Once Upon Wisconsin Dennis McKay 9780984259441 Books
Download As PDF : Once Upon Wisconsin Dennis McKay 9780984259441 Books
After the death of a wife who never loved him and son who meant everything, Bill Ennis travels to Wisconsin in pursuit of a vague yet stirring memory of his long dead father somewhere near the Dells. He forms ties with a small community of people while falling in love with the beautiful Trudy Pas'cal and bonding with her son. The arrival of Trudy's rogue ex-lover and father of her only child shatters this new beginning. The ensuing turmoil and tragedy leads to a poignant and profound discovery from the past that determines a new course in Bill's life journey.
Once Upon Wisconsin Dennis McKay 9780984259441 Books
"Once Upon Wisconsin" is a beautifully written novel by Dennis McKay. It is the story of Bill Ennis, a man dealing with the tragic loss of his wife and son. He leaves the comfortable routine of his life in the suburbs of Washington, DC to seek a memory of time once spent with his father in rural Wisconsin. Along the way, Bill develops deep friendships including one with a young boy who reminds him of his son and another with the boy's mother with whom he has a passionate affair.All the characters in this work are fascinating and a joy to get to know, but McKay has given the Wisconsin lake as much personality as any of them. He writes passages such as this, "Bill looked past Trudy, the defiant choppy waves and stiff breeze that fought him into shore gone, nothing left but a whisper of a breeze and a few small ripples lapping the lake surface." These are the words of a man who loves what he is writing about and leads his readers to do the same. (Steve Lindahl, author of "Motherless Soul")
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Tags : Once Upon Wisconsin [Dennis McKay] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. After the death of a wife who never loved him and son who meant everything, Bill Ennis travels to Wisconsin in pursuit of a vague yet stirring memory of his long dead father somewhere near the Dells. He forms ties with a small community of people while falling in love with the beautiful Trudy Pas'cal and bonding with her son. The arrival of Trudy's rogue ex-lover and father of her only child shatters this new beginning. The ensuing turmoil and tragedy leads to a poignant and profound discovery from the past that determines a new course in Bill's life journey.,Dennis McKay,Once Upon Wisconsin,All Things That Matter Press,0984259449,Fiction - General,Fiction General,General,Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)
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Once Upon Wisconsin Dennis McKay 9780984259441 Books Reviews
Good plot...engaging characters and character development. Author really gave the reader the feeling of Wisconsin and the Dells. The book cries out for a sequel...need to know what happens to the main character, Bill Ennis.
Bill Ennis, a 57-year-old man from Chevy Chase, Md. takes a trip to yesterday. Bill's journey is one most of us would never dare to take. Would you? Simply a brilliant and compelling page turner, that really couldn't get any better. Extremely well done.
A beautiful story of a man dealing with loss,love and rebirth.A memory from his past leads him on a journey where he discovers the truth about the past and the present which provides him with a compass for his future. Well written with lovely images of the Wisconsin countryside.
It can be very hard for an writer to show the true inner emotions and feelings of a man as he goes through hard times. As I read the book, I could feel Bill's sadness and raw emotions as he had to deal with his past and present, and how his future would turn out. I was taken into by Bill's thoughts, as if I was part of the story.
Exellent writing, and very engaging story telling. I look forward to the author's next book.
A twist on the classic bildungsroman style, "Once Upon Wisconsin" follows a man (Bill) who has been reborn in the second half of his life and must journey away from home in order to find himself, his true home, and what is most valued. Skillfully juxtaposing flashbacks with character development, McKay intertwines Bill's past with his future to deeply evoke the human experience. Wonderfully touching, "Once Upon Wisconsin" is a must have for any bookshelf.
McKay continues from Fallow's Field, his first book, with wonderfully descriptive detail of his characters and their evolution throughout the story; as well as the nuances of their surroundings. The later comes to life and becomes another character in the story line. Also, as with Fallow's Field, in this yarn you feel yourself being Bill Ennis, the primary character, and walking in his shoes. The time period covered by Bill Ennis's experiences is rather short, but he seems to experience so much in it; suttle and dramatic transitions from his flashback memories of his childhood experiences with his father in the Dells and his recently deceased wife and son, to his relived purposeful trip back. This book has the wow ending factor too, so enjoy.
Richly detailed, Once Upon Wisconsin by Dennis McKay is one of those memorable books enhanced by the setting, Lake Oscala near The Dells. It becomes the character in the background. One could say it's the stage upon which the protagonist and supporting persona perform in this account of a man's return not to his roots but rather to a place of memories, linked to this remote body of water and the little community nearby.
Novelist McKay's strong suit in this work is his portrayal of Bill Ennis, a whistle blower fired for his honesty as a CPA negotiating the politics of palace intrigue rife in the federal bureaucracy. Compounding his callous dismissal from his 35-year career, Bill's wife and son are taken from him one evening by a drunken driver. Bereft now of family and career, Bill takes to the road to flee those memories and find new meaning. He searches for a dimly remembered resort with stone cabins, a lake, and the setting of a family photograph taken nearly 50 years ago when Bill could still ride on the shoulders of a loving and devoted father.
One likes Bill Ennis. Early on. While this reviewer strongly prefers First Person narratives, author Dennis McKay clearly has command of the Third Person rendering of his lead character. Resort owner Trudy Pas'cal and her son Hanson are well-drawn also and represent intriguing substitutes for the family Bill lost. Although his marriage to college sweetheart Rebecca became mechanical, Bill's relationship with and yearning for his lost son Tim serves as the emotional undertow for the work. Could Hanson become a replacement? And Trudy, will she consider Bill husband material or is their attraction mostly physical?
Along with the well-worn photograph, Once Upon Wisconsin is accented by several nice touches. For one, the caption above Zastrow's general store and grocery, "No Hurry, Stay Awhile." Bill does just that and finds his loyalty to the locals growing. I found the bedtime exchange between Bill and young Tim especially engaging. The philosophy imparted by Bill's father too provides a hook to the premise of the work which appears to be How should one live his life after disappointment with it thus far? Something for baby boomers to ponder perhaps. In Once Upon Wisconsin, Bill Ennis is negotiating some hard curves and downward plunges. His reflections and possible choices in the context of a blank page resonate. At his point in life, he must live, it seems, the script as he writes it.
I would advise readers to dismiss the printer/proofing errors found in the work. Don't let such distract you from its compelling characters and well-executed plotline. The pace is even and appropriate, building toward the crescendo in the final going. Chapter 24 is especially well-done and exactly as most of us would want or expect from what's gone on earlier. Note Bill's imaginary projection of Hanson's action at the very end touching and evocative. All in all, a highly personal, pleasing, and satisfying exploration of life's ever-unfolding opportunities.
"Once Upon Wisconsin" is a beautifully written novel by Dennis McKay. It is the story of Bill Ennis, a man dealing with the tragic loss of his wife and son. He leaves the comfortable routine of his life in the suburbs of Washington, DC to seek a memory of time once spent with his father in rural Wisconsin. Along the way, Bill develops deep friendships including one with a young boy who reminds him of his son and another with the boy's mother with whom he has a passionate affair.
All the characters in this work are fascinating and a joy to get to know, but McKay has given the Wisconsin lake as much personality as any of them. He writes passages such as this, "Bill looked past Trudy, the defiant choppy waves and stiff breeze that fought him into shore gone, nothing left but a whisper of a breeze and a few small ripples lapping the lake surface." These are the words of a man who loves what he is writing about and leads his readers to do the same. (Steve Lindahl, author of "Motherless Soul")
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