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Until the Next Time
For Sean Corrigan the past is simply what happened yesterday, until his twenty-first birthday, when he is given a journal left him by his father's brother Michael-a man he had not known existed. The journal, kept after his uncle fled from New York City to Ireland to escape prosecution for a murder he did not commit, draws Sean into a hunt for the truth about Michael's fate.Sean too leaves New York for Ireland, where he is caught up in the lives of people who not only know all about Michael Corrigan but have a score to settle. As his connection to his uncle grows stronger, he realizes that within the tattered journal he carries lies the story of his own life-his past as well as his future-and the key to finding the one woman he is fated to love forever.With the appeal of The Time Traveler's Wife and the classic Time and Again, this novel is a romance cloaked in mystery and suspense that takes readers inside the rich heritage of Irish history and faith. Until the Next Time is a remarkable story about time and memory and the way ancient myths affect everything-from what we believe to who we love.
402 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2012
60 people are currently reading
625 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Fox
23 books13 followersSee also: Kevin Fox for books on ceramics and materials science.
Kevin Fox is a dual citizen of the United States and the Republic of Ireland. He has been a professional Screenwriter (The Negotiator) and Television Writer and Producer since 1995. Until the Next Time is his first novel, inspired by his maternal grandfather and the stories of his family, including those from his father and uncles who were New York City police officers.
Kevin Fox is a dual citizen of the United States and the Republic of Ireland. He has been a professional Screenwriter (The Negotiator) and Television Writer and Producer since 1995. Until the Next Time is his first novel, inspired by his maternal grandfather and the stories of his family, including those from his father and uncles who were New York City police officers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
July 9, 2013
My original review can be seen here:
http://www.amazon.com/review/RH9V1HDB...
Please note: I read and reviewed this book in February 2012 from a copy I received from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: Sean Corrigan's father gives Sean a journal for his 21st birthday - one that had been written by his uncle in the early 1970s after he fled to Ireland to escape a murder charge. While there, Sean's uncle (Mike, or Mickaleen) met the enigmatic Kate, and started to have strange knowledge and memories. Now Sean is fascinated by the story, but especially by the many missing pages from the journal. Who removed them? How was it Mike ended up being killed? So, Sean journeys to Ireland himself, to try to find answers. What he does find... are answers to questions he never even know how to ask.
My Thoughts: Dealing with the ideas of reincarnation and the journey of souls, as well as soul mates, this is really a fascinating book. The descriptions of Ireland make me yearn to go there, to visit the misty isles and meet the people and travel the crazy, twisty roads. I was very interested in the journeys that both Sean and Michael took in their respective times. It became a bit confusing at times, trying to keep track of who was whom, and whose family went with which person, but I suppose that is all a part of the twistiness that is described so aptly.
Major Oops! But Don't let it Stop You: There is, however, a major plot hole that made it into the final book (yes, I checked before writing this). Sean, the main character, says his birthday is 7/5/1976, yet his 21st birthday is dated 7/5/1996. That's only 20 years, I'm afraid ... Someone fell asleep on the job on the editing team, or the writer didn't keep adequate track of the timeline. But don't let that keep you away from reading this book - I think the ideas and understanding that went into writing it are important, and more people need to become aware and awake. Highly recommended for everyone and anyone - READ THIS BOOK!
http://www.amazon.com/review/RH9V1HDB...
Please note: I read and reviewed this book in February 2012 from a copy I received from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: Sean Corrigan's father gives Sean a journal for his 21st birthday - one that had been written by his uncle in the early 1970s after he fled to Ireland to escape a murder charge. While there, Sean's uncle (Mike, or Mickaleen) met the enigmatic Kate, and started to have strange knowledge and memories. Now Sean is fascinated by the story, but especially by the many missing pages from the journal. Who removed them? How was it Mike ended up being killed? So, Sean journeys to Ireland himself, to try to find answers. What he does find... are answers to questions he never even know how to ask.
My Thoughts: Dealing with the ideas of reincarnation and the journey of souls, as well as soul mates, this is really a fascinating book. The descriptions of Ireland make me yearn to go there, to visit the misty isles and meet the people and travel the crazy, twisty roads. I was very interested in the journeys that both Sean and Michael took in their respective times. It became a bit confusing at times, trying to keep track of who was whom, and whose family went with which person, but I suppose that is all a part of the twistiness that is described so aptly.
Major Oops! But Don't let it Stop You: There is, however, a major plot hole that made it into the final book (yes, I checked before writing this). Sean, the main character, says his birthday is 7/5/1976, yet his 21st birthday is dated 7/5/1996. That's only 20 years, I'm afraid ... Someone fell asleep on the job on the editing team, or the writer didn't keep adequate track of the timeline. But don't let that keep you away from reading this book - I think the ideas and understanding that went into writing it are important, and more people need to become aware and awake. Highly recommended for everyone and anyone - READ THIS BOOK!
November 21, 2012
So much promise, but could have used more editing. Reincarnation, Celtic mysticism, romance, and The Troubles made for so many tasty ingredients; however, the soup didn't quite come together in a satisfying way. Intriguing as the plot was (and it did capture my attention until the end), the central theme of reincarnation became immediately apparent to the reader, and the iterations became an annoyance. We get it!! Sean and Michael are one!! Souls (and their baggage) recycle!! At times the discussion of reincarnation became downright didactic -- in one particular section a visit to the Dublin/Trinity library becomes a podium for a miniature lecture on the cross religious, cross historical implications. Finally, the plotting at the end became a bit difficult to follow without knowing specific detail about The Troubles from the 70's to the present. This reader's only recourse was to consult Wikipedia. I don't necessarily think footnotes would have been a solution, but perhaps a brief overview as an appendix? Some threads were left untied -- an Anne/Bridey connection, for example, leads the reader to wonder how Anne resolves her attachment to Sean. Also, does the blue eyed baddie ever intuit his "lesson" and resolve his ideological split with the main characters, or is he just the bad apple meant to continually spoil the whole bunch? The open ending of the book drew the narrative from the page to the metafictional "real world", and that made for a clever narrative flourish. Overall, I was interested enough to finish the book, would recommend it to people who cherish Irish history and culture, and will be curious to see whether Kevin Fox follows with another novel to hone his craft.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2012
I won this book through the GoodReads First Reads giveaways!
Basic Plot: Sean Corrigan goes to Ireland to find out what happened to the uncle he never knew he had, and learn an important truth about himself.
This book had me on a roller coaster. I nearly quit reading it somewhere around the middle because I was getting frustrated by the sheer stupid density of so many of the characters. I think what happened is that the author was going for suspense, and let it go on just a bit too long. The last 50-100 pages were a very fast read, and I really liked the ending. I should have seen the final scene coming far earlier than I did, but somehow didn't, and I enjoyed it.
I found myself wishing I knew more about the history of the IRA and the conflict in Ireland over the Catholics vs. Protestants. I know basics (they hate each other) but had no other real reference point from there. The Irish culture included in the pages rang truly, but I'm not from a distinctly Irish family, so again I had no point of reference. What I did like was the points the book had to make about "reading between the lines" and how many things said aren't meant to be taken literally, but as metaphors for deeper truths. The philosophies spread by the female characters in particular are very in synch with a lot of my own personal beliefs.
It's a bit preachy at times, but it's preaching to the choir in my case. It's the author's first novel, so he gets a partial pass on the pacing problems and the fact that his male characters are far stupider than they need to be. It's a decent read once you get past the slow middle section, and in the end it was a nice break from my usual fare.
Basic Plot: Sean Corrigan goes to Ireland to find out what happened to the uncle he never knew he had, and learn an important truth about himself.
This book had me on a roller coaster. I nearly quit reading it somewhere around the middle because I was getting frustrated by the sheer stupid density of so many of the characters. I think what happened is that the author was going for suspense, and let it go on just a bit too long. The last 50-100 pages were a very fast read, and I really liked the ending. I should have seen the final scene coming far earlier than I did, but somehow didn't, and I enjoyed it.
I found myself wishing I knew more about the history of the IRA and the conflict in Ireland over the Catholics vs. Protestants. I know basics (they hate each other) but had no other real reference point from there. The Irish culture included in the pages rang truly, but I'm not from a distinctly Irish family, so again I had no point of reference. What I did like was the points the book had to make about "reading between the lines" and how many things said aren't meant to be taken literally, but as metaphors for deeper truths. The philosophies spread by the female characters in particular are very in synch with a lot of my own personal beliefs.
It's a bit preachy at times, but it's preaching to the choir in my case. It's the author's first novel, so he gets a partial pass on the pacing problems and the fact that his male characters are far stupider than they need to be. It's a decent read once you get past the slow middle section, and in the end it was a nice break from my usual fare.
February 20, 2012
I really wanted to love this book and liked the reincarnation idea as I really enjoyed that angle in books like Ferney, by James Long. The Irish setting was interesting and I found I got a bit of an insider's view on Ireland. However, I found that I didn't connect well with the characters and didn't care what happened to them and ended up skimming the final third of the book.
The theories on reincarnation and how organized religion carried hints to the truth of reincarnation was thought provoking, and left me pondering some ideas that will stick with me for a while. On the other hand, I felt like the reincarnation bits began to seem a bit like a long winded lecture and were a little heavy handed.
I think this could have been a much better book if the author would have gone further back in Ireland's history to explain the original source of the "troubles" and made the other parts shorter and less repetitious.
The theories on reincarnation and how organized religion carried hints to the truth of reincarnation was thought provoking, and left me pondering some ideas that will stick with me for a while. On the other hand, I felt like the reincarnation bits began to seem a bit like a long winded lecture and were a little heavy handed.
I think this could have been a much better book if the author would have gone further back in Ireland's history to explain the original source of the "troubles" and made the other parts shorter and less repetitious.
February 25, 2012
This is an Amazon Vine book that took me out of my comfort zone; it required me to fancy myself Irish and just accept what I read. If it hadn't contained such marvelous characters, I don't think I would have suspended disbelief so well but these characters have such depths to them that I'll be thinking about them for a long while.
The story begins when Sean Corrigan, of New York, is given a journal kept by his father's brother Michael. Sean had never known about an Uncle Michael, but apparently his uncle had been a NY cop who ran to Ireland to escape a murder charge. As the story continues, Sean goes to Ireland to solve the mystery of what happened to his uncle there and meet the people who knew his uncle.
Now it gets really intriguing and mysterious. Sean doesn't know what's going on half the time and I could only figure things out in retrospect in some cases. Still I was glued to the pages as I needed to find out. All I could do was settle in for a wild ride, particularly when Anne, the girl who is sent to pick Sean up at the airport, is driving. This girl is one of the most fascinating characters in the book, and her driving is absolutely insane.
The beautifully described settings vary from lonely islands, one of which Sean's family owns, to city streets. The IRA is involved, the Troubles, killing of innocent people in the cause of a free Ireland, guns and money from the U.S., revenge killings, and the British fighting back. You will wonder throughout who is Declan? You will wonder what happens to Kate and Michael and Sean and Anne. And unfortunately if I tell you anymore I'll spoil the story for you.
I'll have to be satisfied with saying that the story is very Irish, and that it is illogically logical. If you have "eyes that see and ears that hear", you will understand. I highly recommend this haunting book.
The story begins when Sean Corrigan, of New York, is given a journal kept by his father's brother Michael. Sean had never known about an Uncle Michael, but apparently his uncle had been a NY cop who ran to Ireland to escape a murder charge. As the story continues, Sean goes to Ireland to solve the mystery of what happened to his uncle there and meet the people who knew his uncle.
Now it gets really intriguing and mysterious. Sean doesn't know what's going on half the time and I could only figure things out in retrospect in some cases. Still I was glued to the pages as I needed to find out. All I could do was settle in for a wild ride, particularly when Anne, the girl who is sent to pick Sean up at the airport, is driving. This girl is one of the most fascinating characters in the book, and her driving is absolutely insane.
The beautifully described settings vary from lonely islands, one of which Sean's family owns, to city streets. The IRA is involved, the Troubles, killing of innocent people in the cause of a free Ireland, guns and money from the U.S., revenge killings, and the British fighting back. You will wonder throughout who is Declan? You will wonder what happens to Kate and Michael and Sean and Anne. And unfortunately if I tell you anymore I'll spoil the story for you.
I'll have to be satisfied with saying that the story is very Irish, and that it is illogically logical. If you have "eyes that see and ears that hear", you will understand. I highly recommend this haunting book.
June 20, 2013
Honestly, I give this book a 4.5 star rating. Let's get on adding the half stars, shall we Good Reads? Thanks. Anyway, the story was fantastic. I have never really delved into a book about reincarnation but I loved this one. The way it was presented was very unique and interesting, and the fact that the book was about reincarnation came as a surprise to me, which was a welcomed one.
What I didn't find appealing was the middle 150 pages where it went through the events of the IRA. I felt that during these descriptions, the "bad guys" were never fully developed and their character interactions felt rushed and it was hard to get a feel for what side you wanted to root for (I guess the side that the main character was on?) It was a bit boring in that respect. I also found that the dialog was very hard to read. It was written the way the Irish talk, so unless you are familiar with their slang, it takes a while to comprehend. I'm embarrassed to say it took about 75 pages to realise "eejit" meant "idiot".
But overall I enjoyed the story and the ending fit very well. I would recommend this book, but I would recommend that you listen to it as an audiobook rather than read the actually paperback so you aren't lost trying to read the dialog.
What I didn't find appealing was the middle 150 pages where it went through the events of the IRA. I felt that during these descriptions, the "bad guys" were never fully developed and their character interactions felt rushed and it was hard to get a feel for what side you wanted to root for (I guess the side that the main character was on?) It was a bit boring in that respect. I also found that the dialog was very hard to read. It was written the way the Irish talk, so unless you are familiar with their slang, it takes a while to comprehend. I'm embarrassed to say it took about 75 pages to realise "eejit" meant "idiot".
But overall I enjoyed the story and the ending fit very well. I would recommend this book, but I would recommend that you listen to it as an audiobook rather than read the actually paperback so you aren't lost trying to read the dialog.
July 10, 2012
I quite enjoyed this book! The premise, setting and characters were all very well done. It was surprisingly romantic, too. The beginning was pure literary mystery, and it hooked me from the first page. Fox did a good job of capturing his characters' personalities and the rich Irish setting. It was an emotional read, too - I laughed out loud several times, and the melancholy situations also struck a chord with me. While the middle was a bit preachy, and the scene in the Trinity Library was a bit of an "information-dump" it was still a fine example of an interesting blend of genres. I definitely plan on keeping an eye out for what writing projects Fox publishes next!
July 26, 2012
Irish story written with some very interesting twists of reincarnation and Irish history were woven into this tale. Some points were really intriguing and other parts were slow. If you LOVE Irish history this book is for you. Read it for my book club and most of us enjoyed it. Parts of it were too long for me personally and could have used some editing down!
June 26, 2012
I was looking forward to reading this book because I enjoy history/fantasy and romance. It had all those elements, but it just ended up being confusing and too little attention was spent on the historical background to make much sense of the characters and what they were going through. I couldn't finish it.
October 22, 2016
Novel set in Ireland during the troubles. Looking at reincarnation, history, and religion. An inters\esting read that was thought provoking.
September 22, 2019
I enjoyed parts of “Until Next Time” – but at the end of it – wasn’t completely sure what type of book I’d just read. At times it felt like a romance, at times a treatise on religion & spirituality, and much of the time it was a political statement about the violent situation in Northern Ireland.
As the subject danced around, so did the writing style. The book begins in the point of view of a young man named Sean. His voice comes across as belligerent, skeptical and far younger than one might expect. The style is choppy and sometimes seems very juvenile. As the book continues, though, he sometimes has thoughts that seem FAR more mature than he is. This voice is introspective, worldly and very wise – and although the events of the story try to lay the groundwork for that change – it feels off. He starts out the book with a variety of curses and complaints, and sounding like an aimless but angry teenager, but then less than halfway through, (and before any major changes) comes across sounding completely different.
“But even in that moment – even as I thought about telling her how deeply I cared for her – some part of me knew it wouldn’t last. It wasn’t that I regretted what happened, and I knew that I could probably spend years getting to know her, loving every moment. She was beautiful on every level, and I knew she would always challenge me. But it would never be complete. It would never feel as if I couldn’t breathe without her next to me. It would always feel like she were standing in for someone else. Who that was, I didn’t know yet, but I knew she was still out there somewhere, even in those first few moments with Anne.”
This is about a young woman who he just met…1-2 days before?
The one part of the book that will stay with me was the perspective on the Irish – ways of life and loving and fighting. Part Irish myself, I appreciated phrases like; “Smiling women and singing children had perpetual tears in their eyes, as did the angry and defiant young men. The Irish character that I’d seen and never understood my whole life was suddenly on the surface and visible here, tears and laughter so intertwined they were inseparable.”
That is beautifully written, and was more of the book similar to that; I would have enjoyed it more. But this mix of politics, romance, spirituality and violence just didn’t capture me as much as I’d hoped.
As the subject danced around, so did the writing style. The book begins in the point of view of a young man named Sean. His voice comes across as belligerent, skeptical and far younger than one might expect. The style is choppy and sometimes seems very juvenile. As the book continues, though, he sometimes has thoughts that seem FAR more mature than he is. This voice is introspective, worldly and very wise – and although the events of the story try to lay the groundwork for that change – it feels off. He starts out the book with a variety of curses and complaints, and sounding like an aimless but angry teenager, but then less than halfway through, (and before any major changes) comes across sounding completely different.
“But even in that moment – even as I thought about telling her how deeply I cared for her – some part of me knew it wouldn’t last. It wasn’t that I regretted what happened, and I knew that I could probably spend years getting to know her, loving every moment. She was beautiful on every level, and I knew she would always challenge me. But it would never be complete. It would never feel as if I couldn’t breathe without her next to me. It would always feel like she were standing in for someone else. Who that was, I didn’t know yet, but I knew she was still out there somewhere, even in those first few moments with Anne.”
This is about a young woman who he just met…1-2 days before?
The one part of the book that will stay with me was the perspective on the Irish – ways of life and loving and fighting. Part Irish myself, I appreciated phrases like; “Smiling women and singing children had perpetual tears in their eyes, as did the angry and defiant young men. The Irish character that I’d seen and never understood my whole life was suddenly on the surface and visible here, tears and laughter so intertwined they were inseparable.”
That is beautifully written, and was more of the book similar to that; I would have enjoyed it more. But this mix of politics, romance, spirituality and violence just didn’t capture me as much as I’d hoped.
September 4, 2023
At first blush, Until the Next Time comes across as a mystery, revolving around a New Yorker exploring his Irish heritage. But the reader is soon awash in religion and politics. I’ve often said, the easiest way to ruin a nice dinner party is to bring up politics or religion. Kevin Fox’s novel proves me wrong!
In Fox’s Until the Next Time, Jesus finds a way to make the case for reincarnation. Go ahead and toss that out there with the appetizers. Your guests will be so deep in history and philosophy they’ll forget they’re bickering over religion.
And you might think broaching the Northern Irish Troubles would incite a Hatfields-and-McCoys-sized feud before you could pass the mashed potatoes. But, no need to hide the steak knives. Your guests will be so busy swooning over the forever romance Fox weaves into the politically fraught historical fabric, they’ll question why anyone would fight when there’s so much reason to love.
https://brain2mind.substack.com/p/wee...
In Fox’s Until the Next Time, Jesus finds a way to make the case for reincarnation. Go ahead and toss that out there with the appetizers. Your guests will be so deep in history and philosophy they’ll forget they’re bickering over religion.
And you might think broaching the Northern Irish Troubles would incite a Hatfields-and-McCoys-sized feud before you could pass the mashed potatoes. But, no need to hide the steak knives. Your guests will be so busy swooning over the forever romance Fox weaves into the politically fraught historical fabric, they’ll question why anyone would fight when there’s so much reason to love.
https://brain2mind.substack.com/p/wee...
August 27, 2018
I listened to an audio book from the library and would recommend listening rather than reading. The reader does a good job with the different characters voices and the Irish dialect.
The various story lines and the characters held my interest. The author's attempt to fit reincarnation into Catholicism is sometimes intriguing and sometimes stretched beyond plausibility. I thought the author's portrayal of Irish history was insightful. The main characters were well developed. The men were clueless compared to the women. However women's constant explanations were usually an effective device for conveying information and often brought in some humor. Overall, I enjoyed the book but it did seem to need editing. There was enough repetition that at moments I thought "I've already listened to this part."
The various story lines and the characters held my interest. The author's attempt to fit reincarnation into Catholicism is sometimes intriguing and sometimes stretched beyond plausibility. I thought the author's portrayal of Irish history was insightful. The main characters were well developed. The men were clueless compared to the women. However women's constant explanations were usually an effective device for conveying information and often brought in some humor. Overall, I enjoyed the book but it did seem to need editing. There was enough repetition that at moments I thought "I've already listened to this part."
June 16, 2023
This is a story centered around the conflict between Britain and Ireland with two time lines one in 1972 and one 1992. It is also about Irish lore and reincarnation and the belief that your memory comes from the past lives you have lived and the relationships you have in each life. In particular an Irish New York cop, the uncle, Michael and his nephew, Sean. Sean is given his uncle's diary and goes on a quest to Ireland to find out how Michael died. In dreams and through meeting people from Michael's past it comes together. I thought it was a slow read and I did listen to the audio which helped, but the ending was worth the wait and made me want to believe.
May 14, 2020
I didn't realize this book was about the war in Ireland between the Catholics and Protestants. I remember hearing about this on the news when I was growing up and I didn't understand it then or now. The book also talked about coming back and being reincarnated as someone in your family in a former life. That was a little too much for me to take. I am not sure I would recommend this book. It just wasn't the type I would normally read.
June 5, 2020
Couldn’t finish it. Too convoluted. Too confusing. The back and forth between present day (1996) and the past (1972 or 1973) was impossible to keep track of. And the writing is mediocre at best. Got 2/3rds through it and decided I had better things to read. Don’t really care what happens to the main characters since I can’t keep track of them anyway. Don’t bother.
March 22, 2021
I found this book a little hard to get into at first. I am not usually a fan of going back and forth between time periods but after a while I got attached to the characters and had to know what happened . This is a fantastic book !
April 8, 2020
A little bizarre, but I guess that’s Irish mythology. It was really confusing at first, but eventually you start to understand more. Lots of almost-language and a bit of sex.
May 25, 2020
A very confusing book - it is hard to keep track which time frame people are in
April 18, 2022
If you like Ireland, you’ll love this. Also, the author is pretty cool.
July 12, 2022
I stopped reading this book, it just wasn't for me.
August 15, 2022
Ir was confusing, boring and hard to follow. Couldn't finish this book.
November 1, 2022
Got a little tedious in the middle. Had a good ending. The homeless guy at the rest stop was reading this book. It was about Irish people and mystical reliving if part lives.
April 21, 2012
Riveting suspense drives masterful Irish reincarnation novel
Kevin Fox's reincarnation novel explores political strife, religious intolerance, and enduring love that spans centuries, played out against the lush backdrop of Northern Ireland. He doles out hints and teasers so skillfully that the story rushes forward at breakneck speed as you chase down clues until the entire puzzle falls into place--revealing a satisfying portrait of romance, spirituality, and history that transports you to an Ireland you may not have known existed.
Spiritual/metaphysical content: High. Using the framework of The Troubles in Northern Ireland during the 1970s, Fox illustrates that, on both an individual and societal level, belief in reincarnation can provide a "different set of moral guideposts" than enables people to seek justice instead of retribution, and eventually move on to "a more aware and enlightened way of living."
An intriguing mixture of ancient rites, Buddhist principles, and "enlightened" Catholicism drive the story at a relentless pace. Fox presents a persuasive case, pointing out that reincarnation has been a feature of nearly every world religion except Christianity, and that Jesus' actual words support reincarnation even though later Bible authors have reinterpreted their meaning. He suggests that some people can remember their past lives more easily; that knowledge is passed down through families and within clusters of those who remember. They awaken others because, when individuals view their actions through the broader lens of reincarnation, penance and forgiveness can occur mindfully in one or two lifetimes instead of playing itself out over many generations.
My take: The power of "Until the Next Time" springs from Fox's remarkable ability to thread extensive historical and philosophical detail into crisp dialog and a clever plot that drives every character's decisions. Similarly themed spiritual fiction sometimes adds a layer of pedantic preaching atop the plot, but Fox handles exposition so smoothly, it rarely disturbs the reader's immersion within the story.
Understanding reincarnation is both the heart of the novel's conflict and the key to resolving it. Fox uses the sprawling canvas of Northern Ireland and England spanning millenia to demonstrate how the typically abstract theory of reincarnation has shaped the Corrigan family's history in very concrete ways. The characters' choices determine their karma/fate/destiny; negative choices require penance and forgiveness, often through multiple lifetimes, until they absorb a particular lesson. This is not a philosophical notion for the Corrigans but a pattern of brutal action and reaction that drives war and aggression across centuries, culminating in Ireland's Bloody Sunday and the brutal crackdown that followed.
Fox is a remarkable writer; he employs dialect so skillfully that I could hear an Irish lilt echoing in my head as I read. The novel's structure is complex--three parallel stories spanning multiple generations, told through two points of view. Figuring out who is narrating the story is tricky at first, but the reader catches on fairly quickly. Beautifully written and paced, the novel's spiritual and historical reach took my breath away. I immediately searched Amazon for more novels by Kevin Fox; regretfully, they do not exist yet. "Until the Next Time" is a wonderful example of how, as Fox explains, "Fiction is the lie that illuminates a greater truth."
For more reviews of spiritual/metaphysical novels, see Fiction For A New Age.
Kevin Fox's reincarnation novel explores political strife, religious intolerance, and enduring love that spans centuries, played out against the lush backdrop of Northern Ireland. He doles out hints and teasers so skillfully that the story rushes forward at breakneck speed as you chase down clues until the entire puzzle falls into place--revealing a satisfying portrait of romance, spirituality, and history that transports you to an Ireland you may not have known existed.
Spiritual/metaphysical content: High. Using the framework of The Troubles in Northern Ireland during the 1970s, Fox illustrates that, on both an individual and societal level, belief in reincarnation can provide a "different set of moral guideposts" than enables people to seek justice instead of retribution, and eventually move on to "a more aware and enlightened way of living."
An intriguing mixture of ancient rites, Buddhist principles, and "enlightened" Catholicism drive the story at a relentless pace. Fox presents a persuasive case, pointing out that reincarnation has been a feature of nearly every world religion except Christianity, and that Jesus' actual words support reincarnation even though later Bible authors have reinterpreted their meaning. He suggests that some people can remember their past lives more easily; that knowledge is passed down through families and within clusters of those who remember. They awaken others because, when individuals view their actions through the broader lens of reincarnation, penance and forgiveness can occur mindfully in one or two lifetimes instead of playing itself out over many generations.
My take: The power of "Until the Next Time" springs from Fox's remarkable ability to thread extensive historical and philosophical detail into crisp dialog and a clever plot that drives every character's decisions. Similarly themed spiritual fiction sometimes adds a layer of pedantic preaching atop the plot, but Fox handles exposition so smoothly, it rarely disturbs the reader's immersion within the story.
Understanding reincarnation is both the heart of the novel's conflict and the key to resolving it. Fox uses the sprawling canvas of Northern Ireland and England spanning millenia to demonstrate how the typically abstract theory of reincarnation has shaped the Corrigan family's history in very concrete ways. The characters' choices determine their karma/fate/destiny; negative choices require penance and forgiveness, often through multiple lifetimes, until they absorb a particular lesson. This is not a philosophical notion for the Corrigans but a pattern of brutal action and reaction that drives war and aggression across centuries, culminating in Ireland's Bloody Sunday and the brutal crackdown that followed.
Fox is a remarkable writer; he employs dialect so skillfully that I could hear an Irish lilt echoing in my head as I read. The novel's structure is complex--three parallel stories spanning multiple generations, told through two points of view. Figuring out who is narrating the story is tricky at first, but the reader catches on fairly quickly. Beautifully written and paced, the novel's spiritual and historical reach took my breath away. I immediately searched Amazon for more novels by Kevin Fox; regretfully, they do not exist yet. "Until the Next Time" is a wonderful example of how, as Fox explains, "Fiction is the lie that illuminates a greater truth."
For more reviews of spiritual/metaphysical novels, see Fiction For A New Age.
November 3, 2016
"Fiction is just the lie made up to reveal the greater truth." ~
(A variation of one of my favorite Stephen King quotes, "Fiction is the truth inside the lie.")
Until the Next Time, if you read it correctly, is guaranteed to leave you thinking. It's a story about discovering yourself and your past, in ways not thought of by the average person. As a person who has always been fascinated by the idea of reincarnation, and also happened to be raised Catholic, I thoroughly enjoyed the ideas presented in this novel.
I loved the tie-in of Catholicism and reincarnation. I'll never be able to look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son and Joseph and His Coats of Many Colors the same way again. Fox's analogies actually make perfect sense.
This may be just a fictional story, but there is so much truth to it as well. I don't have an ounce of Irish in me, and I'm not familiar with the culture. I even looked up the term "eejit" to see if it was actually something used by the Irish culture or if it was a term Kevin Fox had made up himself. Low and behold, Urban Dictionary enlightened me that it's the Irish term for "idiot."
Often times it's difficult for me to get into a book if I'm not familiar with the setting or culture, though that wasn't the case with this book. It's easy to fall into, and I found myself fascinated with the Irish culture. I'm now curious and would like to learn more, and possibly visit Ireland sometime. The author's descriptions of Ireland were captivating.
I think this would be a good book for a college cultures class to read or even a philosophy or psychology class. Kevin makes reference to psychiatrist, Ian Stevenson, who's known for his reincarnation research. Although this book is fiction, there is truth within the fiction. As one of the common themes of the book is to reveal the truth behind the fiction.
Although I did love this book, I'm giving it a 4 star rating because there were some minor issues. My biggest problem, being the genealogy obsessed person that I am, was keeping track of who was related to who, and how all the characters were connected. I think a family tree would have been helpful, possibly in the back of the book. Later in the book, Sean's and Michael's stories begin to begin to blend together, which I know is intentional and truly artistic, and there were times I couldn't remember if I was reading Sean's point of view or Michael's point of view. (Kate and Anne were the main indicators of whose point of view it was).
There were also some mechanical mistakes that an editor should have caught. On page 87, "Next you'll be tellin' me your not a Corrigan" should be "Next you'll be tellin' me you're not a Corrigan." The author often uses "yer" in place of your/you're to demonstrate the Irish accent, so I can understand if he'd meant "yer", but your is grammatically incorrect.
On page 143, Anne says, "I mean its kind of flatt'rin" should be "I mean it's kind of flatt'rin."
Also, it's mentioned that Sean's birthday is July 5, 1976 on page 24. That would make him only 20 in 1996, and it was supposedly his 21st birthday.
Overall, a very nice read, and I would definitely be first in line at a movie theater if this story is brought to the big screens. I also didn't see the ending coming, though it makes sense now, looking back.
(A variation of one of my favorite Stephen King quotes, "Fiction is the truth inside the lie.")
Until the Next Time, if you read it correctly, is guaranteed to leave you thinking. It's a story about discovering yourself and your past, in ways not thought of by the average person. As a person who has always been fascinated by the idea of reincarnation, and also happened to be raised Catholic, I thoroughly enjoyed the ideas presented in this novel.
I loved the tie-in of Catholicism and reincarnation. I'll never be able to look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son and Joseph and His Coats of Many Colors the same way again. Fox's analogies actually make perfect sense.
This may be just a fictional story, but there is so much truth to it as well. I don't have an ounce of Irish in me, and I'm not familiar with the culture. I even looked up the term "eejit" to see if it was actually something used by the Irish culture or if it was a term Kevin Fox had made up himself. Low and behold, Urban Dictionary enlightened me that it's the Irish term for "idiot."
Often times it's difficult for me to get into a book if I'm not familiar with the setting or culture, though that wasn't the case with this book. It's easy to fall into, and I found myself fascinated with the Irish culture. I'm now curious and would like to learn more, and possibly visit Ireland sometime. The author's descriptions of Ireland were captivating.
I think this would be a good book for a college cultures class to read or even a philosophy or psychology class. Kevin makes reference to psychiatrist, Ian Stevenson, who's known for his reincarnation research. Although this book is fiction, there is truth within the fiction. As one of the common themes of the book is to reveal the truth behind the fiction.
Although I did love this book, I'm giving it a 4 star rating because there were some minor issues. My biggest problem, being the genealogy obsessed person that I am, was keeping track of who was related to who, and how all the characters were connected. I think a family tree would have been helpful, possibly in the back of the book. Later in the book, Sean's and Michael's stories begin to begin to blend together, which I know is intentional and truly artistic, and there were times I couldn't remember if I was reading Sean's point of view or Michael's point of view. (Kate and Anne were the main indicators of whose point of view it was).
There were also some mechanical mistakes that an editor should have caught. On page 87, "Next you'll be tellin' me your not a Corrigan" should be "Next you'll be tellin' me you're not a Corrigan." The author often uses "yer" in place of your/you're to demonstrate the Irish accent, so I can understand if he'd meant "yer", but your is grammatically incorrect.
On page 143, Anne says, "I mean its kind of flatt'rin" should be "I mean it's kind of flatt'rin."
Also, it's mentioned that Sean's birthday is July 5, 1976 on page 24. That would make him only 20 in 1996, and it was supposedly his 21st birthday.
Overall, a very nice read, and I would definitely be first in line at a movie theater if this story is brought to the big screens. I also didn't see the ending coming, though it makes sense now, looking back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 29, 2012
Until The Next Time by Kevin Fox is a novel that puts a new spin on everything from the Bible stories most of us remember to a history of Irelands bloody past to reincarnation and on to karma, love, memory and second chances. With this plethora of subject matter to cover it is not surprising that this novel, while interesting enough to command the readers' attention, it is not without a few weaknesses.
The book tells the story of Sean Corrigan a young man who, on his twenty-first birthday" is given part of a journal written by his Uncle Michael, a man who has been dead for over twenty years. The author continues the intertwined dual account of the uncle and nephew in alternating chapters as both men, in their respective eras, journey from New York to Ireland in search of answers to unexplained dreams, déjà vu memories and a long held family secret.
While the premise of the book is interesting, the alternating chapters are often repetitive, for example, certain landscapes and houses are described in detail by one character in 1972 and then described by the other in 1996. Rather than repeat what the reader has just been told in a previous chapter, why not just say " I knew the layout of the house well since it was just as my uncle had described it in his journal" rather than covering the same ground again. There are several other instances of repetition as characters ramble on and on to make their philosophical or political points. Since I am reviewing this book from an advance reading copy I am hopeful that a good editor will point the author in the right direction before final publication. Also, characters named Michael Sean, Sean Michael, Sean, Mickaleen not to mention the identities of their respective "enemies" i.e. Coughlin/Coonan tended to create confusion and muddy the story for this reader continually sending me back to the beginning of the chapter I was reading to determine the year I was in and which character I was reading about.
Like a seven course meal Until The Next Time presents much to digest and as with a many a hearty repast some readers may experience a touch of indigestion while attempting to swallow the multiple storylines present in this tome. Sometimes there can be just too much of a good thing and this is one of those instances.
The book tells the story of Sean Corrigan a young man who, on his twenty-first birthday" is given part of a journal written by his Uncle Michael, a man who has been dead for over twenty years. The author continues the intertwined dual account of the uncle and nephew in alternating chapters as both men, in their respective eras, journey from New York to Ireland in search of answers to unexplained dreams, déjà vu memories and a long held family secret.
While the premise of the book is interesting, the alternating chapters are often repetitive, for example, certain landscapes and houses are described in detail by one character in 1972 and then described by the other in 1996. Rather than repeat what the reader has just been told in a previous chapter, why not just say " I knew the layout of the house well since it was just as my uncle had described it in his journal" rather than covering the same ground again. There are several other instances of repetition as characters ramble on and on to make their philosophical or political points. Since I am reviewing this book from an advance reading copy I am hopeful that a good editor will point the author in the right direction before final publication. Also, characters named Michael Sean, Sean Michael, Sean, Mickaleen not to mention the identities of their respective "enemies" i.e. Coughlin/Coonan tended to create confusion and muddy the story for this reader continually sending me back to the beginning of the chapter I was reading to determine the year I was in and which character I was reading about.
Like a seven course meal Until The Next Time presents much to digest and as with a many a hearty repast some readers may experience a touch of indigestion while attempting to swallow the multiple storylines present in this tome. Sometimes there can be just too much of a good thing and this is one of those instances.
September 11, 2012
Warning: This next paragraph may have spoilers, even if not meant to. The obvious spoilers have been marked, but other books are alluded to, which might also give away the plot. Continue on at your own risk, or just skip to the second paragraph. I'll start by saying that I've never read The Time Traveler's Wife or Time and Again, so I don't know if the comparison with those two books make it really obvious that the big twist to this book was going to be . I was somewhere between page 40 and 100, chugging along, getting all wrapped up in and confused by the story, when I stopped and said to myself (maybe even actually out loud, which would have been great, because I was reading it at a park. "Why's that crazy girl over there talking to herself?"), "Wait... is it ... how does he know? ... wait ... is this all about ... has he been ... is this ... ?" So I went with that theory for a while, not knowing for sure, but thinking the clues were leading me there. Sure enough, Goodreads reviews WITHOUT SPOILERS MARKED and more of the text told me I was right. Yes! Victory!
It's a really good story, and I'm finding it hard to write a review without giving away the plot or the twists. But it's a good story, a little bit of a love story, a lot of ... almost like mistaken identities, but not. It's a good story, good fiction, and for a while, it will (or might) keep you guessing about what's going on. And once you find out what the deal is, you'll say "Nuh uh!" and then get wrapped up in how everything unfolds and proves itself. I was finding it hard to put this book down.
But I will say, as a word of advice, if you're going to read this book, you might want to keep track of characters and events (as in physically write it out. Make a little plot map for yourself.). It's the type of story that plays out as someone learning about someone else's past, and learning about what that person has learned, and how that person learned from another person who learned .... All of the main characters, and all of the events, and all of the who-learned-what-when gets a little confusing at times, and I was sometimes finding it hard to keep straight who knew what, and who was still in the dark. And the shifting timeline certainly doesn't help. But it makes for a really great story!
It's a really good story, and I'm finding it hard to write a review without giving away the plot or the twists. But it's a good story, a little bit of a love story, a lot of ... almost like mistaken identities, but not. It's a good story, good fiction, and for a while, it will (or might) keep you guessing about what's going on. And once you find out what the deal is, you'll say "Nuh uh!" and then get wrapped up in how everything unfolds and proves itself. I was finding it hard to put this book down.
But I will say, as a word of advice, if you're going to read this book, you might want to keep track of characters and events (as in physically write it out. Make a little plot map for yourself.). It's the type of story that plays out as someone learning about someone else's past, and learning about what that person has learned, and how that person learned from another person who learned .... All of the main characters, and all of the events, and all of the who-learned-what-when gets a little confusing at times, and I was sometimes finding it hard to keep straight who knew what, and who was still in the dark. And the shifting timeline certainly doesn't help. But it makes for a really great story!
July 16, 2013
I originally picked this book up because of the cover art, and I took it home with me because of the description on the back. At that point, it interested me, but I wasn’t in a rush to read it. Then, when I checked out some of the reviews on Goodreads, I was intrigued by the comparison to books like The Time Traveler’s Wife. I didn’t read the full reviews because I didn’t want anything spoiled for me, but what I did read made me bring this book to the top of my to-be-read pile on my bedroom floor.
While the twist didn’t turn out to be quite what I was expecting, I still enjoyed it. And I think the fact that it wasn’t what I was originally expecting made me enjoy even more.
I also appreciate the way he worked in information about Ireland’s history and culture. I don’t know a lot about Ireland, but I didn’t feel lost when the history was brought up. Plus, he wrote it in a way that flowed with the story, rather than as a complete infodump.
Finally, I loved the way the book ended.
What brought this book down from a full-out “loved it” to a “really enjoyed it,” however, was the way much of the dialogue was written. I don’t mind if accents are written out, as long as that’s a tool that is used sparingly. I felt there was just too much of it in this book, and I would have preferred that the author get the accent across without resorting to writing it out. I know that’s a personal preference, though, and likely wouldn’t bother other readers.
While the twist didn’t turn out to be quite what I was expecting, I still enjoyed it. And I think the fact that it wasn’t what I was originally expecting made me enjoy even more.
I also appreciate the way he worked in information about Ireland’s history and culture. I don’t know a lot about Ireland, but I didn’t feel lost when the history was brought up. Plus, he wrote it in a way that flowed with the story, rather than as a complete infodump.
Finally, I loved the way the book ended.
What brought this book down from a full-out “loved it” to a “really enjoyed it,” however, was the way much of the dialogue was written. I don’t mind if accents are written out, as long as that’s a tool that is used sparingly. I felt there was just too much of it in this book, and I would have preferred that the author get the accent across without resorting to writing it out. I know that’s a personal preference, though, and likely wouldn’t bother other readers.
June 25, 2012
This was a truly interesting story... I am still not sure if it would also be classified as sci-fi or fantasy, or if it is more of a folklore reinvention thing...
Sean Corrigan is an American guy with an Irish heritage who recently received his uncle Mike's journal. Mike, or Mickaleen, was a wanted man in the States; an NYPD police officer who shot an unarmed black man while on a mission, and fled the States to escape his fate as a political scapegoat. Both Mike in the 1970's and Sean in the 1990's find themselves in Ireland, where a family right of passage poses more questions than answers. One is running from a mistake, the other is trying to uncover the truth, and both will learn who they are and who they have been along the way.
Fox weaves an intricate central storyline through two parallel plots, a generation apart, and yet seemingly occurring simultaneously. Famous Irish landmarks crop up throughout the tale, making Ireland as much a character as Mick and Sean, rather than a setting.
At the heart of the story is a romance, but the story itself doesn't really follow a typical romantic structure. The romantic aspects are woven throughout, but almost take a back seat to the mystery at hand in Sean's story and the thriller aspects of Mick's story. This is a romance in a way, but it is almost peripheral, and certainly elusive.
I recommend this story to anyone who wants a good mystery/thriller/sci-fi/romance/fantasy/adventure mash-up with a dose of history and a dash of philosophy on the side. It's a lot to take in, but the story is solid in itself. This is probably not suited for a young audience, due to language and some content (violence and sex are a common theme in both storylines).
My only gripe is that the conclusion was so open-ended, without real closure. It is also easy to confuse yourself while reading. But the overwhelming philosophical content of the story, as well as the fleshed out characters, are enough to keep you hooked.
Sean Corrigan is an American guy with an Irish heritage who recently received his uncle Mike's journal. Mike, or Mickaleen, was a wanted man in the States; an NYPD police officer who shot an unarmed black man while on a mission, and fled the States to escape his fate as a political scapegoat. Both Mike in the 1970's and Sean in the 1990's find themselves in Ireland, where a family right of passage poses more questions than answers. One is running from a mistake, the other is trying to uncover the truth, and both will learn who they are and who they have been along the way.
Fox weaves an intricate central storyline through two parallel plots, a generation apart, and yet seemingly occurring simultaneously. Famous Irish landmarks crop up throughout the tale, making Ireland as much a character as Mick and Sean, rather than a setting.
At the heart of the story is a romance, but the story itself doesn't really follow a typical romantic structure. The romantic aspects are woven throughout, but almost take a back seat to the mystery at hand in Sean's story and the thriller aspects of Mick's story. This is a romance in a way, but it is almost peripheral, and certainly elusive.
I recommend this story to anyone who wants a good mystery/thriller/sci-fi/romance/fantasy/adventure mash-up with a dose of history and a dash of philosophy on the side. It's a lot to take in, but the story is solid in itself. This is probably not suited for a young audience, due to language and some content (violence and sex are a common theme in both storylines).
My only gripe is that the conclusion was so open-ended, without real closure. It is also easy to confuse yourself while reading. But the overwhelming philosophical content of the story, as well as the fleshed out characters, are enough to keep you hooked.
April 12, 2012
Until The Next Time is a thriller/romantic drama novel about a young man named Sean trying to discover what happened to his uncle Mike in the 1970s. Sean begins to read Mike's diary, which tells the story of how Mike ran to Ireland to escape prosecution. Sean himself travels to Ireland to clear Mike's name and find out what happened to him.
Sean learns in Ireland through the diary and through a young woman named Anne that Mike met a woman named Kate, who believed in reincarnation. Both Mike and Kate learn through Kate and Anne, respectively, about past lives, lost love, and starting over. Both Mike, through the journal, and Sean, must come to their own conclusions about reincarnation and Irish history.
I had trouble getting into this book. The premise is very intriguing, and I got about a fourth through before, in my opinion, the book started to get a little too confusing for me. There were a great many side characters, and keeping track of who was the reincarnation of who got very confusing to me. I also would have liked the subplot about the wars in Ireland to be a little more explained. New characters were introduced without explanation, and it was hard to keep them all straight. There was also a lot of repetition to the two character's journeys. I also wish Kate's and Anne's relationships with Mike and Sean had been more romantically expounded on without so much of the histories and lectures about Irish beliefs permeating many of their conversations. I also wish Anne and Sean's backstory would have been given more pages. I would recommend this book to fans of Irish history.
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.
Sean learns in Ireland through the diary and through a young woman named Anne that Mike met a woman named Kate, who believed in reincarnation. Both Mike and Kate learn through Kate and Anne, respectively, about past lives, lost love, and starting over. Both Mike, through the journal, and Sean, must come to their own conclusions about reincarnation and Irish history.
I had trouble getting into this book. The premise is very intriguing, and I got about a fourth through before, in my opinion, the book started to get a little too confusing for me. There were a great many side characters, and keeping track of who was the reincarnation of who got very confusing to me. I also would have liked the subplot about the wars in Ireland to be a little more explained. New characters were introduced without explanation, and it was hard to keep them all straight. There was also a lot of repetition to the two character's journeys. I also wish Kate's and Anne's relationships with Mike and Sean had been more romantically expounded on without so much of the histories and lectures about Irish beliefs permeating many of their conversations. I also wish Anne and Sean's backstory would have been given more pages. I would recommend this book to fans of Irish history.
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.
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