READING MATTERS BLOG (LONDON, ENGLAND) "In the Wake of the Boatman - the title refers to Carl, the backyard boatman, who builds his own craft that sink upon launch - is the kind of book I did not expect to like. But I found it totally absorbing, incredibly realistic, and emotionally hard-hitting. I read it more than six weeks ago, and I'm still thinking about it. When the publisher offered me a review copy, my initial reaction was to turn it down. But I changed my mind because it was a small press, and small presses need all the publicity they can get - and who knows, maybe the book would be a good read? Well, that was the understatement of the year. In the Wake of the Boatman is a brilliant read, and I honestly think it deserves a much wider audience. Excellent! Highly recommended!" DAVE MACE, VP OF ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING, LOGO / MTV NETWORKS "Poignant and well-written." BOOK, LINE, AND SINKER "Why is it that some talented authors never seem to garner the attention they deserve? Jonathon Scott Fuqua has written several award-winning novels, but despite the literary acclaim, I'd never heard of him until I read his most recent novel. In the Wake of the Boatman was haunting and complex, and so much more than I anticipated. I've been thinking about it ever since finishing it earlier in the week. Now I'm eager to read and review his other works." VIRGINIAN-PILOT "A masterful yarn about a dysfunctional family . . . Ensuing events, including a relationship and its aftermath, leave the reader a glimmer of hope that this unforgettable character will dig himself out of his psychological morass before he destroys himself." MUSINGS OF A LITERARY FELINE "In the Wake of the Boatman surprised me. I knew from the description that it was a book I would likely enjoy. I hadn't realized, though, how much it would resonate with me on a personal level. I could see myself in both Puttnam and Mary, Puttnam's older sister.I most identified with Puttnam. I know what it is like to seek love and approval from someone who is not able to give it and that feeling of never being able to measure up. When it is a parent, it makes it all the more difficult. Puttnam tried for much of his life to make his father proud. Even when he tried to distance himself from his family, not to let his father in, it was impossible to break off completely. The parent/child bond is not easily dismissed. Puttnam is smart and capable. I wanted so much to step into the pages of the book and reassure him . . . The other main characters in the novel are fully realized, making them all the more real. I felt Puttnam's frustration and sadness, his guilt and shame. I could even feel Carl's internal struggle as he warred with saving face and acknowledging he might be wrong. I have a feeling I will be wondering for awhile to come about where Puttnam would be today if he were a real person. In the Wake of the Boatman is a study in the human psyche, about how our lives are shaped by our life experiences. Jonathon Scott Fuqua's novel moved me. In his acknowledgements, he mentioned that he hoped his story would inspire, and I definitely feel that it does; at least it did this reader. Rating: 4.5/5 Stars (Very Good +)"