Books
“If I only knew then what I know now…”

This oft-used statement is the basis of Rick Hautala’s long novella, REUNION. It’s a phrase I imagine almost everyone has had roll around inside their heads at some point in their lives. Hindsight has a way of beating people up, making them wish they could go back and alter their decisions in an attempt to right a wrong.

Such is the case for John Stone, a man who is haunted by his past as he makes a trip back home for his forty-year high school reunion. As John gets closer and closer to his destination he begins to wonder if he’s doing the right thing – not only because he feels as if he hasn’t accomplished enough in his life, but also because the trip is continually fraught with problems along the way. The only thing that keeps John from turning around and heading back home is a promise he made to himself, one that he intends to see through to its conclusion.

REUNION takes a couple of twists and turns along the way, some of which were pretty easy to ascertain well before they were fully explained. That being said, Hautala’s ability to portray past mistakes and their immense impact on people’s lives is what steals the show. As mentioned earlier, readers will be able to sympathize with John because they’ve been there before, albeit in less dramatic fashion. Hautala also effectively creates tension throughout REUNION by slowly (and slyly) giving tiny bits of information along the way, as well as by creating slightly menacing surroundings for his characters to live in.

My only complaint with REUNION was the amount of worrying involved. Both John and another character, understandably so, are worried about their actions and the impact those actions have on their lives. While this aspect of the characters was crucial to the story, I felt that the extent of the worrying simply went on for too long in some cases. It’s a fine line to walk, and Hautala succeeded through much of the story, but once in awhile it was overdone.

REUNION is an entertaining novella that is likely to continue affecting readers once they’ve finished the story – not only because they’re trying to wrap their heads around Hautala’s passionate tale, but also because REUNION is likely to remind people of their own “if only” scenarios. REUNION is one of those rare gems that makes you *feel*, and for that reason alone I think it’s worth tracking down.

REUNION is scheduled to be released in “late 2009” by PS Publishing. The book will be available in two states – an unsigned trade hardcover for $19.20 and a signed, jacketed hardcover for $40

(7 out of 10)

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