40 Days

by Joe Lee

Photojournalist Duane Key is almost fifty when the first clue gets his a text message refers to his upcoming milestone birthday as 40. Flattery will get you everywhere, he replies. Several days later, as he is being bombarded with the number 35 (the price of a can of green beans, the morning temperature, a song on a radio countdown), he mentions the numerical coincidences to an old friend but finds them more curious than troublesome. That soon changes as Duane, a devoted father but a flawed man, feels a strong need to ask forgiveness of the people he has hurt and even goes to a priest for guidance. He ends his romance with a woman half his age, then attempts to reconcile with his ex-wife and grown daughter when he learns that his ex is near death. The numbers keep coming ... 20, 19, 18 ... and it soon dawns on Duane what really might be at he might not live past the countdown. Which, based on the calendar, ends Easter Sunday. His concern, which swiftly borders on fright, increases each day. Who will take him seriously if he shares his deepest fears? The priest? His wife? His best friend? His girlfriend, who he loves with all his heart? Six-year-old Chad, the son Duane absolutely adores? And what if Duane, after feeling strongly enough to make major revisions in his will, is wrong ... about everything? Taking place in the seemingly serene Mississippi community of Oakdale, 40 Days is a story of redemption, forgiveness, and the ultimate leap of faith for a man who realizes he must do better. If there is time.

Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2018

Reviews

[Andy Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this novel, 40 days, comes from a plot device central to the book. It refers to the 40 days before Duane Key's birthday, each day Duane gets some numerical message of the number of the days until his 40th birthday which falls on Easter Sunday. As the novel continues the Easter parallel deepens, Duane has flaws, mainly his two affairs while his wife is on a teaching sabbatical out of town, but he seeks redemption and tries to reconcile with his wife. The constant good thing is that he is a devoted father partly owing to his response to being raised by grandparents after his parents are killed a car crash. As the countdown continues Duane counsels with a priest, takes steps to join the church, has ended both affairs but fears that he will die on his 40th birthday as the numerical signs continue their countdown.
The numerical countdown seemed silly and distracted from the otherwise nice plot and interesting characters. Duane's wife is more interested in career than family and becomes increased attracted to a another fellow in the research project in New Mexico, Candy is a librarian who still hurts from Duane ending their affair and tries to move on with humorous online dating while she tries to diet and exercise, Toni is a 23 year old who continues to love the older Duane even after he ends their affair.
Another appeal of 40 days is that it is truly a regional book, the small southern university town is essentially a character in the book; southern culture and tradition permeate throughout the book.

[Monica Walton]

This was a great read with a very creative countdown of the 40 days. Intriguing story that keeps you reading to find out what happens as the final day approaches!