OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Halleluiah Baby" by Kathleen Martin.]

The Halleluiah Baby by Kathleen Martin is a soul-searching tale that grapples with life’s toughest questions.

Theresa “Treez” McDuffy just turned sixty. Her retired lifestyle adds to the feeling that she has no purpose. She lives in a single bedroom apartment in Toronto, and a harrowing emptiness plagues her every waking moment. After watching geese fly with confidence and joy, she is inspired to buy a station wagon, adopt a dog and leave everything else behind. Her destination is the Badlands National Park of South Dakota, but getting there is far from easy. Treez undergoes a series of misadventures and meets an eclectic range of individuals each step of the way.

This book is a short, quick read with a good blend of drama and humor. It is easy to become emotionally connected to the protagonist, whose struggle to find her place in this world is very relatable. The absolute best part of the book is the beginning, which is filled with a wonderful assortment of powerful lines. These include “once again, she would have to face another day of her life” and “all she wanted was to be in a state of complete nothingness.” The reader is immediately drawn into the protagonist’s engrossing mind. Presented in the close third person, the writing is charming and sincere.

Treez’s personality is often inconsistent. She is aware of the darkness of her mind but has a tendency to embrace it. At times, she second-guesses herself; at other times, she is profoundly confident. She reminds herself that there are millions of people in the world worse off than she is. Even so, she can’t move past her own terrible childhood and feeds her unhappiness. Treez is a complex creature, and that makes her a compelling character.

The narrative structure is similar to a typical independent film, in which the protagonist goes on a transforming journey and meets interesting people along the way. For the most part, the book is able to overcome this generic formula with its unique voice. The main problem with this structure is the recurring plot convenience. This is most apparent when strangers have useful knowledge that directly pertains to Treez’s emotional state.

The minor characters have compelling stories of their own, but little time is devoted to any of them. Each adds something meaningful to the story, even if heavy-handed. The story is fast-paced and reads like a series of snapshots. The most disappointing aspect of the book is its length. If it were longer, certain story threads could have been more fully developed, especially the ending.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is a well-written book with intriguing characters and an engaging perspective. In the beginning, I felt that the words were speaking directly to my soul. Unfortunately, this feeling wasn’t always sustained. The story occasionally seemed as unsure of itself as its protagonist. It would lose me, and then draw me back in again.

If you don’t like stories about self-actualization, then this isn’t the book for you. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy adventure narratives and explorations of humanity.

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The Halleluiah Baby
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Like Tanaya's review? Post a comment saying so!

I am a sucker for transforming journeys. I'll put this one on my to read list. Great review!

I enjoyed reading your review! The premise of the book sounds interesting - get a station wagon - check; adopt a dog - check; go on a long trip - check.

One odd tidbit - I considered choosing this book when I saw it on the review list last week. One thing that put me off was that the sample on Amazon looked like an edited draft with crossed out and underlined words on every page. I thought the review book was going to be like that, too.

Sounds good. Thank you.

Great review, Tanaya. The protagonist of the book seems to be very real.

gali wrote:Sounds good. Thank you.

I just wanted to thank you for pointing out the editor marks in the "Look Inside the Book" section of my book. I have contacted Kindle, made the corrections, and redownloaded the book. I am totally new to this process and it's painfully obvious that I have a lot to learn. Your comment, however, saved me from future embarrassment.

Thanks again,
Kathleen Martin

@bookowlie ^she was talking to you...you officially win the most useful comment of the year award

katz123 wrote:

gali wrote:Sounds good. Thank you.

I just wanted to thank you for pointing out the editor marks in the "Look Inside the Book" section of my book. I have contacted Kindle, made the corrections, and redownloaded the book. I am totally new to this process and it's painfully obvious that I have a lot to learn. Your comment, however, saved me from future embarrassment.

Thanks again,
Kathleen Martin

On a positive note, it sounds like the problem was only in the sample and not the e-book.

Excellent review. Does the dog play a significant role in the story?

Yes, he certainly does. His contribution has a lot to do with his name, "Guido", which is Italian for "I guide."