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First Notices
for Die Fasting
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Die Fasting has at length received an independent, professional review, from Historical Novels Review Online of August 2007. Here it is quoted in its entirety.
DIE
FASTING
Jonathan
Carriel, iUniverse, 2006, $17.95, pb, 265pp, 0595415105
Set in colonial North America, Die Fasting follows the adventures of
Thomas Dordrecht, a young Long Island farmer of Dutch extraction as he joins a
newly raised regiment of the colonial militia to fight the French in 1758.
Dordrecht travels with his new platoon north from New York into the wilds of
upper New York colony where he gains his first experience of battle at the
disaster of Ticonderoga. The death of one of the other soldiers at the hands of
Indians during a hunting expedition several days later seems one more element
in a less than glorious experience. But over the days and weeks following the
battle, Dordrecht gradually comes to the realization that his friend could not
have died in the way reported, but indeed must have been murdered by one of the
others in the hunting party. He then sets out to identify the killer,
uncovering a veritable quagmire of resentments and injustices among his fellow
militiamen as he goes.
Dordrecht is an engaging character, and the
book is highly readable. My only reservations concern the dialogue, which some
readers may find far too modern and anachronistic, and the slightly implausible
feats of memory displayed by the platoon in recalling the hunting expedition
weeks later. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this adventure mystery novel and look
forward to reading the next in the series when it comes out. –- Cas Stavert
Several friends, unsolicited, have also spoken very highly of Die Fasting.
· Frederick Cookinham, creator of the In Depth Walking Tours (highly recommended by JTC!) and author of The Age of Rand, recently read the following capsule review to a regular meeting of the American Revolution Round Table of New York (where both of us are members):
· Judy Neale (a fellow Life Member of the Village Light Opera Group) has posted a Customer Review on the Amazon website
·
Fiona Sutherland (former member of VLOG now
living in
· My sailing friend Linda Luxemburg has also posted an Amazon Customer Review
· Sailing friend Mary Christine (“Chris”) Behrens sent the following very flattering card [typed out below]
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December 31, 2006 Dear Jon, Congratulations, really, on a terrific book. I wondered how I would handle it if I didn't like it, being your friend and all. But I was very much entertained and happy with the book. I like the books Tom borrowed and copied his example by retreating to a quiet spot with the book as an escape from the family hullabaloo over Christmas. What worked well to my taste was the movement, the deadly hurry up and wait, the impediments of laundry, food, getting rained on and the energy draining portages. Also the impending sense of danger from the French, the Indians and the bullies and prigs was nicely balanced with the release of the scenes with manly men and one of my favorites, the fiddling scene with Tom & Eakin singing. The motive for murder was surprising and convincing. The tension between the fear and aggression of the mob mentality and 18 year old enthusiasm for charging a fort and the individual's aim to think things through for himself was well done as was the prejudiced and bigoted views of the period. Also they are topics for today. I especially liked when on the
way home he pulled into northern Since it is a series I hope Two Feathers will put in another appearance. How are you going to handle the fact that Tom can't stay permanently naive? Love, Chris |
