An Angry Man by katinki

Official Description:

Edward is a bitter, angry man, a man suffering the sins of his past. An emotional & physical recluse, he pushes everyone away. That is, until Bella, a mysterious woman with her own demons, enters his world and forces him to face himself. AH

An Angry Man has hooked me right from the very start. Emotional, thought-provoking, and exquisitely written, it draws you in to the sad and raw world of a man dealing with grief in a way that wouldn’t be considered healthy, or even truly dealing with it at all.

In the first chapter, we’re introduced to a tragic accident in Edward’s past that sets the tone for the rest of the story:

“Where is she?” I whispered.

The hand on my shoulder stiffened, and I could feel my father’s short, manicured nails digging into my flesh through the thin hospital gown. I watched him close his eyes and take a deep breath. When they opened again, his eyes gleamed with unshed tears.

“Your sister didn’t make it, son,” he replied, his voice shaky and beaten.

Falling into a cycle of destruction and guilt, Edward appears to barely hold things together on the surface, but opts for the dangerous task of self-medication – mostly behind closed doors.

I wasn’t sure why I had awoken. Perhaps it was a sound, or maybe a dream. Or maybe, my body just had no biological rhythm any more. The glowing dial on my watch said it was only three in the morning.

Frustrated, I raked my fingers through my hair, only to find that my skin felt gummy or tacky, and my hair seemed to want to stick to my fingers. Confused, I brought my fingers to my face and groaned when I caught the smell of alcohol.

“Christ, Edward, what the fuck did you do?” I muttered to myself.

We’re introduced to Bella – who appears seemingly out of nowhere, looking to rent a property from Edward. They get off to a slightly rocky start, but quickly learn that they have more in common than they originally thought. Both Edward and Bella have ghosts in their closest, and Katinki does an excellent job of peeling back the layers of their stories to one another and to the reader bit by bit – particularly during their late night painting sessions, which prove to be therapeutic for the pair:

“Listening to the rhythmic brushing of horsehair against wood almost put me to sleep, almost lulled me toward unconsciousness. There was something about it, the regular pattern, the unthinking motion of my wrist – up and down, dip, up and down again. It was almost soothing. And it allowed me to sink into that comfortable mindless state that can only be reached through mindless activity.”

As chapters progress, we’re shown the struggles that Edward is faced with as he attempts to socialize with his family, live a “normal” life, and carry out the façade that he is doing ok. Even in the moments that are going well, Katinki does an amazing job of capturing the nervousness and hesitation in Edward – so much, that as a reader, you’re left wondering when the other shoe will drop.

Right from the beginning, Katinki’s ability to capture the rawness of a struggling alcoholic without over-dramatizing addiction has been spot on. The emotions and experiences of the characters read true to life – their reactions and behaviours are relatable and real. You’ll find yourself cheering for Edward as he both conquers and falters at bumps in his long road to recovery. Edward is an angry man, but he’s also a sad, broken, endearing individual who is exceptionally complex and interesting.

If you haven’t started on this one yet – you’re missing out. It’s incredibly gripping, and will definitely not disappoint!

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