Just so we are clear, I don’t usually do reviews. I leave it up to the experts like Ionia Martin and Rosie Amber since they know what they are doing. I finished Andra Watkins book and was so impressed with the content I just couldn’t stop myself. I gave the book five stars and would have added a sixth if I could and yes, I decided to let you all know what I think. (dangerous I know)
I stayed up late night before last to finish Andrea’s wonderful book To Live Forever: An afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis. The reason I stayed up late is I could not put the book down for the last 20%. The book is so good the reader is compelled to continue as resolutely as possible to the end to see what happens. Of course, once finished then must deal with the remorse which comes with the realization the adventure is over.
The story is of Meriwether Lewis (yes, the explorer from the early eighteen hundreds) finding himself in the 1970’s with a job to do and if he does it well he may be released from his hellish position which is described in the book as Nowhere. Although to the casual observer who has not read this book this may seem a stretch. Let me assure you the author has done the ample research necessary to not only pull this juxtaposition of history off, but to make it perfectly logical and a story worth telling. The backstory is rich with the sense the author has experienced some out worldly inspiration to bring the kind of detail to the tale. After reading several chapters, the reader can discount any divine intervention and rely on the fact that the author does indeed know exactly what she is doing and has researched the facts thoroughly.
The narrative takes a unique two separate character first person point of view posture which lets the reader know exactly what the two main characters are feeling and thinking without getting into some kind of clumsy third-party voice that is unrealistic. The story is told in the present tense which is the best to involve the reader in the action and raise the tension level significantly. Not all authors can pull off this complex arrangement, Ms. Watkins does so flawlessly.
A final note. I would like to make about the story. The story itself is action packed and moves along at a pace that is very pleasing. Very little time is wasted on unnecessary prose so the reader is not held hostage to a writer’s own personal quirks on what is thought to be good writing. Trust that this is excellent writing and has all the elements of adventure, love, compassion, anger and compelling protagonists which can’t help, but become endearing to the reader. This book is for anyone who likes a good story well told.
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