GoneAway – The second edition is here
Shifting in and out of reality, this inspirational story follows 12-year old John Greber, who with his mother, Ellie, suffers abuse at the hands of John’s father, whom he calls “The Beast.” The Beast abandons his family and kidnaps John’s six-year old sister, Marny. John vows revenge as he seeks to confront his father and rescue his sister.
Jeffrey B. Allen takes us on a fantastic journey into a Land where John and his mother become embroiled in a Civil War that could destroy the Land and the World, so John must tread carefully. This coming-of-age novel travels a totally different path than expected. With both poignancy and adventure, it proves that the strength of the human spirit can overcome all odds.
“There is a faint dream-like quality to this book, a metaphoric attribute as it deals with themes of friendship, loss, violence, courage, greed, innocence, selfishness and love. It is an adventure, an allegory, a bittersweet fantasy filled with subtle meaning and depth that never loses its appeal. GoneAway Into the Land is a captivating book with a creative narrative that quietly lures a reader into an original world that is fully realized and thoroughly absorbing. It transcends into a superb piece of fiction, and I recommend it highly.” – A.F. Stewart, author
Jeffrey B. Allen was blessed with an incredible imagination. But not only that. GoneAway is a novel that will invite your imagination to soar beyond its limits. It will rekindle sweet childhood memories, yet you will feel such a powerful connection to the main character, who suffers so intensely in the opening chapters. You will discover yourself holding your breath during some of the opening scenes which are absolutely riveting.
The Land that John travels into is a place of sensory fullness. Memorable characters, such as Hampton Ducksberry, and his loveable companion, Albertson, will linger in your thoughts for a very long time. You will find yourself routing for John as he is forced to confront the worst of villains while searching for his kidnapped sister, Marny. All of this serves as a backdrop to John’s personal discoveries, some heart-wrenching and others exhilarating. While GoneAway feeds the imagination, it addresses serious life issues in a thoughtful, soul-stroking way. It’s not too often a novel comes along where, after you finish reading it, you put it down, and think, “Superb. Now someone has to make this into a movie.”
Shifting in and out of reality, this inspirational story follows 12-year old John Greber, who with his mother, Ellie, suffers abuse at the hands of John’s father, whom he calls “The Beast.” The Beast abandons his family and kidnaps John’s six-year old sister, Marny. John vows revenge as he seeks to confront his father and rescue his sister.
Jeffrey B. Allen takes us on a fantastic journey into a Land where John and his mother become embroiled in a Civil War that could destroy the Land and the World, so John must tread carefully. This coming-of-age novel travels a totally different path than expected. With both poignancy and adventure, it proves that the strength of the human spirit can overcome all odds.
“There is a faint dream-like quality to this book, a metaphoric attribute as it deals with themes of friendship, loss, violence, courage, greed, innocence, selfishness and love. It is an adventure, an allegory, a bittersweet fantasy filled with subtle meaning and depth that never loses its appeal. GoneAway Into the Land is a captivating book with a creative narrative that quietly lures a reader into an original world that is fully realized and thoroughly absorbing. It transcends into a superb piece of fiction, and I recommend it highly.” – A.F. Stewart, author
Jeffrey B. Allen was blessed with an incredible imagination. But not only that. GoneAway is a novel that will invite your imagination to soar beyond its limits. It will rekindle sweet childhood memories, yet you will feel such a powerful connection to the main character, who suffers so intensely in the opening chapters. You will discover yourself holding your breath during some of the opening scenes which are absolutely riveting. The Land that John travels into is a place of sensory fullness. Memorable characters, such as Hampton Ducksberry, and his loveable companion, Albertson, will linger in your thoughts for a very long time. You will find yourself routing for John as he is forced to confront the worst of villains while searching for his kidnapped sister, Marny. All of this serves as a backdrop to John’s personal discoveries, some heart-wrenching and others exhilarating. While GoneAway feeds the imagination, it addresses serious life issues in a thoughtful, soul-stroking way. It’s not too often a novel comes along where, after you finish reading it, you put it down, and think, “Superb. Now someone has to make this into a movie.”
Awesome!
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
Dear Polpray,
Indeed you may use a quote from my blog. I am honored. Please put the link into you post as you said and them please also send to my e mail the link to that page of your blog
jeff@jeffreyballen.com
If you prefer to leave the link in the comment section of my blog that is fine as well.
Thank you
Jeffrey B. Allen
very informative thank you
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Dear Donnell,
Thank you for your comment. Could you be more specific. I would like to know more about your search and more about what it is most people agree with.
Thanks,
Jeffrey B.Allen
Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Thank You
[...] Check it out Second Edition / Check it out [...]
Review by Sarah Macdonald, New York, New York
January 7, 2010
GoneAway Into the Land. Wow. I begin this review at eight in the morning, only four hours after finishing one of the most unique reads I have had in ages. I bought the book on a recommendation from a book blog I follow where Jeffrey B. Allen’s, GoneAway into the Land was placed number one on the top ten list for 2009. I have never been misled by the reviewers on this site, however, after glancing at it when it was originally reviewed I moved on to another book and forgot about it. I decided to buy GoneAway only after I read the overall consensus. How could I not?
The first chapter immediately gripped me. I knew from the brief synopsis on the cover and descriptions I had read previously that I was into a fantasy book, but the beginning does not start out that way at all. The first fifty pages take you into the life and mind of a twelve year old boy who is living with his mother and younger sister under the fear and oppressiveness brought on by a very nasty and abusive father. John, the twelve year old boy, and main character, aptly names his father the beast. Although, what happens during the first fifty pages is disturbing, I was drawn in, I couldn’t stop reading. The author sprinkles you with shadows of where the story is headed and also fills you with a deepening compassion for John and his mother and of course a loathing for the father that only grows stronger as the story progresses.
Part II throws you directly into the fantasy yet pulls you out just as you are about to close the book and say, “I’ll pick this up another time.” Don’t, because Allen has a unique gift as a writer. He weaves the reality with the fantasy better than any author I have read in years. You are soon following the quest of a boy into his own fantasy world which becomes known as the land. The land is created by John. It is so relevant and wonderfully obvious that, as the reader, you are willingly led along, all the while being sucked deeper and deeper into this fascinating muse.
GoneAway Into the Land is an incredible book because it never becomes a fairy tale. It is one of those fantasy fiction books that defy a genre classification. GoneAway is a slow, steady series of revelations that turns into a superior coming of age story where you must root for the hero and wish the worst for the villains. Yet, along the way there are intricate philosophical and symbolic interactions among an abundance of wonderful and unique characters. GoneAway Into the Land is a large story with multiple plots. As a result, there are times when it is easy to question Allen’s motives, yet the interplay of the plight of the land with its parallels to the world, as well as the ultimate quest of the hero will actually cause you to pause to reflect, or go back to re-read just to get the full impact. When it all starts to come together, you had better plan your time because you will not easily put this book down. And be prepared for a few surprises.
When Allen first introduces his reader to the land it is easy to take literally this fantasy place he dreamed up for the benefit of his hero, twelve year old John Greber. It would also have been easy to label it rather a silly place where sweet flavors are invented. But you quickly lose that feeling because of Allen’s talent to send you a powerful message that this land is not what it seems. Its relevance to modern society, politics, greed, love, hate, life and death is astounding. And the relevance to the solutions John is searching for make its outward appearance perfectly sensible.
I recommend this book highly. It can be enjoyed on many levels, but I for one took a great deal from this book. The enormous compassion and relationship I developed throughout the story with the struggle of one boy to reconcile his life and find a place where he could be at peace will not soon leave me. And the characters I came to love, and some others I loathed, will also stay with me for a long time to come. A good read is something that remains in your mind as an indelible impression. GoneAway Into the Land is just such a novel.
Actually,good post. thx
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Thank you – I have been very frustrated with it because there is so much more to do to get it up and running properly – Its nice to hear. I will be adding excrpts from my new book this weekend.
[...] Check it out Second Edition / Check it out [...]
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[...] you can create new ones is sometimes one of the hardest things an author must do. The characters in my novels are as real to me as actual people who have come into my life, made an impact, and then drifted [...]
Thank you for your comment. I am giving a course in Character development at Northampton Community College this summer. If you live anywhere nearby you should sign up.