Today it is my pleasure to kick off the tour for Yannick Thoraval and his recently realised novel, ‘The Current’.

Book Description:

Publisher: Ingram Spark (September, 2014)
Category: Literary Fiction, Climate Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-9925916-0-1
Tour Date: November, 2014
Available in: ebook, 312 Pages

Peter Van Dooren’s wealth and prestige mean that his family wants for nothing – except a husband and a father.

When the president of a sinking tropical island in the south pacific calls on the world’s most ingenious entrepreneurs to help save his people, Van Dooren reckons his plan can save the island and its people’s way of life.

If it works, Van Dooren’s plan will not only make him richer, it could also change the very idea of nations and borders. After all, changing the world is what Peter really wants to accomplish.

The thing is, not all of the islanders share Van Dooren’s vision for their homeland. That won’t stop Peter from risking everything to prove that nature can be tamed. Playing God may cost Van Dooren his fortune and his own family.

While Peter plots a world away, his wife, son and daughter sink deeper into their own personal abyss of retail therapy, amateur pornography and Christian fundamentalism.

Everyone is adrift on the same tide of greed, lust and fear. This is the current that shapes the world. It always has; it always will.

‘The Current’ is a novel about the difference between having a house and losing a home. The style of writing is literary (thoughtful but humorous), and will appeal to readers of Jonathan Franzen (particularly Freedom), Ian McEwan (particularly Solar) and Michel Houellebecq (particularlyPlatform). Stylistically, The Current offers readers a back and forth split storyline and portent of danger comparable to Paul Thomas Anderson’s film, Magnolia (1999).

My Thoughts:

Peter Van Dooren’s family has just about everything they want, except for Peter.  His wife, Alma, daughter, Grace, and Son, Stephen all overcompensate for his absence in different ways, all dysfunctional.  Alma uses retail therapy, Stephen uses pornography, and Grace hides behind Christian fundamentalism.

Yet, Peter is away for a noble cause.  The small country of L’eden de Sur Mer is located on a small tropical Island and the Island is sinking.  He and other executives are invited to stay on the Island to try to come up with a way to save the Island.

Set among climate change and politics, the Island is drowning and so is the Van Dooren family.  Can all be saved?

I really loved this book! There are countries that are physically shrinking, being eaten up by the sea.  The time to act is now.  Our governments have to look past politics and do something to  stop further damage to our planet! ‘The Current’ shows how silly all of the political arguments are.

I loved how Thoraval contrasted the drowning of a country with the breakdown of a family. It’s both man versus nature and nurture.  His characters are all well drown out into an excellent character study.  His writing is fresh and creative.  I just couldn’t put this book down.  When I finally finished it and looked at the clock, it was just after 4:00 am.

I highly recommend “The Current’!  Note: A portion of  the proceeds for this book will go to help refugees.

5/5

I received an ebook copy for my honest review.

About Yannick Thoraval:

Yannick Thoraval is a professional communications adviser and university lecturer.

Best known as an essayist, Thoraval has published widely for both academic and general audiences.

He formally studied film, philosophy and American political history, attaining a masters degree from the University of Melbourne before leaving academia to pursue commercial writing interests. He ended up working as a copywriter in marketing and communications.

Thoraval’s fiction has received critical acclaim. His first screenplay, Kleftiko, was a finalist in the International Showcase Screenwriting Awards. Judges of the prestigious Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, Australia, highly commended his first novel, The Current.

The novel draws from Thoraval’s personal and professional experiences of working in the Victorian State Government, particularly his work in international development with the nation of Timor-Leste.

He is a career migrant and has lived in the Netherlands, France, Cyprus, Canada and Australia. Moving internationally from a young age has left him feeling culturally stateless, despite holding three passports.

Thoraval is a quiet advocate for refugees and asylum seekers. He is a founding member of the World Writings Group, which helps refugees write about their experiences of forced migration.

He has pledged to donate 10% of the proceeds of this book to assist the settlement of refugees.

He currently lives in Melbourne, Australia, where he teaches professional writing and editing.  He is working on his second novel.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YannickThoraval
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008295216884

Buy ‘The Current’:

Amazon

This giveaway is open internationally and is for print or ebook.  Print is available to the U.S., Canada, and Australia only.  This giveaway ends on November 27, 2014.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.

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Deal Sharing Aunt Nov 18 Review & Excerpt
Inspire to Read Nov 19 Excerpt
100 Pages A Day Nov 20 Review & Excerpt
Cassandra M’s Place Nov 24 Review & Giveaway
What U Talking Bout Willis? Nov 25 Review & Excerpt
Two Children and a Migraine Nov 26 Review