Burnt Coffee

Larry Rochelle
BookSurge Publishing (2007)
ISBN 9781419681325
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (6/08)


Larry Rochelle’s “Burnt Coffee” tells the story of how a woman escapes from an abusive marriage, into a loving relationship, and the consequences of her actions.  Jen, a mother of two, is married to an abusive man who plays a prominent role in society.  She falls for Jack who is an electrician.  Jack provides her with the escape that she needs from the torment of her marriage.  As Jen struggles with trying to do what’s right instead of following her heart, her husband’s abuse worsens.  When she finally releases herself to the happiness of Jack’s arms, even her children feel at peace, but only for a short time.  Jen’s husband will stop at nothing to get his revenge.  

I found “Burnt Coffee” to be very interesting. It is written more in a poetic style than a typical fictional book style.  To separate the major events that are occurring in Jen’s life, the book is broken into four parts.  Each part is broken down into poetic like works that have titles to tell the tale.  This is a very interesting way to write a story.  Written in this manner makes each section more dramatic and leaves no words wasted. 

I found that the unique style of presenting the story made “Burnt Coffee” stand out as something different.  The story itself is very interesting and compelled me to keep reading.  I think that this would be an excellent choice for a reader’s group because it would give them something different to sink their teeth into.  It would also lead to some interesting discussions on human nature.  What is right?  Is it right for a woman to have an affair if her husband is abusive?  Is it right for a husband to seek revenge in the manner that he did?   “Burnt Coffee” is definitely a must-read!

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