S. W. Clemens

In The Seal Cove Theoretical Society one man has to try and rebuild his life after the tragic death of his beloved wife. It starts at home with his neighbours and community who rally round after hearing the sad news. However it soon turns into a journey that the whole community become a part of, each member of the group soon realises that they all have issues and losses of their own to deal with and the humorous and sometimes uplifting journey begins bringing them closer to each other, finding love and life long friendships along the way.

The cast of characters are diverse and when reading I found I got to know each of them as the story progressed. I’d say that this is character driven novel, but the story was very compelling too, and I felt very familiar with the whole ethos of the town. I love stories based on family, relationships, friendships in all their manifestations so loved this story, but it left me wanting more! A highly recommended read from me.… (altro)

California author S.W, Clemens earned his degree in English Literature from the University of California, Riverside, and serves as a newspaper columnist, magazine editor and writer, and novelist. His books to date - TIME MANAGEMENT, WITH ARTISTIC LICENSE, EVELYN MARSH, and now THE SEAL COVE THEORETICAL SOCIETY, a novel that not only provides riveting entertainment, but also shares insights into various personality types and how they influence each other. His ability to create credible, even visual, characters makes this story about disparate people living together in a seaside town a likely consideration for cinematic adaptation! A hint - as Emily Abbott is introduced, writing a novel, ‘For a moment Emily Abbott tried to hold on to the vision of Grampa Ed and the real hero of the story she was writing, the little boy who would grow up to be Derek Law, the dashing reporter who mixed as comfortably with the riffraff as with the gentry, She pushed away from the desk and sighed…’ Thus one of the several personalities who deserves a wink is present as the novel opens, and the story flows: ‘A closet novelist. An erstwhile rock star. A retiring wine importer. A crab fisherman. A dot-com widow. What do they have in common? They're all denizens of the small town of Seal Cove in Northern California, and they're all members of a loose affiliation that calls itself The Seal Cove Theoretical Society. When Tom Birmingham has a near-death experience, Fate charges him with tying up "loose ends." A disparate group of neighbors rally to his aid, each bringing issues of their own to bear. The discovery of a cache of Prohibition Era liquor, and the auction/party that the Society stages, reveals the often-overlooked connections we find in Community.’

Witty, sensitive, and endlessly entertaining, this novel encourages us to look at our lives and interactions with others in a fresh light, all the while providing one engrossing and entertaining read. Very highly recommended.… (altro)

It is a gentle and funny examination of life and death in a small hamlet in Northern California The Seal Cove Theoretical Society. The narrative of the book centres on closet novelist Tom Birmingham and his encounter with near-death experiences. Following the incident, Fate assigns him the task of concluding "loose ends," and a variety of neighbours come to his aid while each contributing their own problems to the discussion.

The way this book examines the concept of community is one of its distinctive features. All of the people in the book are residents of the sleepy town of Seal Cove, and they are all a part of an informal group known as The Seal Cove Theoretical Society. The book highlights the frequently disregarded ties we find in the community via the numerous struggles and victories that the characters go through. It's also important to note the author's writing style. The book has a genuine sense of warmth and compassion throughout and is written in an approachable, soothing, and amusing style. It's simple for readers to relate to the story since the author does a great job of capturing the characteristics of the characters and the feel of the tiny town.

The story is given a new and interesting element by the discovery of a stash of alcohol from the Prohibition era and the auction/party that the Society throws. These events also serve as a gentle reminder that happiness and connection are always possible, even in the most trying circumstances. Overall, The Seal Cove Theoretical Society is a charming and endearing book that tackles the concept of community in a distinctive and enjoyable manner. It's a book that will appeal to those seeking a kindly and lighthearted investigation of life and death. I heartily recommend this book to anyone searching for a fun and interesting read because S.W. Clemens has a style of writing that is both captivating and accessible.… (altro)