Bookish Thursday - Ghost With Two Hearts by Michael R. French

Yes, it's that time again! Another interesting book I am reviewing for WOW-Women on Writing.

A bit about the book...

Approaching 30, Adrian, a talented software engineer, takes stock of his wealth and accolades - and how unhappy he is. He doesn't make friends easily, dislikes social media, and was bloodied in a divorce. He finds no common purpose in a country defined by political vitriol, distrust, and inequality. Taking a leave of absence from his company, he travels to Japan with a samurai sword that his grandfather stole from a Japanese captain in World War Two. Adrian is determined to find its rightful heir. Doing the morally correct thing, he hopes, will make him feel better about his life.

Print Length: 193 Pages

Genre: Fiction, Cultural Heritage Fiction, Ghost Fiction

Publisher: Independently Published January 12, 2023

ISBN: 979-8370416842

Ghost with Two Hearts  is now available to purchase in print and as an e-book at Amazon.com.  Add it to your GoodReads reading listing as well.

And a bit about the author...

Michael R. French graduated from Stanford University where he was an English major, focusing on creative writing, and studied under Wallace Stegner.  He received a Master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.   He later served in the United States Army before marrying Patricia Goodkind, an educator and entrepreneur,  and starting a family.  

​In addition to publishing over twenty titles, including award-winning young adult fiction, adult fiction, biographies  and self-help books, he has written or co-written a half-dozen screenplays, including Intersection, which has won awards in over twenty film festivals.  He has also had a long business career in real estate, living in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  His passions include travel,  collecting rare books, and hanging with friends and family.   He describes his worst traits as impatience and saying "no" too quickly; his best are curiosity, taking risks, and learning from failure.

French’s work, which includes several best-sellers, has been warmly reviewed in the New York Times and been honored with a number of literary prizes.

Find Michael online at:

Author website:  http://www.michaelrfrench.com/

 

Blog site:  http://www.michaelrfrench.com/blog

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRFrenchAuthor/?fref=nf

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Michael-French/author/B001ITYVES?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrfrenchbooks/

Now for my opinion!

Quite frankly, living alone now, there are times I wish I had a 'friendly' kami, ghost, spirit, what-have-you, inhabiting my home. However, Adrian, on his journey to Japan looking for the owner of a katana, was less than excited about being in a house with one. That is until he decides to break his lease and leave early.

While looking for the rightful heir to a sword his grandfather had acquired during World War II in the Pacific Theater, Adrian is trying to mind some meaning in his life. Meaning that does not include interacting with a spirit.

Frankly, when starting the book, I was more than a bit jealous of Adrian being able to take a leave and go to Japan for an extended period of time. I also really enjoyed learning, from Adrian's point of view, about Japan and some of the customs and beliefs. Like many Westerners, I am intrigued by the East.

At 193 pages, this is a quick read, more of a novella than a novel. Definitely an afternoon on the porch read. Of course, if you want to immerse yourself in Japan like Adrian, some sake would be in order to sip during your read.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in Japan and glimpses into its culture, especially with regard to spirits or ghosts. 

For more opinions on the book, take a look at the following...