A tale of first love, self-discovery, separation, and madness.
The narrator of A FACE IN THE MOON, Jack Lohman, is an inexperienced twenty-two-year old, who was recently dumped by his first real girlfriend, and is soon to leave graduate school for who knows what. Enter Loni, a bright-eyed, free-spirited seventeen-year old who has had more than her share of experience -- she lost her virginity on her fourteenth birthday, has had more boyfriends and drugs than she cares to remember, as well as a nervous breakdown that she's trying her best to forget. From the moment Jack meets Loni, his life begins to change. She teaches him how to laugh, and makes him feel, for perhaps the first time in his life, that he can be loved without judgment. Yet, ironically, it is Loni's harsh self-evaluation that paralyzes her at times, turning the carefree, uninhibited woman/child into a speechless, listless teenager who laments the days when life used to be more fun.
A FACE IN THE MOON is a story about two young lovers struggling to find each other and their ways in the world. And when a series of events keeps them apart longer than expected it becomes the story of whether their new love can survive the pressures of separation and madness.
Professional Reviews
A Shakespearean-like tale with a twist.
Waldman raised in Chicago, now lives in Rochester, New York. His short stories, poems, essays, and articles have appeared in numerous publications. "A Face in the Moon," is his debut novel.
Jack Lohman, protagonist of this novel, is an inexperienced twenty-two-year-old, soon to leave graduate school for who knows what? He has yet to learn that life is often like a fragile, crystal wine glass. A glass that slips from your hand and shatters into a thousand glittering pieces.
This life-lesson presents itself to Jack in the person of Loni Forster—a seventeen-year-old, free- spirited girl who in all her bright-eyed exuberance has experienced far too much of life: the good, the bad, the madness. Loni has secrets too deep to reveal. Secrets even she doesn't want to remember, much less relate to another person. Yet, she's searching for love, and as is her usual way, in all the wrong places. Then, she meets Jack Lohman.
From these two very different rebellious people, writer Waldman, spins a Shakespearian like tale with a twist. A story readers won't soon forget. In many ways the story is one that could take place today instead of twenty-five years ago. On every college campus, in the year 2001, you'll find your Jacks and Lonis—it is true whether we want to believe it or not.
Loni, an Air Force brat, was born in New York, then reared around the country as her father's profession dictated. She grew up wild, lived on beer, pizza and ice cream. Discovered drugs and sex at an early age, but never had she discovered true love.
Jack, born and reared in Chicago, is a chili and pizza kind of guy. He has a useless B.S. in Psychology, then entered a Master's program in Advertising at the University of Texas in Austin. This was at his mother's urging. Jack has no interest in being just another ad man. In truth, Jack has no earthly idea what he wants to do with his life. He lives the life of the unattached bachelor with his roommates in Austin, loses one deep infatuation with a girl named Sally, and is ripe for another relationship. Enter Loni!
This novel promises a story of young lovers struggling to find each other and their ways in the world. Then, a series of events keeps them apart for an extended period. At this point, it becomes the story of whether their new love can survive the pressures of separation and madness.
The author fulfills the promise of his story. The emotional tides pull you first one way then the other. The rich characterizations and the deft narration all tend to hold the mind in awe as each heart tearing event transpires. Maybe you're like Loni, you can see the face in the moon. Or you're a Jack who cannot see the face. Whatever, it is as if you know these young people in this story. They are a part of your present, or your past. You've been to the depths of sorrow, the heights of passion they feel. Somehow, perhaps you found your way out of the maze, maybe your glass didn't shatter. You turn each page hoping against hope that the ending will be a satisfying one.
Mitchell Waldman is an author to watch. "A Face in the Moon" is just the beginning. Waldman's style, the grace with which his words flow through dark and troubling waters, offers each reader new hope even in the dark of the moon. I for one, look forward to his next novel with great expectation.
--Patricia Ann Jones
A very sweet tale
It has been one month, since Sally dumped Jack and he still pines for her even though he knows they were never compatible. Perhaps it is unrequited love, but more likely his lost feelings are because she was the twenty-two years old graduate studentÆs first and only girl friend. Jack's former college roommate and his current roommate encourage Jack to pick up a girl at the Mother Earth bar. Instead seventeen years old Loni drags Jack onto the dance floor. Unlike Jack, Loni has experienced too much of life in short time. Her virginity went three years ago and a string of lovers have followed. Jack and Loni have nothing in common yet she teaches him how to love and be loved at the same time his deep feelings for her freeze her like a deer in headlights. Though she was his mentor, Jack wonders if his beloved teacher can ever accept someone loving her for herself?
A FACE IN THE MOON is more than a coming of age story. Instead, it is an emotionally deep story that takes the reader so deep inside a lonely, sad young man readers will hold their breath knowing that they cannot escape until the book is finished. The story line focuses on the new love between Jack and Loni by leaving the audience to wonder if their relationship can survive the external attacks from friends and society and the internal battles caused by major insecurities. With more novels like his debut tale that demonstrates Mitchell Waldman tremendous talent for genuine characters in real life settings, the author will not remain faceless for very long.
Harriet Klausner,at, among other places, BookReview.com
Excellent read! Very highly recommended!
Jack has pined for the month since Sally dumped him. They were not compatible, makes no difference, the inexperienced grad student continues to mope. She was his first real girl friend and the twenty-two-year old Jack isn't sure he is really going to get over her. Jack's friends encourage him to find a girl at the Mother Earth bar and get on with life. The meeting of seventeen year old Loni is a turning point for Jack.
She is no shrinking violet. The pair also have little if anything in common, nonetheless their relationship grows into something more than either expected. Jack learns to love and discovers the brassy Loni has a softer side as well. Will she be able to accept the true devotion he is offering.
A FACE IN THE MOON presents a sad lonely young man readers are sure to enjoy getting to know, and will cheer him on in his search for happiness. The insecurities plaguing Jack and Loni threatens to rupture their relationship when a series of unforeseen events keeps the young pair apart. Jack in Austin, Texas treasures each letter he receives from Loni during her stay in England. The wedding of his brother and birth of a tiny nephew, the son of his sis helps Jack to put his life in focus.
Excellent read! 'This is a cannot put it down until I have finished the last chapter' tale from the opening line right down to the last chapter. Mitchell Waldman has crafted a delightful offering in his presentation novel. Told in the first person, which is my least favorite type of writing, A FACE IN THE MOON is a well written, entertaining work.
I rarely comment on book covers, however, for this marvelous delivery I must. The cover is so intriguing I had to begin reading this book as soon as I received it.
Writer Waldman shows great talent for developing characters who are people you feel you know, then placing them in life settings we can all understand and believe. The struggle his Jack and Loni must battle is well crafted in this intriguing tale. Waldman applies skill in his flowing narrative complete with a skillful portrayal of their psychological grapplings.
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