England. 1960s. A cold, harsh autumn. On an isolated island, an abusive man forces his wife to run for her life. Their son Tristan, young and afraid, also flees the island and sets out into the world to escape his demons and find his mother.
Hitchhiking beneath the backdrop of a wild and loveless November, Tristan encounters every possible character, from the genuinely kind to the inherently … inherently wicked. Beaten, robbed and stripped of even hope, Tristan finds himself on the gritty streets of London’s East End, where everything he thought he knew about life starts to shatter and crumble around him. With all hope seemingly lost, a young boy even questions the futility of life itself. But when he learns that there are others who share his torment and understand his pain, can Tristan find the courage to make it through his darkest hours?
Tristan’s tale is a grim exploration into his own conscience. As he discovers the unique ability of humans to do such heinous things both to themselves and to one another, it’s all he can do to keep control as his passage of internal discovery takes one dark turn after another and sends him to the edge.
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In 1960’s England you are introduced to the main character, Tristan, and his parents. He has grown up in a home where he witnesses domestic violence, alcoholism and is himself, physically and mentally abused. At age 16, Tristan wakes to his mother having left and he soon follows with the help of a family friend. His adventures on the road, the abuses he suffers, and the other people he meets along the way all teach him about the good and not so good available in this life. He changes as he takes different paths and learns there are also good and helpful people in the world. With great losses and gains Tristan both he grows up and becomes a different person. An interesting and sad coming of age tale that pulls you in and makes you want to root for the main character. 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
This book is depressing. As I was listening to it, I kept finding myself thinking it was called “I Have Lived Today” because “A Series of Unfortunate Events” was already taken.
It starts out, spending a significant amount of time talking about how Tristan’s alcoholic father beats the life out of him and his mother. The mother finally bails, only to leave her son behind. He bails, discovers he has an aunt, who reveals he has a long-lost sister. Then his aunt immediately dies. He gets robbed when he has nothing, finally catches up to his mother, only for her to be raped and murdered. Nobody seems overly concerned with the murder investigation though. It’s mentioned a few times in passing but nothing ever comes of it.
While his mother was on the street, she began to do prostitution. Her first John was a guy who seemed genuinely interested in her. They made plans to meet up later, only for nothing to come of that plot thread. It added absolutely nothing to the story.
Tristan finally finds some info out about his sister, flies to New York. While there, a plot thread about a guy whose son went missing, and now he helps people find missing loved ones. Alright, some world-building. So what’s the issue? Much like everything else in this story, that goes nowhere. Tristan is informed by this man that his sister is back in Europe, where he started.
Tristan flies back to London, where he quickly meets up with his sister and they barely get to know each other. The whole book builds up to it, only to gloss over it. They opt to forgive their father and return home, only to find him dead. Everybody is nonchalant about yet another “family” member dying. Tristan discovers and reads off a note stating that his mother’s friend is his and his sister’s real father. Then it abruptly ends.
Closure? Finishing up loose plot threads? Pfffff. Nah, you listened to an 11-hour audiobook that amounted to NOTHING in the grand scheme of things. What is there to be gained from listening to this story? What’s the moral? What’s the purpose? I’m lost. I have no idea. This story was a depressing waste of time. I normally loathe reviews that are just summaries and try to avoid spoilers. But this book was so infuriating to listen to, I didn’t want to hit at or gloss over what a miserable listen it was.
I couldn’t recommend this book to anybody. The audio narration and narrator were great, as far as I can remember. I didn’t spend too much time thinking about it because I had to pause it constantly due to it being so depressing to listen to.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
I Have Lived Today – a review by Rosemary Kenny
Steven Moore’s noir 1960s story relates the tragic backstory of teenager Tristan Nancarrow and his mother,Kerra, who has finally worked up the resolve to flee domestic abuse, up to a fascinating and gritty, conclusion.
The young man leaves the family’s island cottage home shortly afterwards, experiencing a wide variety of situations before travelling like a young Dick Whittington, to London, looking for answers – will he find what/whom he seeks?
A sometimes harrowing story, I Have Lived Today is certainly no fairytale and Steven Moore bravely writes in a different, (to his more usual crime-thrillers) no less riveting, true-to-life-like genre to stunning and memorable way that is sure to win him even more fans.
Get your copy today and tell all your friends about this great book… you’ll be doing them and yourself a favour for which your moving family saga bookshelves will thank you too!