allows profound authorial intrusion, odd jumps back and forth in time) and yet still works so beautifully.
SUKI is a book with a voice of its own. Reading it is to experience the heights of love and the depths of loss and come through it changed.
It is hard to talk about this unique and compelling book without giving too much away, but I'm going to try.
Dwayne and Savannah are young and in love. They're in the midst of planning their life together when fate throws them a curve ball neither could have expected.
The narrator's voice is powerful. It keeps us on the outside looking in and creates an aching quality. The emotion is at a remove and we feel a bit numb, as if what's happening is going on in slow motion and we are powerless to act, which is exactly the position in which Dwayne and Savannah find themselves.
Winn does a good job creating characters the reader can care about. Dwayne and Savannah are both portrayed with humor and honesty. Their creator allows them their flaws and forces them to face the consequences of their own decisions. Savannah's mom and her difficult boss come through especially well. So does "Uncle Aaron."
What I love about this book is how it bends so many of the "rules" of storytelling (tells rather than shows, allows profound authorial intrusion, odd jumps back and forth in time) and yet still works so beautifully.
SUKI is a book with a voice of its own. Reading it is to experience the heights of love and the depths of loss and come through it changed.
July 29, 2016
I'm having some trouble with this review. I just deleted the first try at it.
Okay, here's Take Two:
I normally write detailed reviews about the books that I love. I can write a ton about anything; however, when it comes to sharing the good news about a great story, I can go on for days.
This is a new experience for me, because I can't come up with the words to adequately praise this book. The writing is do-a-backflip beautiful. The editing is superb, and the design is perfect.
But the story itself... One of the problems with giving SUKI a detailed review is that doing so will likely spoil the ending - a fact that frustrates me, but the one thing I will not do is diminish the impact of this book.
It stays with me like a dream that haunts. It's on my nightstand so I can read it again, because there are parts that I want to revisit and re-explore. I am so going to be looking for more from this author.
Five stars, and a standing ovation.
Okay, here's Take Two:
I normally write detailed reviews about the books that I love. I can write a ton about anything; however, when it comes to sharing the good news about a great story, I can go on for days.
This is a new experience for me, because I can't come up with the words to adequately praise this book. The writing is do-a-backflip beautiful. The editing is superb, and the design is perfect.
But the story itself... One of the problems with giving SUKI a detailed review is that doing so will likely spoil the ending - a fact that frustrates me, but the one thing I will not do is diminish the impact of this book.
It stays with me like a dream that haunts. It's on my nightstand so I can read it again, because there are parts that I want to revisit and re-explore. I am so going to be looking for more from this author.
Five stars, and a standing ovation.
January 7, 2022
A special one for my first book of 2022. @cf_winn gave me one of her books she wrote and I’m so happy she did because it’s more than just a book. This short story is so captivating, I didn’t want to stop reading it, which shows because i read it in 1 day. Without giving much away, this book is written beautifully from such a very unique perspective. It’s about love and loss. While reading it, I felt like I was on a roller coaster of emotions: from happiness to excitement to love to uncertainty to grief and loss to closure. You may think what love looks like, but C.F Winn shows us that it isn’t always what we except. Thank you Chris for this copy. It takes a truly great writer to write something like this 🤍 Take a read to have Suki touch your heart like she touched mine 🤍
January 2, 2015
This is a beautiful book, well-written and yes, as every person has noted, ORIGINAL. If I describe the book, I’ll unwittingly give away what makes it original so this review will be very short. Just read SUKI and then you’ll understand.
September 29, 2024
Beautiful. Moving. Sad.
July 22, 2020
Poignant and surprising. A book about the circle of love, loss, and life.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews