"What sets this book apart is its raw originality." BookLife Fiction Prize 2019 Semifinalist Judge on Simon's Mansion.
BookLife Prize 2019 Semi Finalist Plot/Idea: 10 out of 10 Originality: 10 out of 10 Prose: 10 out of 10 Character/Execution: 10 out of 10 Overall: 10.00 out of 10 Assessment: Plot : Though Poe offers a thoroughly compelling and propulsive plot, the author displays a somewhat impatient tendency to skim-over potentially rich scenes in favor of more slow-going descriptions and allusions. The novel's unexpected developments and narrative breadth, however, allow this work to resonate. Prose : While at times Poe's abstractions can unnecessarily obfuscate the circumstances, the author delivers a finely tuned narrative with literary prose that is smooth, rich, and rhythmic in cadence. Originality : What sets this book apart is its raw originality. Simon’s Mansion sensitively and realistically captures the struggles of a young man seeking truth and acceptance following a period of intense struggle. That the author draws from personal experience to craft thi