Page Turner
“David Hudson’s Through the Grapevine is a page-turner that couldn’t be more timely. It’s about a woman, living in California wine country, who finds herself caught up in the immigration crisis, sheltering “illegals” and fleeing from gang-bangers. Her plight is entirely believable, thanks to Hudson’s deep understanding of how we make, or don’t make, our moral choices, and so is the novel’s northern California landscape, which he evokes with care and precision. The book is that great rarity–a thriller that also makes you think.”
Charles McGrath, former editor of the New York Times Book Review.
Great Rarity
“David Hudson’s Through the Grapevine is a page-turner that couldn’t be more timely. It’s about a woman, living in California wine country, who finds herself caught up in the immigration crisis, sheltering “illegals” and fleeing from gang-bangers. Her plight is entirely believable, thanks to Hudson’s deep understanding of how we make, or don’t make, our moral choices, and so is the novel’s northern California landscape, which he evokes with care and precision. The book is that great rarity–a thriller that also makes you think.”
Charles McGrath, former editor of the New York Times Book Review
It’s like not even reading. Just seeing the events unfold.
“Through the Grapevine”, a novel by my school roommate David Hudson, is a fine first novel, available exclusively through Amazon in a deal that supports independent writers. A bit like self-publishing but to a far wider public. Many self-published books have a wonderful basis but the authors lack the support for really good rewriting and careful editing. I am happy to note that David avoids these pitfalls with a writing style that that does not call attention to itself – look at this pretty sentence – but rather stays out of the way of the narrative. It’s like not even reading. Just seeing the events unfold.
Lynn and her husband Hank have retired from their professions and, not wanting to rusticate, have moved from the east to life as caretakers of a Sonoma County ranch. Then Lynn’s friend Karen shows up with Teresa, a vineyard worker fleeing an abusive foreman. Teresa cannot go to the police because for the past two decades she has lived here without papers. She needs safe shelter.
David writes from experience, with the principal characters our age, sixty five and up. He knows the Sonoma County area in a way similar to Lynn and Hank in that David lives in the southeast but his children are raising their families in Norther California. My sister and brother-in-law live in the area and David captures perfectly some of the places that I’ve visited. David writes of Sonoma with both familiarity and the happiness of fresh discovery.
David lets Lynn’s story unfold through third person acts and dialogue, thus avoiding some of the sensitivity issues that can arise when a man attempts to write from the point of view of a woman. The book speaks especially to those of us who came of age in a time of moral challenge and, just when we think cruise control has been engaged, moral challenges opens anew.
I hope all sentient people without ethical or luddite issues with Amazon will invest in this book.
Ian
Enjoyable Read
Hi Dave, I’ve finished reading your wonderful novel, and am so glad I had that opportunity….What an enjoyable read it was! Your descriptions of the magnificent natural environment, infused throughout the novel, were lovely–both poetic and knowledgeable–and in just the right amount. They were effective in painting the landscape as well as conveying the desire for peace, so meaningful to the character. Honestly, on the face of it, a story of a good girl doing good things and having good things come to her, might not necessarily be considered exciting. But yours was! The pace of the action and how it unfolded drew me in. One bad situation led to the next, surprising me and keeping me in suspense. I loved that about your book. And of course I liked the character. It was fun to see her (Lynn) get caught up in one harrowing situation after another, grow, and triumph. “Through the Grapevine” was a pleasure for me. I really appreciate your letting me read it.
Thanks so much, and best of luck,
Carole
Beautiful Surprise
“Through the Grapevine” was a beautiful surprise. Fortunately, it arrived on a Saturday because once I started it, I didn’t stop until I had finished it. Hudson has introduced characters that couldn’t be more apropos for today, and his vivid descriptions of place made me feel that I could smell the saltwater and sweat, the dry brush and the flowers. I could hear the birds – so many kinds of birds! But most of all I could feel the struggles. The angst, fear, sorrow, injustice. And the drive and determination. He beautifully demonstrated the magnitude of difference a single gesture from a single person can make and “at least in this case – one and one was more than two.” It was a gripping and inspiring read. A complex story told clearly, beautifully and simply, accessible by a broad audience.
And the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to me that there would inevitably be more opportunities looming, more dilemmas, more growth, and more challenges for these characters. These are characters that readers will want more of. They are realistic, flawed, engaging, hopeful, frightened and brave. And strong women are recognized for the leaders they are! I’m anxious to share this with my teenage granddaughter. That said, as currently more and more people are exposed to these dilemmas, I believe this is a perfect set-up for a series. So Amazon, if you’re listening, I really hope you’ll consider this as part of your Amazon Original Series offerings!
Barb
Well-Written Book
This is a very good, very well-written book for a first-time author. Dave has a wonderful knack for defining and describing a scene, with street names, bird and plant species, landscapes, sounds, thoughts, and emotions. The story and plot are topical and straight out of today’s headlines. Dave keeps the nerve-wracking action going and the reader engaged. I was up past my bed time two nights finishing the book.
Bruce
Thoroughly Enjoyed It
I just finished Through the Grapevine and thoroughly enjoyed it! The writing is beautiful, rich in detail and extremely intelligent. The story never lagged and kept me anxious to find out what would happen next, with many surprises along the way. The plight of the undocumented immigrants was heartbreaking. Great work!
Jan
