15
Apr
Free Spirit By Edward Wolf
Edward has been a regular visitor to my blogs for a while now, and you’re probably aware that he has a blog of his own, The Urban Iconoclast. What you may not know is that Edward is an author of several books, and he has asked me to review one of them; Free Spirit.
Free Spirit is a novel about Brad, who gives up his job to move to a remote lakeside cottage to concentrate on writing his first novel. Intent on breaking his concentration are a wide group of characters, who make up the inhabitants of the small community around the lake, including an artist struggling with her career, her 7 year old daughter and her lover, Angel, who has her own problems which don’t improve even after a major life-changing event. Add into the mix Angel’s damaged sister, her slutty friend, Nugey the moonshine brewer, ‘special’ brownie supplier and part time treasure hunter, a comically inept local Sheriff and a Nazi hunting lunatic it doesn’t seem like Brad’s going to get much peace….
Free Spirit is an interesting read, and one that keeps you on your toes as you read – it’s hard to pigeonhole it, so I won’t try, but there are elements of drama, passion, humanity and no small amount of humour to be found throughout. The main arc of the story focuses on the relationship between Brad, Jade the artist, her daughter Spice and Jade’s lover Angel, which is further complicated by the presence of Angel’s sister Carla. Matchmaking, interfering siblings and a 7 year old girl’s desire for a Father figure in her life all conspire to give Brad a major headache, but one that leads to a major shift in his life and its priorities.
What I liked: I had a lot of empathy with the main character Brad, and I’d be curious to know how much of him is based on Edward…. Angel is a great character, frustrating at times, but genuinely funny and a strong persona. The story moves at pace, and just when you think you know where it’s going it surprises you.
What I didn’t like so much: While I know the first couple of pages of a novel really have to be off & running to get your attention, they gave me a false impression of what the book was about-in a bookstore it could have put me off. Also, it may be a transatlantic thing, but I wasn’t keen on a couple of the names: Spice, the little girl didn’t sit right with me, and the sheriff is named Twatty: I don’t know if it means anything in the US, but over here it’s slang for Vagina, and whilst apt, it was a little distracting!
I read the book in its ebook form, which was a first for me: It wasn’t always easy because I like to read on the sofa, in bed and anywhere else, but it was far from a bad experience and at £2.72 ($4.94) it’s a fantastically cheap way to try new books. Both the ebook and the printed version (hard and softcover) are available from Edward’s page at Lulu.com.
Is Free Spirit for you? Free Spirit is a book ‘for grown ups’- there is some coarse language, but in a real world context and not for shock value. But if swearing and adult relationships don’t bother you, there’s nothing to offend here. So, there’s a free 2 chapter preview available at Lulu.com to help you, and for that price it’s a great way to find a new book to read. If you’re looking for a new author to read then give Free Spirit a try.
Edward has paid me for this review, but I have read the entire book, and the opinions are my own.
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April 16th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
You write great book reveiews Chris. I did have to laugh at your comment about the sheriff’s name. Yes, it does mean the same thing here in the US too.
It would probably have put me off reading it also. I guess I am more into creative names like J. K. Rowling dreams up…but then, that gives away the genre of my preferred reading material, doesn’t it? 
April 16th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
The book sounds interesting indeed, i may hope over to lulu.
Have to agree with you on the names though, but if i liked the story enough, it shouldn’t bother me too much.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Cheers guys.
Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t spoil the story, it just makes me give a juvenile snort each time I read it. Which is ok, as he is a comical character.