The Book of Lucas

"When I have fears that I may cease to Be . . . ." What a way to establish the theme of wasted lives. Your narrator's voice captivates, natural enough to feel like a friend as opposed to a vehicle for the story. Smart and funny, this is nearly perfect. "I . . . pick at the tape with my chewed-off fingernails. . . . Like I said, I have nowhere to be." You handle present tense with ease, and I love the immediacy of it in your hands, such as the narrator's first thoughts when the plane goes through some turbulence. "This I wonder. . . ."

Memphisgirl
Ashes By Now

I have an enduring hatred for Keats, left over from my schooldays. Yes, they were a very long time ago, but I've always been good at bearing a grudge. Anyway, I didn't let my dislike of the poet colour my opinion of your superb book.

Dana, you must have laboured long and hard over this. There is not a word out of place. Your observational skills are impressive, and you manage to let your reader share what you see. The opening scene on the plane is brilliantly executed, and you tell us so much about Natalie with one short sentence when she yawns and scratches a row of mosquito bites, as all around her are panicking. The humour that is laced through this is an added bonus. I wish you the best of luck with it.

Patrick
Trinity

Right from the meditations on keats and his possible state of mind confronting death by plane, this book grips from the start. It is exceptionaly well written and populated with colourful characters. Every word here is carefully considered and there's nary a single nit I could pick out from the delightful prose. Sprinkled with erudition throughout, I was particularly fascinated by the aside on the parthenon and its curved columns. I very much doubt The Book Of Lucas will remain unpublished for long.
John O'Brien - Other Face

Hi, Dana -

Mmm, Keats, Coleridge, air turbulence and a fat woman bleating into her cell phone. Delicious.

Your first chapter is downright masterful. I love the way you wove in all of that, plus the little brother's back story -- into the chaos of the plane hitting an air pocket. This is very intelligent, humorous and disarming, and I'm delighted to back LUCAS.

Damn, this is good. I wish you the best of luck with it.

- Jeff Lee
THE LADIES TEMPERANCE CLUB'S FAREWELL TOUR

C'est magnifique, Dana! I read your first page and added you to my watch list/backed you. It is one of the best opening pages I have read on here, hands down. Now that I finally got back to read the beginning of your book, I am dying for more! It was hard to "put down"- what an accomplishment. I love your word choice and the way you paint with words- making lively (but not over done) pictures. I am very curious about all the stuff in Natalie's past and what Lucas has to say. Not to mention whom it is Natalie saw at the end of Chapter 6. Well done! It was painful (and effectively great) how Natalie tells Henri about "the man" and we readers don't get to "hear" too. I hope to read the rest of this very soon- as a published book even would be no surprise. Kudos!
~Carolee

Oh MY! This is true ART! Enchanting; kept me glued to it; I believe these people and cherish them. More! More!
I would have read the entire MS if it were here. Backed. for sure!

chuck -- Marshall Warren-- "Sunrise, Sunset" a novel of Power, Politics, Mother Earth, Sex, and Money; based on a true story of Florida's shame -- Land Sharks 49 chp.

Time of Pharaohs is still alive in the mind of human race. News and features are intermittently appearing in newspapers and magazines as well as channels. This has increased the excitement and anxiety about Pharaohs. Now a book, which deals with time of Pharaohs and internal crisis in their country are elaborated with a flourishing outlook. Certainly your book is deserving a special and keen attention.

Joy J. Kaimaparamban
The Seagulls
The Wildfire

how would you like a Christmas present today? i am supporting this book once again....enjoy the season,
j

The book of Lucas
The writing is is good, Lucas a child to remember
Backed
Eveleen
(Turning a new leaf)

H Dana, i said i'd be by with some "picky" comments - aka useful critique. well, not much to pick at. sorry ;)
great wry humour + tremendously engaging and likeable MC + fine pace. this is a beaut!

ok, post-gush now - do i have anything useful to say? well, i haven't read the whole novel so i don't know what's going to happen. however, after 2 chapters, i wonder about the narrative arc. she's gone to France to get away, etc., but i don't get a strong sense of plotline (i know, a churlish notion: doesn't have to be a rigid "plot"). so, i'm already out on a limb. a few more interfering thoughts from the peanut gallery. maybe have N writing a book about K (i realize that sounds cliched and "manufactured" but it could ground her time in F). i don't exacty remember K's final days, but i recall they were in Italy. i was wondering why she went to France instead of Italy.

ok, having said all that, i'm so interested in her and your writing is so satisfying that i want to keep reading.
nice one!
best wishes, andy

I'm not very far in yet, but I have to say how much I'm enjoying the rich thought life you have given your main character. Brilliant. This is excellent.

Brilliant....... Backed with pleasure
Helen
The Last Dream

Hi Dana

A really accomplished piece of writing. An excellent pitch and the execution follows through on the promise of the pitch. I'm really curious to know what happened with Lucas and Val and the mysterious man who introduced her to Keats and I'm glad it's all happening in the beautiful south of France! Backed.

Nicole
Chosen

Hi Dana, This is a fantastic read. You write with wit and style - it's funny, too. I was going to say that the early scene on the plane should be cut down, but I can see that nothing is wasted - every word is relevant to the story. I definitely want to read more and will put it on my WL as well as backing it with great enthusiasm. This should be published! Good luck with it.
Best wishes, Adelina
A Distant Family

Highly polished and carefully crafted. I would leave more but looking down I fear I have nothing to add of any help. Excellent fare.

BACKED. Cheers.

Dana,
The Book of Lucas is a mesmerizing novel which appeals to the deepest human emotions. Backed.

This is an enjoyable read and very evocative. Your words are carefully crafted and carry the reader along effortlessly. Undoubtedly a book that would grace any shelf and in my mind endearing to any discerning reader. Backed with pleasure.

Best wishes

Richard

Dana, Here's a modern, well-crafted novel. Your original way of writing and excellent story makes for a rivetting read. I wish you luck with it. Well done!
Backed,
Ann Mynard (Windshadow)

I'm sorry not to have time for more, but I already love what I've read, particularly Natalie's wicked sense of humour. I'm flying to UK tomorrow and I'm a terrible flyer. I'm glad I read this today .... not :(
Seriously though, good work, it will do well.
Katy Christie
No Man No Cry

"When I have fears that I may cease to Be . . . ." What a way to establish the theme of wasted lives. Your narrator's voice captivates, natural enough to feel like a friend as opposed to a vehicle for the story. Smart and funny, this is nearly perfect. "I . . . pick at the tape with my chewed-off fingernails. . . . Like I said, I have nowhere to be." You handle present tense with ease, and I love the immediacy of it in your hands, such as the narrator's first thoughts when the plane goes through some turbulence. "This I wonder. . . ."

Memphisgirl
Ashes By Now

Excellent cover art - the colors are beautiful! This story blends mystery and romance, a winning combination, and very well written. BACKED -Elizabeth Wolfe (Memories of Glory)

Death with a pitchfork (scythe?)
The way you have woven the poetry of Keats into the narrative is clever and very stylish...I wonder how this obsession with a dead poet is going to pan out...hope to get back to this later
Best wishes
Stewart

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever." Dana, your book has been on my watchlist for a long time and I've just now gotten around to reading some of it. I love the narrative voice. The first few paragraphs hooked me, the narrator wondering how Keats would react in a plunging airplane. She makes for an interesting and likeable character, and I can't help wondering about the drugged Lucas sitting beside her, oblivious to the situation.

I see you've been absent for 40 days now, so perhaps you've given up on authonomy, but I hope your book is succesful, either here or in the real world

Dear Dana, I love literary fiction & romance. :) Your story is a good read because you create interest by having short paragraphs & lots of dialogue, which makes me want to keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. I'm backing/commenting on your book to help it advance. Could you please return the favor by taking a moment to back/comment on my TWO books, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" & the unedited version? "Tell Me True Love Stories." Thanks, Susie :)

I feel like I've been gushing a lot recently, but your book deserves a waterfall of it. Your voice and turn of phrase is perfect and there are so many bits that I wish I'd written. After only two chapters, both Natalie and Lucas have already won me over (I too want to kick the seat of the lady with murderous eyes). I'm going to read more of this. Backed x

Your opening is hilarious, and it lightens the seriousness of the scene...Your MC is witty and I fell in love with her in the first paragraph itself...Your writing is done with skill and talent...well done...

Wow! The Book of Lucas is great! And impossible to classify. Literary fiction would be the best tag, I guess, from the depth of character analysis and the occasionally erudite poetic intrusions, but it also works as romance, humor and mystery. I'm not a fan of the Romantic Poets and I usually stay clear of literary fiction as well (in fact I initially had the obverse reaction to the taxi driver--Natalie must be English because of her bent for poetry and her smattering knowledge of of French, and, if she is American, then she must certainly hail from New England or the West coast somewhere, not North Carolina) but somehow you got through to me. Maybe it was the explications Natalie offered with her meanderings--didactic foot being my favorite of these. Anyway, the story gets you thinking--are all of these people seeing the world through their own limited wavelengths that overlap with one anothers' only slightly more than they do with Lucas's; or is Natalie's popular-author father in tune with the masses and only Natalie and Lucas out there on the edge? Either way, this book seems to work every imaginable level and I am honored to back it.
Niobrara Kardnova (The Trouble with Wives)

Dana I haven't read much of your fabulous book - didn't have to as the first chapter grabbed me and if I had more time to-day I'd sit here and read on. Will do so later. Backed with pleasure, brilliant writing and your other comments mostly say it all except for Zorro who has an enduring hatred of Keats. Strange chap!!! I hope you will find time to read a bit of Freckles the Fawn and leave a comment, it would be appreciated - to me another writer's views are more important than a backing. Balepy.

Chapter 2: I love your voice. It is unique and destined to take you places. I relate to your narrator deeply, especially with the last line of chapter 2. I have nothing to add that could improve what you have done here. I am deeply impressed. Your mc is dimensional, a character I can almost see and touch although there have been no physical descriptions. Her style is nearly surrendered yet she is subtly bitter, resigned more than accepting. She is a genius (as probably so are you). In two chapters Lucas did not touch me. I relate to the mc's fear of bringing further guilt upon herself (by allowing further tragedy to befall Lucas) and her tendency to judge herself too critically as "selfish" because she had not lately taken Lucas to confession. These traits rang so completely true for her. Your descriptions of the town are vivid and enduring like the rocks from which it seems to sprout. Your descriptions are evocative, betraying the fear and sense of futility that taint your mc's frame of mind. You reveal much with what you do not say. This is truly excellent work. I need eye contact with Lucas. I need to feel his insides thru his sister's eyes. At this point Mdme Ouvril is a characature, but you have made Val a very enticing mystery inasmuch as it feels to me that your mc loved her just from this brief glimpse we are given thru the mc's eyes/memory. This is stellar work and I am sure Mdme Ouvril will fill out as will Lucas within a chapter or two.
Loving regards, Callaghan (The Shouting Tree)
Loving regards, Callaghan (The Shouting Tree)

I LOVE your opening paragraph! I LOVE this WHOLE chapter! This so speaks to me that I think we may be twins!
Loving regards, Callaghan

I have an enduring hatred for Keats, left over from my schooldays. Yes, they were a very long time ago, but I've always been good at bearing a grudge. Anyway, I didn't let my dislike of the poet colour my opinion of your superb book.

Dana, you must have laboured long and hard over this. There is not a word out of place. Your observational skills are impressive, and you manage to let your reader share what you see. The opening scene on the plane is brilliantly executed, and you tell us so much about Natalie with one short sentence when she yawns and scratches a row of mosquito bites, as all around her are panicking. The humour that is laced through this is an added bonus. I wish you the best of luck with it.

Patrick
Trinity

I'm backing Lucas with sincere compliments. You are an accomplished writer.

Iva P.
Fame and Infamy

Keats and the possibility of death, always a winning combination..."Ah bitter chill it was on that St Agnes Eve" etc etc
Well written, well crafted , amusing and readable,
Backed.

Right from the meditations on keats and his possible state of mind confronting death by plane, this book grips from the start. It is exceptionaly well written and populated with colourful characters. Every word here is carefully considered and there's nary a single nit I could pick out from the delightful prose. Sprinkled with erudition throughout, I was particularly fascinated by the aside on the parthenon and its curved columns. I very much doubt The Book Of Lucas will remain unpublished for long.
John O'Brien - Other Face

Hi - I was going to back this out of politeness (toujours la politesse, hein?) but I love it, I got half way through chapter 2 and would have continued had it not been for the domestic agenda... dying to read more, but my husband will get jealous if I start taking the laptop to bed! And thanks for backing A Formative Year.

I had a chuckle at the opening. I'm sure Keats would have too. I'm glad to see our protagonist is as fluent in French as I am. Not all we have in common; I once memorised Ode to a Nightingale. 'I think we'll pass on the chocolate', LOL. 'The fast lyricism of the French language', nice. That taxi driver is a real grouch. Gorgeous description of the house and grounds. Not sure about Natalie yet. She has attitude, but how much of it she's entitled to remains to be seen. Now Madam Ouvril I have no doubts about (aside from her opinion of bats). The accident and Val hover mysteriously in the background. More heart-stopping scenery on the way to church, 'like armed guards at a child's birthday party'. Ah, "Ne touchez pas". 'I have what you need', I suspect he may be right.

I could just go on reading this, because it's fascinating, and because it's beautiful. I'll buy the book ... backed.

Possible nits: 'equal measures [of] derision and jealousy'. 'disapproving frown along wither roasted chicken'.

like this its realy enjoyable, backed

alison

Hi Dana, this is a nicely beginning, I like the call backs to Keats all the time, it ties Natalies meanders together and sets her character a little for the reader. There is nice intrigue in the beginning, you mention that she is responsible for Lucas's condition but don't mention how, we know she is escaping to france but don't know why, her mother mentions the bookshop and the selling of it, and she also mentions Ryan who want Nat to contact him. She won't, all fascinating back story and it really brings the story along as we begin to wonder what is going on in Nats life that she has to do something so drastic. The writing is brilliant, you surely have a way with words and I love the paragraph on her name, really well done. Also good dialogue especially between her and her mother, very realistic. I enjoyed this read and it's on my shelf. Helena (A Load of Rubbish)

sophisticated writing

The Book of Lucas:

Oh, boy. I’m making a nine hour flight to Gatwick in a couple of months and reading about the screeching Rhino-lady on one side, the turbulence, Lucas drooling on the other side of Natalie, makes me wish I could cancel. :o. I so hate flying…

I’ve read so many dark books lately it’s a pleasure to come across something as delightful as The Book of Lucas.
Loved the first chapter. Loved the writing, the wit, the characters, and of course, the dialogue. And even though you show us the Lover of the Poets’ witty side, we read about Lucas, and you tug our heartstrings. Then he spits at the flight attendant. This would make a great film.

Love the way she describes her father’s books.

Too bad this isn’t already published. It would be my traveling companion to London. :-)

All the best, and I’ve already backed it.

Cáit ~ Muckers ~
***

On occasion a surf of the site produces an encounter with an author who can really punch above their weight.. The Book of Lucas, after a pithy, effervescent opening, that paradoxically reveals an erudite understanding of the art, suddenly jars the reader out of the 'get ready for a giggle' mood with four cryptic but telling sentences introducing Lucas. To this point the writng has been excellent. Now it becomes...what's the superlative meaning better than excellent? Backed. Bocri. The Tuzla Run.

The use of Keats is a very good hook into a very good story. Lucas is an intriguing character and the reader wants to find out more about him. Your MC also rouses feels both for and against her, which shows that a connection has been made. good luck this, I can see why it is doing well. Jim Darcy The Firelord's Crown

Dana,

I always wondered how agents could tell within a few pages whether the book was any good. After reading half of chapter 5 (even starting in the middle of the book!), I can tell without a doubt that yours is fantastic. Your writing style is excellent. Your word choices leap off the page so much so that I didn't even notice that you were writing in present tense, which I normally dislike.

I loved your pitch as well (though you are missing a word: "the" right before the line about the poetry).

Even looking for critical things to share to help improve your book, I came up short.

Bright future for you, my friend!

Backed with pleasure,

Cyndi
Between

What an absolutely fabulous and hilarious first paragraph.

This is colourful, descriptive writing. I love your word choice and the subtle humorous undertone of the narrators voice.
Great work. Good luck!
Billie Bates - Sheikh Rattle & Roll

Backed with pleasure! Good Luck!!
A look at Sicilian Shadows would be greatly appreciated.
Frank.
If you back my work, you may also want to approach BJD (a big supporter of Sicilian Shadows) for a further read and possible backing of your book.

Quality writing, with convincing minor characters (Madame Ouvril) nb fix the 're-swathe', also punctuation in first sentence (which btw is excellent) and in Ch 2, 'They shudder and release.' (what? I think you need a noun). You capture atmosphere & state of mind very well. Backed. Hope this book makes the stands.

Like the pitch: it outlines an interesting dynamic, possibly an inter-dependence, between Lucas and Natalie.

Very skilful writing: The opening paragraphs not only evoke a vivid scene but also give insight into Natalie’s character and her family relationships. Wonderfully observed human interactions and poetic references add layers to this complex, and beautifully realised, social commentary.

Backed.

Mimi (Flickers of Mary)

The story draws one into the plot. Great Read! I backed your book with pleasure. I would appreciate you reading, commenting, and backing December Gold. Blessings.
--author of December Gold

This is truly literary fiction at its best! One of my favorites so far on Authonomy. Excellent characterizations and such polished prose especially your descriptions of France! Natalie is such a believable realistic character and I'm rooting for her! BACKED without question! So very weel done! I'd buy this book in a heartbeat!

Liz
The Cheech Room

Quite an opening reflection, giving us a clear voice for your main character, and all that follows in ch 1 deepens that voice. Nice comparisons between Keats' situation and Natalie's own, deftly introducing Lucas. One suggestion: That's (two of) a fifth of my (ten-word) French vocabulary.
Ch 2 gives us more of Natalie's relationship with Lucas and also great scene setting on the French Riviera - I can almost smell it!
Good stuff. Backed.
Cheers,
Simon (with a dactylic foot for a surname)

I feel, after a couple months of reading without commenting, that it is time to break away and comment again.

This is smart writing. That is what I noticed about it fist. The intelligence lies within the references. The beginning tie in with John Keats is interesting. And the break down of Natalie's name into the beats and binding that with Lord Tennyson is what truly good writing is.

Other things I noticed, a well developed dynamic between Lucas and Natalie. From the outset the relationship is there, clear and concise, and it doesn't waver (not throughout the two chapters I read). I felt the first chapter should have been broken at "my chance to breathe" Start the next chapter with her last glance at the US.

The plane ride was perfect. You develope intrigue from the outset, encouraging the reader to read on. What is happening? Is the plane really plummeting to a firey crash? Then you sort it out only to bring Lucas out of his drug enduced sleep. Only to drum up more interest because the reader wants to know what is 'wrong' with Lucas.

The writing is clean. And since this is Literary Fiction you have carved out a certain niche where this book should fit. I find a lot of people on here will state their book is lit fic without it actually being lit fit, but this certainly is. There is a dramatic flourish to your writing, but this is not overdone. It is written with ease and you don't overwhelm your reader with the story, characters or descriptons.

Backed
T.L Tyson-The Reign Of Billie Blackwater

Hi, Dana -

Mmm, Keats, Coleridge, air turbulence and a fat woman bleating into her cell phone. Delicious.

Your first chapter is downright masterful. I love the way you wove in all of that, plus the little brother's back story -- into the chaos of the plane hitting an air pocket. This is very intelligent, humorous and disarming, and I'm delighted to back LUCAS.

Damn, this is good. I wish you the best of luck with it.

- Jeff Lee
THE LADIES TEMPERANCE CLUB'S FAREWELL TOUR

I love your pitch and the beginning is great. No time to read more now.

I've backed it and hope to read and comment more later.

This is really very good and I am hanging on to it to read it all, but must just back it a straightaway. Your Natalie is a fully realised character - perhaps the best female main character I have come across on this site. DB ALL THESE ARE MEMORIES OF MY VOYAGE