The following five-star review of To Love Mercy was posted Nov. 5 at BarnesandNoble.com by “A Voracious Reader.” I’ve never met “Voracious Reader” but I know who she is; she’s the girlhood friend of Ellen Sandler and she lives in Easton PA. I won’t identify her further; she chose not to identify herself on BarnesandNoble.com, so I don’t wish to risk embarrassing her. I’ve broken her review into paragraphs, but otherwise it appears unedited. I’m sharing it because, frankly, I choked up when I re-read it.

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“Thanks for the Memories”

“If someone hands me a book, I read it. I usually don’t go trawling for stuff to read on my own. Ordinarily I can’t remember the title or the author the day after, especially if the title is a page-turner or has been marketed (shudder) as a ‘great beach read.’ My oldest childhood friend, however, said to read To Love Mercy, and I’ve always valued her judgment. Once again, she didn’t let me down.

“Frank Joseph’s To Love Mercy has staying power for me because it evoked memories of my childhood I hadn’t thought about in years, because no matter what color you are (and I’m white) you have experiences where race has been an issue, and no matter what religion you are (I’m a Christian) you have experiences where your religion has been an issue, and no matter what age you are (I’m legally an adult), you have experiences where your age has been an issue.

“To say that Mr. Joseph’s book is about race or religion or childhood, however, is as simplistic as saying that the Bible is about a bunch of people who died a long time ago. Mr. Joseph weaves a tale in vernacular prose that jarringly evokes the commonality of our living in a country that has yet to become the smooth melting pot our founding fathers hoped to fashion because way too many of its ingredients are still roiling and burbling at cross-purposes, and it’s not a palatable mix. But then up pop the heads of Mr. Joseph’s two main characters, and you turn the last page feeling maybe this stew we live in ain’t so bad after all.

“By adding memories of real people at the conclusion of his novel, Mr. Joseph puts a concrete foundation under the story he has constructed, and you can’t read any of this without being flooded with memories of your own that touch, however lightly, upon many of the thoughts that flow from this really remarkable little book.”

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There are 11 reviews of To Love Mercy on BarnesandNoble.com and 21 on Amazon.com. Of these 32 reviews, 28 are five stars and four are four stars. Some of the others are as moving — to me, anyway — as this one. You can read them all (and post your own review) at:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780974478531&crvAll=1&crvStart=1&displayonly=CRV&z=y#CRV

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/0974478539/ref=cm_cr_dp_2_1/102-0702894-4718547?ie=UTF8&customer-reviews.sort%5Fby=-SubmissionDate&n=283155

I haven’t done overmuch self-promotion on this blog or e-blast or whatever you want to call it, but I’m doing so this time. I’ve achieved my life’s dream of writing a novel and, miracle of miracles, it’s been published. Miracle added upon miracle, it’s in its second printing less than 9 months after publication date. I no longer need to work for a living. I have my health. I have marvelous friends and many of them. I have the greatest family any man could wish for. My life isn’t perfect, but whose is? As this year draws to a close, I am a very lucky guy.

Frank Joseph
www.tolovemercy.com

P.S. The second printing of To Love Mercy includes a new — and marvelous — two-page map tracing the quest of Steve and Sass. It also includes a personal letter from me, in which I discuss my writing process and offer to appear at book clubs, in person or via phone.

This second printing won’t be in bookstores until the last 400-500 from the first printing are sold; but I have several hundred of them. If you haven’t yet read To Love Mercy — or are looking for a meaningful post-holiday gift — order directly from me and you’ll get an autographed copy from the second printing. Mention that you read it here (so I don’t send you a first-printing copy by mistake). Price is same as ever — $14.95 + $2 postage via Media Mail. Order via PayPal at www.tolovemercy.com/to_love_mercy_online_sales.html, or mail a check to:

Frank S. Joseph
5617 Warwick Pl.
Chevy Chase MD 20815-5503