And It Will Be a Beautiful Life

A Novel

By: Craig Lancaster

Narrated by: Don Amodio

Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Max Wendt has a family...but it's sliding sideways, and he has been complicit in its faltering. His wife and his daughter have pulled away from him amid his frequent absences, leaving him to bridge the distance between what he remembers and the way things are now.

Max Wendt has a job...but it carries him away from home most of the time, and its dynamics are quickly changing. There's a surprising new hire on his pipeline crew, strife among coworkers, and a boss whose proclivities put everything in peril.

Max Wendt has a friend...but this odd man Max meets during his travels perplexes him, prods him, pushes him, and annoys him. He sees something in Max that Max can't see in himself, and he's holding tight to his own pain.

Max Wendt has a problem.... More than one, in fact, and those problems are flying at him with increasing velocity. Can someone who has spent his life going with the flow arrest his own destructive inertia, rebuild his relationships, and find a better way?

©2021 Craig Lancaster (P)2021 The Story Plant

And It Will Be A Beautiful Book

Craig Lancaster showcases his incredible writing skills in this memorable, character-driven novel. It takes a great writer to write character-driven fiction about extraordinary characters (like Edward Stanton). It really takes a master to write character-driven fiction about an everyday Joe. And that's what Lancaster has done here. As with his Edward series, if someone were to ask me what this book was about, I would have a very hard time telling them. It's about a "pig-tracker" whose marriage is falling apart and who loves his daughter more than anything in the world. Sounds like garbage, doesn't it? The plot summary makes it sound dull as dirt. But it's not about the plot. It's about Max. It's about getting to know Max. I think the trickiest thing about reading great character-driven fiction that's thin on plot is that the book is incredibly boring to begin with. It only becomes more engaging as you "build a relationship" with the fictional character(s) about whom you're reading. As I progressed through this book, I did begin to look forward to coming back to it. And I had an increasingly difficult time putting it down. Last night, I bought the audiobook version just so I could listen to the last forty minutes while I had a midnight snack. I don't think this is a good choice for impatient readers or for readers who want an action-packed adventure story. You have to invest the time in to reading this book before it becomes enjoyable. I went to bed last night, having finished the book, thinking it was a four-star book. I decided in the morning that it was a five-star book for one reason: I missed Max. I was excited at the prospect of listening to more of his story while I showered. And then I was disappointed when I remembered that I had finished the book and there was no more to read.

Outstanding read! Funny, heartwarming, and inspiring.

Craig Lancaster has done it again! He knows how to write a wonderful, heartwarming story without being predictable. The characters are, in most ways, just normal people. But, little by little, you discover how special they are. You feel as though you are just a part of their day-to-day routines, then all of a sudden you know them deeply and intimately. The author has a beautiful way of taking you on a journey with the characters, to the point where they feel like your close friends. Their conversations (including the email exchanges) were insightful and funny and charming. I didn’t want to miss a single word. I would often rewind and listen to the best parts more than once. I just finished this book and I already miss Max, Charles, Alexandra,and yes…even Bonk. Do yourself a favor and read this book. You will be both entertained and inspired.

Not as good as 600 hours of Edward!

I was willing to give this book a chance because I’ve enjoyed Craig Lancaster’s other books so much. The Edward books are five stars. I kept waiting to fall in love with this book and just didn’t. It was worth finishing but if I had the chance again, I wouldn’t spend the credit.