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Book Jacket

The Marriage of True Minds
by Stephen Evans

Publisher: Unbridled Books
Publication date: 05/27/2008.
Novels, 192 pp.

Number of reader reviews: 16
Readers' Consensus: 4.0
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First Impressions: Page 1 of 3
Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Julie (Peoria IL)

A Quick Read, Quirky & Heartwarming
This was a book unlike any I've ever read before. I was hooked within the first two pages. Less than two hundred pages all total, it's a short book but packed full of quirky humor that had me laughing out loud.

Centered around a divorced pair of attorneys, Lena is slightly neurotic and Nick is more than a little psychotic, but they have a connection that cannot be broken, despite their mutual "annoyance" of each other.

Another main character in the book is Sancho, a well-loved puppet (yes, a puppet) that Nick is so attached to, it's as if Sancho is a human, whom Nick calls an "unreal American". Sancho goes everywhere with Nick and seems to be an extension of Nick's psyche.

The story reads very fast with a lot of dialogue. There are parts that are hilarious and parts that are heartbreaking....but overall this book is an absolute winner. I love the author's offbeat wit and look forward to more in the future!

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Rachelle (Chicago IL)

Charming read
The Marriage of True Minds was a fantastic treat - filled with humor, quick-wit, and a hand puppet named Sancho there was plenty in this book to love. At just under 200 pages it was a quick read that showed that sometimes the definition of insanity is love.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Arden (Longboat Key FL)

Repartee at its finest
Stephen Evans is, among other things, a playwright, and that talent is evident here. Reading this book brings to mind, at least to someone of my generation, Nick and Nora Charles engaged in witty exchanges, and their ever-present schnauser, Asta (The Thin Man). In this tale, though, Nick and Nora become Nick and Lena, both attorneys, (one sane, the other's sanity is for the reader to decide), and Asta becomes a puppet named Sancho. Other real animals play an important role in the story, particularly a large dog named Wolfram. The fairly short book (180 pages) is an engaging, entertaining read and would make a great Disney movie, though the too sophisticated dialog may need to be downplayed a tad for that audience. For this audience, though, the dialog makes the read.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Donna (Chandler AZ)

I laughed. I cried. I'll read it again.
Evans has created a perfectly limned representation of a flailing two-headed, multi-armed creature struggling to reign in the mercurial insanity of Nick Ward and Lena Grant’s relationship. They’re divorced, they’re ex-law partners, they’re still in love and their love has made them both more than a little crazy. None of that takes anything away from this witty, clever and charming little story. Indeed, it’s all the better because of the insanity.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Ginnie (East Meadow NY)

The Marriage of True Minds
This off-beat story of 2 divorced attorneys kept my interest. The author is able to give his main characters quick dialog and funny conversation. The story of Nick Ward's attempt to deal with his divorce from Lena, and escalating bizarre behavior, will keep the reader entertained. This is not a long or powerful book, but a pleasant vacation from our own day-to-day life.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Brenda (boise ID)

For a good time...
This book is fun. It's literary slapstick. The dialogue is clever and witty, and definitely contrived, but you are willing to overlook that because, well, it's just such fun. I couldn't help but begin casting characters for the movie. If you are looking for a deeply moving, profound treatise on animal rights, you better look elsewhere, but if you want a quick read that will entertain, this is your book.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Elyse (Creswell OR)

Light Humor
This was a quick read. A humorous, well-told story that moves along quickly. At times it bordered on the ridiculous, but as the antagonist is supposed to be crazy, I just shrugged it off. I think this is what is called a "summer read" or a beach book. I enjoyed it overall.

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