Customer Reviews

Undo the Deed

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a fine novel by a new author. Although the book is a quick-reading page-turner, the underlying subject matter is not treated glibly. There is an important message delivered here, making this enjoyable read something more than just another story. The delicate and upsetting topic of child abuse is treated with sensitivity and deep understanding, yet great realism. I heartily recommend.

To the general public, science fiction is about science: stories not so much about people as about gadgets. But Adam-Michael James knows that good SF uses its suite of very special literary tools to explore what it means to be human in ways other forms of storytelling simply can't. His novel Undo the Deed is a classic example of this, using time travel not to illuminate logical paradoxes, but rather to let an abused woman meet her abusive father when he was a child. The result is gutsy and heartwrenching, and, as with all good SF, it wonderfully illuminates the human condition.

Adam-Michael James takes an interesting twist on family cruelty and poses a big "what if?" What if you could undo all the bad things that happened to you? Would you be better off, or would you make matters worse. What if you could be transported in time? What would you do, what would you not do? That's the premise of "Undo the Deed."

James' speculation makes for an interesting novel. In some ways, it is reminiscent of the famous book by Marge Piercy "A Woman On the Edge of Time" --in that novel a woman in an abusive relationship finds herself transporting back and forth in time. Here, the protagonists get choices, take chances. If you like speculative fiction, and fiction that deals with an emotionally charged subject such as abuse, you will find "Undo the Deed" fascinating. I did. (The subject can of course be disturbing if you are a victim of child abuse--so be forwarned. )

What if you found yourself transported back in time, to another generation? And what if you had the opportunity to undo all the awful karma that had been handed down to you from your parents and grandparents? Don't try to think those questions through logically or explain them away by scientific means. Just feel, accept, and think about the possibility of undoing awful deeds. That is what Adam-Michael James presents in this parable of domestic violence and child abuse.

The year is 1987. Amanda Grant has just been badly beaten, kicked and choked by her alcoholic father, Matthew. As far back as her memory will go, all Amanda can remember of her father is terrifying alcoholic rampages and vicious fists. She has all but given up on youthful dreams of writing songs or finding stardom as an actress. And she's prayed for death, contemplated suicide, and covered bruises with make up until she's wearied of it all. After Matthew almost kills her, the beaten down 17 year old is driving blindly to an unknown destination. All she remembers is bright lights, a tree, and then her world goes black.

She wakes up in the hospital to find a different world. Suspicious doctors, nurses, and police officers believe that all her injuries could not be caused by the accident. At least not those choke marks on her throat. Amanda observes the strangely skewed world around her, finally realizing she is in the year 1965. She is befriended by a kindly sympathetic couple, and by a teacher who knows far more than he lets on about time travel. And that is just the bare beginning of it.

1965 is a whole new way of life for Amanda. Gone are Madonna and the Bangles, and in their place are the Beatles and folk music. The Vietnam war is just an obscure skirmish in some far off jungle. Sex is not openly discussed, even if you're doing "it", and discussing domestic violence or child abuse with anyone is certainly taboo. Amanda struggles, not always successfully, to fit into this new world. And the worst part of it, the most mind blowing, heart chilling part of it all is that the teenage version of her father Matthew is a student at her school.

The 1965 version of Matthew Grant is a sweet, shy, idealistic boy who plays piano and keeps his deep thoughts to himself. This Matthew, like Amanda, is the product of a violently dysfunctional home and a father who beats him without mercy. Amanda can't despise this Matthew as she does the older version. The 17 year old boy is kindly and supportive, still has hopes and dreams despite his lot, and she finds herself drawn to him in odd fashion. It's then she gets to thinking that it might be possible to "undo the deed" for future generations - change the abusive father Matthew's heart by intervening somehow with the boy. When the young Matthew falls in love with her, the tale takes an even stranger turn.

What Mr. James has done with this story was an emotional experience for me. To say the reading of it broke my heart is barest understatement. Despite the premise that some will call sci fi or fantasy, it all seemed real to me. While reading, I did not think of time travel, parallel universes, alternate realities. or quantum leaps. I focused, as the author did, on Matthew and Amanda and the horrors they were forced to live each day. I experienced the same futility and despair they lived with, and I dared to hope along with them that someday - SOME day - they'd find a kindlier existence. I'm relieved to report that the book does end on a hopeful note for both Amanda and her father Matthew.

As a footnote to Undo the Deed, Adam-Michael James has included resources for those experiencing domestic violence and child abuse. I suspect he is a weary but determined activist for this cause. Mr. James writes well and tells the tale as if he's on the outside looking into broken lives. I liked this book and recommend it, even if Undo the Deed DID break my heart.

A fantastic story line that many people can,
unfortunately, relate to. All of the details well
placed and in the proper sequence. A hard thing to
do properly. Looking forward to his next offering.

"Come to the beach sometime
Let the waves come rushing up to greet you
Let the mist remind you of days that have passed
Let the moonlight give you a future view
You'll find the beach is a lot like life
Because it's always darkest before the dawn
The sun always rises, the day always breaks
It'll give you the strength to carry on."
~Amanda Grant

When Amanda Grant is brutally abused by her father Matthew, she can't take it anymore. As the reader, you will also want to jump into the book and stop the abuse. It makes you very aware that this type of situation occurs on a daily basis.

The author can at times write scenes so vivid, you can't imagine he has not witnessed the abusive situations Amanda finds herself in. There is a true sense of horror and helplessness in Amanda's private thoughts. She is definitely the portrait of a victim. Fortunately she is able to escape.

While escaping, she crashes her car into a tree and travels back in time to 1965. Not only does she meet the teenage version of her own father, she discovers he is under attack from his own family.

When Matthew falls in love with his future daughter, this takes on a new spin. Amanda not only understands what her father is going through, she now has to help him realize he can't date her. Amanda struggles with her feelings and has to realize this "IS" her father. But can she save her "father" from killing himself and get back to her own world?

Throughout the book there are some revealing moments and realistic letters written by Matthew explaining his life as a victim of his own father's abuse. The scenes are as realistic as any movie and the characters show a wide range of emotions beyond what I've seen in many novels. If any book explains the emotions of a victim, this book does so with startling clarity.

Adam-Michael James has interests in acting, music and radio, however his first love is writing. This is his first novel and it seems to be based on his own experiences as a teenager living in an abusive situation. Perhaps if he could undo his own past, he would. Instead, he has taken a painful situation and tried to show that while you can't always change people, you can change yourself and follow a path to a more peaceful existence.

This book could easily become a movie. The title, content and book cover silently scream: "Movie, movie!"

~The Rebecca Review

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I sensed the heart-renching effort it took to confront the issues presented. The quality of a book can be measured by the level of risk that the author is willing to take. In "Undo the Deed" the author has embraced the risk and delivered the goods. An excellent listing of resources is availible for those who have suffered or are still suffering the effects of abuse.

If you've made it this far, I'm Adam-Michael James and I thank you for coming to check out my book. If you didn't get here via my web site...well, I've put together an "Undo the Deed" web site with all pertinent information, updates, and special features---like on a DVD (original text and notes, research materials, and, soon to come: commentaries and "deleted scenes")...see for yourself at http://www.undothedeed.com.

Thanks!
Adam-Michael James

author of "Undo the Deed"

I think this book is wonderful book because it is successful on many levels: 1. It has many interesting science fiction concepts 2. The main character is very real 3. The plot is very character-driven. I became so engrossed in this book that I could not put it down. (Please see the favorable review by Robert Sawyer who is an excellent experienced author).

Before reading Undo the Deed, I had only the barest inkling of what it meant to live the life of someone who has been abused. Adam-Michael James opened my eyes to a whole new world (not to mention taking me back to a whole other time period) in his first novel.

The story of Amanda Grant is a gripping one, as she works to try and correct the wrongs done to her by her abusive father. While the setting, her seemingly inexplicable journey through time, is rather surreal, the action of the story is all too real. Amanda is a well-rounded character, and James knows how to keep the suspense going until the very end of the book. I didn't give this work five stars because there's a bit too much exposition for my taste, but chalk it up to this being his first book. This author definitely has talent, and despite its little flaws, the book is worth reading.