Heaven Enough / Ken La Salle

Reviewed by: Pete Barber

Genre: Literary/Romance/Inspirational

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Availability

Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: YES Smashwords: NO Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Author and Playwright, Ken La Salle grew up in Santa Ana, California and has remained in the surrounding area his entire life. He was raised with strong, blue collar roots, which have given him a progressive and environmentalist view. As a result, you'll find many of his stories touching those areas both geographically and philosophically. His passion is intense humor, meaningful drama, and finding answers to the questions that define our lives. You can find out more about Ken on his website.

Description:

Matt Murphy and Diva were married for nearly twenty years, yet he did not "know" her. A poet and lover of culinary delights, she is struck by a car and killed instantly—randomly—on the wrong side of town.

When her brother, the "monk," appears for the funeral, Matt is set on an unprecedented course. The two find Diva's computer filled with preparations to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Over 2600 miles from Mexico to Canada...and she was leaving without her husband.

Matt takes it upon himself to hike the trail and sprinkle her ashes along the way. What happens in the first two hours is dumbfounding.

What happens next changes his life forever…

Appraisal:

An engaging, thought provoking, and well written story. Matt begins as something of a stereotype (a boring accountant). So the decision to hike the PCT is completely out of character, and yet, because of the shock and grief and guilt he feels over his wife’s death, it seems to make sense.

Most of the story evolves on the trail. I recently watched the movie, Wild, which also features a journey along the PCT. Although the trail does change Matt, this tale is quite different from Wild. I never quite knew where Matt’s journey was going to lead him, and the ending was surprising, sad, and yet uplifting at the same time. The only criticism I have is that Matt’s stuffy accountant personality is overdone in places, but never enough to make me consider quitting, and nowhere near enough to stop me from recommending the book.

Ken La Salle’s writing is easy on the eye and the book is well edited. Although it doesn’t strictly fit in any one category, there are elements of Romance, Literary Fiction and Inspirational writing in this book. If you enjoy any or all, I think you’ll enjoy Heaven Enough.

Format/Typo Issues:

Very clean.

Rating: **** Four stars