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When We Push Through Sound
On a cold day on a bridge above the Mississippi River, Tristan James is drugged out, liquored up, and about to give in to the irreversible as he teeters over the water. Not long ago, it would have been inconceivable for him to be standing there. His life had always been full of successes: a brilliant wife, a loving daughter, and a satisfying career. His story was destined to be triumphant with a happily-ever-after ending. Unfortunately, real tales rarely finish that way. First came the divorce, and then there were the series of disasters at work. Tristan had always relied on the sounds of his guitar to bring him solace when he faltered. But now, a constant and terrifying buzzing in his ears drowns out its joyful melodies, and he spirals to the edge. Jumping off the bridge would be a quiet relief. But Tristan has a bit of good fortune remaining at the bottom of his bucket of life's blessings-five extraordinary women surround him. Each is magnificent in her own way, and together they refuse to let Tristan's music die. Only one question remains: Can they reach him in time? In this novel, a lifelong winner must confront failure and stop the deafening noise in his head long enough to hear the healing voices of the women who love him.
230 pages, Hardcover
Published July 29, 2022
2 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Geoff Sease
1 book3 followersGeoff Sease is a retired corporate executive who lives with Suzanne by a pretty lake in North Carolina. Geoff now fills his days with writing, business consulting, and getting a local rock band off the ground. When We Push Through Sound is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 28, 2022
This book grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I read it in one day because the pace, character development, writing style, and music references engrossed me.
The storyline focuses on Tristan, a successful executive, whose world turns upside down due to a divorce and huge challenges at work. He tentatively enters the dating scene and then his professional world careens out of control.
This is Geoff Sease's first novel and I'm looking forward to reading all of his future books.
Highly recommend!
The storyline focuses on Tristan, a successful executive, whose world turns upside down due to a divorce and huge challenges at work. He tentatively enters the dating scene and then his professional world careens out of control.
This is Geoff Sease's first novel and I'm looking forward to reading all of his future books.
Highly recommend!
December 13, 2022
For some people, the goal in life is to raise a family and have a stable job. When We Push Through Sound is the story of Tristan James, who achieved both for some time and thought he was happy. However, personal relationships are complex. And for this reason, three years after his divorce, he discovered that his dreams should be focused in another direction, even if he didn't know which one. The only thing that gave him peace was the sounds of his guitar, a detail that took a long time to appreciate. But it wasn't until he lost his job that he reached his most depressive moment and was able to question life. That was his opportunity to understand his goals and how to achieve them. With this story, Geoff Sease shows us that our choices in life impact the direction life takes, but we can always find alternatives.
When We Push Through Sound is about learning to stand up in times of difficulty, but it also shows the importance of accepting the support of loved ones. Tristan is a character who thinks he has it all and then loses it. However, over time, he was able to understand his true priorities through a lot of suffering. And even if he feels alone or confused, some people support him and seek his well-being. That's why I found this reading interesting because of the way it reflects realistic situations of life. Also, it's easy to empathize with the characters and get involved with them, and because it is a chronological account is easy to follow.
When We Push Through Sound is for a specific type of audience. I recommend this book to those who like realistic readings that show everyday situations like family and work relationships. Still, the story is entertaining and has various unexpected twists that enrich the narrative. It is for this and its original subject, I give it 5 out of 5 stars. When We Push Through Sound is perfect for sharing the idea that friends will be there to help us in the most complicated situations. It also teaches that when we overcome the sensation of failure, we can discover that true success and love can be closer than expected.
When We Push Through Sound is about learning to stand up in times of difficulty, but it also shows the importance of accepting the support of loved ones. Tristan is a character who thinks he has it all and then loses it. However, over time, he was able to understand his true priorities through a lot of suffering. And even if he feels alone or confused, some people support him and seek his well-being. That's why I found this reading interesting because of the way it reflects realistic situations of life. Also, it's easy to empathize with the characters and get involved with them, and because it is a chronological account is easy to follow.
When We Push Through Sound is for a specific type of audience. I recommend this book to those who like realistic readings that show everyday situations like family and work relationships. Still, the story is entertaining and has various unexpected twists that enrich the narrative. It is for this and its original subject, I give it 5 out of 5 stars. When We Push Through Sound is perfect for sharing the idea that friends will be there to help us in the most complicated situations. It also teaches that when we overcome the sensation of failure, we can discover that true success and love can be closer than expected.
July 29, 2024
Intellectually and physically gifted, Tristan’s life had been one of effortless success in all fields until divorce from Sharon shredded his nervous system and planted further insecurity in a breast already riven, despite appearance, by deep insecurities.
To add to his woes, as leader of a team of dealers, he has taken a massively exposed position on the commodities markets ahead of the outcome of US-China trade talks, the resolution of which keeps being postponed into a seemingly indefinite future. To build resilience to endure the attrition of the wait, and out of unconscious need to escape his feelings of inadequacy and simultaneously punish himself for these, he pursues a gruelling physical routine of daily 4.30 morning runs in the Chicago winter.
As he seeks some kind of healing accommodation with his plight he meets Julie, a local musician; although their rapport is instant, the raw meat of emotional content is missing but their shared love of music holds them in a deep friendship.
He meets Beth, an advertising executive, who seems to possess that certain empathetic something he has been looking for to help exorcise the ghost of his failed marriage. His hopes build but a sense of impending doom begins to invest the proceedings. The weather plays a prominent part. It's as if, at one with nature, his forebodings attract the storm, which duly breaks. Upon which, the narrative becomes a study in mental breakdown and clinical depression, acutely observed in graphic physical and psychic detail.
The protagonist of this fascinating book, packed with unforgettable characters and skillfully crafted metaphors, may come over as almost despicable at times. Yet, he is never less than all too human and guiltily relatable and I found the prophetic ending, in all its lyrical beauty, compelling and fundamentally liberating.
To add to his woes, as leader of a team of dealers, he has taken a massively exposed position on the commodities markets ahead of the outcome of US-China trade talks, the resolution of which keeps being postponed into a seemingly indefinite future. To build resilience to endure the attrition of the wait, and out of unconscious need to escape his feelings of inadequacy and simultaneously punish himself for these, he pursues a gruelling physical routine of daily 4.30 morning runs in the Chicago winter.
As he seeks some kind of healing accommodation with his plight he meets Julie, a local musician; although their rapport is instant, the raw meat of emotional content is missing but their shared love of music holds them in a deep friendship.
He meets Beth, an advertising executive, who seems to possess that certain empathetic something he has been looking for to help exorcise the ghost of his failed marriage. His hopes build but a sense of impending doom begins to invest the proceedings. The weather plays a prominent part. It's as if, at one with nature, his forebodings attract the storm, which duly breaks. Upon which, the narrative becomes a study in mental breakdown and clinical depression, acutely observed in graphic physical and psychic detail.
The protagonist of this fascinating book, packed with unforgettable characters and skillfully crafted metaphors, may come over as almost despicable at times. Yet, he is never less than all too human and guiltily relatable and I found the prophetic ending, in all its lyrical beauty, compelling and fundamentally liberating.
May 23, 2024
‘When we Push through Sound’ begins on a promising note, with a perfect pace and superb style of writing. I liked how Sease describes his characters in the most succinct manner. However, the plot soon slows down and loses its charm midway. Even the sudden turn of events in the life of Tristan fails to revive the downhill stride of the narrative, which is more of telling. It jumps through many situations and focuses on many insignificant ones.
Dissatisfied with his outwardly successful life, Tristan struggles with the challenges of life. Dark shadows of failure haunt him but his escapist attitude and indecisive demeanor makes him weak-minded, capricious and selfish. Such a protagonist affects the book in a negative manner. Is he even capable of being called a protagonist? Female characters are well-crafted and more likable.
Dissatisfied with his outwardly successful life, Tristan struggles with the challenges of life. Dark shadows of failure haunt him but his escapist attitude and indecisive demeanor makes him weak-minded, capricious and selfish. Such a protagonist affects the book in a negative manner. Is he even capable of being called a protagonist? Female characters are well-crafted and more likable.
May 3, 2024
The shape of his path to healing!
When We Push Through Sound by Geoff Sease is an influential drama about human struggle and redemption.
The story centers on Tristan James, a man on the brink of despair, grappling with loss and the haunting buzz in his ears.
The novel stands out for its exploration of how five remarkable women play a crucial role in Tristan's journey back from the edge.
Sease's vivid storytelling brings the characters to life, painting a poignant picture of a life once full of promise now hanging in the balance.
This novel is a thoughtful look at the power of community and the possibility of hope even in the darkest times.
When We Push Through Sound by Geoff Sease is an influential drama about human struggle and redemption.
The story centers on Tristan James, a man on the brink of despair, grappling with loss and the haunting buzz in his ears.
The novel stands out for its exploration of how five remarkable women play a crucial role in Tristan's journey back from the edge.
Sease's vivid storytelling brings the characters to life, painting a poignant picture of a life once full of promise now hanging in the balance.
This novel is a thoughtful look at the power of community and the possibility of hope even in the darkest times.
May 28, 2024
The book opens with a chaotic dream sequence where the reader is drawn into Tristen subconscious—reliving scenes from his mercurous past of his seemingly inevitable failures as his life spins out of control.
What I liked about the book. The writing is clean and crisp. There were brilliant moments along the way. I really wanted to like it more.
What I didn’t enjoy about the book is that it was depressing. I felt like I was being dragged through the mud along with Triston. And I guess the truth is, I didn’t really like him and didn’t enjoy to spending time with him. His victim-mentality was overwhelming and at times repetitive—rants about the same thing.
Loved the cover.
What I liked about the book. The writing is clean and crisp. There were brilliant moments along the way. I really wanted to like it more.
What I didn’t enjoy about the book is that it was depressing. I felt like I was being dragged through the mud along with Triston. And I guess the truth is, I didn’t really like him and didn’t enjoy to spending time with him. His victim-mentality was overwhelming and at times repetitive—rants about the same thing.
Loved the cover.
August 14, 2025
Tristan James’s life moves between boardroom calculations and the quiet ambushes of nostalgia. Geoff Sease crafts a portrait of a man who’s mastered risk-taking in finance but struggles to gamble on himself. The novel’s power lies in its subtle contrasts—between past intimacy and present distance, between professional certainty and personal hesitation. Each encounter, whether a brief flirtation or a shared silence, feels like a coin toss in which the stakes are not money, but meaning. It’s a measured, introspective read that leaves more echoes than answers, appealing to those who appreciate a story’s aftertaste as much as its first bite.
May 16, 2024
The imagery in this story was very strong. The dream sequence at the beginning did a good job pulling the reader in. The main character, Tristan, is going through a set of crises and we follow him as he appears to work through them. The ending was strange and a bit confusing, and there was no real character development. The story ended with him much as he was at the beginning. The writing was well done, though. The author makes good use of metaphors and other examples of figurative language.
December 25, 2023
"When We Push Through Sound” by Geoff Sease is a BREW Book Excellence Award 2023 Action and Adventure Category finalist (Ref: https://thechrysalisbrewproject.com/b...)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews