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A Confession
The unnamed protagonist of A CONFESSION is a 21st Century man caught in a classic struggle to define meaning and redemption for a life he finds himself questioning. To work through his crisis, he recounts the propriety and value of the choices he’s made so far, confessing them in honesty to the only person to whom he feels safe divulging his secrets.
An exploration of arrogance, freedom, regret, ego, control, public humiliation, and blackmail in the digital age, A CONFESSION exposes man at his most vulnerable. In this work of fiction, William F. Aicher channels the existential works of Camus, Sartre, and Dostoevsky and the moral dilemmas facing modern man to create a morality tale for our age
An exploration of arrogance, freedom, regret, ego, control, public humiliation, and blackmail in the digital age, A CONFESSION exposes man at his most vulnerable. In this work of fiction, William F. Aicher channels the existential works of Camus, Sartre, and Dostoevsky and the moral dilemmas facing modern man to create a morality tale for our age
197 pages, Paperback
Published June 19, 2021
30 people are currently reading
650 people want to read
About the author
William F. Aicher
24 books324 followersWilliam F. Aicher is the author of The Trouble With Being God, A Confession, The Unfortunate Expiration of Mr. David S. Sparks., Calibration 74, and the Phoenix Bones: International Monster Hunter series, as well as a series of short horror and suspense pieces collectively referred to as “Creepy Little Bedtime Stories.” Tending to lean toward the creepy and fantastical, his work has appeared alongside such well-known writers as Stephen King, Richard Chizmar, and Neil Gaiman.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, he holds degrees in journalism and philosophy. He currently lives outside Milwaukee with his wife, three sons, and a pair of lazy cats.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, he holds degrees in journalism and philosophy. He currently lives outside Milwaukee with his wife, three sons, and a pair of lazy cats.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 27, 2016
"Am I a good person?"
That's the question that is more like mantra throughout this book. William F. Aicher shares with the reader a series of life's mistakes, both intentional and unintentional. You get to decide for yourself, as he shares with you all that he's done. A confession, so to speak.
This book speaks to the reader, allowing them to reevaluate themselves as the author does the same. He shared some things that made you wonder what the heck he was thinking- but also allows you to ponder your own past. I loved the way he wrote, heart-felt, yet I could easily see him pointing at me saying, "Don't you judge me- I'm just like you!" It was great.
Sharing things like love, sex, drugs and more, Aicher gives you a broad view of his fictional self (or real, I do not know) and you get to see your own self in the process. A read you'd enjoy too!
*For full review: http://tinyurl.com/zp8k82q
**eBook provided by author, William F. Aicher, for an honest review.
That's the question that is more like mantra throughout this book. William F. Aicher shares with the reader a series of life's mistakes, both intentional and unintentional. You get to decide for yourself, as he shares with you all that he's done. A confession, so to speak.
This book speaks to the reader, allowing them to reevaluate themselves as the author does the same. He shared some things that made you wonder what the heck he was thinking- but also allows you to ponder your own past. I loved the way he wrote, heart-felt, yet I could easily see him pointing at me saying, "Don't you judge me- I'm just like you!" It was great.
Sharing things like love, sex, drugs and more, Aicher gives you a broad view of his fictional self (or real, I do not know) and you get to see your own self in the process. A read you'd enjoy too!
*For full review: http://tinyurl.com/zp8k82q
**eBook provided by author, William F. Aicher, for an honest review.
July 22, 2016
After asking the question "Am I good person?" the narrator then examines a series of his relationships and moral transgressions. The prose of the book is noteworthy, particularly the cadence and ability to put abstract human experience into words.
December 14, 2018
A thought-provoking and unique book with a surprise ending. The book was unsettling but in a delightful way. I'm generally a fast reader but read this one slowly to ponder some of the philosophical issues it raised. I look forward to reading more work by the author.
August 14, 2021
A Confession felt like a cross between Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and what snippets I've read from American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. The book is more fictional memoir than a standard novel, but proved to be a page turner, which I think was helped by the brevity of the chapters. I read it in a sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Starting out, I was put off by the casual conversational prose. Quickly though, I fell into the flow and didn't mind the circular statements by the main character. Also, the book broke a big rule, *the big rule* oft touted by Wendy H. Jones on her podcast, The Writing and Marketing Show. However, I think that memory was handled sensitively, and ultimately didn't take away from the story.
Starting out, I was put off by the casual conversational prose. Quickly though, I fell into the flow and didn't mind the circular statements by the main character. Also, the book broke a big rule, *the big rule* oft touted by Wendy H. Jones on her podcast, The Writing and Marketing Show. However, I think that memory was handled sensitively, and ultimately didn't take away from the story.
August 28, 2016
A Confession is a wild ride. The title is very fitting as readers are immediately introduced to a man who is feeling the need to divulge some experiences he has had throughout life. It felt like a mix of diary-style writing with some memoir and fiction mixed in.
Honestly, I did not like this man very much, but the author's engaging writing kept me hanging on for more. I was hooked enough that I needed to find out where this strange man was taking us. At times, I got lost in the story of his life, forgetting he was retelling these moments.
I never ever saw the ending coming, so kudos to the author. I believe in spoiler-free reviews which means I will not peep what the ending holds, but I will say it is awesome and unexpected. This is a twisted, psychological story that left me a little haunted by this unknown stranger.
Honestly, I did not like this man very much, but the author's engaging writing kept me hanging on for more. I was hooked enough that I needed to find out where this strange man was taking us. At times, I got lost in the story of his life, forgetting he was retelling these moments.
I never ever saw the ending coming, so kudos to the author. I believe in spoiler-free reviews which means I will not peep what the ending holds, but I will say it is awesome and unexpected. This is a twisted, psychological story that left me a little haunted by this unknown stranger.
January 13, 2021
Wow. This novel is profound, and exceptionally well-written. If you weren't already questioning everything - especially in these crazy times - you will be after reading this. Best book I've read in a very long time. Can't wait to read more from this author.
January 7, 2024
A Confession is a thought-provoking and completely unusual account of a man exploring his conscience, questioning his morality, and taking the reader on a super immersive journey through his life. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before; the reader really feels like a character in the book, and an important one at that! At times, I felt as though I didn’t really see the point in the things the narrator told us, and the pacing was sometimes slow, but the vocabulary used and the atmosphere the author creates was brilliant. The ending was also pretty haunting! I did find his exploration of whether he was a good person to be somewhat insightful and something I found myself thinking about a lot. I just felt like I was craving more from this. A very different read that I’m sure many will love!
May 1, 2018
After reading the Unfortunate Expiration of David S. Sparks I wanted to read more from William Aicher. Thankfully, A Confession did not disappoint. A thought-provoking read, engagingly written. The unnamed narrator waffles his way through aspects of his life in an often, (and in terms of his personality) unintended humorous manner. He is an unsympathetic character, believing his faults are virtues, and his actions are justified, and Aicher leaves it to the reader to judge him to their own ideals.
July 26, 2020
Interesting
Told in second person, a man recounts his life to another.
It’s hard to keep a second person book interesting, but the author manages to do that. He captures the feeling of being told a story by someone.
Unfortunately, I kept waiting for there to be some startling revelation or twist in the tale. If there was, I missed it. It’s a well written account of a deluded, self indulgent man’s life, but it just wasn’t for me.
Told in second person, a man recounts his life to another.
It’s hard to keep a second person book interesting, but the author manages to do that. He captures the feeling of being told a story by someone.
Unfortunately, I kept waiting for there to be some startling revelation or twist in the tale. If there was, I missed it. It’s a well written account of a deluded, self indulgent man’s life, but it just wasn’t for me.
May 7, 2018
"A Confession" takes a deep, intimate dive into the psyche of an anonymous character, that on the surface, could be any one of us questioning our own moral and ethical principles. The ending will both surprise and haunt you, leaving the reader to decide the fate and final outcome.
September 7, 2016
We start the story with the narrator asking “Am I a good person?” We then follow along as he talks about different experiences in his life, some good, some bad and some questionable. But as you read you are drawn into this life. Yes, he does things that make you wonder about him yet before you start judging him he also points out that we have done stupid and questionable things in our own lives.
This story is engaging and makes you think about both the narrator’s life. I admit that I was not very fond of the narrator and the choices he made in life. But as you read the pieces of the puzzle for the narrator’s life start to fall into place and quickly you come to a surprising ending that wraps everything up nicely.
I really enjoyed reading this book. This is one book that will make you think more about yourself and the things you have done in your life. Could you ask yourself “Am I a good person?” and have an honest answer like the narrator has done in this book?
I received A Confession for free from Sage’s Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.
This story is engaging and makes you think about both the narrator’s life. I admit that I was not very fond of the narrator and the choices he made in life. But as you read the pieces of the puzzle for the narrator’s life start to fall into place and quickly you come to a surprising ending that wraps everything up nicely.
I really enjoyed reading this book. This is one book that will make you think more about yourself and the things you have done in your life. Could you ask yourself “Am I a good person?” and have an honest answer like the narrator has done in this book?
I received A Confession for free from Sage’s Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2018
This book made me think... about myself, my life, my choices, what wrongs I may have done, whether intentional or unintentional, what good I may have done, what influence I've had on the lives of others. At least for me, it's not a book that leaves you untouched. I may have finished reading the story, but this will stick with me for a while.
As to the story itself, my response to the main character ranged from sympathy to loathing and all points in between. There are things he did that seemed kind and compassionate and others that seemed reprehensible. Pieces of his life are doled out, bit by bit, and I kept trying to put my finger on just what kind of man he was. This is a person I think most of us could identify with, in one way or another, but you might not always like what you see. There are some things in his life that are similar to life experiences most of us have had. There are a couple of things toward the end that left me a little rattled (no spoilers beyond green plastic box, for one) and the ending left me a little frustrated.
Overall, it was a good book that kept my attention. Having read a couple of Mr. Aicher's short stories, I should have expected it to be a bit disturbing, disquieting, and it was. In many ways, it left me with more questions than answers, but I like books that make me think.
As to the story itself, my response to the main character ranged from sympathy to loathing and all points in between. There are things he did that seemed kind and compassionate and others that seemed reprehensible. Pieces of his life are doled out, bit by bit, and I kept trying to put my finger on just what kind of man he was. This is a person I think most of us could identify with, in one way or another, but you might not always like what you see. There are some things in his life that are similar to life experiences most of us have had. There are a couple of things toward the end that left me a little rattled (no spoilers beyond green plastic box, for one) and the ending left me a little frustrated.
Overall, it was a good book that kept my attention. Having read a couple of Mr. Aicher's short stories, I should have expected it to be a bit disturbing, disquieting, and it was. In many ways, it left me with more questions than answers, but I like books that make me think.
September 3, 2016
A Confession is brilliant! It literally had me on the edge of my seat. I was mesmerized by the writing of this novel, it pulled me in. The psychological aspect of A Confession is insane! I have never loved a nameless character more! Honestly, A Confession is full with intensity and at some parts I got the chills. Just the mannerisms and how this man would talk to the reader is just so strange. I don't know how else to describe it.
I love that this book was focused on the more psychological side of the character, than a thriller part. A Confession reminded me of a Stephen King novel, which I love, just the right amount of twists. This book makes you think, throughout the book I tried to put together all the pieces of this man's life. Putting the puzzle together.
Honestly, hands down one of the best books I've read this past couple of months, and I read a lot and probably the best psychological book I have read! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a mind experience because that's what you'll get in A Confession! Five stars!
I love that this book was focused on the more psychological side of the character, than a thriller part. A Confession reminded me of a Stephen King novel, which I love, just the right amount of twists. This book makes you think, throughout the book I tried to put together all the pieces of this man's life. Putting the puzzle together.
Honestly, hands down one of the best books I've read this past couple of months, and I read a lot and probably the best psychological book I have read! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a mind experience because that's what you'll get in A Confession! Five stars!
September 8, 2016
That ending though... Well done. I actually felt for our narrator. I questioned his choices of whether he was to blame, by lack of action or by direct contact. This book is a bounce of choices throughout different times in our narrator's life, which keep it very interesting. Worth the read, I gave it a shot because William Aicher is on Twitter and whoever does his social media followed me, I followed back. His PM said check out his book and I loaded it in the kindle. I love the authors that I've read this way. Thanks for the suggestion. P.S. Mr. Aicher, if you are reading this, in the one who takes for-e-vor to read a written book, but listen to audiobooks all the time. Thanks again.
January 5, 2017
William F. Aicher weaves a haunting, gritty tale in this memoir-style novel. It's uncomfortable and vulnerable, a modern Book of Ecclesiastics, and will leave you questioning your own choices and the ripples they create. Reaching into deep philosophical questions while relaying life events that may make you cringe, Aicher does what every writer wants to do: causes readers to ask questions and look for answers. Through clever plotting and varying chapter lengths, Aicher creates a rhythm that slowly builds to a climax that, while shocking, will leave you nodding your head, seeing how all the threads had to lead to this moment.
And that ending...I mean...well done!
And that ending...I mean...well done!
November 11, 2016
A refreshing read. I loved the pacing and cadence of the writing as it paired with the character and his story unfolding. Aicher weaves a tale that caught my curiosity early into the book. I appreciated the philosophical questions and musings posed throughout the tale; a hard thing to manage, in my opinion, and the author effortlessly made it essential to the character. Looking forward to future releases from this Wisconsin author.
August 26, 2016
I enjoyed this book because it was so unique - the perspective of the main character speaking to the reader, the twists in the plot, and the times I laughed out loud - it all added up to time very well spent engrossed in this book.
September 1, 2018
I won an autographed copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.
January 17, 2021
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
2/5 stars
Before I go into why I've given it this rating, I do want to disclaim that I do not find this author to be bad, nor do I find the story horrific or anything. I just couldn't get into the book. I did finish it however, wanting to for this review, and I'm sure this book is for some. It just wasn't me.
I couldn't connect with the main character. I felt from the beginning an annoyance at him for the way he looked down on other people and that kind of never left me. I wanted to see if the story would pick up or if more things about him were revealed, my opinion of him would change. It did not.
As I said earlier, I think this book can be for some, I liked the main character questioning certain topics and the underlying motives one can have for them and if this would make them either good or bad. Give it a shot and you might enjoy it more than I did.
2/5 stars
Before I go into why I've given it this rating, I do want to disclaim that I do not find this author to be bad, nor do I find the story horrific or anything. I just couldn't get into the book. I did finish it however, wanting to for this review, and I'm sure this book is for some. It just wasn't me.
I couldn't connect with the main character. I felt from the beginning an annoyance at him for the way he looked down on other people and that kind of never left me. I wanted to see if the story would pick up or if more things about him were revealed, my opinion of him would change. It did not.
As I said earlier, I think this book can be for some, I liked the main character questioning certain topics and the underlying motives one can have for them and if this would make them either good or bad. Give it a shot and you might enjoy it more than I did.
April 17, 2020
William Aicher is an excellent writer who really gets deep into the character with this one. Certainly this is not a protagonist I strictly speaking enjoyed being with, but the idea of being in the shoes of a man quite different to myself was enjoyable and despite the short length of the story I really felt like the character was tangible by the end.
What I also like was that after quite a slow start the breadcrumbs started to drop which makes the reader work to figure out what is going on, and for a while I was really hooked. Ultimately though, what dropped this from five stars for me was that after a slow start which I forgave, I would have liked a weightier ending to follow on from that excellent middle section.
Reminded me a little of the old Bill Paxton movie 'Frailty' for some reason - probably in the way that Matthew McConaughey interacts with Powers Boothe.
What I also like was that after quite a slow start the breadcrumbs started to drop which makes the reader work to figure out what is going on, and for a while I was really hooked. Ultimately though, what dropped this from five stars for me was that after a slow start which I forgave, I would have liked a weightier ending to follow on from that excellent middle section.
Reminded me a little of the old Bill Paxton movie 'Frailty' for some reason - probably in the way that Matthew McConaughey interacts with Powers Boothe.
December 27, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley
Did not enjoy this one as much as I thought I would the narrator rambles and goes off on so many tangents that I was bored out of my mind most of the time I also expected the narrator to have some hidden darkness and there was none of that... his recounts of his life were all pretty mundane and boring the "twist" at the end was also way too tame to make me care much the only interesting part was when he was discussing his wife's affair.. thats about it
Did not enjoy this one as much as I thought I would the narrator rambles and goes off on so many tangents that I was bored out of my mind most of the time I also expected the narrator to have some hidden darkness and there was none of that... his recounts of his life were all pretty mundane and boring the "twist" at the end was also way too tame to make me care much the only interesting part was when he was discussing his wife's affair.. thats about it
February 27, 2021
I really don't know what to think about this book. An unnamed narrator is questioning good and evil and what really defines a person as one or the other. Raising many moral questions this novel challenges us to look inside, to really become aware of our actions and motives for such actions. Is there ever a truly altruistic reason for doing something or is there an underlying ulterior motive always?
After raising these deep philosophical questions I feel at the end of the novel we are no closer to a solution. None of the questions come close to being resolved. And the ending itself I feel did not really fit with the philosophical theme of the book itself.. Although the ending was a surprise.
One the whole I enjoyed the writing in the book. The narrative was intelligent and well versed if a bit rambling at times. The narrator did seem to go in different directions before pulling himself back in but I imagine that this was done on purpose for the sake of realism.
This is not a book for everyone. I don't believe the casual reader would enjoy this novel, but I do think a person who likes to read works that raise questions and prod us to think for ourselves would find this book highly stimulating.
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Closer to the publication date I will post a full review on my website.
After raising these deep philosophical questions I feel at the end of the novel we are no closer to a solution. None of the questions come close to being resolved. And the ending itself I feel did not really fit with the philosophical theme of the book itself.. Although the ending was a surprise.
One the whole I enjoyed the writing in the book. The narrative was intelligent and well versed if a bit rambling at times. The narrator did seem to go in different directions before pulling himself back in but I imagine that this was done on purpose for the sake of realism.
This is not a book for everyone. I don't believe the casual reader would enjoy this novel, but I do think a person who likes to read works that raise questions and prod us to think for ourselves would find this book highly stimulating.
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Closer to the publication date I will post a full review on my website.
September 6, 2016
Original Review Here
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Did I enjoy A Confession? That is a very good question. It caught my interest and held me the whole way through, but it’s difficult to say whether enjoy is the right word. It was something different, something unique and for that reason alone, I saw it through to the end.
The narration style is why the book is why the book is unique. The narrator – an unnamed man in his mid-forties – appears to be directly engaging the reader for the first part, including going to make sandwiches and drinks. While I’ve read books that speak to the reader, I had never seen it in such a direct way. As the book twists and turns, you discover he’s not necessarily talking to you and things are not what they seem (no spoilers here!).
My issue was it was very hard to feel anything for the character other than wanting him to stop whining. He’s a guy who falls on his feet after his brother leaves him everything, including royalties that set him up for life. He lacks empathy and even when he is in love, his conduct made it very hard for me to connect to him and feel anything.
A Confession is basically one long rant about the things that have gone wrong in his life, mainly through his own fault. Long passages about God and charities and how we know if we are good or not lost me a little as they seem to just ramble on for a long time. I know I like rambling, but this was just too much!
So saying, I did get through to the end and there was an interesting twist that kept me engaged until the final pages. Even then, it ends on a nice cliffhanger to keep our intrigue about what could possibly happen next!
William F. Aicher creates an interesting novel with a unique perspective that I haven’t come across in many novels. While I’m glad to have read A Confession, I don’t think I’ll be re-reading it for a while. It gets you thinking about your motives for actions though!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Did I enjoy A Confession? That is a very good question. It caught my interest and held me the whole way through, but it’s difficult to say whether enjoy is the right word. It was something different, something unique and for that reason alone, I saw it through to the end.
The narration style is why the book is why the book is unique. The narrator – an unnamed man in his mid-forties – appears to be directly engaging the reader for the first part, including going to make sandwiches and drinks. While I’ve read books that speak to the reader, I had never seen it in such a direct way. As the book twists and turns, you discover he’s not necessarily talking to you and things are not what they seem (no spoilers here!).
My issue was it was very hard to feel anything for the character other than wanting him to stop whining. He’s a guy who falls on his feet after his brother leaves him everything, including royalties that set him up for life. He lacks empathy and even when he is in love, his conduct made it very hard for me to connect to him and feel anything.
A Confession is basically one long rant about the things that have gone wrong in his life, mainly through his own fault. Long passages about God and charities and how we know if we are good or not lost me a little as they seem to just ramble on for a long time. I know I like rambling, but this was just too much!
So saying, I did get through to the end and there was an interesting twist that kept me engaged until the final pages. Even then, it ends on a nice cliffhanger to keep our intrigue about what could possibly happen next!
William F. Aicher creates an interesting novel with a unique perspective that I haven’t come across in many novels. While I’m glad to have read A Confession, I don’t think I’ll be re-reading it for a while. It gets you thinking about your motives for actions though!
September 23, 2016
A great look into a character's inner life
This was one of those rare books that you can really get lost in. It is both a page turner that you feel compelled to get through in a short time, and a work that stays on your mind after finishing it.
Aicher is a gifted writer who effectively captures here the contadictions that would come up in any self aware person's honest answer to the question 'Am I good person'?
And still he doesn't beat you over the head with them...it's subtle. Like when the storyteller tells about his stint in rehab after getting arrested after a drunken fight with a girl. After bragging about his sobriety and making addictions seem weak, he heads out for a cigarette.
And another subtle point...people conveniently forget or leave out details when rationalizing things to themselves. Like how he totally leaves out his drunken violence and states at one point he hasnt hurt anyone since hus fight as a youth where he attacked the bully who then beat him up.
The character slowly reveals himself to be deeply flawed yet you can see how it happens from the way his life unfolds. And the ending....unsatisfying at first but on further reflection...perfect. Five stars and can't wait for the next masterpiece!
This was one of those rare books that you can really get lost in. It is both a page turner that you feel compelled to get through in a short time, and a work that stays on your mind after finishing it.
Aicher is a gifted writer who effectively captures here the contadictions that would come up in any self aware person's honest answer to the question 'Am I good person'?
And still he doesn't beat you over the head with them...it's subtle. Like when the storyteller tells about his stint in rehab after getting arrested after a drunken fight with a girl. After bragging about his sobriety and making addictions seem weak, he heads out for a cigarette.
And another subtle point...people conveniently forget or leave out details when rationalizing things to themselves. Like how he totally leaves out his drunken violence and states at one point he hasnt hurt anyone since hus fight as a youth where he attacked the bully who then beat him up.
The character slowly reveals himself to be deeply flawed yet you can see how it happens from the way his life unfolds. And the ending....unsatisfying at first but on further reflection...perfect. Five stars and can't wait for the next masterpiece!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews