Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Teaser Tuesday: The Wake of Forgiveness by Bruce Machart


"Karel had never accustomed himself to the way a woman's joy and sorrow could sound so much same when given voice. He'd grown up around boys, in the midst of men, for whom pain was weathered in silence and pleasure announced in exaggerated groans of relief."
~Page 285

Title: The Wake of Forgiveness
Author: Bruce Machart
ISBN: 9780151014439
Publisher: Houghton  Mifflin Harcourt/2010
Pages: 309

Based in Texas, this novel starts from 1895 and goes on to 1924 spanning almost 30 years. When a landowners fourth child is born, his wife dies. Karel, the child is hardly ever loved by his father. But his brothers do seem to love him. Karel often dreams of the mother he has never known and wishes for his father to love him, which does not happen. 

Since a toddler, Karel is good with horses. Only while riding, Karel feels bonded to his father, who does his best not to encourage the boy. When a Spanish Landowner comes into town along with his daughters in tow, 15 year old Karel is made to race for the stakes of his family. It turns out that it is his brothers who gain but he is left alone with his father. And he gets estranged from his brothers. Fourteen years later, when tragedy strikes, Karel knows that he has to to make a move which might bring him and his brother closer to each other. 

With horses, and racing and people whose life surrounds around the animals, this novel is captures the spirit of Texas of those times. Karel is not treated well by his father but we never see him hating his father. His father had made him and his brothers plow the fields due to which all of them have been permanently marked by the yoke. All this are a bonding factor between them. And when time comes for them to reconcile, they are only too eager to meet each other halfway through.

It goes back and forth, abut it does not distract us from the novel. Long after finishing it, the story, the characters stay in the mind. Especially Karel. After all, it is his story. The prose is wonderful, moving and well written.

35 comments:

Yvonne said...

This sounds like a wonderful read and very emotional.

Here's my Tuesday Teaser

Jenny Q said...

Great teaser! This book is on my TBR list. This week my teaser is from The Iron Queen.

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Oh, this one sounds really good...thanks for sharing.

Here is mine:

(click on my name)

Aimee said...

Great teaser! This sounds like a very intriguing book. My TT is at Coffee Table Press

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this teaser, not one I would have normally thought about but it sounds good.

Anonymous said...

Great teaser!! I hope you enjoy it

Harvee said...

A good theme of family reunion! My teaser is here.

Lynossa (Deranged Book Lovers) said...

It seems very good and the cover is nice as well (what a handsome horse :D)

Thanks for visiting ^^

Anonymous said...

Interesting thanks for stopping by.

Melissa @ Mel's Books and Info said...

Interesting teaser. It is amazing how differently women and men express themselves. I'd say that 90% of the misunderstandings my husband and I had when we first married was because of misinterpretation. Thoughtful teaser! Thanks for stopping by.

CMash said...

Like the sounds of this book!!

Zakiya LadyWings said...

Great teaser!

Happy Holidays,
Zakiya - My teasers this week

Heather said...

Sounds like a good read, and one you greatly enjoyed. My teaser

Anonymous said...

Here is my teaser from Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately (Page 1):

"Do you hear it?" The voice was almost a whisper.

Elsa held her breath, and then she heard it too, a faint rustling of footsteps over twigs and leaves. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed several shadowy figures darting through the trees, and when she turned, she saw a glint of sunlight reflecting off the barrel of an assault rifle.

There was no denying it—the Taliban had found them.

Oh, Jesus! she thought. We'll never escape.

Elsa knew the Taliban's ruthless hatred; the death and destruction they wrought was undeniable.

Seized by a sickening wave of fear, she wanted to cry or throw up, but there was no time. She tried to catch Parween's eye, but her friend was looking back, intent on finding the source of the sound.

"Run!" someone shouted, and suddenly, the chase was on.

Mary Grace said...

I've been seeing this book for a while now but haven't got to reading it. thanks for sharing. And thanks for stopping by.

Audra said...

Thanks for popping by earlier -- I've seen this around -- and I like the teaser you've posted!

fredamans said...

Really great and thoughtful teaser.

http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/12/teaser-tuesday.html

Alice Audrey said...

Good insight. Great teaser.

Marce said...

That sounds like a great story and I love the teaser.

Anonymous said...

What a good teaser! I think I'd probably like the book!

You can read my teaser here

jlshall said...

Good teaser! This one sounds intriguing. I was born and raised in Texas, so I'm always interested in books with a Texas setting.

Neena said...

Wow, that's amazing. I'll have to take a look at the book myself. =)

Thanks for visiting my blog! Happy Holidays! XD

BLHmistress said...

Wow this sounds so powerful and emotional. I really can't wait to see what you think .

Merry Christmas

My Teaser Tuesday

Southern Fiber said...

Love this! Added it to my TBR list. Here is my Teaser: http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/images/x_tbn/i_review_for_the_tyndale_blog_network.gif

Crystal (I totally paused!) said...

Sounds very lovely! Can't wait to read your review :)

Aisle B said...

and that in essence is the difference between men and women... how we voice ourselves with words.. gender specific n'est pas :)

Mithee (The Deranged Book Lovers) said...

That sounds very emotional... thanks for stopping by on our blog!

~Mithee
The Deranged Book Lovers

Jenna JL said...

Intriguing teaser! I hope you enjoy the book.

Thanks for visiting, An Avid Reader's Musings.

Wakela said...

Great teaser. Mine is up! Tuesday Teaser

MissMeliss said...

I meant to come here sooner and reply to your last comment at Bibliotica, but time is not my friend this month.

In any case, this was a great teaser, and the book's been added to my own To Be Read list.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful story - emotional and fascinating. An interesting time period, too.

Wayne Pitchko said...

reqnice....thanks for sharing this...

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

i love that cover!! thanks for sharing!

Wrighty said...

Great teaser! I hadn't heard of this before but it sounds like a good story. Happy holidays!!

Nise' said...

I just brought this home from the library.