After enduring the loss of his wife and surviving a near fatal accident at work, Stanhope Ellis decides he' s ready for a change of scenery. Unfortunately, the people he meets in his new locale are dropping like flies, and he might be the reason.
As he struggles with whether he' s Death Man or a cosmic witness, he meets a wise nurse, Gayathri Das, who helps him navigate the emotional minefield. But will she die, like the others?
Fondness for each of the characters is easy to come by, which is a hazard in a story where death comes calling so often. Each character' s tale is filled with glimpses of ourselves and everyone we' ve ever loved, compelling the reader to hear them out, maybe for the last time. It' s a dizzying entanglement of friendship, grief, and perseverance from which there is no rush to be free. At once comforting and urgent, this book will fill your cup, break your heart, and put it back together, winking all the way.
A brilliant and memorable debut novel, Mortal Weather is an existential adventure — a timely, joyous examination of life and death with an against-all-odds love story at its core. The recurring themes read as a mystery, the characters are alive and memorable, and the writing is fluid and engaging. Here are all of our voices, asking all of our questions about the essence of life in trying times.
Review -
The main characters - Stanhope and Gayathri - have both suffered loss. Stanhope his wife and Gayathri her brother. The brother was also a good friend of Stanhope's which is the spark that brings these two together. Their losses continue as the story progresses. Those around them perish from old age, suicide, accidents and ill health. Stanhope feels he is cosmically responsible. If he listens to them share their story, death will ensue.
As he struggles with whether he' s Death Man or a cosmic witness, he meets a wise nurse, Gayathri Das, who helps him navigate the emotional minefield. But will she die, like the others?
Fondness for each of the characters is easy to come by, which is a hazard in a story where death comes calling so often. Each character' s tale is filled with glimpses of ourselves and everyone we' ve ever loved, compelling the reader to hear them out, maybe for the last time. It' s a dizzying entanglement of friendship, grief, and perseverance from which there is no rush to be free. At once comforting and urgent, this book will fill your cup, break your heart, and put it back together, winking all the way.
A brilliant and memorable debut novel, Mortal Weather is an existential adventure — a timely, joyous examination of life and death with an against-all-odds love story at its core. The recurring themes read as a mystery, the characters are alive and memorable, and the writing is fluid and engaging. Here are all of our voices, asking all of our questions about the essence of life in trying times.
Review -
Mortal Weather is a strong debut novel for author KP McCarthy. It is written with a complex, meandering plot. There are lots of quirky characters filling it's pages and there are lighter moments offered as a counterpoint. However, it is also a deep dive into emotions, relationships and loss - including witnessing a suicide - and that makes it a heavier read.
The plot line shifts from one location to another, from one group of friends to another. In each setting Stanhope continues to explore the subjects of life, death, relationships and love while fearing his influence will cause yet another death. This is definitely a darker, emotional read exploring the spiritual and the human journey.
Fab Author Interview HERE!
Among other things, Kevin Patrick McCarthy has been a geothermal geologist, a technical writer, a critic, and a screenwriter. His humor, essays, poetry, and fiction have been widely recognized. “Enough Sky,” the epigraph for Mortal Weather, was Commended by The Poetry Society (UK) in 2014. He is a fourth-generation Coloradoan who now lives in the Pacific with his wife Tricia, and their dog, Nani.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ goodreads
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ goodreads
Sounds like a good book.
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