Unwritten: A Novel
Unwritten: A Novel book cover

Unwritten: A Novel

Hardcover – May 7, 2013

Price
$15.20
Format
Hardcover
Pages
336
Publisher
Center Street
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1455503957
Dimensions
6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
Weight
1.18 pounds

Description

"Martin's story charges headlong into the sentimental territory--and best-seller terrain--of The Notebook , which doubtless will mean major studio screen treatment. Buy tissues. Tears will flow."― Kirkus (starred review) "Every word Martin writes seems to be purposefully chosen and adds to the beautiful picture he paints with prose. The characters are so real they radiate from the page. Readers will be moved, touched and changed."― RT Book Reviews, ****1/2 "A spellbinding novel...Charles Martin took the threads of his storyline and wrapped them around my heart. His unforgettable characters captivate as they confront their hidden pasts and build upon their futures with faith, friendship, and grace."― Elin Hilderbrand, author of Beautiful Day on Unwritten "Charles Martin understands the power of story and he uses it to alter the souls and lives of both his characters and his readers. In Unwritten there is no easy answer and Sunday and Katie must find their way through fire to possibly emerge whole and changed. "One more chapter," you'll say to yourself , but there won't be 'one more chapter' because you won't be able to put Unwritten down."― Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of And Then I Found You "I found Unwritten one of those strangely beautiful, exotically original novels whose substance dawns slowly to the reader's consciousness like a glorious sunrise. Do not start this book unless you have time to savor, reflect, and renew. Do, if you have space to fit a memorable reading experience into your life."― Leila Meacham, author of Tumbleweeds "Charles Martin's latest novel brings to mind the storytelling traditions of Nicholas Sparks and John Grisham. Unwritten is a novel for the heart but it's also one of adventure. From the Florida Everglades to the hills of France, Martin takes the reader on a magical journey of two troubled souls in search of love and redemption. Unwritten is a page turner and has all the ingredients to become a box office smash."― Michael Morris, author of Man in the Blue Moon "Charles Martin is an imaginative, gutsy storyteller.... Unwritten is a fast-paced narrative of transcontinental intrigue."― Karen Spears Zacharias, author, A Silence of Mockingbirds: The Memoir of a Murder "Reading an advance copy of Unwritten felt like being in on a well-kept secret you just know is destined to blow sky high and leave a mark far and wide. This is what story is meant to be, delivered in prose that will propel you to the next scene, the next page, the next reveal. Charles Martin will pull you into the lives of Katie Quinn, Steady, and Sunday, and you won't even realize their stories are changing yours forever until it's time to leave them on the page."― Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Belle of All Things Southern and author of Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy! Charles Martin is a New York Times bestselling author of eight previous novels, including his most recent book Thunder and Rain . His work has been translated into seventeen languages. When not writing, his hobbies include bow hunting, working out (a blend of old school stuff and martial arts, called Fight Fit), and Tae Kwon Do, in which he currently has a black belt, though he notes he is "the least flexible person you've ever met." He lives with his wife, Christy, and their three sons in Jacksonville, Florida.

Features & Highlights

  • A priest changes the lives of an actress running from her past and a man hiding from his future in this heartfelt novel about loss and redemption.
  • When someone wants to be lost, a home tucked among the Ten Thousand Islands off the Florida coast is a good place to live. Take a couple decent boats and a deep knowledge of fishing, and Sunday can get by without ever having to talk to another soul. It's a nice enough existence, until the one person who ties Sunday to the world of the living asks him for help. Father Steady Capri knows quite a bit about helping others. But he is afraid Katie Quinn's problems may be beyond his abilities. Katie is a world-famous actress with an all too familiar story. Fame seems to have driven her to self-destruct. Steady knows the true cause of her desire to end her life is buried too deeply for him to reach. But there is one person who still may be able to save her from herself: Sunday.He will show her an alternate escape, a way to write a new life, but Katie still must confront her past before she can find peace. Ultimately, Sunday will need to leave his secluded home and sacrifice the serenity he's found to help her.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(3.2K)
★★★★
25%
(1.3K)
★★★
15%
(792)
★★
7%
(370)
-7%
(-370)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Reflective

A priest, a recluse, and an actress with the priest being the person who is connected to and the link to both of them. Father Steady helped Sunday with a problem at one time in his life, and now Father Steady needed Sunday to help Katie with her problem.

Can he and does he help her especially since Katie is not a likable person and is keeping a secret from the world? Sunday unwillingly agrees to help because Father Steady asked him, but Sunday isn't very keen on the idea of helping a stranger. A stranger who eventually becomes a friend.

The first few pages of the book were very evasive, and the intrigue pulled me in immediately. Actually, the entire book was filled with evasiveness, secrets, and characters with secrets and inner struggles. The author's writing style is insightful, brilliant, and a style that draws you in.

Mr. Martin's descriptions of characters and landscapes were incredible and beautiful. You will experience amazing detail about the Everglades and bask in the lush descriptions that make you feel as though you are sitting with the characters. You will also get a detailed, guided tour of Paris and the town of Langeais, France. You will be drawn to Katie, the movie star, who was used to nothing but luxury, Father Steady, who can be called her saving grace, and Sunday who gets pulled into it all and doesn't know how or why he did.

The book has an uncommon, but exceptional theme. To me the book was addressing the fragility of humans and their choices no matter what their stations in life are and finding oneself using memories as the basis. Memories that in this case were painful. It also addresses the issue of making the best of what life sends your way.

The beginning pages were a bit confusing, but indistinct enough to keep you wondering what actually was happening and going to happen. UNWRITTEN is definitely worth what I think was an "on purpose" ambiguity of the first chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the storyline, and the reflection. This book was profound and powerful.

UNWRITTEN is a book that will have you analyzing, reflecting, and examining life. Have some tissues handy for the ending.

My final comment is this: The one word you will use and the one I used as I turned the last page is: WOW!! 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
37 people found this helpful
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Fantasy, not real life.

I don't read fantasy, but I did, as much as I could stand.
Two rich, famous, multi millionaires disappear. They check out of life.
Not together, but they end up running around hiding together.
The writer seems to think they have problems, I think they are weak.
I know real people who have severe problems, and they cope.
A story needs reality and a hero. This plot has neither.
It ok to build the story line slowly---- but there were 100s of
pages to find out the terrible secret of these rich, famous,
beautiful, people. This story was pure fluff. No thank you.
25 people found this helpful
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Like aged wine, he just gets better and better...

I have read every Charles Martin book and am once again most impressed -- he remains my favorite Christian fiction author -- and like aged wine, he just keeps getting better and better. This novel is another one of his very best that follows many paths through the two main characters, Sunday and Katie, which are intertwined throughout with secrets revealed with purpose and intent. Father Steady is the constant and steady persona pushing the two main characters ever forward in their lives to resolve "old" emotional baggage and still-to-be-faced life challenging events. The reader becomes so involved in the characters' individual experiences that they seem like friends you know and don't want to lose contact with -- but the book does end and all loose ends are fully explained and resolved most thoroughly. This novel reminds us that when faced in life with trials and tribulations, choices are made that may impact many lives and for Martin to be able to provide such an incredible depth to his characters' inner turmoils is a rare talent -- and one fully appreciated once again by his loyal readers. [An added bonus: the quality of Charles Martin's writings do not end with this incredible story -- at the end of the book the author's insightful answers to a number of questions provides a rich understanding of the inner workings of his thinking process, the storyline's evolution and its many twisting paths.] I will continue to read Charles Martin's novels and eagerly look forward to his future writings with pleasure.
24 people found this helpful
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Loved it, but didn't LOVE it

I admit, I am a huge Charles Martin fan. His writing is beautifully sad and uplifting at the same time. His other books would leave me with tears streaming down my face. While I enjoyed this book, I felt the premise was just a little too "out there" to really be workable. Sometimes it is hard to connect with people that are so materialistically successful, even though everybody has hurts and scars underneath. I recommend you read this book but if you have not read any of his other books be sure and give them a try too. You will not be sorry!
17 people found this helpful
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Boring

The whole story could have been told in 3 chapters. Waaaaay too much description and introspection. Had to force myself to finish it thinking something interesting would happen. Nope. I loved When Crickets Cry. Didn't love this one.
7 people found this helpful
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Charles Martin's books

I was disappointed in this book of Martin's. Some of the first books such as "When Crickets Cry" or "Chasing Fireflies" were delightful and touched the heart strings. This one did not meet the mark.
4 people found this helpful
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The tapestry upon which we write our lives:

I waited until I could sit and enjoy this book uninterrupted. No children, no phone, no bells going off. It was worth the wait. As an English teacher, I read a lot of literature - mostly classics, yet is good to open a book and let my mind wander. I want to venture to another place and another time- and not think about analyzing the characters or discussing themes. Unwritten takes me to the quietness of the Keys and the Florida breezes that float over my citronella candle and Margarita. Read the first half on the beach with these essentials. Even better would be on a boat. It makes the experience more worthwhile. Then, as you pull yourself away because there is no longer daylight, finish the second half with a good bottle of red wine - I chose Writer's Block - just for wit!! My sister regularly visits Paris and I have a stash of French butter in the freezer. I took that out after I realized I must savor those chapters. I bought a baguette and read the second half again. Oh, do!!! It is so worth re-reading. If I could have plunged my house thermometer to 52 degrees, I would have felt I was in the caverns of the chateau with my lovey beside me and good wine, too.
Charles describes the experience of writing as, "only man makes language. Words. What's more - in evidence of the Divine - we string these symbols together and then write them down they take on a life of their own and breathe outside of us. Story is the bandage of the broken. Sutures of the shattered. The tapestry upon which we write our lives. Upon which we lay the bodies of the dying and the about-to-come-to-life. And if it's honest, true, hiding nothing, revealing all, then it is a raging river and those who ride it find they have something to give - that they are not yet empty." (page 15)
Charles Martin is not yet empty. His words take you through a river of emotion and leave you with hope. "They are echoes that resonate in this world."
2 people found this helpful
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Three Stars

This wasn't Charles Martin's best. Read "The Mountain Between Us" and "Water from my Heart."
1 people found this helpful
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Movie material

This one should be made into a movie.
1 people found this helpful
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Disappointed

I gave this novel 2 stars (I considered 1) because I thought it was trite and amateurish. I had never read the author before but was moved to order the book because of the glowing reviews by what I guess are Mr. Martin's fans. Some thought it was his best yet. The story reminded me of a TV soap opera. It was predictable, implausible and totally without depth. I don't recommend this book to anyone who hopes to find some substance in their reading material.
1 people found this helpful