National Association of Independent Writers & Editors
Facebook Instagram Linkedin twitter

Search

SubscribeLogin

  • About
    • About NAIWE
    • Board of Experts
    • Amazon-Affiliate Book
    • FAQs
    • Advertising
  • Join Us
    • Join NAIWE
    • Benefits
    • Reasons to Join an Association
  • Training
  • Find a Professional
  • Blog
  • News & Events
    • The Edge
    • Conference
    • Podcasts
    • Summer Challenge
    • Words Matter
      • Words Matter Week
      • How to Participate
      • Media
  • Post a Job
  • Contact
  • Member Sites

Book Review: The Islander

March 25, 2024 1 Comment

2023 NAIWE Literary Book Winner

 

The Islander

Author: David W. Berner

The author, David W. Berner, has an excellent handle on the English language. He quickly captures the moment with life on an island off the coast of Ireland, connecting the reader with the characters and leaving the reader not wanting to depart from the characters’ lives as the book ends.

The main character Seamus is a man who lives alone on an island, although people do visit the island to have picnics or to take hikes. While Seamus would not describe himself as a recluse, he does like to spend time alone. In the early morning, he rises before the sun to enjoy the beauty of first light “over the bay and the mainland, and the evening sun fall across the sea.” He spends his time writing, mostly poetry.

As a young man, Seamus was married and he fathered a child, Aiden. Due to Seamus’s indiscretions and his word-focused life, his relationship with his son is strained. Aiden is now married with two daughters, and he believes that his father has forgotten important family events such as their birthdays.

Aiden, who lives on the mainland across from the island, finds himself forced to speak with, and even care for, his father when his father’s untreated diabetes causes his father to fall into a state of unconsciousness.

In the entire novel, there are only a handful of characters in the entire novel. However, every single character is dynamic, exploring new ideas and gaining realizations by the end of the novel.

This book is an excellent read, one that helps the reader grow in their own relationships with others.

Congratulations, David W. Berner’s The Islander for being a NAIWE 2023 Book Award winner!

Categories: Book Award Winners, Book Reviews

Comments

  1. Maxine says

    May 23, 2024 at 7:21 pm

    First of all I want to say excellent blog! I had a quick question which I’d like
    to ask if you do not mind. I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your thoughts before writing.
    I have had difficulty clearing my thoughts in getting my thoughts
    out. I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted
    simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or hints?
    Kudos!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Days to Celebrate in July
  • NAIWE.org! The New NAIWE Website Is Live!
  • Member Benefit: Discount on Fictionary’s An Insider’s View of Story Editing Course
  • Book Review: Vampire Grooms and Spectre Brides
  • Days to Celebrate in June

Categories

Links

  • Member Area
  • NAIWE Bookstore
  • NAIWE- The Association Site
  • Words Matter Week

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Latest Posts

Days to Celebrate in July

June 27, 2025

NAIWE.org! The New NAIWE Website Is Live!

June 20, 2025

Member Benefit: Discount on Fictionary’s An Insider’s View of Story Editing Course

June 13, 2025

Book Review: Vampire Grooms and Spectre Brides

June 2, 2025

Days to Celebrate in June

May 30, 2025

Book Review: Sinking Your Teeth into Proper Dental Care

May 26, 2025

Contact Us

  • 804-476-4484
  • P.O. Box 412
    Montpelier, VA 23192-0412
Facebook Instagram Linkedin twitter

© NAIWE. All rights reserved. Designed by My House of Design.