Customer Reviews

The Reluctant Journey of David Connors: A Novel

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

 

 

David Connors kows he hasn't been much of a husband and father. He also knows it's his fault. He just can't be close to anyone, even his wife and children. He's standing on the ledge of the building where he works, ready to end it all, when he sees an old carpetbag, half covered in the snow. The bag seems to draw him. It has a lock and a key, but apears to be empty. But there's a funny thing about the bag--sometimes it's empty, and other times it holds exactly what the person confronting David needs. Most important of all, it seems to be leading him to an understnding of his past, whether he wants to go along or not.

The Reluctant Journy is a heart grabbing ride thorough one man's life, that left me feeling as if I were making a journey of my own. A powerful, thought provoking story of love and forgiveness. Strongly recommended.

Don Locke's ability to share his characters' deep emotions in a way in which I could relate was brave and encouraging at the same time. The story is comical, exciting, and keeps you turning pages. A delight to read, and a lot to ponder. The appendices are an added, enjoyable bonus

Magical, mysterious, and romantic describe the reluctant trip down memory lane for David Connors. Don Locke has spun a sensitive and very humorous tale with adventure and querky characters thrown in for good measure. A great read. You'll laugh outloud!

David and his wife Kathy are separated due to his inability to relate to her or their child. He goes up to the building where he works and considers committing suicide. He spots an empty carpetbag but when a police officer is about to ticket him, he looks into it and finds what the police officer's significant other wanted. David let him have it and the cop forgets about the ticket.

He goes into a bar where he meets Maggie and David feels something inside the bag. He looks and takes out a pair of sunglasses. David realizes he is giving gifts targeted to specific people. Through the power of the bag, David and Maggie take a train to New York and begin a journey that will lead them to forgive themselves for their past mistakes and will win them their ultimate redemption.

Both Maggie and David are lost souls but through the divine power of the bag they travel a hard road that ultimately leads to their salvation. Readers will empathize and sympathize with both characters who are caught in their respective pasts and are unable to move on until he finds the bag. Don Locke is a great storyteller who entertains his audience while providing a lesson of living.

Harriet Klausner

Gripping. That's the best word I can think of to describe this book. I was pulled into it from the very beginning, and stayed engaged throughout the entire book. I saw some similarities to "It's a Wonderful Life" -- and yet this story is unique and contemporary. The characters are well-developed and none too perfect. The pace is quick, and the emotions intense. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it!

This is a book everyone will enjoy and anyone would love! I haven't read many books that I didn't want to put down, but as I came to the end of each chapter in "The Reluctant Journey of David Connors" I had to read just a few pages more to see what would happen next. It was never predictable and there were surprises in every chapter. The storylines were tightly knit together, and the characters were like good friends. I found myself laughing out loud at some points, and misting up at others. I highly recommend it to anyone: it's a great book for people who love to read, or even for "hesitant" readers.

Things were just fine with David until Kathy, the love of his life, became born again. He went to church a few times with her, but he didn't like how he felt there and didn't go back. The marriage counselor told him he needed to get in touch with his feelings - he drank out of fear and to make himself numb. What did the counselor know anyway! That's what he thought then, but here he was out on this ledge despising God for this screwed up life. He was feeling too much now - he wanted it to stop. How could Kathy tell him that this temporary separation wasn't working - couldn't she see how miserable he was and all that he had done for her? It couldn't be over!!

After David found a carpetbag while out on the ledge, mysterious things started to happen. He suspected that the carpetbag was providing gifts people really needed. David decides to test this theory on Maggie, a relative stranger. As they both sit in a bar, David drank coffee to sober up - this bag had him spooked. Maggie and David get caught up in a series of unimaginable events and unforseeable journey.

David realizes that his waking hours are becoming more bazaar than his dreams. He expects Rod Serling to jump out any minute to tell him he has just entered the 5th dimension of his imagination called the "Twilight Zone". David knew that he and Maggie were definitely in a new dimension of life, one that had them questioning their sight, sound and their mind. Maggie turns to David and says "You better start believing in something pretty quick here - your running out of options." That's so true. Think, think, think...he didn't want to think! But, Maggie kept telling him he had to decide so that they could go back to life as normal. Only one problem...David wasn't sure normal existed anymore.

This is one gripping story. I just loved it. I was swept up in this great adventure and at the same time it made me think about the deeper meaning of life. It's definitely something both Maggie and David needed to find for themselves; it will make the reader think about their own life too. The author Don Locke is a freelance writer and illustrator by trade. I could see him taking his time setting the scene up for the reader . This story starts in a similar way the Twilight Zone shows were set up. Just when you are hooked into the story and you think you know where it's going, it stops and you enter the 'weird zone', as David calls it. The author is a master at doing this. There are many thrills and unexpected events along the way. I was amazed that this was Don Locke's first book. I'm extremely excited to see what he writes next, and you will too, after reading this unique, surprising adventure story.

Nora St.Laurent - Book Club Servant Leader
www.psalm516.blogspot.com