I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young man struggling with the loss of his parents travels from New York to Los Angeles in author Matt Duggan’s “Ostraca: East-West”, the first book in The Rosy Dream series.
The Synopsis
Set against the backdrop of the 1990s pre-internet era, Ostraca follows the poignant journey of Jack Darmody, a Generation Xer grappling with the tragic loss of his parents. As Jack embarks on a solitary road trip from New York to Los Angeles, he is confronted by his past and the existential questions that haunt him. Through a series of misadventures and heartaches, Jack wrestles with the meaning of existence, ultimately finding solace in the transformative power of love. Ostraca is the first novel in Duggan’s The Rosy Dream series. The second novel in the trilogy, In Extremis, will be published in May 2024.
The Review
This was such a heartfelt and transformative coming-of-age story. The author does an incredible job of delving into an era of adventure that stood just at the edge of the upcoming wave of technology and the internet. In a time before Google Maps, Waze, Uber, and more, travelers had to rely on maps, directions given by locals, and much more rudimentary means. The author was able to tap into this atmosphere and showcase the rich setting of both the states the protagonist traveled through and the era itself.
The heart of this narrative is the personal journey that the protagonist, Jack, took. The grieving that came with the loss of his parents, the hardships he witnessed his Aunt endure, and the journey that he put himself through to not only discover what he wanted out of life but also reconnect with who he was made this story come to life and brought a sense of adventure and even spirituality to the overall story.
The Verdict
Remarkable, thought-provoking, and engaging author Matt Duggan’s Ostraca: East-West is a must-read travel fiction and literary fiction novel. The first in a new series, the author’s harmonious writing style and ability to connect readers with profound and relatable characters will keep readers enthralled until the very last page. If you haven’t yet, make sure you grab yourself a copy of this moving story today.
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Matt Duggan lives in Los Angeles, California and is an award-winning writer and director.
He graduated from Boston College with degrees in English and Communications.
Matt was one of the first members of the legendary Annex Film Group, a film cooperative based in Los Angeles that produced sixteen award-winning short films that have played in theaters around the world and won numerous awards.
Matt’s first feature film, Inverse, which he produced, wrote and directed, won numerous awards during a yearlong film festival tour. Inverse is now available on Amazon Prime.
Matt has had several of his short stories appear in publications including The Menacing Hedge and The Literary Hatchet. Matt plans to release the next novel in his “The Rosy Dream” series in May, 2024. It is titled “In Extremis” and chronicles the continuing misadventures and revelations of Jack Darmody.
