Monday, February 7, 2011

Review of The Collectibles by James J. Kaufman

The Collectibles

James J. Kaufman

Downstream Publishing

309 pages

The Collectibles is a must read. It makes a believer out of us that Angels do walk among us, however most of them are of the corporeal variety.

Joe Hart pulled himself up by his bootstrings from his unremarkable humble, but loving beginnings, beginnings that would stay with him for the rest of his life and always trying to live up to the words of his uncle. “Do what the other fella can’t. Be what the other fella ain’t. And help the other fella. After a tragedy that sets his world upside down he comes back to life with a vengeance to help a businessman who’s gotten himself in big trouble.

Preston Wilson came from wealth and through out his life has tried to do one thing, never fail. Now in the face of the one thing he’s vowed never to let happen he seeks counsel from the one man he thinks can help him out. But Preston has a lot to learn before he can really be a true success, the question is, will he.

If you, like I are used to that often used prose like flowery, flowing dialogue in literary fiction, you will be pleasantly surprised by this author with his every day and every man narrative and as you get deeper and deeper into the read you’ll understand the power it gives to the characters and the tale.

Mr. Kaufman tells us his morality tale in his oh so mild mannered way so that no matter who reads it, from whatever walk of life, we all get it. It also makes it easy for his readers to see what a marvelous storyteller he is and he doesn’t feel the need to shout it, he prefers a whisper. His dialogue is matter of fact, easy to read and it just works. His words take us from small town America to big city lights, from beautiful seascapes to the casinos in Vegas and each of these scenes are vividly and easily recounted in the eyes and minds of his readers. His characters however are all stars in their own right and each one has his or her story and Mr. Kaufman tells them in a way that goes right to the heart and soul of his audience. The Collectibles is definitely a love story, the love of your fellow man, the love of family, the love of your friends and how that love can really grow once reciprocated.

The lesson is simple, the question is did we learn it, and if we did can we or more importantly will we do it.

This is a novel that everyone should and can read, no matter where you are in your life, no matter the circumstances.

Thank you Mr. Kaufman for the most enjoyable life lesson I’ve ever experienced.

No comments:

Post a Comment