Reviews
Reviews for
Gone Away Into the Land
By: Jeffrey B. Allen
Emma Felletti. Posted on Goodreads – January 4, 2010
I absolutely loved this book! There was one thing that bothered me just a little bit; I thought the author used Caps a bit too much in when the characters talk. I don’t like it when authors use that in books. Other then that I loved it! I can not wait to read the next one. Five Stars
The Book Nook
Gone Away Into the Land by Jeffrey Allen
The first chapter of the book sucks you in. But the second chapter spits you back out. That’s kind of how the entire first quarter of the book is. It’s written in two completely different worlds (literally). Half of the book is about John, Marny, The Beast (an abusive father) and their mother Ellie. The other half is about the Land, which really reminds me of Candy Land (the board game). It’s strange really. You’ve got these two parts that don’t really connect until about halfway through the book when they John and Ellie enter Candy Land, and the two sections are inseparable.
After John and Ellie finally get integrated into Candy Land, the book really began for me. Up until then (like 200 pages), I was reading through fairly quickly trying to keep up with all of the names and places in Candy Land. With Silfies, Siftars, Pursiers, and Tricossers it’s pretty hard to keep it all straight especially when you’re going back and forth between “The World” and The Land.
But once you’ve got a handle of who’s who and what’s what, the book is fascinating. I don’t want to tell you a whole lot about the story in fear that I’ll give away a lot of it, but it reminded me a lot of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory mixed with Lord of the Rings, and since I like both of those books, I really enjoyed it. The writing was solid and kept me interested in all of the different characters (and there are a lot), and the idea of a land of sweets was really intriguing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a little more challenging read (that is completely worth it). Or anyone that likes fantasy mixed with reality. I would definitely pick up another book by Allen if given the chance.
Authonomy Review Comments
Poppet wrote:
Jeff this is riveting. The tension escalates with each chapter to the point where I actually couldn’t handle it and stopped reading. Compelling, dramatic and palpable. Your writing is effective and excellent!
Poppet
Robin Helweg wrote:
Jeffrey, this is an altogether terrifying and fascinating book. I think the portrayal of John’s states of mind is extremely well developed (although the fantasy land feels excessive, repetitive, slows down what is otherwise a very rapid read). A great, great story through the first 7 or 8 chapters.
The only word I found out of place was the yellow banner across KyaSiftar’s chest ‘foretold’ of his importance. No, it didn’t prophesy. ‘Told’ would be better.
jrn1645 wrote:
I really enjoyed the organized randomness of the plot/characters which all come together and form a solid story which demands reflection and contemplation. The depth of the story is fun; with its imagery painting the scene for you both physically and emotionally. The advancement of the poem as the story progressed acted as a fine supplement to the plot.
NLM wrote:
Allen takes us on an edgy journey that transports the reader from fact to fiction as he reveals the uneasiness associated with the subject of domestic abuse. I was swept into the mind of John as he dealt with the confrontations with the Beast . And then John’s escape into the fantasy world becomes a recipe for quiet revenge. The story is adidcting from the get-go…can’t wait for the next book from Allen.
PATRICK BARRETT wrote:
Things certainly make more sense now that the missing chapters have re-appeared. This is a powerful account and has a truly authentic ring to the domestic violence. I have read up to chapter ten and the mythical side is still taking shape. On my shelf to continue reading. Patrick Barrett (Shakespeare’s Cuthbert)
mn73 wrote:
There are some nice touches early on here such as the ‘thoughts’ of the garage and the taxi, that I really liked. The story is dark and relentless, as you would expect from the subject matter but well written and beautifully drawn. My sympathies are with the female characters in the early stages of the novel and I hope there is a happy resolution to be had somewhere at the end. I am putting this on my shelf.
pamom4 wrote:
Gone Away Into The Land….by Jeffery B. Allen. Truly a vacation spot that takes you to depths of the unexpected. The more that you read, the deeper this story gets while remaining light hearted and fun to read. This book leaves you with a feeling of yearning for more. As you travel throughout the land with John and his mother, Ellie, you are on a journey to places that you only dare to imagine. Mr. Allen has found a way to depict self exploration, our journey through life, the wonders of the afterlife, intense life lessons and the wonders of youth masterfully hidden within a light hearted story. Find yourself in a world where not only is it impossible to forget the pleasures of your childhood; but a place where you can embrace them and make them part of your soul.
GEOFFY wrote:
JEFFREY
Your talent shows again, your success as an author is certain, When will your next book be available ?
G.H.
nickfire wrote:
I took the book to work to read in the quiet times…..i just could not put it down…..everything i want from a book….so enjoyable.
Elinor Evans wrote:
Jeffrey, there is no doubt that you can write a compelling story here. I always try to avoid reading too much about child abuse but your story is much more than that. You choose your descriptive vocabulary very well to make the reading crisp and engaging. I think you need to insert the word ‘which’ before the word ‘hung’ in your first sentence, though, to make it read smoothly. This is obviously a typo as I have no negative criticism of this. I am backing you now,
Elinor
Review posted on Goodreads by Carrie Felletti – November 4th, 2009
Let me start off by saying in order for me to give a book a 5 star rating, it has to completely consume me and when I’m finished reading it, I’m still thinking about it days later. I love this book. I love stories that you find yourself stopping at periods and pausing at commas to get the full effect. There was so much depth, which so many books lack these days. The poetry of Jeffery Allen’s words allowed my mind to truly see the unique characters that became part of my life for awhile. I loved them and some, I even loved to hate. I usually rush though stories, just so I can start another, but with GONEAWAY INTO THE LAND, I took my time. A whopping week! And now as I write my review, I’m still attached to the characters I’ve come to love.
About the story...GONEAWAY INTO THE LAND is unlike anything I have ever read before. It’s a completely unique story. Think of the children’s board game CANDYLAND gone wrong. Think of the characters, to name a few, King Kandy, Lord Licorice and the Molasses Monster. Think of Tim Burton getting his hands on it and wrapping his mind around the chaos.
Jeffery Allen fills your mind with colors and the love of sugary things. I popped Skittles and M&M’s the entire time I read it. Not only do colors consume you but the plot is gripping with page turning suspense. At times I thought of, LORD OF THE RINGS when battles commenced. Throughout the story you are introduced to characters and taken away into their adventures. Piece by piece all this stories and characters come together for the big battle in the end.
I would recommend this story to YA and adults, though above average young children would love it too. Great for children that know how to let themselves fall into a fantasy world. This story has a sequel but it doesn’t leave you hanging. There is enough closure but still I long for more. I look forward for the follow-up and happy to add this book to the shelves in my own family library.
Erin O’Riorden / Pagen Spirits book Reveiws
Condensed review
I rarely give a novel five stars, but I was tremendously impressed with the quality of storytelling in GoneAway Into the Land. Remember, in the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, when Willy Wonka took the children and their guardians for a ride in a boat? Remember how the boat ride suddenly because dark and sinister, and you sensed there was something seriously evil afoot in the chocolate factory? Keep that boat ride in mind, and you’ll have some idea of where GoneAway Into the Land (2008, Wandering Sage Publications) is going to take you.
“His name was Danny Greber, Daniel Johannes Greber, but I named him the beast.” From its opening line, GoneAway crackles with danger. Author Jeffrey B. Allen creates a vivid, animated world in which trains breathe and an attic full of discarded housewares plots its revenge. Clearly, Allen has a poet’s eye. His young hero, thirteen-year-old John, has a poet-warrior’s heart. Imagine Harry Potter if, instead of the slightly unpleasant Dursleys, Harry had been raised by a full-grown mountain troll.
John’s beast of a father is unpredictable and dangerous. He takes the story book villain to a whole new level of greed and ignorance. “The beast” finally goes too far when he disappears, taking John’s little sister, Marny, with him. The search for Marny leads John and his mother, Ellie, in the Land, a place they couldn’t have imagined in their wildest dreams. (Think of Candyland crossed with Gregory Maguire’s vision of Oz and you’ll have something of an idea.) Allen skillfully combines the everyday world with the fantastic, a seemingly seamless combination which reminds the reader of the very best of fantasy novels. Yet, GoneAway never imitates the style of other fantasies. It remains fresh and surprising, giving the reader little thrills of recognition but never descending into fairy tale cliches. A note at the end of the book promises the GoneAway series will continue in a second book. The GoneAway series promises to be a fascinating one, as the first book ends on notes of hope, but also of missed opportunity. It will be rewarding to see how the series develops.
GoneAway Into the Land is a highly satisfying reading fix for older children. It will not disappoint adult fans of fantasy, either. Readers who enjoyed Keith Miller’s The Book of Flying and other fairy
O’Riorden Ten best for 2009
Gone Away was her # I Choice
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January 12, 2008
The Ten Best Books I Read This Year
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10. The Surrender of Persephone by Selena Kitt (2009; Phaze Books) retells the Classical Greek myth of the virgin goddess of spring, Persephone, and her abduction by the god of the Underworld, Hades. In myth, Persephone grows into her role as queen of the Underworld to become a powerful and mysterious goddess. In Kitt’s uncensored version, Persephone chafes at her mother Demeter’s restrictiveness and dim view of males, both human and divine.
Up from the depths of the earth comes Hades, also known as Aidon. He lifts Persephone into his chariot and takes her to the eerily lovely splendor of his Underworld kingdom, the land of the dead. In his mind, this is a perfectly acceptable arranged marriage, a deal between Aidon and Persephone’s father Zeus. Persephone feels a mixture of fear and attraction to the handsome, amber-eyed god. A thoroughly modern spin on an ancient fable.
9. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris. Many things happen in this book (including Alcide’s ascension to leader of the Shreveport pack and the appearance of a new fairy), but the entire effort is rather disjointed. Sookie is at her most fickle (she’s suddenly keen on Calvin Norris and Eric, not so much Alcide and Quinn), and there is a notable lack of romance. Interesting, but not the best of the Southern Vampire series. On the other hand, Bill seems to want Sookie back…could the long-awaited reconciliation be in the works?
8. Dead After Dark by Sherrilyn Kenyon, J. R. Ward, Susan Squires and Dianne Love. The four stories in this collection are all highly entertaining. The best of the best is J.R. Ward’s “The Story of Son.” It’s not part of her Black Dagger Brotherhood storyline, but it’s excellent, with a truly engaging heroine and a darkly romantic, tragic hero, a bit like Z in the Brotherhood. (And he’s my favorite.) This is the first I’ve read from the other authors, but I’ll certainly be wanting more in the future thanks to this introduction. All of the stories could be themed “They came from different worlds.” Very spicy, very diverse tales, all very good.
7. Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez. Ever since the days of Scoobie Doo, teens have wondered whether adults were conspiring to get them. And you know what? Sometimes they’re right. Daisy Giordano is not only a resident of the quirky town of Nightshade, but also the only “norm” in a family of psychics. When girls at her high school start turning up undead, she and her hunky best friend Ryan must get to the bottom of this mystery. Is a vampire on the loose? Could it be Nurse Phillips, or perhaps Miss Foster, the head cheerleading coach? Daisy may not be gifted with her mother’s and sisters’ special powers, but she is smart, curious, and above all determined. If anyone can get to the bottom of this, Daisy can.
6. Hell’s Belles by Jackie Kessler. There are many reasons to love Hell’s Belles by Jackie Kessler (Zebra Books, 2007). One is its heroine, Jezebel, who is literally a cloven-footed demon spawned in the depths of Hell. When Hell undergoes a change in management, succubus Jezebel is forced to give up her career of seducing the souls from mortal men and become a nightmare. Jezebel doesn’t adapt well to the change, fleeing the Lake of Fire to become a mortal. And, since mortals have to pay the rent, she becomes a stripper.
Lacking a soul, Jezebel certainly isn’t planning on falling in love. Still, when she meets Paul Hamilton, she’s more fascinated by him than an ex-demon should be. Paul is beautiful, to be sure, but with his “poet’s eyes” and boxer’s broken nose, he’s also a sweet and sensitive soul.
Other characters in this book are also well-written and interesting. There’s Daun, the incubus. He gets his own book, Hotter Than Hell, two more volumes into Kessler’s Hell on Earth series. Then there’s Lucifer himself, who’s given perhaps the most sympathetic and romantic portrayal since Milton’s Paradise Lost. I was delightfully surprised by Kessler’s reinterpretation of Lucifer.
Another wonderful surprise awaiting readers of Hell’s Belles is the music. Kessler animates Jezebel’s strip club with with classic Melissa Etheridge, new INXS (”Pretty Vegas,” with JD Fortune as lead singer), The Bloodhound Gang and, best of all, a U2 medley with “Desire” and “Mysterious Ways.” I wanted to stick a five dollar bill into the paperback to tip the dj.
A fellow reviewer of Hell’s Belles found the ending “a bit pat,” but I disagree. The ending made me cry, with its poignant blend of sadness and hope. I highly recommend Hell’s Belles to all lovers of paranormal and fantasy romance.
5. The Singular Exploits of Wonder Mom and Party Girl by Marc Schuster. First rule of parenting: you don’t use drugs in front of your kids. Especially if you’re the one member of the parent-teacher association charged with running the school’s Just-Say-No program.
Audrey Corcoran is blindsided when her husband of ten years leaves her for a much-younger, thinner woman named Chloe. Desperate not to lose her young daughters the way she lost Roger, Audrey decides to get in touch with her fun side. Her adventures lead to her try cocaine, against her better judgement. In this tragicomic novel, Audrey copes with life on and off drugs.
I’m always a little amazed when a male author paints such a touching and realistic portrait of a woman’s life. Scott Simon did it for 17-year-old Irena Zaric in Pretty Birds, and Marc Schuster does it for 30-something Audrey Corcoran. Thanks to Desperate Housewives, the suburban mom secretly on drugs may be something of a cliche, but Schuster never allows Audrey’s life to become a caricature or a morality play. He simply gives her 292 pages to be her Super Mom & Party Girl self, and readers will be grateful for that.
4. Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta. Thoroughly enjoyable. In this witty novel, Acosta creates a wonderful heroine in Milagro de los Santos. Mil, as she is known to friends, wants what every girl wants: to be taken seriously as a writer, live in rat-free apartment, and maybe find a fabulous guy she can get serious with. That guy is definitely not her ex, Sebastian, the hot writer du jour (del dia?) who is sitting on top of a pile of dark secrets. Along comes Oswald, who may be a vampire, and whose secrets may or may not be of the dark variety. Wonderfully written, funny and romantic, this one is a real winner.
3. CrowWoman and MudGirl by Victoria Selene Skye Deme (http://pandorasjewel.gather.com/) The author is, I believe, the illegitimate love child of Sylvia Plath, Barbara G. Walker (who wrote the wonderful Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets) and American Indian writer Louise Erdrich. CrowWoman and Mudgirl is an all-too-brief collection of poems steeped in myth and folklore. The theme, generally, is the reconciliation of the age-old dichotomy of feminine archetypes: is a woman a sweet-faced angel, or a raging bitch-goddess? In Skye Deme’s poems, she is daughter, lover, monster, and more. These are big poems for such a tiny book, and deeply satisfying. My personal favorite is “Dreary Summer Day.” What sounds like something perfectly mundane is actually a beautifully spun vampire tale.
2. The Prestige by Christopher Priest. First, you have to see the movie, which stars Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as a pair of warring stage magicians. It’s sort of a steampunk-ish thing, where turn-of-the-nineteenth century technology meets the late Victorian/Edwardian era. AFTER you’ve seen the movie (and drooled over your choice of Jackman, Bale, Scarlett Johannson or David Bowie!), read Chris Priest’s awesome book, which stunned me by being even weirder than the film.
1. GoneAway Into the Land by Jeffrey B. Allen. Remember, in the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, when Willy Wonka took the children and their guardians for a ride in a boat? Remember how the boat ride suddenly because dark and sinister, and you sensed there was something seriously evil afoot in the chocolate factory? Keep that boat ride in mind, and you’ll have some idea of where GoneAway Into the Land (2008, Wandering Sage Publications) is going to take you.
“His name was Danny Greber, Daniel Johannes Greber, but I named him the beast.” From its opening line, GoneAway crackles with danger. Author Jeffrey B. Allen creates a vivid, animated world in which trains breathe and an attic full of discarded housewares plots its revenge. Clearly, Allen has a poet’s eye. His young hero, thirteen-year-old John, has a poet-warrior’s heart. Imagine Harry Potter if, instead of the slightly unpleasant Dursleys, Harry had been raised by a full-grown mountain troll. John’s beast of a father is unpredictable and dangerous. He takes the story book villain to a whole new level of greed and ignorance.
“The beast” finally goes too far when he disappears, taking John’s little sister, Marny, with him. The search for Marny leads John and his mother, Ellie, in the Land, a place they couldn’t have imagined in their wildest dreams. (Think of Candyland crossed with Gregory Maguire’s vision of Oz and you’ll have something of an idea.) Allen skillfully combines the everyday world with the fantastic, a seemingly seamless combination which reminds the reader of the very best of fantasy novels. Yet, GoneAway never imitates the style of other fantasies. It remains fresh and surprising, giving the reader little thrills of recognition but never descending into fairy tale cliches.
A note at the end of the book promises the GoneAway series will continue in a second book. The GoneAway series promises to be a fascinating one, as the first book ends on notes of hope, but also of missed opportunity. It will be rewarding to see how the series develops.
GoneAway Into the Land is a highly satisfying reading fix for older children. It will not disappoint adult fans of fantasy, either. Readers who enjoyed Keith Miller’s The Book of Flying and other fairy tales for grown-ups will also appreciate
*FEATURED AUTHOR of the YEAR* JEFFREY B. ALLEN
Readers and Writers of Distinctive Fiction / Top Reviewer Geraldine Ahearn
*FEATURED AUTHOR of the YEAR* Posted on:
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Jeffrey B. Allen, Author of: “GONEAWAY INTO THE LAND” 5 Star REVIEW
A DELIGHTFUL JOURNEY WITH UNFORGETTABLE CONSEQUENCES!
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Review by Sarah Macdonald, New York, New York
Posted January 10, 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.
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Awesome fantasy adventure, November 25, 2009
| By | Heather A. Hall (North Port, FL, US) – See all my reviews |
Wait until you meet the “Pursiers”!!! What a great adventure with creatures new and old that will keep you enthralled until the last page. without giving anything away, i will say that this is one of the better fantasy books I’ve read, well worth the price of admission.
Deb’s Desk Book Blog
Book Description: John, a twelve-year-old boy, travels into a place where he will battle his father (the beast) and rescue Marney, his younger sister, and in the process save the Land from its own demise. John’s journey to find his sister and seek ultimate revenge on his abusive father will lead you into a wonderland that happens to also be experiencing the abuses of greed and tyranny, yet on a much grander scale. He and his mother find themselves embroiled in a civil war that threatens both the Land and the World. John’s harrowing struggle will embrace the child within you, while challenging the philosophical and spiritual unknowns of those who have Goneaway. Yet, for all of its upheaval, Goneaway into the Land, will leave you with a feeling of hope, and a yearning for more.
My Thoughts: I was not sure if I was going to like this book – it is not typically the type of book I read. I must say that I was really surprised it is a combination of fantasy and real life and I loved it, it kept my interest from the first page. I love how Mr. Allen weaved the real story and the fantasy story together. I think the characters are very well developed and I felt the emotions that they felt. Not until the end do you understand what really happened to this family and I for one can’t wait for the Mr Allen’s next novel. This is a book that you will be thinking about for days after you read it. I don’t think there are many people that would not enjoy this book. I think it is suitable for older teens and adults.
Book Review: GONEWAY INTO THE LAND by Jeffrey B. Allen
http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/01/book-review-goneway-into-land-by.html
Read & Reviewed by Steve Oldner
Book Info
• Paperback: 564 pages
• Publisher: Strategic Publishing (November, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN- 160860859
• ISBN- 978-1608608591
Steve’s Thoughts
“Goneaway into The Land”, by Jeffrey B Allen, is a delicious fantasy adventure book. John, a twelve year old, travels into a fantasy place with his mother to battle the Beast and save his sister, Marny. The Beast was his father, a violent, abusive, and psychotic man. In doing so he meets his twin sister, Sara, who was thought to be stillborn but taken into Land to be raised. After defeating the Beast in a climatic finish, John fulfills his surprising destiny as the Purveyor, the being/person who is the intermediary between the world and the Land (ZZL). The two villains who brought the Beast and attempted to take control over ZZL, Mengus and Maraska were captured and exiled to an island to await their death.
The Land is world where the inspirations for sweets come from. Think Willy Wonka’s candy factory turned into a vast land, only better. Jell-O ponds, jellybean rains, chocolate cake mountain, peppermint trees, a cacao river, with steam train connecting the different parts of the land which compete in producing the inspirations for all the deserts and candies that the world has. The history of ZZL is briefly outlined as well as why it exists and its place in the big scheme of everything. I read some of Allen’s descriptions of ZZL to Jim and Nona, my children, and we all agreed we want to visit!
The book opens with scenes of domestic abuse which provides the counterpoint to beauty of the Land and illustrates how both intertwine. Because of the description of the reasons of the forced marriage of Daniel and Ellie, John’s parent, and the Daniel’s beating of his wife and John, parts of this book are not suitable for children.
This was a great read! For me, the first few chapters invokes memories that almost kept me from reading the rest of the book. Fortunately, I kept on and was treated to an exciting and amazing adventure, full of twists, turns, and colorful characters, and a couple of nasty villains. Jeffrey Allen is writing Book II, ‘Into the World’, that continues with Mengus and Maraska and their exile.
To learn more, visit JeffreyBAllen.com
Review by Carol T. Boerner – Posted 1-17-10
I can be very tough on an author when I review a book. Therefore, I seldom give a five star rating to a novel. For that to happen the story must be exceptional and it must cause me to wallow in its afterglow for sometime afterward.
Gone Away Into the Land caught my attention for two reasons. First, because I love fantasy that is based in reality, or real life situations. Secondly, I am a school teacher, and this novel’s underlying message of spousal and child abuse intrigued me. I wanted to know how the author could weave fantasy into a story line that had that sort of underlying poignancy.
I was forced to put this book down on occasion, in order to eat and sleep, but I did not want to. Gone Away was like a vine that crept up my leg and before I knew what was happening, it had enveloped my entire being. Jeffrey B. Allen has an incredible imagination. But not only that–Gone Away is a novel that invited my imagination to soar beyond its limits. It rekindled sweet childhood memories, yet made me feel such a powerful connection to the main character who suffers so intensely in the opening chapters. I discovered myself holding my breath during some of the opening scenes.
Absolutely riveting. The Land John, the twelve year old boy and the main character, travels into is a place of sensory fullness. Memorable characters linger still. My favorite one, although there were many I loved and some that frightened me, was Albertson, the 7 ft tall, two legged creature with a very high IQ, a philosophical wit, and a head that retracted into the body whenever he was scared.
Gone Away feeds the imagination, yet addresses serious life issues in a thoughtful, soul-stroking way. Allen has a gift for feeding his reader the details of a family in crisis in small doses while using the fantasy aspect to facilitate powerful revelations, personal growth and reconciliation. The part where John finally confronts his father, whom he has appropriately named the beast, is the best example of powerful writing, where sadness, hatred, anger, confusion, revenge, and determination all combine into one action packed dramatic scene.
It’s not too often I finish a novel, put it down, and think, “Superb. Now someone has to make this into a movie.” This is my favorite novel in a long, long time. It would be an ideal springboard for discussion for both adolescent and adult audiences. I highly recommend it, and I look forward to more Jeffrey B. Allen novels. After visiting the authors website, I see there is going to be a sequel to GoneAway Into the Land. I can’t wait. Thank you for the journey.
From: Angela S. Young, Hellium.com
This is in regards to your article on: Recognizing your spiritual gift
Hello, I just read your article on recognizing your spiritual gift. Awesome! I love the way you put words together and the examples bring the point home. I look forward to reading more articles from you.
Angela Young
Community Editor
Great story! Published 1 months ago by K. Brown
I thoroughly enjoyed – in fact, lost myself in – this riveting tale of a young hero’s epic journey through the most amazing place an imagination could conjure, while facing the most sinister of foes. The imagery was so deliciously described, I felt as though I was there!! A truly unique story!
Wonderfully Imaginative, April 18, 2009
| By | bridget3420 – See all my reviews |
I just finished reading this book called “GoneAway Into The Land” by Jeffrey B. Allen. The author contacted me on Facebook and asked if I would review his book. I am so glad he did! It’s an amazing story told with wonderful imagination.
GoneAway is the story of John, who is twelve years old and a victim of the abusive wrath of his father whom John renames, the Beast. The Beast takes off with John’s younger sister, Marny. In order to save Marny, John and his mom venture into the Land. It is during their desperate search to find her that John decides he must destroy the Beast. Not only to protect himself and his mother from future abuse but to save his sister and the friends he has made in the Land. An evil plot developed by Minister Mengus may destroy the Land and everyone in it. Will John be able to save his sister and this new land he’s come to love?
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who was once a kid. You will not be disappointed!
Norman Goldman “Editor of Bookpleasures.com” (Montreal) – See all my reviews
Using his own unique style and voice, Jeffrey B. Allen with GoneAway Into the Land has really stretched the limits of the traditional fantasy novel. Shifting in and out of fantasy, Allen cleverly intertwines the theme of child and spousal abuse with a land of the unknown. The magic that he has created does manage to make sense to the reader, although at times I must admit I was a trifle confused with the multitude of bizarre quirky characters and the inventiveness of their language.
This ambitious yarn follows twelve-year old John Greber who, along with his mother Ellie, is the object of abuse at the hands of Johns father whom he names The Beast.
One day, The Beast abandons John and his mother while at the same time snatching away Johns six-year old sister Marny. John vows to seek revenge, confront his repulsive father, and rescue his sister Marny. As we discover, all of this transpires during a time where John and his mother will be indirectly involved in a Civil War that has far reaching repercussions that may lead to the destruction of the world.
Tagging along with John and his mother, Allen cleverly uses his mind-boggling world as a vehicle in understanding what life is all about and the human condition. This is particularly in evidence as we witness Johns challenge of making the transition from childhood to adulthood as he self-examines the big questions in life as well as the nature of good and evil, the meaning of life and the quest to understand himself.
What I found quite striking about GoneAway Into the Land is Allen’s skilful narrative pacing in revealing bit-by-bit the various themes to the reader and permitting him or her to slowly discover it. Another plus is that Allen does not resort to is some kind of magic wherein he relies on the fantasy aspect in order to enable John to break out of a thorny situation by manufacturing a super-duper miraculous spell that the reader never even knew about.
With its deftly constructed plot, episodic structure, a lovable hero, interesting secondary characters, and a dash of suspense, Allen’s fascinating debut novel is a haunting tale that jolts along at its own pace. Moreover, Allen’s writing is extremely powerful particularly his imagery and masterful descriptions such as when John meets up with The Beast. And when all’s said and done, we have a novel that is not only amazingly fitting for our times, but one that is rich and rewarding for anyone, young or old, wishing to ponder over insightful questions pertaining to our existence and journey through life. No doubt, I am sure Allen had a great deal of fun writing this novel, however, at times I felt he overwrote-a common trap that many debut novelists fall into. Nonetheless, I am certain readers will find a great deal of fun in reading this provocative fantasy novel.
Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures
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