Review: unique perspective of a relationship gone horridly awry
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 25, 2013
I am familiar with this writer's style and his ability to display and project emotion outward with surgical precision, always reaching the target who is viscerally reacting to the words on the page.  With each new revelation in this story, the confusion, despair and often utter devastation are palpable emotions as the reader is dragged along on the journey.  The unique perspective of a relationship gone horridly awry by using a male main character and voice, do seem to provide an extra 'oomph' to a strongly emotional tale of a family in dissolution.The tale unfolds in a series of flashbacks and remembered conversations and erotic encounters. Marcus is searching for new footing and a new perspective as he dissects the relationship looking for the ever elusive "missed clues". His process of allowing despair and bitterness to effect memory of each conversation and moment is one that is familiar to any reader who has lost a love, or lost the rose-tinted vision of the dream for a future with the one they love.  That makes this a story that is uniquely universal and touching, with events detailed in such a way as to provide a guidebook of what one can experience in the situation, and will resonate with readers as they seek to despise Tami or cheer for Marcus.A story that will make you laugh, cry, despair, hope and cheer, Willows has transcended its suburban New York setting to provide a glimpse of life behind closed doors that could be happening anywhere in the world, with all sorts of combinations of couples.  Personally I am very excited to see more of Marcus on his search for a new version of his dream.I purchased a copy of Willows for my own library.  I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibilty.