One Insular Tahiti (a novel of the afterlife and reincarnation) [Kindle Edition]

Thea Atkinson (Author)

Book Description

 "My death in '59 came the way I always feared it would: in the claustrophobic underground heat of a Cape Breton coal mine."

Luke MacIsaac has shameful secrets. He lived a horrible life and now that he's dead, he can't shake the memories of his entire violent past. He wants out of death, and to escape, he needs to be born  again.

He chooses to live and sets in motion the very thing he'd hoped to avoid: images of war, childhood abuse, and the tortured life of a brother he loved and failed. To make matters worse, his life costs his chosen mother a great deal--especially since she wasn't supposed to survive her own birth.

From tragedy and loss, ONE INSULAR TAHITI is a coming of age literary novel about reincarnation and past lives from a Canadian author that demonstrates how sometimes the greatest light can come from the deepest darkness.  

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Warning: These characters have the power to make you cry." 4.5 stars --Red Adept Reviews

From the Author

One Insular Tahiti began as an exercise to use a famous line and extend it into a story. For me, "Call me Ishmael" from Melville's Moby Dick grew into a study of choices and reincarnation themes. I started to wonder if babies have memories of past lives and if those memories fade as they age.

Of course, that took me into all sorts of meanderings: did we choose our parents, what is the afterlife like, etc. As the story took seed, it became an exploration that perhaps there's awareness in the womb, but not a comprehension of what it is or where you are.

 

My character, Luke, had some pretty big issues to overcome and his choice to be born to a particular person ignited a series of memories that bring about his ultimate sense of absolution.

I hope you'll give it a try and that you enjoy the story

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 461 KB
• Print Length: 248 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0042RUKSE
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #435,888 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 Stars from Red Adept Reviews December 12, 2010

By Lynn ODell

Format:Kindle Edition

Plot/Storyline: 3 1/4 Stars

The beginning of this novel was a confusing muddle that had me going back to the Amazon page to read the description. After that little detour, the plot gained a little clarity. I was still a bit lost, but the individual scenes drew me into the story.

Reading this book was somewhat like reading a couple of novellas that have been taken apart and put back together almost randomly. It took some getting used to, and I had to suppress my frustration, at times, when I didn't get to continue a particular thread of a story. The main character felt the same frustration I did, though. Somehow, it made me feel better that his dissatisfaction mirrored my own.

It took me until the end of the book to really get a grip on all of the relations in the novel. This was partly because, after the first few chapters, I quit trying to figure out any overall picture and just enjoyed the individual scenes. The ending did tie up all the loose ends and contained an explanation for all events. However, I actually read the last few pages twice to make sure I had it all straight.

Overall, the reading process was enjoyable, but I didn't really enjoy the feeling of being lost that permeated the entire novel. Whereas the plot was intact and interesting, I thought there should have been more clues throughout the book to impart better understanding of the underlying philosophy.

Characters: 4 1/2 Stars

Above all else, this novel was a true character study, rich with unique and interesting personalities. Astrid was my favorite character. Reading about her gave the feeling of reading about someone that could be anyone you could pass on the street, yet also like reading about an old friend.

Amazingly, this author managed to write both male and female characters equally well.

Warning: These characters have the power to make you cry.

Writing Style: 5 Stars

The eloquence of the writing style made the reading smooth and effortless. The descriptions were rich and immersive.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Addiction Alert: Once you start you won't stop. December 8, 2010

By Kimberly Irish Tarbox

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is a well-written masterpiece. The story flows well. If I could have given this book more than 5 stars I would have. Is it worth the money? Definitely. Should you buy it? Yes. Will you be able to put it down? No Should you read the author's other works? Most definitely. I am an avid reader and until recently had never heard of Thea. I am glad I finally came across her works. Be forewarned her books are addicting and One Insular Tahiti is no exception. I could not put this book down once I picked it up.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just read it October 22, 2010

By Jim Fay

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

If I had paid closer attention to the book's description, I don't think I would have purchased this book. I'm glad I didn't. This book is really good.

It was a little hard to get my bearings in the beginning of this book with bits and pieces coming from seemingly random places. But it all comes together and by the time you realize you understand what's happening, you're already hooked and have no choice but to keep turning pages to see what happens next.

There's not a lot of action in the book. There's not a lot of suspense. It's a compelling character study, one that pulls you in and makes you feel like you're part of the characters' lives. This is particularly true of Astrid.

The book has a few grammatical errors, and by a few, I mean three. From what I've seen of Kindle/Indie authors, three errors is not bad at all, and is nothing to complain about.

Buy the book. Read the book. You'll be glad you did.

More About the Author

Thea Atkinson writes character driven fiction to the left of mainstream; call it what you will: she prefers to describe her work as psychological dramas with a distinct literary flavour. Her characters often find themselves in the darker edges of their own spirits but manage to find the light they seek.

She has been an editor, a freelancer, and a teacher, but fiction is her passion. She now blogs and writes and twitters. Not necessarily in that order.

Please visit her blog for ramblings, guest posts, giveaways, and more
http://theaatkinson.wordpress.com

or follow her on twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/theaatkinson

or like her facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Theas-Writing-Page/122231651163413


a special thanks to Tiffany Atkinson for taking my author photo.