A Native's Tongue
by Michael D. Dennis
In Michael D. Dennis’s touching new novel, A Native’s Tongue, a young man, torn between two women,
struggles to find his way in the world.
As I walked out under the Los Angeles sky, the possibility of
becoming something more than a short order cook, living in the valley, and
resenting my dysfunctional family occurred to me…
Charlie Winters has never been an overachiever. He is used to just
getting by while living with his single mother and working a dead-end job at a
cheesesteak stand. Meanwhile, he’s constantly grappling with the voice of his
sister, who died in a tragic car accident years earlier, echoing in his head.
So when Violet, an older woman, sets her sights on Charlie and refuses
to let go, he follows along. He soon finds himself immersed in a destructive
relationship that still fails to fill the void within him.
But then he meets Jennifer, a mystical young woman whose energy and
life convinces Charlie to pursue her, even through the darkest corners of Los
Angeles, and sets their lives upon a path that can’t be stopped.
Escaping to the California coast, Charlie and Jennifer finally find
what they’ve always needed. But a sudden illness quickly pulls them both back
to LA. It is there, amid the sex, drugs, and split-second decisions that pulse
through the city, that tragedy strikes—threatening to tear Charlie and Jennifer
apart forever.
Love and tragedy collide in Michael D. Dennis’s poignant new
novel, A Native’s Tongue.
~~My
Thoughts~~
As the book begins, it
appears that Violet is in jail….why is the big question. Going back
and forth between the past and the present, the reader learns about the details
that led to this moment in which the story is taking place.
There are three main characters: Violet, Charlie and Jennifer. Although there are other character appearances, these three are really the heart of the story.
Violet – 50 shades of
fucked up. This chick is totally mental – completely
delusional. In her relationship with Charlie, she is the domineering
one…possessive in fact. She always wants sex on demand, wining and
dining him and expecting to do whatever she wishes. But once you
take a more solid look into her mind, you find that she is just a pathetic soul
wanting someone to love her for her, not what she could provide. She still is a
mental case, but you can’t help but feel sorry for her.
Charlie – a lost and
tormented soul. Hooking up with Violet is possibly the worst mistake
he could have made in my opinion. Violet completely used Charlie for
her own desire, but Charlie was a fool for going along with the whole
relationship. But all Charlie really wants is for someone to take care of
him and Violet is filling that roll – until Jennifer comes into the picture.
Upon first meeting Jennifer, Charlie doesn't even know her name,
but he has fallen in love…..hard. At times he is a little over the
top with his attraction to her.
“I wanted to know every
detail that made her different from the sea of girls I had met throughout my
life but didn't give a shit about. I had given her all of me. If
she was gone I would float back out into the Pacific Ocean and intentionally
forget to paddle back in. I would go so far out that even when my
survival instinct kicked in to propel me back toward land, it would be too
late.”
Jennifer – so sad. Her
life choices are taking her down a dangerous and morally wrong path. She
has led her life wanting for not. Her family is very well off, and
it seems she just wants to rebel in her family’s social sigma. When Charlie and
she do finally get together, it is like they are 'soul mates'. I truly
wanted to like her, but something was just off….maybe her sanity and mental
health.
Basically, all three of
the characters are train-wrecks. You don’t want to watch, but you
just can’t help yourself. The author has a way in making this a
truly unique story that instantly draws you into this crazy life of Charlie,
Violet and Jennifer. I must say that I have never read anything like
this before and it was a different experience for me. Not a bad
experience, just different. Told from different, alternating
perspectives and jumping back and forth between past and present, I really had
to pay attention to the details In order to keep up. The
ending….WOW....just WOW! I did not see that coming and it left me a
little speechless. The story line itself was intriguing and the
writing is impeccable. With complex characters, a plot filled with
multiple twists and turns, this one is guaranteed to keep your interest
throughout.
I give this one 4 out of 5 stars.
About the Author:
Michael D. Dennis is an author and playwright who earned
a degree in English literature from Loyola Marymount University. Winner of a
LMU Playwriting Award for his play Death of a Watchdog, Michael also
had his play, Hen in the Field, produced at the
Whitefire Theatre in 2012. His highly anticipated debut novel, A Native’s Tongue, will be
released in June 2014. Michael currently lives in Santa Monica,
California with his girlfriend and two dogs, Jack and Aurora.
~Author Links~
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