Customer Reviews

Nomad's Land

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In Chicago twenty something Catrin "Cat" Moran seems to have it all as she enjoys her work at an advertising firm and lives in a posh condo. However, Cat is unhappy because she has no role model in her life though that is not a new experience for her as she was raised by a lesbian with no male about though she knows mom loves her.

Regardless of when she attended school or since she started working, Cat has had many dates, but none she wanted to bring home to meet mom. She even wonders if she is comparing every dude to her imaginary father that no male could ever measure up to. Cat feels she may have met the one in Danny, a comedian who brings her into a SST lifestyle until that burns out leaving her to wonder what next after one more drink.

What makes NOMAD'S LAND so good is that though the description above sounds somber, Susan Kathleen pulls off her deep character study with a deft humorous touch. Readers will laugh with the witty and intelligent heroine who understands her pratfalls very well and makes mistakes but bounces right back because she knows as that Frank Sinatra's 1966 song That's Life says "Each time I find myself flat on my face I pick myself up and get back in the race". This is a fabulous deep look at a woman who understands That's Life "as funny as it may seem some people get their kicks stompin' on a dream, But I don't let it, let it get me down 'cause this fine old world, it keeps spinnin' around".

Harriet Klausner

I started NOMAD'S LAND last night and stayed up until almost dawn to finish it! I really enjoyed it ~~ it was funny, honest and thought provoking! I laughed out loud in some places and found myself shaking my head in awe at this author's genius in other parts. This book will totally capture your interest and give you plenty of food for thought.

Aside from the character interaction, the plot is well constructed and the core issue of the book is the age-old, yet poignant question: how much are you willing to sacrifice in order to get your dreams? Cat Moran is a modern day woman, brilliant and doesn't know it, prone to accidents and mess-ups, but manages to come out of them with more than a smile. In her mid-twenties, Cat has everything she thinks she wants. But does she? Can her career at an ad agency, a fabulous condo, and a closet full of designer clothes lessen the blow of her unhappy single life?

A droll sense of humor, a strong emphasis on how we look and how we relate to men--will give any female reader much to think about.

Luckily, I was able to appreciate Kathleen Susan's attempts at light comedy with a better perspective on what she was trying to do -- create a female character so flawed and jinxed, that it was impossible not to fall in love with her. She lands herself in many bizarre and humorous predicaments in search of happiness. I related to this book because it shows how we women can transform ourselves into whatever we set our minds to. Her characters are loopy and self-effacing, a touch over-the-top. In fact, I'd say it's one of the best books I have read in a long time.

As an author myself, I really admire the talent it takes to write a book where almost every line makes you smile or laugh - and, sometimes, cry. Pure escapism, very charming and such good fun, yet somehow it also manages to be a book that makes you take stock of what really counts in life. And, by the way, this is not only a book for women; any man who enjoys REALLY good writing, and a truly original plot, will find himself totally engrossed in NOMAD's LAND.

Arlene Uslander, Co-author of "The Simple Touch of Fate."
www.thefatesite.com

Reviewed by Regan Windsor for Reader Views (5/07)

At first glance one might think Catrin "Cat" Moran had it all together with designer clothes, a PhD in English, and an upstate apartment. Below the surface, however, she's struggling to find her way. The designer clothes are courtesy of her friend Rose who is addicted to the five finger discount at her runway job. And the upstate apartment - that would be paid for by her current beau - whichever that may currently be.

Cat's history includes a series of painful events, events she is not sure if she is spending her life running away from, or finding a way to make up for. Either way, she seems to be failing in the world of love, something she is convinced she may never actually experience.

Then along comes Danny, and with him the ride of her life, she soon finds herself headlong in the fast-paced world of Las Vegas. The drinking, the drugs, the money, and the never ending nights; in true Nomad fashion Cat can't seem to find her place.

A fast-paced, unique, and highly addictive adventure, "Nomad's Land" will grab the reader quickly and the true struggle will be letting go. Susan Kathleen has put together complex character development and tackled societal issues, all while keeping the reader under the spell of Cat Moran and her crazy, mixed up, highly addictive life. I look forward to seeing more of what this unique new author has to offer!

Received book free of charge.

NOMAD'S LAND is a story about growing as a person even though life has treated you badly along the way. Cat, the main character, goes through life adapting to many changes: Her mother's relationship, her father's death, losing the only boy she truly loved in grade school only to meet up with him later when she is involved with someone else, having her ex fiance chase her around because he wants her back, and having to deal with death of the people around her. She has two friends that take care of her, but she marches to the beat of a different drummer. She even takes in a little bird off the street and nurses it back to health. She never stays in one place for too long. This is a book about those of us who give and give and sadly forget to take anything back. It is a must read. It had me laughing and crying at some points.

Susan Schwartz Book Reviewer

I started reading Nomad's Land and could not put it down until the story was completed. There is something about Cat that you can identify with; you will feel like you've known her your whole life. I love how the author uses actual places in Chicago that not just anyone would know about, you have to live here to appreciate it. It makes you feel like you and Cat have some sort of secret together. I felt like I was on a journey with her, and what a remarkable experience it was!

I have read a few chapters online and it was amazing. I can't wait to read the whole thing. The world of literature should be damned excited to welcome Susan Kathleen to its ranks. She is an author with so much potential and she is finally getting the chance to show it. Buy this book today and read it immediately. Then you can say, I read her when she just started out.

Interesting side note, that wild cover on the book is rendered by noted Chicago artist Tony Fitzpatrick.

Susan Kathleen has captured the feel and flow of life in the fast lane. It's like being in the passenger seat with Cat Moran at the wheel on a road trip across country with no map, no deadlines and no mile markers - destination unknown. Her writing style is hip and fresh, luring the reader into a story with more character depth and reach than I expected. Definitely worth the trip.

A woman's world or a guy's world? It is all a matter of perspective.

The vision of the '90s has drastically changed the paradigm of modern society. There is no normal, average, or common denominator with which a life can be measured. This is the world of Nomad's Land. Daytime actors are nighttime bartenders. Each realm has different relationships and "eyes" that perceive others with their own concocted and twisted beliefs.

This is the temperament at Justin's Place, a bar just like any other. Though Cat tries to enter quietly and discreetly, her condition is evident. The darkened booth doesn't dissuade the curious eyes. Questioning minds begin their suspicions. Where has she been? Why has she returned? But most important where is Danny? Her reply will be. "He's gone. Finito, Muerto. Dead."

Cat's life began with many imbalances and now it's been turned inside out. What will become her guiding force, her heart or her head?

My guiding force in reading a book is whether it meets my expectations--and when I hit the page with explicit and crude sexual language (and was NOT expecting it), I decided this book was not for me--or anyone who agrees that explicit language in a book can turn off a certain portion of readers, me being one of them.

Armchair Interviews says: Reader beware.