The Crying Heart Tattoo: A Novel (Paperback)

~ David Martin (Author)
Key Phrases: sewer hole, old travelers, rock den, The One, Sweet Genipur, Honey Bear (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A poignant, funny tale about the love between a young man and a woman twice his age.

Copyright 1994 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The main character, Sonny, narrates this story just days after the death of his life-long lover, Felicity Jones. His affair with Felicity, 20 years his senior, was kinky, unpredictable, irregular, and infrequent. Part of the attraction was a story that Felicity told Sonny in installments over the years. This saga paralleled their lives and gave vent to Felicity's hopes, dreams, fears, and despair. When the end of the story and Felicity's last words prove to be "the punch line" to a 30-year-long shaggy dog story, Sonny is the only person who can appreciate the joke. Martin writes well, alternating between living and imaginary characters, and humor and pathos abound. The tattoo ties it all together. Recommended for public libraries.
Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Coll. of Continuing Education Lib., Providence
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811807770
• ISBN-13: 978-0811807777
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,718,666 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's art, and it sticks..., June 29, 2000

By	Susan K. Perry "Susan K. Perry" (Los Angeles, author of LOVING IN FLOW (BunnyApe.com)) - See all my reviews

Recently found this on my shelf while cleaning out the clutter, figured it's time to read it. Good choice. It's real literature, and now back on the shelf to stay. I disagree with all those who think it's "about" love or relationships -- like all true art, it's not "about" one thing. It has a sort of bleak world view (some might say), but it's honest, real, and reminds us to enjoy the journey, because that's all there is. The fable took a while to grow on me, but I've never read a fable within a novel that was so freshly and creatively written. I'll be looking for this author's other work.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A story that grows on you as time passes, August 11, 2001

By	Andi Miller (Caddo Mills, TX) - See all my reviews

When I read this book and reviewed it shortly afterward, I don't think I gave it fair due. As time goes on and I think back to this book I love it more and more.

This is the story of Felicity and Sonny.....life-long lovers with a turbulent and sometimes downright heartbreaking relationship. Felicity, 20 years Sonny's senior, is brazen and even loopy at times. She lends a great deal of humor to the story as well as veiled sadness.

Sonny, on the other hand is a huge jerk throughout most of the story as he becomes more and more bitter and jaded. Felicity seems to be the only spark left in his life...a spark which he almost puts out.

Running parallel to the story of Sonny and Felicity is the tale of Gravelda and Genipur. They are two rather primitive tribal people who are hauntingly similar to their modern-day counterparts. It's a story that Felicity tells to Sonny in chunks over the years as their meetings become fewer and farther between. The story allows Felicity to quietly vent her feelings about her relationship with Sonny.

This is a book that, even if you become a little dazed about in the process of reading, will stick to you long after you've read the last page. Far be it from me to withold credit where credit is due....and I must admit, this book is a jewel.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TALE OF LOST LOVE, May 29, 2006

By	John J. Avery - See all my reviews

A haunting, beautiful love story, with one of the most heart-wrenching last paragraphs I've ever read in a book. there is a genuine magic in this tale. sonny has much to learn from felicity, but he's stubborn, clueless, and thinks he has all the answers, like many of us when we're young, and the lessons he learns from her take years to absorb. and in any tale of love and regret he really learns them too late. felicity's parable is a delight, but lost on sonny. sometimes we don't realize how good we have it, until it's gone. sentimental, but not overly so. this is a book to be treasured, and read again and again. I can hear "as time goes by" playing as I read this book. it seems so appropriate.