Review “Twelve Months” by Steven Manchester

August 3, 2012 8 Comments

Twelve Months by Steven Manchester
Published by: The Story Plant
Publication Date: August 14, 2012
ISBN-10: 161188053X
ISBN-13: 978-1611880533
Pages: 326
Review Copy from: The Story Plant(Spread The Word Initiative) NetGalley
Edition: Kindle
My Rating: 5

Synopsis from Amazon:
Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full.

A glorious celebration of each and every moment that we’re given here on Earth, as well as the eternal bonds that we all share, TWELVE MONTHS is a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit.

My Thoughts and Opinion:
WOW!!!! Warning: this review will be different and lengthy than most of my reviews, because there is just so much to say about this novel.

Comparisons: One of the first publishing houses I started to review for, when I came onto the scene, was The Story Plant for a book entitled Crossing The Bridge by Michael Baron. From that moment on, I have become a fan of Michael Baron and have been introduced to many new authors, which are now on my “TBR authors” list. Just recently, The Story Plant started a program called “Spread The Word Initiative”, which I am a reviewing member of. So when the call went out for this title, and the fact that this author was compared to Michael Baron, I HAD to read it.

And continuing along the path of comparisons, this book is beautifully written, but at times, was very hard for me to read because of the comparisons to my own life. It triggered memories of my past, so much so that the plot was so engrossing, that it felt as Mr. Manchester was writing portions of my life. The story is told through the eyes of Don DeMarco, a gentleman approximately my age, a family man and newly retired and looking forward to the next chapter of his life.

However, that chapter was rewritten in a blink of an eye and turned his world upside down. He now had the choice as to how he was going to edit it and what path the story would take. As I said, Mr. Manchester’s writing style and narrative was wonderful. So realistic, with the characters becoming your family. The emotions unequivocally palpable. The settings vivid, but I did have a certain edge, since it took place not far from where I live and encompassed certain areas and establishments that I am familiar with. The composition flowed where it was hard to put down even though the reader knows the outcome. Poignant!!

What would you do if you were told you had a year to live? Not only is this novel an emotional read, you can’t help but think of how and what you would do if faced with the same situation. Thought provoking! Not only if you were confronted as the main character was, but also those in his life, as a spouse, as a child and as a grandchild. How a real life situation, written with such compassion as a fictional novel, impacting the reader to be put in all of those roles. Impeccable writing!!

Mr. Manchester has written, a story that is so moving, heart wrenching and intense, that will bring tears to yours eyes, but able to weave humor into a serious plot, that will also make you cry from laughing. A story that is sorrowful but also soothing. An undeniable heart tugging read that you will not forget and leave you with a feeling of serenity. An extraordinary read!! Not only do I highly recommend this book but would absolutely state that it is a must read!!