Welcome to my stop on the tour for The Freeing of Jonathon Mark by Nathan Gross.
I’ve been agonizing over my review for days. I just know I’m not going to do this book justice. It’s been a very hard review to write. Don’t get me wrong, the book is fantastic and like nothing I’ve read before. I just struggled with how to tell you about it.
Enough of that! Read on and enjoy getting to know more about the book. And don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom of my post!
Publisher: Paperback: Nathan Gross. Ebook: 7write (Dec 8, 2013)
ISBN-13: 979-1093074016
Category: Thriller, Paranoid Fiction
Tour Dates: March, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 324 pages
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My Review
This book was so unique, I made up my own category – psychological twister. It’s seldom that I can state I’ve never read anything quite like this, but in this instance, I can.
Jonathon is a Taker. His job is to listen to his clients, take their pain, their grief. He can’t speak to them or show empathy of any kind. I mentioned grief and I’m sure you were thinking one thing and I was talking another. The grief is more like whining and griping than about sorrow. In fact, an older woman came to see Jonathon, and when she starts talking about her recently deceased husband, he asks her to leave, stating he can’t take her grief, it’s old-style grief, not modern. Against company policy.
As you can imagine, the clients aren’t all that pleasant and it’s probably a good thing Jonathon can’t say what he’s thinking. The author wrote Jonathan’s point of view every other chapter, and the chapters in between being his clients. It made for interesting and disturbing reading.
About the time I was thinking how could anyone do this, Jonathon begins to unravel. A new client, so unlike his others, a shining beacon in all the bitterness, has him wanting something different. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what he did though.
There were some lighter parts. They actually have these Rage Room Boxes on the streets. You stick your head in and scream all of your anger and rage and nobody can hear you. These might come in handy in any city.
And the neighbor who is always trying to download her grief for free. He has to be on his toes, or she’ll give it to him.
The dialogue is fascinating. Even though Jonathon’s side of the conversation is only in his head, you’ll find yourself agreeing with him, nodding your own head, and thinking some of the same nasty thoughts.
I need to mention there’s sex and language in this book. It’s for adult readers. It’s in your face, nothing subtle about it. If you don’t mind that, you should definitely give this book a go. It’s strange, twisted, and darkly comedic. Never a dull moment.
5 STARS
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Synopsis
Jonathon is a Taker, some type of modern day psych in the growing industry of modern grief. Takers treat people for all that ails them just by listening. In session, a Taker doesn’t speak. A Taker doesn’t move. A Taker doesn’t even blink. They take till their patients have got no more negativity to give.
A chance meeting throws a new patient into Jonathon’s life. A girl whose carefree lightness of being is in complete contrast to the average patient. She makes Jonathon realise he can no longer refuse to deal with how his job makes him sick, nor his own destructive vice.
Murder is his only way out, an action that leads him towards his own death and beyond. It is a path he hopes will lead him to his freedom.
Read Sample Chapters Here
View the trailor:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP3aExxHfgI]
Praise for The Freeing of Jonathan Mark:
“Small book but great story! It’s more and more rare to find a book like this one.”– dvdchrono, Amazon Reviewer
“Loved this book, can’t wait for the next one! I had not heard of this author but I do not think it will be long before the world has heard of him. Do yourself a favour and buy this book, you will not be disappointed. I judge a book on its ‘cannot put down factor’. I found myself quickly intrigued and fully immersed in the book and could not put it down. It is really well written and does not follow other writers safe templates. Hurry up and release your second book ! I am glad I jumped on the Nathan Gross bandwagon from the beginning. I suggest others follow suit.”– Ben Mitchell, Amazon Reviewer
“With the publication of his first novel, The Freeing of Jonathon Mark, Nathan Gross has announced to the literary world that he has arrived and demands attention. This book is a psychological thriller that compels the reader to keep reading. The almost dystopian world it portrays is both disturbing and fascinating, and displays Gross’ novel viewpoint of where society is headed. We become partners in Jonathon Mark’s nightmarish journey into the depths of despair and hope for some form of redemption for him, although that seems unlikely. The book is a little too long, but it is a wonderful achievement for a first-time novelist. I look forward to his next book to see where his fertile imagination has led him, and to follow his further maturation as a writer.”- Morry Frenkel, Amazon Reviewer
*****
About Nathan Gross:
Nathan is passionately obsessed with scratching the itch that is his absolute need to write. Whether it be in the form of novels or short stories, film / video scenarios, scripts or songs: writing keeps the demons at bay.
Nathan draws on and interprets the events that transpire around him, transforming minute observations and a distant, large view of the world into prose. He expresses at once his hopes and despairs, and equally his surprise and complete comprehension of events before, or as they unfold, if not always as everyone else sees them.
If his book ‘The Freeing of Jonathon Mark’ is part of his journey as a writer, then perhaps it traces his experiences chasing the plastic happiness of consumerist dreams. Perhaps it is also a study of how he opted out of these pursuits for a fresh start, in order to forge a new life where he can be free from empty conformity; to discover and further himself in the journey that is his life. New beginnings bring new ideas to draw upon and it goes without saying that we will find these thinkings in his subsequent writings.
His other published works include Ginger the Carrot, the first in a series of picture books for adults entitled Rotten Veggies, and the song and music video Tais Toi for the musician Monsieur Grandin. He is also the director and scenarist for a number of award winning short films. A collection of his works both written and visual are to be discovered at zamsteepa.com.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Nathan now resides in the south of France.
His short story ‘Grampy Joe’ won third prize in the Odyssey House Victoria 2012 short story competition. You can read ‘Grampy Joe’ here.
Nathan Gross Website ~ The Freeing of Jonathan Mark Website
Twitter ~ Facebook
Buy The Freeing of Jonathan Mark: Amazon
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I have one copy to giveaway (Print or ebook)
Print copy for Great Britain, France, Canada, Australia & US Only
Ebook is international
To enter please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and answer this question:
“What would you like to yell from the rooftop?”
Giveaway ends March 30th.
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Follow the Tour:
So Many Precious Books Mar 4 Giveaway & Spotlight
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 5 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 6 Guest Post
A Dream With a Dream Mar 7 Review & Giveaway
Let’s Talk About Books Mar 12 Review
Aspired Writer Mar 13 Guest Post
Princess & the Gummy Bear Mar 17 Video Review
Manic Mama of 2 Mar 18 Review
fuonlyknew Mar 20 Review & Giveaway
I’m A Voracious Reader Mar 24 Review
Little Black Marks Mar 25 Review
Giveaways & Glitter Mar 26 Review
Life With the Stewarts Mar 27 Review
The News in Books Mar 28 Review
The News in Books Mar 27 Interview
Room With Books Mar 31 Review & Giveaway
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
