Crippled Dreams & Love And Madness [Paperback]

David Rehak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2008

This is one of those special reads that does more than entertain, it enlightens the reader about the most profound questions about being human. We begin with the novel CRIPPLED DREAMS, an emotional favorite. Rose is pregnant and alone. She gives birth to a boy, Alexandre. But he is born with crippled legs. His healthy younger brother Gustave grows up to be everything that Alex wants to be but cannot. They hate each other. Alex falls madly in love with his brother's lover, but will she return his feelings? This deeply moving story is one young broken man's search for physical and spiritual healing through the power of love. Next, we have the novel LOVE AND MADNESS, and in the area of dark decadent literature, this is as good as it gets. Karl falls for Bertha, but is it true and lasting love or just a passing infatuation? Love and madness reign in this unusual tale of sexual lust, greed, mental illness, and personal destruction. Two great novels under one volume, bargain-priced.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Praise for LOVE AND MADNESS:

Great, powerful plotline. Emotionally moving certainly. I wish most screenplays were as well-written and compelling as this novel. ~Nicole Kidman, Hollywood actress~

I had a great time with this book...it is really a page-turning and you'll never guess what will happen. ~Paul Kyriazi, Hollywood director~

This story does a captivating job of capturing the atmosphere of Scandinavia. Like a Strindberg play--disturbing and totally engrossing. ~Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark~

Praise for CRIPPLED DREAMS:

Mr. Rehak has a real winner on his hands with this novel to be sure! ~Victoria Taylor Murray, former Playboy bunny turned author of Lambert series~

If you're looking for something new and different, read Crippled Dreams. ~Chris Platt, award-winning author of Willow King~

If you're tired of the same old genre fiction, check out Crippled Dreams. ~Laurel Johnson, Midwest Book Review~

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (May 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 143821586X
• ISBN-13: 978-1438215860
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,068,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The trials and tribulations of love, September 14, 2008

By 

Carolyn Drew (Newport, Wales) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crippled Dreams & Love And Madness (Paperback)

In this omnibus collection of two novels, we are confronted by two tragic love stories that stay in the mind long after we close the book covers. The story of Karl and his love that fades for his beloved, who then punishes him for it in the most sinister way, was most gripping and chilling. But I was most haunted by the platonic love story of the cripple Alexandre and the unattainable object of his love, Marie-Anne. It really smacks of real life and moved me deeply. As I remember writing and saying before, I love the way this author reveals most of his characters' thoughts and feelings through action and dialogue rather than "telling" us too much what they're thinking. This technique of deliberate restraint lets you figure things out on your own which is something I like, and it leads to some intriguing surprises. He does this clear flowing straightforward plot-driven style very well. However, I would next like to see Rehak experiment more as a stylist and write a more complex and ambitious psychological novel this time. I'm quite curious how it would turn out frankly.