Book Description:
Alex Kavanagh is a pedantic physics geek – a teacher who hates teaching, a lover who’s always getting dumped, a writer whose articles all get rejected, a 28-year-old still living at home and bullied at the bus stop by teenagers – and he’s just had the worst day of his life. Things can only get better, right?
Enter his ex, Lucy, in what seems to be a chance meeting. Her betrayal marked the point when his life went nuclear. But – holy protons! – he still loves her.
Two problems. First, she isn’t who he thinks she is. Second, she’s going to leave him forever in 72 hours.
Cold Fusion 2000 is a haunting novel about a man who’s too rational to believe in ghosts and too short-sighted to see what was in front of him all along.
About the author
Author Bio:
Karl Drinkwater is originally from Manchester but lived in Wales for twenty years, and now calls Scotland his home. He’s a full-time author, edits fiction for other writers, and was a professional librarian for over twenty-five years. He has degrees in English, Classics, and Information Science.
He writes in multiple genres: his aim is always just to tell a good story. Among his books you’ll find elements of literary and contemporary fiction, gritty urban, horror, suspense, paranormal, thriller, sci-fi, romance, social commentary, and more. The end result is interesting and authentic characters, clever and compelling plots, and believable worlds.
When he isn’t writing he loves exercise, guitars, computer and board games, the natural environment, animals, social justice, cake, and zombies. Not necessarily in that order.
FB https://www.facebook.com/karlzdrinkwater/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/karldrinkwater
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkdrinkwater/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5766025.Karl_Drinkwater
Website: https://karldrinkwater.uk
For my stop I have my review, enjoy.
Cold Fusion 2000 by Karl DrinkwaterTime taken to read - 1.5 days
Pages - 302
Publisher - Organic Apocalypse
Source - Review Copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Can love defeat the laws of physics?
Alex Kavanagh is a pedantic physics geek – a teacher who hates teaching, a lover who’s always getting dumped, a writer whose articles all get rejected, a 28-year-old still living at home and bullied at the bus stop by teenagers – and he’s just had the worst day of his life. Things can only get better, right?
Enter his ex, Lucy, in what seems to be a chance meeting. Her betrayal marked the point when his life went nuclear. But – holy protons! – he still loves her.
Two problems. First, she isn’t who he thinks she is. Second, she’s going to leave him forever in 72 hours.
Cold Fusion 2000 is a haunting novel about a man who’s too rational to believe in ghosts and too short-sighted to see what was in front of him all along.
My Review
Alex Kavanagh is a geek - well I am a geek he is a proper nerd, heavily into physics, a teacher who has lost any passion for teaching. A bit socially awkward and never gotten over losing the love of his life Lucy. Unlucky in love, in a job he hates, living with his mum Alex is in a bit of a rut when Lucy appears back in his life could things finally be turning around for Alex? Lucy is different and finally he has a chance to tend to those old wounds, get answers to his questions and maybe have another go. However Lucy isn't quite what she seems and will only be back in Alex's life for a short time, can Alex finally get over his past to enjoy his future?
The opening chapter 1992 – June 2000 gives you a sentence run down of Alex’s year with a head nod to a song from that time. I absolutely love that, one wee chapter totally took me down memory land and I remember all of those songs, this book could have a wee playlist and it is a belter!
There is reference and nods to physics/maths/ numerology (I think you would call it) and some of it was a bit over my head. It gave me much discussion with my o/h who is a proper nerd and I had to ask some questions about, does it mean this, is it reference to that. I think if you are interested in physics and a smart wee chop you will get a kick out of the passages that have these wee snippets in them.
The actual story though, even though Alex is twenty eight he seems much younger, more innocent or dejected, moody and socially a bit awks. I wasn't sure if I liked him too much, felt sorry for him, liked him, wanted to hug him and went back and forth on it however I think he is a bit of a complex character you appreciate a bit more as you got further into the book.
The book is very much relationships and personal growth but hugely and cleverly littered with nods to science, significance of numbers and some other wee delights that for me had to go look up or gab to someone else about. The relationships were reminisce of some of my own from a time when I was much younger and I think Alex is a character pretty much any reader can if not identify with then appreciate in part, especially as the book progresses. Once Lucy entered I found it harder to put down and wanted to know exactly what was coming next, keeping me on my toes throughout. I have read and loved Drinkwaters other books, he branches into other genres so if you haven't read them do check them out as they are all very different!
View all my reviews
Thanks so much for being part of the blog tour today x
ReplyDeleteThanks for this! A lot of the things you hint at were intended as Easter eggs or jokes for those who are interested, and skippable for those who aren't! Same with the question of whether Lucy/Jane is real or a figment of Alex's imagination or even a ghost - it can be read any way and still works. :-) Thanks, so glad you got some enjoyment from another of my genres!
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