This post was most recently updated on November 20th, 2013
Publication Date: February 14, 2013
Category/Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Coming of Age
Tour Date: Mid-October/November, 2013
Available in: Print & ebook, 185 Pages
“Love makes sinners of us all.”
In the sleepy Midwestern town of Vespers…
In the sweltering summer heat…
Julian Sane, high school teacher and cad’s cad, is a man at war with himself. But a chance encounter with a former student will push him across professional boundaries and force him to confront his personal demons.
From the author of YOUTH AND OTHER FICTIONS comes a love story for those who live in the real world, where love does not conquer all and actions do have consequences.
Note: SINNERMAN has attracted some controversy in Jonathan M. Cook’s hometown due to a number of similarities between events in the book and actual events in the community over the past several years. This book is a work of fiction!
Praise for Youth and Other Fictions:
“All I can say is WOW! This powerful book kept me turning the pages wondering what was going to happen next. It’s one of those stories that make you wonder who did it or who will do it. Though the book dealt with a sensitive subject that would usually make me uncomfortable it was written in a way that drew me in.
It is so suspenseful my heart raced and my palms began to sweat.
The characters are well written and the plot solid. The author writes in a powerful manner that is lacking in a lot of fiction today. He is able to bring the reader into the mind of a killer and also the heart of the survivors. He shows that the effects of a high school shooting never go away. They are always lingering in the minds of those who lived through it, no matter how hard they try to forget.
I recommend this book to people who love a great drama or crave suspense. This book is truly worth reading.”– Stephanie, Mother of Insanity
” I found myself totally engrossed in the book, almost against my will. I was drawn in by the inner dialog of the best friend, but also repulsed by some of his thoughts. The writing is clear, concise and effective and the tragic characters seem very real.”– Theresa, Frugal Experiments
” Cook allows us to get into the mind of his characters, and it brings a vividness to this story that is startlingly easy to fall into. When everything heads south, you’ll know exactly why. The reader is given an up close and personal look at the daily life of these students, at the cruel way kids can act towards one another, and at the frustration and anxiety that comes with feeling utterly alone.
I liked the way that Cook showed the stark contrast between the kids of Jack’s youth, and the kids of today.
Watching the events unfold really took my breath away, and I found myself reading at a manic pace to find out what ultimately happened. Cook definitely shows his prowess at writing characters that will pull you in and keep you there. Youth and Other Fictions definitely isn’t an easy read, but it’s one that I enjoyed. I highly recommend it.”– Jessica, Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
“The story completely absorbed me. I did not want to stop reading because I had to know what would happen. This book does a brilliant job of getting into the heads of Jack and Jason. It shows the horrors of having to deal with the tragedy of a school shooting. It goes places you never expect. I think it is a book that people will want to read.“- Lisa, A Casual Reader’s Blog
“Jonathan M. Cook’s work is fascinating. This a work of true goodness. He takes the unthinkable: teens committing horrific crimes, and turns it into a realistic fictional read for everyone.
In Youth and Other Fiction, Cook gives us a play for play breakdown of a student’s demise and what leads to the shooting. He gives us a look inside the teacher’s head. What the teacher was thinking, the reactions. The realistic feel that this book had was incredible. Cook put you in the middle of the story and kept you there until the last page. You were front and center for all the feelings, all the reactions, all the horrific details about the crime committed. I couldn’t have felt more emotion if I was in the center of a true school shooting, it was just THAT real.
If you are looking for an emotional, GRIPPING, and fantastically written novel for adults and teens alike, this is it. This is not for the faint of heart, of course. It’s REAL. These things happen every day, somewhere, in some part of the world. You’ll turn each page with a new look on life. With a knowledge that bullying and craziness can happen among our youths today. This book is a worthy debut and is a keeper and one that should be read by everyone for a very REAL look into today’s world. Well done, Mr. Cook!”– Molly, Reviews by Molly
About Jonathan M. Cook:
Jonathan M. Cook was born in 1982. He studied Literature, Composition, and Creative Writing at Eastern Illinois University before moving to Robinson, IL, to become a high school English teacher and faculty advisor for the student newspaper. He is currently at work on his third novel.
Jonathan M. Cook’s Website: http://www.jonathanmcook.net/
Jonathon M. Cook Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.cook.351104
Jonathan M. Cook Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonathanmcook
Buy SINNERMAN:
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Rainy Days & Mondays Oct 17 Guest Post
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