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Jonathan’s Vows
Jonathan Hart is a twenty-one year old college student who is about to be married to his high school sweetheart, Samantha. He has been charged with the task of writing his own wedding vows. So he looks to his future. Join Jonathan as he relentlessly searches, studies, and imagines his years ahead in a remarkable and entertaining quest to compose the perfect words.
- GenresFictionContemporary
281 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 23, 2021
2 people are currently reading
952 people want to read
About the author
Mark Lages
21 books311 followersQuickly...I was born and raised in California, but now live in South Carolina with my wife and our animals. I am neither a liberal nor a conservative. In fact, I despise politics. I think of myself as an artist, and not as a journalist. I've been influenced by Milton Friedman, Frank Lloyd Wright, Hunter S Thompson, Douglas Adams, Salvador Dali, MC Escher, JS Bach, Keith Jarrett, Vincent Price, Tom Waits, and many others. I like to smoke cigars and drink lots of coffee. And I do love to write. Lock me in a room with a box of cigars, a coffee maker, and a computer, and I will do just fine. Click here to leap to my website for more info about me and my books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
April 2, 2021
Mark Lages always circles around the traditional everyman tale. It's not something we see much of these days, but it ought to be something we're aware of.
Characters don't have to be bigger than life. They can be very, very normal and still have a lot to say.
In this case, it's the way an entire novel can be written as a marriage vow as seen by a 21-year-old contemplating all the ups and downs of a pretty full life with his intended.
Some happiness, but mostly, it's maintenance. A good dose of mutual disappointment, a liberal helping of stupid mistakes, and a splash of understanding.
The point is, in the end, that one should always go into situations with your eyes wide open, I suppose, but the power of this book lies in letting us make up our own minds.
As always, the writing and the subject material are mild, overall, and almost always conversational. It's easy-going despite the few tragedies we encounter, and never offensive. Overall, it's almost always about honesty, and that takes courage, too.
Characters don't have to be bigger than life. They can be very, very normal and still have a lot to say.
In this case, it's the way an entire novel can be written as a marriage vow as seen by a 21-year-old contemplating all the ups and downs of a pretty full life with his intended.
Some happiness, but mostly, it's maintenance. A good dose of mutual disappointment, a liberal helping of stupid mistakes, and a splash of understanding.
The point is, in the end, that one should always go into situations with your eyes wide open, I suppose, but the power of this book lies in letting us make up our own minds.
As always, the writing and the subject material are mild, overall, and almost always conversational. It's easy-going despite the few tragedies we encounter, and never offensive. Overall, it's almost always about honesty, and that takes courage, too.
March 19, 2021
Jonathan Hart is just 21 years old, attending college, and is just about to be married to Samantha. The wedding is all planned and the only thing left is for him to write his own vows.
He's very serious about his vows. He wants whatever he promises today to be as important 25 years from now. So he takes an imaginary trip through time to see what his future life might be.
It starts with a wife, and then a child. He walks though what raising a child will be like. Will he always love his wife with the passion he has for her now? Will they always be able to communicate? Will his wife always be his best friend? Or will she tire of him? Find nothing to talk about? What about his job? He wants to be a writer .. but will he be a good writer ..or not? Will he and she always honor their vows?
This was a thought-provoking look at one man's perceived life. Running the gamut of emotions, I laughed, cried at one point, felt the highs and lows of my own life. This is a quite entertaining read. It made me think about when I was that young and where life has taken me. No do-overs here. Don't we all want to know where we'll be in the future?
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this literary fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
He's very serious about his vows. He wants whatever he promises today to be as important 25 years from now. So he takes an imaginary trip through time to see what his future life might be.
It starts with a wife, and then a child. He walks though what raising a child will be like. Will he always love his wife with the passion he has for her now? Will they always be able to communicate? Will his wife always be his best friend? Or will she tire of him? Find nothing to talk about? What about his job? He wants to be a writer .. but will he be a good writer ..or not? Will he and she always honor their vows?
This was a thought-provoking look at one man's perceived life. Running the gamut of emotions, I laughed, cried at one point, felt the highs and lows of my own life. This is a quite entertaining read. It made me think about when I was that young and where life has taken me. No do-overs here. Don't we all want to know where we'll be in the future?
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this literary fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 18, 2021
A young man anticipates the future life, what might be with the woman, Samantha to whom he is about to marry. As he writes his vows to her, he considers what promises he will be able to keep and those he may not.
This story is a composition displaying amazing writing and a plot that is both realistic and interesting. Mark Lages is only 21 years old but he wrote this tale with the maturity and insights of a middle aged man. I was fully committed to the story from the onset. The ending was very clever and in totality a very worthwhile read. I'm surprised that a major publishing house did not put this out but I am very glad the author understood the value of his work.
Thank to Goodreads for offering the opportunity to win this giveaway by Mark Lages. I especially appreciate the opportunity to win the published final version of this work. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced by the free copy. I truly and completely appreciated reading this work and I look forward to his future releases.
I definitely recommend this to my friends, who enjoy family drama.
This story is a composition displaying amazing writing and a plot that is both realistic and interesting. Mark Lages is only 21 years old but he wrote this tale with the maturity and insights of a middle aged man. I was fully committed to the story from the onset. The ending was very clever and in totality a very worthwhile read. I'm surprised that a major publishing house did not put this out but I am very glad the author understood the value of his work.
Thank to Goodreads for offering the opportunity to win this giveaway by Mark Lages. I especially appreciate the opportunity to win the published final version of this work. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced by the free copy. I truly and completely appreciated reading this work and I look forward to his future releases.
I definitely recommend this to my friends, who enjoy family drama.
March 11, 2021
I found VOWS to be a very entertaining novel. The story starts as Jonathan is contemplating writing his wedding vows, and what follows is a full-length novel! Obviously, this is a thought-provoking novel written as only Mark Lages can write! I foresee this book being loved by many.
April 1, 2021
Jonathan’s Vows by Mark Lages is a literary fiction novel about a young man who is about to get married and is writing his vows. In the process he reflects on his life. The story begins with the wedding and leads to the honeymoon, to buying his first house, to having his first child, and so on. There is sort of a chronological order to this story yet includes stories that are out of order. And, it’s written like a memoir yet includes a second person point-of-view: his wife. This is uniquely done.
I loved this book! The style is very different from anything I’ve read. Lages took something so simple and created this beautiful story about a man’s journey through life—through ups and downs. In the end, you’re left feeling like life is okay. If you’re ever too hard on yourself, read this book. It will make you see yourself in a much kinder way. It put a smile on my face. I laughed at times and sympathized other times. It’s wonderfully written.
I loved this book! The style is very different from anything I’ve read. Lages took something so simple and created this beautiful story about a man’s journey through life—through ups and downs. In the end, you’re left feeling like life is okay. If you’re ever too hard on yourself, read this book. It will make you see yourself in a much kinder way. It put a smile on my face. I laughed at times and sympathized other times. It’s wonderfully written.
February 27, 2021
At times hilarious. At times poignant. Always entertaining. I wish I'd read this book before I got married!
March 24, 2021
Every book I read by Mark Lages gets better and better! I absolutely loved this story, Jonathan Hart is a college student who is about to get married and he is tasked with writing his wedding vows. Jonathan feels the vows should be a promise that he will keep and sincere about their future. While he is pondering, or trying to figure out exactly, what he wants to promise to Samantha. He travels to the future, you can visualize what he wants to express and how he feels.
This is not a love story but, a sincere journey into hopes and dreams, of a couple in love and the road that they might travel. I was so invested in Jonathon's thoughts that, I cried during several chapters, both happy and sad tears.
Anyone about to get married should read this book, especially if they are writing their vows.
This is not a love story but, a sincere journey into hopes and dreams, of a couple in love and the road that they might travel. I was so invested in Jonathon's thoughts that, I cried during several chapters, both happy and sad tears.
Anyone about to get married should read this book, especially if they are writing their vows.
September 30, 2021
**WARNING!!!! May Contain Spoiler Alerts!!**
Book Title: Jonathan's Vows
Author: Matt Lages
Format: Paperback, ARC
Total Page Count: 300
Book Genre(s): Adult, Contemporary/Modern, Drama-family, Family dynamics, Fiction, Love/Romance, Realistic Fiction, Slice of Life, Stand-Alone Book, Location - USA
Categories for Rating - see post at my blog for rating system:
https://the-book-nest.blogspot.com/2021/01/book-review-template-2021.html
Each topic rated 0-10
0-2 = extremely poor, DNF'd (or seriously considered it), difficult to complete
3-4 = somewhat poor although not as bad as "0-2", may have had *some* redeeming qualities
5-6 = mediocre, neutral
7-8 = really good
9-10 = outstanding, exceptional
Then you average the 5 individual ratings to get the overall x out of 10 rating for the book. Once that is done, the overall rating is converted into the following star rating.
0 - 2 = ⭐ (1 star)
3 - 4 = ⭐⭐ (2 stars)
5 - 6 = ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)
7 - 8 = ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
9 - 10 = ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)
A. Characters: 8/7 ... There are basically 2 (then 3) main characters, with a bunch of other people coming in and out of their lives. The main characters are well developed however they are also flawed in the very human way that we are all flawed.
B. Cover Art & Design: 8/7 ... Simple, and yet, says a lot, especially in regards to the content of the story.
C. Enjoyment: 8/7 ... I liked the story. I think this was a unique approach to how one tries to say all they want to say, and say it right, when writing their wedding vows.
D. Plot (Storyline): 7/7 ... As I said, creative and unique. I like how the author chose this particular point of view (it would have been much different had it been from the bride's side of things, or one of the parents). And I loved the little "drops" of pop culture here and there within the scope of the book. And special note: loved the story about Taylor's first night home from the hospital and Jonathan has him up watching movies like the original "The Mummy", and the conversation between him and his wife, Samantha, when she wakes up and finds them.
E. Writing Style & Editing: 8/7 ... This is the 3rd or 4th book I have read by this author and I must say that I enjoy his writing style. It is straight-forward and easy to read / keep up. There's no fancy flourishes, not a lot of filler words to say what can be said simply.
***Additional Aspects of Book that I am reviewing (optional)***
**Pros: The book is easy to read, good and steady flow of the story. It has the interesting premise of a man on the cusp of his marriage. He is young, very much in love, and facing the daunting task of writing his part of the wedding vows. Over the course of the book, he imagines
**Cons: There were a couple of times within the full span of the book that I thought Jonathan's interactions and responses to others was almost too simple, or too cut and dry. For example, he talks about purchasing a special item for his wife for her birthday and it ends up not working right, so initially he tries to contact the person he bought it from (sort of like a second-hand antique store) and the guy won't help him except to recommend a repairman. So, next Jonathan contacts a lawyer to see if he could talk to the shop owner. The lawyer does, and gets back to Jonathan and tells him that he signed the contract when he paid and he states it was an "as is" sale and Jonathan's response is "What does that mean?" Now, I'm sorry however this adult male, who has a college education, who is not a dumb man, has no clue what an "as is" sale is? Luckily, these kind of moments are few and far between, so it doesn't really impede upon the enjoyment of the overall story.
**Personal Like: There was a scene in the book that I really loved, actually busted out laughing, and had to read it to my husband. It was when their new baby, Taylor, came home from the hospital and Jonathan brought him out the living room after his wife went to bed, and they watched B-rated horror movies together ... until she wakes up and gives Jonathan all kinds of crap for having the baby up, watching movies. I could *so* picture my ex doing this with our oldest son, and was just able to envision the whole scene playing out. I also liked how the author peppered in little trivia notes of pop culture, like the B movies mentioned earlier, and Star Trek. As a Trekkie, it was kinda cool to see the mentions.
**Does this book "fit in" to the genre(s) it's listed under? yes, very much so.
**Final Notes: In closing I would like to thank the author for the opportunity to view this unique and contemporary book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Final Rating: 7.8 (4⭐⭐⭐⭐) / 7 (4⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Note(s) on Rating: This seems like a good, solid rating for an enjoyable, easy going, balanced book.
This review can also be found here, on my blog:
https://the-book-nest.blogspot.com/2021/09/review-jonathans-vows-by-mark-lages.html
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2021
I can tell you this - Mark Lages can write better than Jonathan Hart. It just so happens that Jonathan is a fictional character and Mark Lages is not. Jonathan is also a writer and tries his best.
Jonathan writes his vows but has unknowingly had a lot of help. 'HONESTY' is the theme of Jonathan's story. A fascinating story that covers all walks of life. In fact, I saw myself in some of his crazy, true-to-life events that Jonathan brings out about family, friends, and job experiences.
This is a story that you will get a big kick out of. I got a BIG kick out of it!!!!!!
Thank you Mark Lages for sending me this book in an exchange for an HONEST review.
Jonathan writes his vows but has unknowingly had a lot of help. 'HONESTY' is the theme of Jonathan's story. A fascinating story that covers all walks of life. In fact, I saw myself in some of his crazy, true-to-life events that Jonathan brings out about family, friends, and job experiences.
This is a story that you will get a big kick out of. I got a BIG kick out of it!!!!!!
Thank you Mark Lages for sending me this book in an exchange for an HONEST review.
February 24, 2021
I loved this book. I was waiting for the vows at the end of the book when I realized that the entire book was the vows. Kudos! Lots of insight and good humor. A must read for anyone planning to get married, or for anyone who has already been married.
May 3, 2021
This is a cute story about a simple relationship and documents the possibility of their life together. There's no action, but this is a good casual read if you don't want anything heavy.
I didn't really like the main character, which in this book is difficult as it's 100% focused on Jonathan.
I didn't really like the main character, which in this book is difficult as it's 100% focused on Jonathan.
May 5, 2021
Jonathan's Vows captured my attention at a time when I myself have just celebrated 34 years of marriage. I wondered what the in the world Lages would have to say about marriage. The options were WIDE open. The book opens with a young man facing the delimma of writing personal wedding vows to his bride. For those of us who have been there, I took a trip down memory lane.
This is not a Disney flick. Happily Ever After isn't this ambiguous paraody of heaven; nor is it bogged down in everyday mundane living. Jonathan's vows takes on what it means to be committed to another until 'death do us part'... or not. Twists & turns abound, building to something BIG, but I couldn't assume it was the vows. As he bumps into examples of marriage via family, friends & aquaintances, he captures the importance of what his vows will mean to him, personally. Infidelity? Abuse? Growing apart? Finances? Kids? I LOVED it. I reflected thru the good/back, better/worse, sickness/health of my own life. And somehow, I was reassured that Love still exists for those who truly believe in REAL love. I immediately bought two copies for my own kids. This is also the kind of book to be re-read. I originally bought the Kindle version, but have bought the paperback. If it were hardcover, I'd invest in those. It is that good! Each time, I know, I will walk away with something I didn't pay attention to, something I wasn't ready to pay attention to.
I was introduced to Lages through GoodReads. His books have been my greatest find. I own them all. He consistently delivers a profound & entertaining read, full of cultural references and incredible insight into human behavior. You won't know it, unless you step back after finishing a book. His writing is often subtle, capturing a vignette here, a heart-wrenching moment there; but, taken as a whole, there are beautiful lessons to be experienced. Even in death, Lages finds the human experience to be not only necessary, but hopeful, a opportunity to grow. Very few authors can capture in elegant & simple prose the import of day-to-day life and elevate it to something greater, something Better. I never know what I will experience or where exactly I will go with a Lages book, as he often includes dreamscapes & the surreal mimicking the fantasies of real life. But I know, at the end, I will be a much better person for having read his books~
Thanks, Mark!
This is not a Disney flick. Happily Ever After isn't this ambiguous paraody of heaven; nor is it bogged down in everyday mundane living. Jonathan's vows takes on what it means to be committed to another until 'death do us part'... or not. Twists & turns abound, building to something BIG, but I couldn't assume it was the vows. As he bumps into examples of marriage via family, friends & aquaintances, he captures the importance of what his vows will mean to him, personally. Infidelity? Abuse? Growing apart? Finances? Kids? I LOVED it. I reflected thru the good/back, better/worse, sickness/health of my own life. And somehow, I was reassured that Love still exists for those who truly believe in REAL love. I immediately bought two copies for my own kids. This is also the kind of book to be re-read. I originally bought the Kindle version, but have bought the paperback. If it were hardcover, I'd invest in those. It is that good! Each time, I know, I will walk away with something I didn't pay attention to, something I wasn't ready to pay attention to.
I was introduced to Lages through GoodReads. His books have been my greatest find. I own them all. He consistently delivers a profound & entertaining read, full of cultural references and incredible insight into human behavior. You won't know it, unless you step back after finishing a book. His writing is often subtle, capturing a vignette here, a heart-wrenching moment there; but, taken as a whole, there are beautiful lessons to be experienced. Even in death, Lages finds the human experience to be not only necessary, but hopeful, a opportunity to grow. Very few authors can capture in elegant & simple prose the import of day-to-day life and elevate it to something greater, something Better. I never know what I will experience or where exactly I will go with a Lages book, as he often includes dreamscapes & the surreal mimicking the fantasies of real life. But I know, at the end, I will be a much better person for having read his books~
Thanks, Mark!
March 23, 2021
Jonathan Hart is a twenty-one-year-old college student who is about to be married to his high school sweetheart, Samantha. He has been charged with the task of writing his own wedding vows. So, he looks to his future. Join Jonathan as he relentlessly searches, studies, and imagines his years ahead in a remarkable and entertaining quest to compose the perfect words.
Thank you, Mark Lages, for the chance to read Jonathan’s Vows!
I truly enjoyed the quest I went on with Jonathan Hart!! With the way this book is written you feel like you are actually on the same adventure! With the events that go on the book are all things that can happen in any family. The good! The bad! And the ugly! It is definitely a book that will have you stopping to look back on some of the events in your life. I really liked getting to know the characters! Mark Lages did a wonderful job of bringing Samantha and Jonathan and many of the other characters to life. It’s a fast read because once you start you won't be able to stop. Thank you again Mark Lages for the chance to read this book! I look forward to doing this again! I don't think i have ever read anything else by this author but i will be fixing that very soon by ordering Arcadia! Happy reading everyone!
“{I’m going to share something with you that it took me sixty-eight years to learn. I am sixty-eight years old. I have been married for forty-five years. I have three grandkids. I think I know what I’m talking about, so listen. I’m going to reveal the secret of love to you. The secret of happiness. The secret of life. You won’t find this in a textbook, in a college class, on a TV show, or in a Hollywood movie. The secret is maintenance.}”
“{Maintenance?}”
“{Pure and simple.}”
“{The maintenance of what?}”
“{The maintenance of everything.}”
“{What does that even mean?}”
“{The routine you talk about, all the mundane things you do in your life, is what life is all about. Life isn’t about just falling in love. Life is about being in love. You have it. You take care of it. You feed it, lubricate it service it, water it, trim it, nurture it, and buy it present every now and again. You maintain it. And why? Because you have something amazing that no one else in the world has: your life. Your wife, your children, your humanity, and your existence. The sooner you come to terms with this the better.}”
Thank you, Mark Lages, for the chance to read Jonathan’s Vows!
I truly enjoyed the quest I went on with Jonathan Hart!! With the way this book is written you feel like you are actually on the same adventure! With the events that go on the book are all things that can happen in any family. The good! The bad! And the ugly! It is definitely a book that will have you stopping to look back on some of the events in your life. I really liked getting to know the characters! Mark Lages did a wonderful job of bringing Samantha and Jonathan and many of the other characters to life. It’s a fast read because once you start you won't be able to stop. Thank you again Mark Lages for the chance to read this book! I look forward to doing this again! I don't think i have ever read anything else by this author but i will be fixing that very soon by ordering Arcadia! Happy reading everyone!
“{I’m going to share something with you that it took me sixty-eight years to learn. I am sixty-eight years old. I have been married for forty-five years. I have three grandkids. I think I know what I’m talking about, so listen. I’m going to reveal the secret of love to you. The secret of happiness. The secret of life. You won’t find this in a textbook, in a college class, on a TV show, or in a Hollywood movie. The secret is maintenance.}”
“{Maintenance?}”
“{Pure and simple.}”
“{The maintenance of what?}”
“{The maintenance of everything.}”
“{What does that even mean?}”
“{The routine you talk about, all the mundane things you do in your life, is what life is all about. Life isn’t about just falling in love. Life is about being in love. You have it. You take care of it. You feed it, lubricate it service it, water it, trim it, nurture it, and buy it present every now and again. You maintain it. And why? Because you have something amazing that no one else in the world has: your life. Your wife, your children, your humanity, and your existence. The sooner you come to terms with this the better.}”
April 4, 2021
Jonathan Hart (21, USC college student, architect) is 1-day going to marry Samantha (USC college student, HS sweetheart).
Jonathan is supposed to write his own wedding vows.
Jonathan has so many things on his mind.
Jonathan/Samantha Are we to young to get married?
Jonathan/Samantha Will I get a good job after I graduate that will pay the bills?
Jonathan/Samantha We are quite different, dress, music, movies, food taste, etc.
Jonathan Will we come together as 1?
Jonathan changes his major to journalism.
He starts by writing The Question Mark Murders a crime thriller.
Alberto’s Restaurant. Wife/Mother & Husband/Father are 50+ & having their 30th wedding anniversary.
Lewis (son/brother) brings Shari (G/F).
Jonathan now writes biographies for Orange Life magazine.
Jonathan/Samantha Disneyland CA. What about kids?
Jonathan writing The family game family life.
Will Jonathan finally finish writing the marriage vows?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written family drama book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great family drama movie, or better yet a mini-TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an extremely easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; AuthorHouse; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Jonathan is supposed to write his own wedding vows.
Jonathan has so many things on his mind.
Jonathan/Samantha Are we to young to get married?
Jonathan/Samantha Will I get a good job after I graduate that will pay the bills?
Jonathan/Samantha We are quite different, dress, music, movies, food taste, etc.
Jonathan Will we come together as 1?
Jonathan changes his major to journalism.
He starts by writing The Question Mark Murders a crime thriller.
Alberto’s Restaurant. Wife/Mother & Husband/Father are 50+ & having their 30th wedding anniversary.
Lewis (son/brother) brings Shari (G/F).
Jonathan now writes biographies for Orange Life magazine.
Jonathan/Samantha Disneyland CA. What about kids?
Jonathan writing The family game family life.
Will Jonathan finally finish writing the marriage vows?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written family drama book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great family drama movie, or better yet a mini-TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an extremely easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; AuthorHouse; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
June 15, 2021
What a wonderful book! It’s so wise and witty, humorous and thought provoking. I will be thinking of this clever and sweet book for a very long time. It’s caused me to reflect on my own twisty, winding path and allowed me to smile at some of my choices, forgive myself for screw ups, and recognize that we’re all in this together in so many ways.
Each chapter is a vignette with a lesson to be learned by both Jonathan and the reader if one is paying attention. I’d be hard pressed to choose my favorite chapter since they are all so clever.
I’m so happy that I actually own this book and don’t have to return it to the library. There were so many great lines that I intend to go back through and underline the best passages.
Truly I want every human being to read this book: my nieces who are in the midst of family life and raising kids while balancing careers and marriages; those who are struggling with mid life crises; friends who are ‘winding down’ careers and wondering what it’s all been for; young ones who are just starting out and old ones are still trying to figure it out.
This book deserves all the kudos I can give. READ THIS BOOK!
Finding this ‘new to me’ author is making me Very Happy indeed.
Hooray for the Unicorns!
Each chapter is a vignette with a lesson to be learned by both Jonathan and the reader if one is paying attention. I’d be hard pressed to choose my favorite chapter since they are all so clever.
I’m so happy that I actually own this book and don’t have to return it to the library. There were so many great lines that I intend to go back through and underline the best passages.
Truly I want every human being to read this book: my nieces who are in the midst of family life and raising kids while balancing careers and marriages; those who are struggling with mid life crises; friends who are ‘winding down’ careers and wondering what it’s all been for; young ones who are just starting out and old ones are still trying to figure it out.
This book deserves all the kudos I can give. READ THIS BOOK!
Finding this ‘new to me’ author is making me Very Happy indeed.
Hooray for the Unicorns!
March 24, 2021
Enjoyable unspoken humor at the ending brings a conclusion to a young man and the dilemma of "writing your own vows" for his wedding. the author is able to sit inside Jonathan's brain as he stumbles through his life memories and future desires. What type of passion or erotic behavior will be appropriate, how can he fulfill a vow of faithfulness in a world of human mistakes. Are confessions in your life really necessary, do they bring relief and happiness or the opposite? What does he confess to if he makes any mistakes, are his intentions faithful enough to last a lifetime? As the night progresses and his ruminations swirl in multiple directions, we wonder at his morning and the vows he has chosen. I enjoyed the debate and dreamy predictions of his future journey and the examples he uses to work our his final solution. The last chapter is perfectly done and cinematic credits are quite interesting in Jonathan's solution. The author is quite agile in living through his characters and asking asking his readers to leap tall buildings in their own thoughts as they read along. A very good read.
March 28, 2021
Jonathan Hart is a young man with some very serious matters on his mind. At age twenty-one, he is just about to marry the love of his life, Samantha. Sweethearts since high school, and now attending college, they are very much in love and eager to begin their life together as man and wife. Author Mark Lages is a distinctive storyteller, and "Jonathan's Vows" offers many insights into the idiosyncrasies of human behavior and the ever-deepening, complex layers of the long-term romance known as marriage. With a sharp eye--and even sharper humor--the author lets readers follow Jonathan as he imagines what his future as a married man will be--all in preparation for the vows he will make to his beloved in front of God, family, and friends. You will enjoy Jonathan's speculations, but you might squirm a little when you recognize yourself in some of his "warts-and-all" realizations. While this is not a sugar-coated, fairy tale version of love, it is human, and it is hopeful. If you don't take that leap of faith, you will never know what you missed.
Book Copy Gratis Author
Book Copy Gratis Author
June 7, 2021
I greatly enjoyed Jonathan's Vows and recommend this book to those who enjoy books that make you think, where would you be if you had made different choices in your life? Reading about Jonathan's life and its ups and downs is like everyone's life. I'm sure we all think in our heads at some point, what if I do this....what would change? Parts of this really struck me as I am engaged right now and questioning if this is the right decision for me. I sat in shock on page 250 when his dad suddenly dies at the age of 81, on a Saturday morning. This is exactly what just happened to me a couple of weeks ago when I got phone call. The journey life takes us on can never be predicted. Mark's story is simple and straight forward and from start to finish I did a lot of thinking. I've read several of his books now and why he appeals to me so much is that no two are alike and you never know what he is going to come up with next. This book in particular I am keeping to reread again when my mind is again in a clearer place and enjoy all over again.
March 13, 2021
Mark Pages writes with a style that feels as if the narrator is speaking directly to the reader. In Jonathan's Vows, the narrator contemplates the task of writing his wedding view by imagining his future with his bride unfolding over the years. Readers follow along as Jonathan imagined incidents beginning with a conversation at his wedding reception and passing through the years of parenting and into old age. The narrator imagined himself into compromising situations and conversations with folks who do not shine a bright light on marriage, not paint a promising portrait of married life. And, although he is speaking to his future bride in the telling of these events, the reader feels as though the narrator is reflecting backward from some point in the future.
Jonathan's Vows by Mark Pages is a wonderful book for readers who enjoy contemplating the passage of time and reflecting on relationships, marriage, and society.
Jonathan's Vows by Mark Pages is a wonderful book for readers who enjoy contemplating the passage of time and reflecting on relationships, marriage, and society.
March 28, 2021
Another innovative novel by a prolific and masterful storyteller. Getting the newest Mark Lages book is akin to a visit from a very special old friend. You can be sure that you will be reading many words of wisdom and about as many hilarious sidebars.
Jonathan's Vows is about how a 21-year-old, as he prepares to be married, visualizes his future as a married man. While I don't think it is possible that a young man that age could thing as deeply as Jonathan does, Jonathan's visualizations accurately depict many of the things that marriages deal with as the years of marriage pile up. What is the secret to marriage longevity? What happens when reality falls short of your dreams? How do married couples handle changes that occur in each other?
I loved the book and found it very relevant. The author goes on tangents, just to work in something that he wants to write about, which I find amusing. And he saved the best for last - his best joke ever on page 299 of this 300 page book!
Jonathan's Vows is about how a 21-year-old, as he prepares to be married, visualizes his future as a married man. While I don't think it is possible that a young man that age could thing as deeply as Jonathan does, Jonathan's visualizations accurately depict many of the things that marriages deal with as the years of marriage pile up. What is the secret to marriage longevity? What happens when reality falls short of your dreams? How do married couples handle changes that occur in each other?
I loved the book and found it very relevant. The author goes on tangents, just to work in something that he wants to write about, which I find amusing. And he saved the best for last - his best joke ever on page 299 of this 300 page book!
March 31, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. You have a 21 year old male who is about to be married and is trying to write his vows to his beloved Samantha. He wants his vows to be as meaningful in 25 years as they are today. The storyline is well put together with believable and interesting characters. I feel the feelings evoked are so real. You have debates and future predictions. This book is about hopes and dreams of the future. You will definitely have your emotions stirred so many times in this book. Make sure you bring out your tissues yet at times the humor will make you chuckle out loud. Marc gets better with each book. His vows will reinforce th power of love. You will take a trip into the future. He ponders sincere promises he wants to make to Samantha. This book is a must read to anyone who is planning on getting married. Marc knocks this book out of the park. I loved this book. Way to go Marc! Looking forward to his next book.
August 30, 2021
4 solid stars
Another masterpiece of prose from Mr. Lages. An rather unique story line dealing with a subject that basically dismissed in today's society...marriage. With over 50 percent of all marriages resulting in divorce, the author uses the protagonist, Jonathan, through the writing of his upcoming wedding vows, to speculate how his life will pan out after he is married.
The author delves into such varied topics as arguing, financial struggles, vocational choices, having children and cheating. All are rationally discussed with each resulting in a wonderful moral to use, if the reader so chooses.
This book was extremely well written and builds to a rather honest and simple final few chapters that defines what Jonathan envisions for the couple's future.
I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy stories concerning life's possibilities, the effort involved to have a successful marriage and the results of some of those efforts failing.
Another masterpiece of prose from Mr. Lages. An rather unique story line dealing with a subject that basically dismissed in today's society...marriage. With over 50 percent of all marriages resulting in divorce, the author uses the protagonist, Jonathan, through the writing of his upcoming wedding vows, to speculate how his life will pan out after he is married.
The author delves into such varied topics as arguing, financial struggles, vocational choices, having children and cheating. All are rationally discussed with each resulting in a wonderful moral to use, if the reader so chooses.
This book was extremely well written and builds to a rather honest and simple final few chapters that defines what Jonathan envisions for the couple's future.
I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy stories concerning life's possibilities, the effort involved to have a successful marriage and the results of some of those efforts failing.
August 10, 2022
I really wanted to like this book. It was such an interesting concept. But the dialogue was so robotic, and it didn't always have a point. And then I had to listen to the narrator describe every little detail of not one, not two, but threeeeee movies back to back. I couldn't do it. I just couldn't do it. I was going to lose my mind!
I didn't even feel like the two main characters were in love. And I'll ship anyone! My friends actually like to joke that I hoe them out because they look at someone a second too long and I ship it. xD But apart from the narrator saying they loved each other a couple of times there wasn't anything romantic. I honestly got more passion and sincerity when he talked about the theoretical girl he saw at the beginning, which was a whole other slew of issues I won't get into, other than to say they clearly weren't in love, and clearly weren't ready to get married.
One cow
I didn't even feel like the two main characters were in love. And I'll ship anyone! My friends actually like to joke that I hoe them out because they look at someone a second too long and I ship it. xD But apart from the narrator saying they loved each other a couple of times there wasn't anything romantic. I honestly got more passion and sincerity when he talked about the theoretical girl he saw at the beginning, which was a whole other slew of issues I won't get into, other than to say they clearly weren't in love, and clearly weren't ready to get married.
One cow
March 13, 2021
Another outstanding and phenomenal story by Lages. I love his books and stories. I've said it before for his other works that he is like that uncle or grandfather with all the great stories. This book takes on the theme of examining one's life and the life you will have with your spouse. Lages takes us on a journey with Jonathan as he muses and tries to guess how his life will be with his soon to be wife. It is a look at what could be and a life well lived. What is a good life? How do you view your life and accomplishments with those of others. This is a great book that will having you examining yourself and your life. It is just a great inspirational read, like all his books, that makes you think and ponder about life's many facets and mysteries.
April 29, 2021
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
While I was afraid that the book might be somewhat sappy and lovey/dovey, I thought I would take a chance on the story. It was great!
First, the author writes well and has a great sense of humor. His characters are realistic, with Jonathan writing in the first person, and talking to his 'bride to be' Samantha. At one point early in the book, I was ready to grab a notebook so I could write down some of the jokes - laugh out loud funny. Of course, not all of the book is fun and games, but mostly realistic, with a couple of- OH NO DON'T DO THAT's - in there.
I know it's a memorable book when I look to see what else the author has written so that I can look for additional reading!
While I was afraid that the book might be somewhat sappy and lovey/dovey, I thought I would take a chance on the story. It was great!
First, the author writes well and has a great sense of humor. His characters are realistic, with Jonathan writing in the first person, and talking to his 'bride to be' Samantha. At one point early in the book, I was ready to grab a notebook so I could write down some of the jokes - laugh out loud funny. Of course, not all of the book is fun and games, but mostly realistic, with a couple of- OH NO DON'T DO THAT's - in there.
I know it's a memorable book when I look to see what else the author has written so that I can look for additional reading!
April 20, 2021
Jonathan’s Vows by Mark Lages is about Jonathan a college student getting ready to marry Samantha the girl he has loved since high school. Jonathan is writing his marriage vow to Samantha, as he thinks about the marriage, he takes us on a journey. Jonathan wants these vows to last a lifetime, being relevant 25 years from now. The journey through marriage begins with the wedding, honeymoon, careers and having children. As I read this book, I experienced happiness, sadness and relevance to my own life. Once I started reading, I did not want to stop. I wanted to keep these characters in my thoughts, cheering them on. I am looking forward to Mark’s next adventure.
August 23, 2021
Another great book from Mark Lages, though I do see a lot of similarities to some of his other books in this one. At times, that did leave me wanting a fresher feeling story, but time still flew while reading this book, and it still gave endless topics to think about, a little something that everyone can relate to even if you're not in the same situation as the characters in this book. As always, there were a couple of particular comments that really stuck with me, even as I write this review about a month after finishing the book. For this one, the main piece of advice that stood out was this - in regards to marriage, don't get boring!
March 14, 2021
Jonathan is young and getting married. He is working on writing his wedding vows and looks to his/their future for inspiration. His imagination takes us on a wonderful trip to their future life and the many events/people/things that occur along the way. The story is highly entertaining and caused me to pause and reflect a lot. It is quite amazing how many things in the story caused me to think about events in my own life. This is a story that digs into so many topics. I highly enjoyed this book.
March 25, 2021
Jonathan's Vows is an enjoyable book. Jonathon, a college student is writing his wedding vows. Through this journey, he tries to consider what vows he wants to make to his bride to be, Samantha. He ponders sincere promises that he wants to make and looks to his life in the future to get it right. Full of humor and insight, this is a great book for anyone getting married or for those who have been married for years. Mark Lages is becoming one of my favorite writers with each new book he puts out. Kudos to Mark for another home run book!
March 9, 2021
When it comes to telling a story Mark Lages has shown again and again how to do it well in his own very unique and special way. In Jonathan’s Vows he again hits the mark as he presents to us another tale of an everyday situation containing many smaller story snippets within the larger, tying them together in a neat little bow. If you enjoy a relaxed and satisfying reading experience, this may well be the story for you. 5 star recommended book.
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