Scan barcode
thomaswjoyce's review
4.0
After a brief prologue to give us a taste of the Monochrome and the background of the book, we meet Donovan Candle, the protagonist. Once a budding author, he seems to have become stagnant in his life, working a tedious office job and just waiting for that promotion. While he is happily married, there seems to be little else in his life to be happy about, with having to cut back on spending and being frustrated by his current writing project, not to mention a strained relationship with his brother. So far, Donovan’s existence can be described as mundane, and often depressing. But this changes when he begins to experience the unusual phenomenon of disappearing from view.
While this experience reflects the way he has come to view his life, with co-workers failing to acknowledge him and even his own wife, Donna, seemingly ignoring his comments, it does present him with the opportunity to prove himself. After a week of fading out of reality, with the occurrences growing more frequent and the effects worsening (Donna becoming more and more distant, and the appearance of shadowy and frightening figures), mysterious and sinister Aleister Dullington makes his move. Through a kidnapping by Dullington’s minion, he hopes to force Donovan to find Albert Sparrow, a man who escaped Dullington’s clutches in the past, and continues to elude him. But, given Donovan’s dull and uninteresting existence up to this point, will he be able to step up to the plate and do what needs to be done?
Keisling captures the hopelessness of Donovan’s situation in the beginning of the book, so much so that the reader could be forgiven for being concerned for the author’s frame of mind at the time. With Donovan being a budding author himself, losing his self-confidence thanks to a thankless job that just about covers the bills and leaves little time for creativity, many readers with aspirations of one day penning their own bestseller may recognise themselves in the protagonist. With that said, once Donovan is forced into action by the demands of Dullington and the realisation that there is more to perceived reality than meets the eye, the excitement picks up and we feel invested in Donovan’s quest, as though we are along for the ride.
Being the first book in the trilogy, Keisling must walk a fine line between showing too much too soon and, thus, risking the narrative becoming bogged down in exposition about the Monochrome and the roles played by Dullington and Sparrow, or not showing enough to keep the reader interested. Keeping Dullington at arm’s length, maintaining an air of mystery around him, and having him rely on his henchman to coerce Donovan, not only creates tension about the antagonist and the extent of his influence, but also builds anticipation for book two. Reader’s will be excited to further witness Donovan’s transition from a dull drone to a man of action. With a rich mythology hinted at throughout book one, and with a credible protagonist in whom we can all believe and root for, as well as a delightfully sinister antagonist, old and new Monochrome fans alike will be eagerly anticipating the completion of the trilogy.
While this experience reflects the way he has come to view his life, with co-workers failing to acknowledge him and even his own wife, Donna, seemingly ignoring his comments, it does present him with the opportunity to prove himself. After a week of fading out of reality, with the occurrences growing more frequent and the effects worsening (Donna becoming more and more distant, and the appearance of shadowy and frightening figures), mysterious and sinister Aleister Dullington makes his move. Through a kidnapping by Dullington’s minion, he hopes to force Donovan to find Albert Sparrow, a man who escaped Dullington’s clutches in the past, and continues to elude him. But, given Donovan’s dull and uninteresting existence up to this point, will he be able to step up to the plate and do what needs to be done?
Keisling captures the hopelessness of Donovan’s situation in the beginning of the book, so much so that the reader could be forgiven for being concerned for the author’s frame of mind at the time. With Donovan being a budding author himself, losing his self-confidence thanks to a thankless job that just about covers the bills and leaves little time for creativity, many readers with aspirations of one day penning their own bestseller may recognise themselves in the protagonist. With that said, once Donovan is forced into action by the demands of Dullington and the realisation that there is more to perceived reality than meets the eye, the excitement picks up and we feel invested in Donovan’s quest, as though we are along for the ride.
Being the first book in the trilogy, Keisling must walk a fine line between showing too much too soon and, thus, risking the narrative becoming bogged down in exposition about the Monochrome and the roles played by Dullington and Sparrow, or not showing enough to keep the reader interested. Keeping Dullington at arm’s length, maintaining an air of mystery around him, and having him rely on his henchman to coerce Donovan, not only creates tension about the antagonist and the extent of his influence, but also builds anticipation for book two. Reader’s will be excited to further witness Donovan’s transition from a dull drone to a man of action. With a rich mythology hinted at throughout book one, and with a credible protagonist in whom we can all believe and root for, as well as a delightfully sinister antagonist, old and new Monochrome fans alike will be eagerly anticipating the completion of the trilogy.
anthonyjrapino's review
4.0
I enjoyed this novel quite a bit. The premise is completely original, and the plotting fast paced. I think what I liked best is the way the plot doesn't overpower theme. I felt there was a clear and concise message throughout the narrative, which lends an extra layer of meaning, and thereby depth, to the novel. Highly recommended.
typicalbooks's review
4.0
Speaking to everyone stuck in a work-a-day family-land life, A Life Transparent shakes that core in the way that Dark City and Mullholland Drive once did. Wonderful work. A great book to lend to those needing a wake up call and a good read for those that wander every other path but ordinary.
I do wish it had been a little longer to flesh out the underground scenes, but the length works for a weekend read, right. Thank you Todd, and good luck with the sequel.
I do wish it had been a little longer to flesh out the underground scenes, but the length works for a weekend read, right. Thank you Todd, and good luck with the sequel.
tracyreads's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
brennanlafaro's review
4.0
Before Devil’s Creek knocked the indie horror scene on it’s ass last year, there was A Life Transparent. You just didn’t know it. While elements of horror pop up in the first entry in the Monochrome trilogy in the form of monsters and a creepy villain, the real horror comes from the everyday.
Following main character Donovan Candle, Keisling explores the all-too common idea of falling into a joysucking vocation that doesn’t remotely resemble what you thought you’d be doing with your life. Sacrificing your worth for a steady 9-5 paycheck. Candle begins to flicker in and out of existence and the story snowballs from there, delving into the weird and territory that would feel at home in science fiction.
Keisling’s characters serve as archetypes, telling a cautionary tale as much as exploring a personal journey. The strife revolving around everything from being underappreciated in a dead-end job to trying to balance personal responsibility with truly living make the story and main characters immensely relatable.
The degree of fear harnessed from fading away while the rest of the world remains indifferent around you reaches out to a primal nature within us all.
Keisling keeps the first book in this trilogy well contained while offering up nuggets and leaving some threads to tug on for future stories. We end up with a book that satisfies on its own, but teases the reader with a wider world and further adventures to be had. The expanded version, namely the added coda, go a long way with set up, and the afterword from the author serve to enhance the reader’s understanding and enjoyment.
Check out A Life Transparent from Bloodshot Books and be on the lookout for the other books in the trilogy - The Liminal Man and Non-Entity - coming later this year.
I received a copy from the author for review consideration.
I received a copy from the author for review consideration.
More...