Review: Evocative and powerful, Stone Shot soars
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 11, 2014
The ocean. Serene. Tranquil. Beautiful. But there is a flip side, a dangerous side to it. A side which is brutish and unforgiving, cold and heartless. It is nature in a nutshell, immensely powerful and amoral.Imagine loving the ocean, the way the water sounds caressing the hull of a boat, the salty tang lingering in the air. And then one day a terrifying event on the water fractures that love, a sinking boat suddenly reminiscent of a watery divorce. How would you respond? How would you cope?Stone Shot: A Luke Dodge Adventure Novel is beyond an adventure story, it is a wonderfully complex and shrewd psychological novel, subtly exploring the very essence of the book’s protagonist, Luke Dodge. Goldblatt’s talent for characterization and pacing is tremendous, a writing virtuoso. The tension builds immediately; I found myself holding my breath within the first few pages, turning pages quickly, seeking resolution.The reader connects almost instantly with Luke, and this connection only deepens as Goldblatt explores Luke’s psyche. It is difficult not to feel the emotions bubbling up in Luke, to not suffer his pain and distress. It is gripping, like a vise around your heart, slowly squeezing. Stone Shot is a deep and richly rewarding novel.