( 5 reviews )
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( 4 of 4 found this review helpful ) Posted: Sep 29 2005
Having read all of Colin Channer's previous works (including his contributions to several compilations and anthologies), I was eager to begin reading "Passing through". As everyone knows, the better the work the artists produces, the higher the expectations on subsequent works -- thereby making the artist his/her worst enemy and stiffest competition. Mr. Channer, however seemed undaunted by these considerations when he put pen to paper to create this masterpiece and it shows on every page! Clearly, raising the bar for himself and every other writer of fiction was a mere side effect of pouring himself into this work and holding nothing back from the reader, to my sheer delight! I literally could not put it down -- and often read and re-read certain passages -- not only because of the graceful and poetic prose style, but because the plots were so seamlessly and intricately weaved into the fabric of the characters' development that it was difficult to believe that a fiction work this profound could even be crafted on purpose. It was more like a literary cosmic accident that created an explosion of random words onto a page creating a thing of indescribable, magnificent beauty. (Seriously, it's quite apparent that each and every word was meticulously and intentionally selected with purposem care and intent, like a master chef selects each seasoning, ingredient and piece of cookware before starting a recipe). Between these pages I read words that made me laugh out loud, frown up my face and shed tears uncontrollably. The truest mark of a good story is a conflict of emotions at the end: sadness that the story has ended, satisfaction at its resolution and gratitude that I was blessed to experience these characters and their stories. Estrella, St. William, Shookie and even Father Blackwell have left permanent impressions on my brain. Let there be no doubt that if I get any advance notice of Mr. Channer's next work hitting the presses, I will camp out at my nearest bookstore a week in advance to be sure I get the first copy when it is unloaded off the truck. If you are a true fan of fine literature and seeking an author who has truly mastered the craft of writing fiction and is cut above the rest, then Passing Through by Colin Channer is one work you cannot afford to miss. P.S. I have NEVER reviewed any book on Amazon before and I have read (and enjoyed) many.
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( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Sep 24 2005
For me Passing Through was an enchantimg experience. I didn't just read, I was drawn into the stories. Mr. Channer certainly has a way with words like no other writer I have come across. His descriptions are very detailed and opens the reader's imagination to a world outside of their very own. What I have always enoyed most are the conversations between the characters, somehow they say everything we want to say in our own experiences and yet never do. I can laugh with them and be very angry or sad with them. This book is so not like any collection of stories I've ever read. The stories are all independent of the book and yet grafted completely in such a way that they compliment each other. From the novel we get history and love stories - bad and good love stories. When I say bad love stories I mean we come up on people totally unsuited for each other, we love them indidvidualy but wish nothing more than for them to be a part and at times it even looks that way and yet they find ways and means of staying together. And isn't that life? The novel brings fictional relationships to life. You won't be bored for a second but you really have to be one who appreciates versatility and difference in a writer. If you have read anything by the master before you can certainly expect to be pleased. This book is for me, honestly, the best contemporay romance novel in awhile. A truly magical experience. Caribbean readers fall inlove...again The rest of the world...fall inlove caribbean style.
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( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 26 2005
