Book Title: Water Landing
Author: Jonathan Slusher
Publisher: Cow Chip Press
Publisher’s Address: Carney’s Point, NJ
ISBN: 9780578029825
Reviewed by Michele Tater for Review the Book

“Water Landing” consists of 19 chapters with their own titles, and the text is double lined through-out which makes it easy on the eyes and quicker to read; I read it in one day. The author has written this book like the one character is sitting down having a causal conversation with someone he just meet. The reader is not given unnecessary details, but is given enough information to understand what is going on.

The main character, Luke Kettle, is a 28 year ago man who seems, in my interpretation, to be going through a middle life crisis at a very young age. He feels his life will not get any better, especially since he has the worst luck with his love life.  With one girlfriend out of his life, his friend who is a girl, but not yet his girlfriend has cancer. Since my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer years ago I could relate to his helplessness against the disease and the eternal hopefulness that she would get better. I am lucky that my mom is doing fine now. I found it interesting that his parent were from Germany and of course spoken German. My mom’s parents were from Austria and spoke German too, but I never learned, maybe I will in the furture.

Throughout the book there are descriptions of landmarks and/or parks in both the states of New Jersey and of California, which showed how these states are different and also how they are the same. Almost like how Luke has changed as he moved from one place to the next.

In my opinion this book is about a young man’s journey in making amends with the future plans that will never happen, almost like morning for them. Even with the dwellings of the what ifs, Luke has to face facts that things are never going to be the same and neither is he. “Water Landing” is a look into the grieving process in a different perspective, which showed me that everyone really does have their own way of grieving.

I would recommend this book to young adult and adults who would like a book that is a quick read and not skimpy with the story line and the depth of characters.

Reviewed on 08/11/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member michele tater

 Luke Kettle is going through the motions. He dreams of the life he wants but doesn’t act on it, instead just continuing on with the day-to-day grind. When Sara succumbs to cancer his latest dream is shattered. Their relationship was still young but he had been dreaming of a long life with her and now he is faced with the reality of the situation. He has been asked to speak at her funeral and finds himself reflecting on how he got to this point in his life and finding the motivation to act on his dreams instead of watching them drift away.

 “Water Landing” by Jonathan Slusher is a thought provoking book written in a first person conversational style that really helps the reader relate to the main character.  Luke bounces around a bit in telling his story which gives it an air of authenticity, almost as if it were a memoir instead of a work of fiction. I saw similarities between myself and Luke that drew me into the story and allowed me to mourn with him at Sara’s funeral. I also spent a little time reflecting on my own life in an effort to find some insight similar to what Luke experienced. All in all this is a well-written book that I think we can all relate to and I think Mr. Slusher has a bright future ahead of him should he continue to write with such depth and purpose.

Reviewed on 03/25/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member April Hanson

Pretty often, the day to day grind of lfe gets in the way of really living it.  Unfulfilled dreams, relationships, life-long goals etc., can often take a backseat to the day to day.  Usually, we need a real wake-up call to become aware of this.

In this novel, our main character, Lukas Kettle, is doing just that.  He wants to write, but is working a lab job to make ends meet.  His last relationship was several years ago; he still hasn't moved on.  In fact, he still sees her everyday at work.  He reconnects with a childhood friend, Sara, and they seem headed to a real relationship.  Only one problem, Sara is suffering from cancer, and has a few months left to live.  Jonathan Slusher, the author of Water Landing, uses a really interesting technique of story telling.  Going back in time, he recounts the relationship with Sara, and lets us in on the daydreams and hopes that Lukas pins on this relationship.  Near the end of her life, Sara cuts herself off from Lukas, leaving him without closure on the relationship, with only his fantasies of making it work left to him.

Lukas travels back to his hometown for Sara's funeral, and to hook up with some old highschool buddies.  In the process, he reviews his life and where circumstances have gotten him thus far.

Told with excellent insight and tenderness, Jonathan Slusher has written a novel that stays with the reader after finishing it.  You'll examine your life, and possibly look at things from a different slant after reading.  You come to care about Lukas, and mourn Sara's passing with him.  I could not put this book down, I found it captivating, well written and satisfying.  I look forward to more work by this very promising author.

Reviewed on 10/03/2009 by ReviewTheBook.com Member LAURI COATES