Travis Mohrman

Singular Points” introduces us to David. His wife has just died, which sends him spiralling into grief and anger. His despair over his loss leaves David hopeless and unable to control even the simplest of emotions. At first you’re all “This shit is heavy,” and it is, but Mohrman’s writing style keeps you reading anyway, although you want to bawl right along with David, which makes reading kind of challenging. (Not that I cried. We know I don’t do that.)

The really cool thing about this book is the hidden layers. On the surface, it’s just a story about really cool stuff happening, but there’s an intangible weight to the words and events within it, so you start looking deeper as you read. For example, David’s grief carries him into an alternate plane, but this parallel reality David experiences isn’t really that far-fetched. When you lose someone you love, it's like having a piece of your heart or soul ripped out, and the grief is often so intense that you really do exist on a different “plane” than everyone around you. So even though supernatural things are happening in this story that never happen in real life, the reader can totally relate to the symbolism of the world Mohrman creates.

Okay, that’s as deep as I get folks. Let’s move on to why I think you should read this book. (I’m trying not to give away any spoilers.)

“Singular Points” tackles themes and concepts that can be pretty explosive, like creation according to science and faith, spiritualism, and alternate realities, but it's subtle, not preachy. You don't feel as though you have to pick sides and you don't feel the author is doing so either. And (possibly the most important part of all) it’s funny. The heavy content of the book is brilliantly balanced with humor and his writing style is economical, but not harsh. Mohrman doesn’t clutter the story with a bunch of frilly words, which would be hard to resist given the themes of the story, and there’s a subtle… reassurance (?) in the narrative. I don’t know how to describe it. You’d have to read it. So do it now.
… (altro)

I’ve only read one book by Travis Mohrman so far, but I admire his smooth writing style, which allows you to sink effortlessly into the worlds he creates alongside the characters. And he doesn’t disappoint with Handro. These characters are new to me, but as I read, I felt as though I’d known them forever. Handro’s story is both sad and uplifting, if that makes any sense, but don’t mistake it for a squishy tale meant to tug at your heartstrings. This is an adventure that keeps you turning the pages in anticipation of what comes next.

Handro is going on my list of favorite books this year. It’s part of a series, which I haven’t read, but stands alone nicely. By that I mean, you don’t have to read the previous books to “get” Handro, but you’ll want to once you’re done.
… (altro)