Summary:
What if you could choose your heaven now? Go on a celestial shopping trip of sorts? Thirty-five-year-old Vivienne does just that, as she lies in the ICU; a fatal walk into the path of a truck. In her final week of life, Vivienne treks through the Heavens of a priest, a best friend, a homeless child, and a lover who never was. Vivienne's guardian angel, Noah, who may just be her soul mate, escorts her through selections of Heavens and through the confusion Vivienne experiences as she flounders between a doubt of life and the certainty of death. Although her visits to varied afterlives provide peace and beauty, choosing proves not so easy: Vivienne's love for her young son and his earthly father pull her from her colorful journey—and from the divine love of Noah.
The nature of love, the variety and magic of life, unending hope, and the importance of saying goodbye are central to this uplifting tale.
As a novel-in-progress under the title Heavens, The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall was a finalist in the William Faulkner William Wisdom writing competition.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 293 (Paperback)
Source: Blog Tour Review Copy
Genre: Literary Fiction
Available Formats: Print/E-book
Publication Date: September 6, 2016 by Reputation Books
Buy Links: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
How many of you text and drive? Be honest. I know some of you do. I don't drive, but I do see the results of texting and driving every day I turn on the news. The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall is a fiction but like many books reads as a cautionary tale. The days of impaired driving being the main concern of pedestrians and drivers a like is now being replaced by a new killer, texting while driving or in Vivienne's case texting while walking. If you take anything away from reading The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall than that is to make good decisions. Don't be stupid and don't text and drive and don't text and walk either.
That being said, I hope you take more away from the book than just a Public Service Announcement. I know I did. I found Shannon Kirk's novel to be a very emotional read. It was akin to being on a rollercoaster for me. There were feelings of highs and lows, laughter, anger, relief and understanding that washed over me while I read this book. I knew, from reading the book's synopsis that it might make me feel things but as I'm not one who is easily moved but I found myself to be feeling everything that Vivienne felt as though I were her and we couldn't be more different which to me is the mark of a great character. Vivienne, and I may be different, and I might not agree with her in many things but I did think she was extremely well written as was her story. I'd rather not give any of the plot away, because I'm hoping you awesome people will give this a read. The writing is beautiful. It is not soft and flowery, but strong and thoughtful. I felt a lot of strength behind the authors words.
This was definitely a book that surprised me. I thought I knew how it was going to turn out but I was pleasantly surprised. It serves as a reminder that it's wise to give books outside of your comfort zone a try. This book was beautifully written and was full of good characters. Vivienne Marshall is a character that I think will stay with me for a long time as well as her story after death.
I'd recommend this novel to all those just looking for something different. It's amazingly detailed, has a strong character and will make you think more than your average piece of literary fiction. Sit back, curl up and prepare for a truly unique journey in the afterlife.
Rating: ★★★★
Author Bio:
Shannon Kirk is the awarding-winning author of the international bestselling Method 15/33 (psychological thriller--bestseller in Colombia and Spain, will be lead title in Italy, 2017) and Heavens (Literary Fiction). Method 15/33 has received multiple accolades: 2015 Foreword Review Book of the Year (Suspense); Winner of 2015 National Indie Excellence Award, Best Suspense; 2015 USA Best Book Finalist; School Library Journal's Best Adult Books for Teens (2015); and Finalist in 2013 William Faulkner William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition (when a Novella). Method 15/33 is optioned for a major motion film and has sold to nineteen foreign rights.
When not writing, she is a practicing lawyer, residing on Massachusett's Cape Ann with her husband and son and two cat writing accomplices, Marvin Marquez (in honor of Gabriel Garcia Marquez) and Stewie Poe (Edgar Allen Poe).
Shannon enjoys writing in several genres: literary fiction, psychological thriller, young adult, and poetry. She has been honored three times by the William Faulkner William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition.
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Great review. I'm glad you liked the story so much and enjoyed the character. The message as well about texting while driving or walking and texting is true. A lot of people have got killed because of not simply paying attention. It's a shame.
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