Review by dempseyc4 -- Breaking Sandcastles by Kirk Burris
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dempseyc4
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- Latest Review: "Breaking Sandcastles" by Kirk Burris
Review by dempseyc4 -- Breaking Sandcastles by Kirk Burris
[Following is a volunteer review of "Breaking Sandcastles" by Kirk Burris.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Breaking Sandcastles by Kirk Burris, is one of those hopeless romantic stories that the couple against all odds, they just must be together. Set back in the 1960s, the story follows the roller coaster relationship of Jonathan and Marion. The story flips back and forth between present time and flash backs of their budding relationship. While the main story line is about their relationship, there is a murder that happens along the beginning days of it all.
Kirk Burris grew up in Missouri, before moving to Kansas City, one of places in the book. Burris earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in English Writing from UMKC. At the start of his writing career, he was a professional photographer and realtor. Burris started traveling close to the same time, visiting New York, Tokyo. Adding these places to his works, so that the readers would be able to visit and see the places described in his books.
To tell the truth, I read the first chapter and even though the name is the first word written on the page, by the second chapter I had no idea what the wife’s name was. It kicks off with her running through her daily routine, picturing what she uses to look like while brushing her hair in the mirror. Picking up on those small bursts of memories where a look or an item takes you back for a brief and shining moment. The husband went to paint out on the beach and everything seems to be an uneventful morning till she finds him lying in the sand struggling against the oncoming pain of a heart attack.
Like I said by chapter 2, I did not remember the woman’s name. Chapter 2 starts with the flashback of Jonathan’s first day of senior year. He makes is to last period art. With the original teacher on leave, they have a new teacher who is changing the way they do art. Just by being in the room, Jonathan and the rest of the class are much happier. Then he spots her bent over across the room, he is eyeballing her up and down so hard that it causes his chair to tip over. The girl runs over to help him up and Jonathan is face to face with his new art teacher and he is completely gaga over. The wife in the first chapter’s appearance had aged compared to the ones in the flashback.
Jonathan is not the only one who has hearts in his eyes, the art teacher finds him to be attractive to, but keeps her distance due to that she was the teacher. A French exchange student asks him out and in my mind, I think she is the one he ends up with till I read Chapter 3. It flashes back to the present and with wife’s name is mentioned again and I realize the wife is the art teacher.
The reason I went through so much about the first three chapters of the book. Not only does this major detail not only playing a major role in their relationship, but how I perceived the book. When I put two and two together and came up with four. It took me aback, I didn’t think it was going to be the teacher and the student that ends up together. I almost didn’t finish the book, because in my mind they were going to get together while he was still a student, which would be weird and wrong. I decided to continue and I am glad I did.
I finished the book and it was a great story, I could look pass the teacher and student because they didn’t get together or even see each other till 4 years after he graduated. I could look pass because these two characters really seemed meant to be and who can go against soul mates. They show that they really loved and cared for each other and would do anything to be together. This wasn’t just a high schooler thinking his teacher is hot.
I give this book a 3 out of 4 because the teacher thing through me off. I would recommend this book because after that it was all about the love for the both. For people who have read all the Nicholas Sparks books and need a new author, Burris is a great one to fill the void when it comes to the romantics. As far as the murder goes, I guess you will have to read the book to see what happens.
******
Breaking Sandcastles
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3 out of 4 stars
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Breaking Sandcastles by Kirk Burris, is one of those hopeless romantic stories that the couple against all odds, they just must be together. Set back in the 1960s, the story follows the roller coaster relationship of Jonathan and Marion. The story flips back and forth between present time and flash backs of their budding relationship. While the main story line is about their relationship, there is a murder that happens along the beginning days of it all.
Kirk Burris grew up in Missouri, before moving to Kansas City, one of places in the book. Burris earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in English Writing from UMKC. At the start of his writing career, he was a professional photographer and realtor. Burris started traveling close to the same time, visiting New York, Tokyo. Adding these places to his works, so that the readers would be able to visit and see the places described in his books.
To tell the truth, I read the first chapter and even though the name is the first word written on the page, by the second chapter I had no idea what the wife’s name was. It kicks off with her running through her daily routine, picturing what she uses to look like while brushing her hair in the mirror. Picking up on those small bursts of memories where a look or an item takes you back for a brief and shining moment. The husband went to paint out on the beach and everything seems to be an uneventful morning till she finds him lying in the sand struggling against the oncoming pain of a heart attack.
Like I said by chapter 2, I did not remember the woman’s name. Chapter 2 starts with the flashback of Jonathan’s first day of senior year. He makes is to last period art. With the original teacher on leave, they have a new teacher who is changing the way they do art. Just by being in the room, Jonathan and the rest of the class are much happier. Then he spots her bent over across the room, he is eyeballing her up and down so hard that it causes his chair to tip over. The girl runs over to help him up and Jonathan is face to face with his new art teacher and he is completely gaga over. The wife in the first chapter’s appearance had aged compared to the ones in the flashback.
Jonathan is not the only one who has hearts in his eyes, the art teacher finds him to be attractive to, but keeps her distance due to that she was the teacher. A French exchange student asks him out and in my mind, I think she is the one he ends up with till I read Chapter 3. It flashes back to the present and with wife’s name is mentioned again and I realize the wife is the art teacher.
The reason I went through so much about the first three chapters of the book. Not only does this major detail not only playing a major role in their relationship, but how I perceived the book. When I put two and two together and came up with four. It took me aback, I didn’t think it was going to be the teacher and the student that ends up together. I almost didn’t finish the book, because in my mind they were going to get together while he was still a student, which would be weird and wrong. I decided to continue and I am glad I did.
I finished the book and it was a great story, I could look pass the teacher and student because they didn’t get together or even see each other till 4 years after he graduated. I could look pass because these two characters really seemed meant to be and who can go against soul mates. They show that they really loved and cared for each other and would do anything to be together. This wasn’t just a high schooler thinking his teacher is hot.
I give this book a 3 out of 4 because the teacher thing through me off. I would recommend this book because after that it was all about the love for the both. For people who have read all the Nicholas Sparks books and need a new author, Burris is a great one to fill the void when it comes to the romantics. As far as the murder goes, I guess you will have to read the book to see what happens.
******
Breaking Sandcastles
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like dempseyc4's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: "Breaking Sandcastles" by Kirk Burris
