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Henry's Re-Entry
When Henry wakes up on the floor of a dirty gas station bathroom, covered in vomit and hugging a greasy toilet, and with absolutely no idea where he is or how he ended up there, he knows this is going to be the best outing ever. This outing is going to be Epic! Henry is a man on the run. The beast chasing him wears the face of his murdered wife. Fueled by guilt, the beast has him running the gauntlet of an ever-hopeful, but chronically unsuccessful suicide marathon. He's spent the last four years running away from his life. During the workweek, he merely exists, performing the inevitable and necessary functions of life, moving through his world like an automaton. But when that assembly line of existence ultimately reaches its end on Friday afternoon, Henry launches into orbit on a liquor propelled rocket. His flight begins when he straps himself into his favorite barstool late Friday and ends with his splashdown sometime late Sunday night, and the time spent in between is a fog of chaotic memories. During this latest flight, however, he experiences some unexpected turbulence. This time he crash-lands seven hundred miles from home, unencumbered by a car or wallet. Hungover, angry, and broke, he's forced to hitchhike his way back, trolling for rides along the hot, dusty backland highways of New Mexico. But the real story begins with the procession of characters he encounters along the way. The cowboy bartender, the lovesick preacher, the militant social worker, the escaped convict, the psychic, and the woman with the kryptonite eyes, all find their way past his barricades. Each one manages to make contact with him and help him find another piece of himself. Each one helps him find the strength necessary to finally bury his dead and re-enter his life. Equal parts hilarious, passionate, and emotionally intense, this is the story of a man's unexpected rescue at the hands of an assortment of eccentric, compelling people, people he'd normally have crossed the street to avoid.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2014
2 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Welcome Cole
9 books24 followersWelcome Cole is a writer of fantasy, contemporary novels, and urban fiction. He spends his time in the lakes and forests of Traverse City, Michigan and in the desert and mountains of Castle Rock, Colorado. He has degrees in Nursing and Business Administration, and writes at every opportunity. His book, The Pleasure of Memory, will be followed up shortly with his contemporary fiction novel, Henry’s Re-entry. The second volume of the Blood Caeyl Memories, The Shadows of Memory, will be released in early 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 25, 2014
Let me start by saying…Overall I enjoyed this book. It took a while before the story really started to resonate with me. The beginning felt a bit like the author was trying to describe every detail, feeling, and thought to a fault. Fortunately, this didn’t last long into the story or perhaps it wasn’t as obvious as I read on…
A few spelling and/or grammatical errors found in the last half of the book, some of which required me to re-read a few times over to make sure I knew what was trying to be conveyed.
In the end, I get the metaphor I suppose, but I was hoping Henry really did re-enter in a way that was hinted at through the early parts of the book. Sadly, no he’s just a regular every day guy.
There were parts of the story that I felt lacked explanation, while others were overly explained. I also feel the duration with Alice and crew was a bit drawn out compared to the very brief encounters with the others. I know the most important characters in the story were present in that particular part of the story, but I still couldn’t help wondering how long it would be before he moved on to the next part of his “epic outing”.
Now, aside from what was mentioned above, I truly did enjoy this book once I really got into “the groove” of the writing. A humorous boy meets girl tale with a happy ending never gets old. There were also a number of laugh out loud moments which I always love in a story. Would I read another title from Welcome Cole?....Yes!
A few spelling and/or grammatical errors found in the last half of the book, some of which required me to re-read a few times over to make sure I knew what was trying to be conveyed.
In the end, I get the metaphor I suppose, but I was hoping Henry really did re-enter in a way that was hinted at through the early parts of the book. Sadly, no he’s just a regular every day guy.
There were parts of the story that I felt lacked explanation, while others were overly explained. I also feel the duration with Alice and crew was a bit drawn out compared to the very brief encounters with the others. I know the most important characters in the story were present in that particular part of the story, but I still couldn’t help wondering how long it would be before he moved on to the next part of his “epic outing”.
Now, aside from what was mentioned above, I truly did enjoy this book once I really got into “the groove” of the writing. A humorous boy meets girl tale with a happy ending never gets old. There were also a number of laugh out loud moments which I always love in a story. Would I read another title from Welcome Cole?....Yes!
January 28, 2020
Listed on the previous Awesome Indies Website in the "Rough Cuts" Category.
This was a special page for fiction in the rough and included uncut diamonds found during the assessment process. These books did not receive "Awesome Indies Approval" but were considered to have a spark of brilliance, perhaps in their ideas, world-building, or some new approach. The issues that kept them from the "Approved" list are things that most readers would not notice as the good qualities overshadow any inadequacies. Awesome Indies stated: (quote) "Rough Cuts are here because the author cannot afford the cost of the line editor needed to tidy it up, and we don’t want genius to be missed because the author hasn’t a huge budget."
This was a special page for fiction in the rough and included uncut diamonds found during the assessment process. These books did not receive "Awesome Indies Approval" but were considered to have a spark of brilliance, perhaps in their ideas, world-building, or some new approach. The issues that kept them from the "Approved" list are things that most readers would not notice as the good qualities overshadow any inadequacies. Awesome Indies stated: (quote) "Rough Cuts are here because the author cannot afford the cost of the line editor needed to tidy it up, and we don’t want genius to be missed because the author hasn’t a huge budget."
February 7, 2014
"When Henry wakes up on the floor of a dirty gas station bathroom, covered in vomit and hugging a greasy toilet, and with absolutely no idea where he is or how he ended up there, he knows this is going to be the best outing over. This outing is going to be Epic!"
And so begins, Henry's Re-entry, Welcome Cole's second book. Henry is not a particularly nice man. He's made his fair share of mistakes and moments from his past haunt him. In fact, they haunt him so much that he works all week and then escapes into his favourite barstool on Friday evening, only to return in time to work again on Monday. This session however is so serious that he wakes up missing most of his possessions and is hundreds of miles from home.
His re-entry is his story of the travels he takes to get back home and, more importantly, the people he meets en route. I won't give too much away. Let me just say that this book is equally funny, sad, shocking and enlightening in pretty much equal measure. The characters are so well written and the dialogue...
I LOVE a story with good dialogue. The conversations in Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas have such a perfect flow, it really is a pleasure to read them. You can put yourself in the middle of the conversation. Mr Koontz has had many years to perfect this challenging aspect of writing. Welcome Cole has achieved it already. I am married and work a full time job, yet i read this in three weekdays. That alone is enough for me to recommend this book.
So...Henry's Re-entry. I'll give this story a while to fade, read a few more books and, eventually, i'll travel these roads with Henry again. I fell in love with Alice, was totally baffled by Roger/T, enjoyed switching seats with OCD Dave and got completely hooked on the weird and wonderful characters in this book. Curious? Check it out!
And so begins, Henry's Re-entry, Welcome Cole's second book. Henry is not a particularly nice man. He's made his fair share of mistakes and moments from his past haunt him. In fact, they haunt him so much that he works all week and then escapes into his favourite barstool on Friday evening, only to return in time to work again on Monday. This session however is so serious that he wakes up missing most of his possessions and is hundreds of miles from home.
His re-entry is his story of the travels he takes to get back home and, more importantly, the people he meets en route. I won't give too much away. Let me just say that this book is equally funny, sad, shocking and enlightening in pretty much equal measure. The characters are so well written and the dialogue...
I LOVE a story with good dialogue. The conversations in Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas have such a perfect flow, it really is a pleasure to read them. You can put yourself in the middle of the conversation. Mr Koontz has had many years to perfect this challenging aspect of writing. Welcome Cole has achieved it already. I am married and work a full time job, yet i read this in three weekdays. That alone is enough for me to recommend this book.
So...Henry's Re-entry. I'll give this story a while to fade, read a few more books and, eventually, i'll travel these roads with Henry again. I fell in love with Alice, was totally baffled by Roger/T, enjoyed switching seats with OCD Dave and got completely hooked on the weird and wonderful characters in this book. Curious? Check it out!
July 17, 2014
I thought I was going to hate this book and not even finish it. It pays to have low expectations! The first two chapters are violently painful to read. Not just the content - our hung-over main character coming to in a gas station bathroom after a drunken blackout - but the writing is kind of bad too. Not outright cringe-inducingly bad. Maybe a little juvenile.
This is a story of running from your demons. It's about being a total asshole and not caring about it, because you don't deserve to be cared about. Because you did horrible things and you need to be punished. These are our Henry's lovely thoughts throughout the book. But fear not! For he is on a mission, whether or not he knows it, and every person he stumbles across will leave him with a piece of themselves.
It's very much a retelling of the Odyssey, but with more booze and less rosy fingertips of dawn. While I was not a fan of the writing, the story captivated me and I forgave a lot. Even when Henry did things that were out of character, and even when things fell too neatly into place. I forgave it all, because the mystery of his past evils was a good one. I've read some dark stuff lately, so it was nice to read a solid effort with a delectable story. While it wouldn't be joining the annals of Great Literature, there is something endearing about this book. I goodreads-3-stars liked it.
-I got a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review-
This is a story of running from your demons. It's about being a total asshole and not caring about it, because you don't deserve to be cared about. Because you did horrible things and you need to be punished. These are our Henry's lovely thoughts throughout the book. But fear not! For he is on a mission, whether or not he knows it, and every person he stumbles across will leave him with a piece of themselves.
It's very much a retelling of the Odyssey, but with more booze and less rosy fingertips of dawn. While I was not a fan of the writing, the story captivated me and I forgave a lot. Even when Henry did things that were out of character, and even when things fell too neatly into place. I forgave it all, because the mystery of his past evils was a good one. I've read some dark stuff lately, so it was nice to read a solid effort with a delectable story. While it wouldn't be joining the annals of Great Literature, there is something endearing about this book. I goodreads-3-stars liked it.
-I got a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review-
June 18, 2014
At times this book seems to be a difficult to define, is it: road trip; something 'other-worldly' or supernatural, a 'finding yourself' almost 'coming of age' book; or a simple 'boy meets girl' love story? Even though it is difficult to define and occasionally frustrating as you feel there are points where you feel it has twists that don't fully come to fruition the main question I ask about a book is "Did you enjoy it?" and the answer is a very definite YES!
Henry wakes in a bathroom in a very unkempt state, covered in vomit and with big gaps in his recent memory. He then begins a 'journey' home but where is that? ... what is the big mystery and why does he feel so guilty about 'her' death? ... how did he get there? On the way he meets people who seem to have an ability to 'get him' and have a 'sense about him' but is that a pointer to some special abilities or are they just very perceptive.
The main body of the book is centred on his encounters with Alice and her extended family but although this is a very transformative time I would have liked to explore his relationships with others he met on the road in more depth.
There is humour, there is emotion and there are intriguing characters who you become attached to; I definitely feel Cole is an exciting new writer and I look forward to more books by this author.
Henry wakes in a bathroom in a very unkempt state, covered in vomit and with big gaps in his recent memory. He then begins a 'journey' home but where is that? ... what is the big mystery and why does he feel so guilty about 'her' death? ... how did he get there? On the way he meets people who seem to have an ability to 'get him' and have a 'sense about him' but is that a pointer to some special abilities or are they just very perceptive.
The main body of the book is centred on his encounters with Alice and her extended family but although this is a very transformative time I would have liked to explore his relationships with others he met on the road in more depth.
There is humour, there is emotion and there are intriguing characters who you become attached to; I definitely feel Cole is an exciting new writer and I look forward to more books by this author.
July 23, 2014
disclaimer – i received an e-galley of this novel from caelstone press in exchange for an honest review.
i wanted to love henry’s re-entry. it sounded like an interesting story, the protagonist waking up in a strange place and then embarking on a voyage both metaphorical and real. along the way he’s learning about who he is versus who he thinks he is, reconciling how he’s lived his life with why he’s lived it that way, and trying to forgive himself. there’s snark, i love snark. there’s cynicism, i love cynicism. there’s the hero’s journey to redemption. but. oh. my. god. by about a third of the way through the book i wanted it to be over, i just wanted to take henry by the shoulders and shake him until his head rattled. don’t get me wrong, welcome cole is a great writer. he uses language beautifully and constructs paragraphs that are works of art. i’m definitely adding him to my “authors to watch” list. maybe it actually wasn’t the book as much as it was henry i didn’t like, and it’s hard to feel something for a story when you truly dislike the main character.
two out of five stars
i wanted to love henry’s re-entry. it sounded like an interesting story, the protagonist waking up in a strange place and then embarking on a voyage both metaphorical and real. along the way he’s learning about who he is versus who he thinks he is, reconciling how he’s lived his life with why he’s lived it that way, and trying to forgive himself. there’s snark, i love snark. there’s cynicism, i love cynicism. there’s the hero’s journey to redemption. but. oh. my. god. by about a third of the way through the book i wanted it to be over, i just wanted to take henry by the shoulders and shake him until his head rattled. don’t get me wrong, welcome cole is a great writer. he uses language beautifully and constructs paragraphs that are works of art. i’m definitely adding him to my “authors to watch” list. maybe it actually wasn’t the book as much as it was henry i didn’t like, and it’s hard to feel something for a story when you truly dislike the main character.
two out of five stars
March 12, 2014
Did I enjoy this book: Yes.
I had a hard time figuring out how to explain my reaction to this book. So I came up with a quiz. Put on your “thinking caps” because we’re going back to Elementary School. Remember those quizzes your teacher used to give you with a list of words on the left and you had to draw a line to the correct answer on the right showing a relationship? If you don’t remember, that’s ok. Just play along. Here’s the quiz:
Characters Zany
Setting Comical
Plot Weird
Conflict Unpredictable
Overall story Engaging
Here’s the good news: There’s no wrong answer!! The whole book is zany, comical, weird, unpredictable, and engaging; not to mention thoroughly entertaining.
Would I recommend it: Yes.
Will I read it again: No.
As reviewed by Belinda at Every Free Chance Book Reviews.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/03/bl...
I had a hard time figuring out how to explain my reaction to this book. So I came up with a quiz. Put on your “thinking caps” because we’re going back to Elementary School. Remember those quizzes your teacher used to give you with a list of words on the left and you had to draw a line to the correct answer on the right showing a relationship? If you don’t remember, that’s ok. Just play along. Here’s the quiz:
Characters Zany
Setting Comical
Plot Weird
Conflict Unpredictable
Overall story Engaging
Here’s the good news: There’s no wrong answer!! The whole book is zany, comical, weird, unpredictable, and engaging; not to mention thoroughly entertaining.
Would I recommend it: Yes.
Will I read it again: No.
As reviewed by Belinda at Every Free Chance Book Reviews.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/03/bl...
March 6, 2014
This book was not my type of book. I disliked the main character from the very beginning and couldn’t get engaged in the story. It was, however, well-written.
May 1, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. The main character was easy for me to relate to, and the book was fun to read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews