OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Crossing Lake Pontchartrain" by Arthur Byrd.]

One day, Larry’s dad, Thomas, went fishing, and he never came home. Larry blamed himself. He felt that his father did not love him enough and left. One of his father’s hobbies was working with metal. He would make unbelievable sculptures with it, and Larry loved to watch his father do it. Larry’s mother, Ina, never gave up on Thomas. Larry tried to find his father and even enlisted the help of a private eye. The only thing that they ever found was Thomas’ fishing boat. She always felt that he was alive and, for some reason, could not come home. She would celebrate his birthday yearly with a party and his favorite cake.

Crossing Lake Pontchartrain by Arthur Byrd takes place in two destinations, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana. There are six parts to the story of Larry and his family. 

When Larry grew up, he married Janine, and they had a son, Tim. Janine and Larry’s marriage soon fell apart as she wanted an open marriage. She had found a love interest and wanted to have both Larry and Bill in her life. Larry did not agree with this arrangement, so Janine left him and moved in with Bill. Larry took this hard and like always, blamed himself for not being good enough. This all stemmed from his father leaving and Larry not being good enough for him to stay. Larry also has a drinking problem, and his wife’s absence in his life gave him a reason to indulge a little too much. How does Larry’s journey end? Does he straighten out his life and realize that he wasn’t to blame for his father’s leaving?

I enjoyed reading this book. The author’s writing was smooth and flowed through the pages. You meet a lot of characters, mainly in New Orleans. Some of them are a little out in left field, but all are sympathetic to Larry’s plight. I have been to New Orleans several times, so the descriptions and places in the town were familiar to me. What I didn’t like about the story was Larry’s indifference to his drinking problem. He would go to an AA meeting without ever saying he would try to stop or have any intention of doing so. He would go home afterward and have a few drinks.

The book is a bit of a roller coaster ride with some twists and turns. There were no sex scenes to be uncomfortable with. There's no real profanity in it and just a few instances of violence. This book would benefit anyone whose parents left them when they were small and show them that it had nothing to do with them. I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was a really good book; it wasn’t the best book I ever read.

******
Crossing Lake Pontchartrain
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Life is full of both challenges and blessings, and one can seem to overshadow the other at times. In Larry's case, he happens to be swimming in challenges. Larry's marital problems receive the proverbial final nail in the coffin when his wife asks to bring another man into their marriage. Since his father's disappearance 20 years ago, his writing career and self-esteem have been anything but great. He eventually gets a job in New Orleans and meets a variety of interesting people who show him a different side of life and share insightful messages with him about art, clairvoyance, meditation, healing, and similar concepts. In Arthur Byrd's Crossing Lake Pontchartrain, a divorcee struggles to reconnect with his balanced, artistic self and accept his loss - a battle he gets closer to winning with each profound conversation he has with friends, lovers, and strangers.

It was fantastic! Arthur Byrd's realistic plot includes visual images, everyday activities, and insightful conversations that elevate you to a calm, meditative state like a monk on a serene mountain. Even after I finished the novel, I kept returning to it in my head to immerse myself in Larry's quest for wisdom. The absence of the protagonist's father and the book's depiction of clairvoyance create a sense of mystery and intrigue that makes it addictive. Larry appealed to me because he is a lovely, compassionate character who is interested in learning about everyone he meets and has a sweet relationship with his mother. Crossing Lake Pontchartrain is a deeply gripping narrative with resonant themes of family, Eastern philosophy, psychology, and art. Its cleverly placed messages will inspire you to "keep your eyes open for the roses starting to bloom" around you.

The emotional depth of the story and Larry’s struggle with abandonment and self-blame sounds like something that could resonate with many people. The exploration of family trauma, coping mechanisms, and the impact of unresolved grief seems powerful. While the protagonist’s indifference to his drinking problem might be frustrating, it also feels realistic for someone grappling with so much pain. I’m not sure if it’s something I’d prioritize right now, but I’d keep it in mind for when I’m in the mood for a character-driven, emotional read.

I know how Larry felt. I had a similar situation with my Dad. I could not understand why he left and I thought he didn't care for me. I found out later in life that he did care and had never stopped. I am glad that I found out the truth, because up until then, I held a grudge against him. You are right, this book should help people who had a parent disappeaer for no apparent reason. Than you for reviewing this book.

Losing someone in your life, especially someone you look up to, is very hard. You might blame yourself, but in the end it was meant to happen. Many people struggle with this, and having something that can show them it wasn't their fault is very important. Thank you for your honest review.