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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You've Never Read It Like This....., May 4, 2007
This review is from: Merging with Monsters (Paperback)
When an author breaks new ground with a seemingly old story line, it is often overlooked by main stream readers and reviewers. Which I feel is exactly what has happened with Merging with Monsters. While it would appear, at first glance, the plot has been covered already - this assumption would be in error. Yes, it is true, discrimination has been the subject of many books. But never, like this. Joseph Green has painted a masterpiece, using a corporate merger and the employees vying for position within the company as his canvas. The characters are very real, three dimensional and flawed. Much like you and me. Each having been effected and changed in some way by that which they have endured. Anita, a woman of impeccable strength and character fights both her inner demons and the glass ceiling of corporate America. Her assistant, Phoebe, paralyzed by a bullet has dealt with hurdles of her own. While Grayson and his wife, Sherry live in a prestigious neighborhood in Colorado, they too struggle with ignorance and discrimination. Through out this novel I found myself stopping, momentarily to reflect upon my own experiences. So often we know nothing of the people we work with everyday. "You never know what is behind the smile of your co-worker," has never been demonstrated in such a powerful and compelling way. From the highly controversial topics, to the beautifully written metaphors, this is one of the most engaging pieces of literature that I have read in quite some time. Whether you have experienced discrimination in your own life, or simply enjoy a good, suspense filled book - Do not miss Merging with Monsters. Joseph Eugene Green has delivered a novel that will leave the reader thinking and inspired to treat others with a deeper understanding. Happy Reading! 3Rs-Real Reader Reviews
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than a Thriller!, December 13, 2006
Merging With Monsters is the best novel I have read in years. And I do mean years! From the Prologue metaphor of the melting snow after a brutal rape to the very last line, Joseph Eugene Green makes visible to us those that society makes invisible. The writing is shockingly beautiful. In Merging with Monsters, Joseph Green views a corporate merger through vignettes of characters struggling to succeed in the business world. Anita, an African-American woman, fights her way up the corporate ladder. But will her close-held secret bring all her hard work crashing down in front of her and the entire company? Will the white good old boy golf partners allow her entry into their closed group? Grayson, a black man living in prestigious Highlands Ranch, Colorado, was promised a leadership role in the merger, but he is stymied at every turn. Will he succeed in grasping power or self-destruct? Phoebe, Anita's assistant, has fought her way through poverty and a bullet permanently disabling her to her current position. How will her momentary error in judgment tip the balance in the struggle between Anita and Grayson? Sherry, Grayson's wife, has fought her family who opposed their biracial marriage. Now, she must fight to preserve her marriage as Grayson's perfect corporate veneer starts to crack. Julian, both gay and Hispanic, finds himself in the middle of both corporate and family struggles. Can he successfully negotiate all the power plays around him and keep himself intact? Green's book is a thriller....it was impossible to put down, but it is so much more than a thriller. Green's delightful humor effuses the world he has created. The sex scenes are both raw and classy. Green gives us an incredible depth of character behind the façade and power struggles. Green has given us a thriller with a modern sense of spirituality that both grounds the characters and lifts them up. Merging with Monsters will appeal to anyone who liked Six Feet Under....except that Green's book is better in my opinion. What makes Merging With Monsters truly unique is the generosity of vision with which Green sees his characters. Read this book. Turn off your phone, cancel your engagements and read slowly. This writing is something that you will want to savor. At the same time, you will want to race through the book to find out the answers. Fight that desire and read slowly. Merging with Monsters will give you a new appreciation for the world around you and the grace within us all. The ending was a total surprise. With his ending, Joseph Eugene Green has given his reader the same shocking generosity of insight that he has given his characters. Such an unexpected spiritual twist. Perfect!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cause This Is Thriller...Thriller Night!!!!!!, April 17, 2007
This review is from: Merging with Monsters (Paperback)
What a real life thriller! Merging With Monsters by Joseph E. Green is an extraordinary piece of work. I was "pulled" in almost immediately by the Prologue: 1992. After I read that, I ordered my book from Amazon with no hesitation. I was so anxious to receive my book because I couldn't wait to start reading. Once my book arrived...I could not put it down for anything! It discusses real issues that go on in Corporate America. The characters are so real, but yet...their actions still have you on the edge of your seat as your reading. You will never be able to guess what's going to happen. That's the beauty of it all...It definitely is not predictable. Anita...Grayson...Sherry...Julian...Phoebe are all very surreal. I find myself relating to the characters in some way or the other, whether it is my own identity or someone that I know. These characters will definitely make you think! Joseph E.Green is phenomenal! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!
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