Mayra Calvani's Blog - Posts Tagged "ethnic"

I’ve recently had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Sunstruck by Mayra Calvani! Please read on . . .

I love to read, and Sunstruck was great! I read its entirety in one sitting, because I couldn’t put it down.

What I really liked about the book is the complexity of the conflicts. It leaves enough room for the audience to wonder what happens next, but I was satisfied with the information it provided at the end.

This was probably the most interesting piece of fiction I’ve ever read. I think I really liked it, because the main character, Daniella, reminded me a lot of myself.

Here is my interpretation of Sunstruck: (I promise I won’t spoil it!)

Daniella is a girl who has been through a few rough patches in life, and she always seems to date the ‘losers’. (AKA people who have a dream that really aren’t making it.) She tries to make the best of it, but she knows in her heart that there should be more to her life. The only two things consistent in her life is her cat, Commando and her mother, Marcela.

At 24, Daniella has been through a divorce, and is living with a guy she really doesn’t like named Tony. Tony cares more about trying to become famous, and his drugs.

There are some odd characters presented in this story, which made it really interesting. Everything that Daniella sees is not really what it is. To me, there was a lot of symbolism in this book, mostly dealing with two-sided everything. People who seem real, really aren’t. Commando’s eyes were two different colors, characters were caught in making two decisions, etc.

I really liked how the story subtly described everybody’s way to try to find themselves:

* Tony: tried to make the life of a famous painter, with his weird-o art.
* Daniella: always knew there was more to her life than she was living.
* Ismael: went from a nobody to a somebody really quickly, and was greedy and wanted more.
* Lady Dracula: wants everlasting youth, and will go through drastic measures to ensure it is hers.
* Marcela: lonely, tries to find her way in this world. Feminist in disguise.
* Mari Carmen: knows what she wants, but can’t exactly make up her own mind.
* Zorro: The X character who puts life and threat into San Juan.
* Commando: an imported cat who provided Daniella with stability and faith.



There are so many secrets to uncover. You will have to read the book to find out!

If I was to describe Sunstruck in 3 words:

1. Twisted (only book I haven’t been able to guess the ending!)
2. Intriguing (I couldn’t put it down!)
3. Personal (It truly hit home with me, and portrayed feelings that I consider my own!)



I would highly recommend reading Sunstruck. It will make you laugh, cry, and relate to the conflicts. I truly love the story, and already have 3 of my closest friends interested in reading it. (They are waiting in line!)

--Melissa Jackson, Living the Thrifty Life
http://imlivingthethriftylife.blogspo...

Sunstruck

Hi all,

I'm thrilled to share some exciting news: my parody/satire, SUNSTRUCK, has just been released by Twilight Times Books.

If you'd like to read something different this summer, I invite you to give it a try!

Here's a little about the book:

Daniella is an architecture student living with her narcissistic artist boyfriend in San Juan. Abandoned by her father at an early age, Daniella always falls for the ‘wrong’ type of man. Her most enduring male relationship so far has been with her cat.

Several strange mysteries are threaded through Daniella’s everyday life: her ex-husband, Ismael, has just opened an outlandish hotel for animal lovers that has her distraught; Ismael’s wife, a rich woman Daniella fondly refers to as ‘Lady Dracula’, has some gruesome ways to keep her skin looking young; Daniella’s mother is founding a revolutionary, feminist society called The Praying Mantises; the island’s national forest is being depleted of hallucinogenic mushrooms; meanwhile, young girls are disappearing and there’s a nut loose dressed as Zorro slashing the rear ends of women who wear miniskirts.

Oppressed by all these eccentric characters, Daniella feels herself falling into an abyss. Then something terrible happens, making Daniella wake from her stupor and take charge of her life.

Read an excerpt: http://twilighttimesbooks.com/Sunstru...

Review snippets:

“Dark and quirky humor coupled with quixotic characters adds to the surprising mix found in Sunstruck… I've never read a book remotely like it. Everything from the humorously weird to the acutely macabre can be found between these covers, and then some.” –Laurel Johnson, Midwest Book Review.

“Highly entertaining!”—Romance Junkies.

"Calvani has taken human nature and put it under a microscope--a warped and slightly cracked microscope. Proving once again that she is a master storyteller in multiple genres, "Sunstruck" by Mayra Calvani is both witty and brilliant." -- The Book Connection

"Mayra Calvani is a master of wit. The descriptions contain just the right telling detail, as when she describes Daniella's red hair as the color you'd get if you mixed brandy, carrots, and raspberries in a blender. Calvani makes the absurd seem reasonable. I found myself nodding at death from hiccups, coffee enemas, and drugged cats. The writing is exquisite, and the narrative strangely compelling. Do yourself a favor and snap this one up."—Margaret Fieland, reviewer

"Sunstruck is like a nutty Whodunit with a little twist. Who really is in the Zorro costume? With all the crazy characters I caught myself pointing fingers again and again. A great read that will make you forget where you are, while you giggle yourself to complete oblivion from all the silliness." --Autumn Blues Reviews

"This book was so crazy it was fantastic. Talk about a nutty twisty book this is it and all in good fun." --Babs Book Bistro

"...[A] funny satire that reaches into the realms of paranormal and horror as well as mystery and women's issues." -- Anne K. Edwards, mystery author

"Salvador Dali meets Terry Gilliam...Monty Python's Flying Circus would be proud." -- The Blue Iris Journal

You can purchase SUNSTRUCK here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LYYOWM

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sunst...

Happy summer reading!

Dear Readers,
Enter my Goodreads giveaway for a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of my latest children's picture book!