Better is the End ("Will Barnes" Trilogy)

Better is the End was a Semi-Finalist for the Indies Today Award 2024 which wrote "Curt A. Canfield uses verifiable history and dramatic statistics to blur the line between fiction and reality in Better is the End. Nobody’s life is trouble-free, and this sequel makes a bold statement about tackling our hardest internal struggles with exposure and honesty ... Contemporary problems are examined honestly in Canfield’s eye-opening novel Better is the End, the story of a man on the most important mission of his life." A Booklife review wrote, "Better is the End balances heavy political commentary with explorations of Will’s strained relationships— with his son, wife, granddaughter, and a Japanese girl he abandoned—stressing how war shapes identity. Canfield examines the revisionist view of World War II, a heavy lift but one that he tackles ambitiously, using Will as a lens to critique America's obsession with militarism, neglect of the psychological toll of war, the long-held narrative of America as a global liberator, and media manipulation—a global concern still eerily relevant today. Will's haunting reflection—'Did my darkness come from all the sin that I inflicted on the world? Or did it come from all the sin that I had witnessed in the world?’—anchors central themes of war’s lasting trauma and its perpetuating cycle of violence. Better is the End is the sequel to “The Errors of Mankind.” After Will Barnes was purged of the beast and found peace in the first novel, in this sequel, he finds this peace is being undercut by a darkness left in the beast's wake, an uncontrollable anger that causes him to lash out at others. Feeling like an alcoholic, he follows the AA program. He retraces his steps through life to find others he has harmed and then struggles with the process of making amends. He finally completes the process and unexpectedly finds lasting peace in a surprising way. Onlinebookclub.org review: "...5 out of 5 stars. I like the writing style of the novel because it is so well-written that one is almost convinced it is a true story. The author should be commended for the good plot and for conveying an important message to everyone in the world about greed, power, arrogance, intolerance, and selfish interest. "Better Is the End" is particularly suitable for readers who are interested in historical fiction with a strong moral and political dimension. Those who appreciate a nuanced examination of historical events and their implications for contemporary society will find this book engaging. Additionally, readers who enjoy stories of personal redemption and complex characters grappling with their pasts will connect deeply with Will’s journey." A Beta-reader: “Great job! I loved the journey both books took me on. You're a great storyteller who, through these books, tells a deeply compelling and painfully personal story that is quite entertaining. While most people have not been through what Will's been through, most folks have had their own journey and should be able to put themselves in Will's shoes because the concepts of ‘Why am I here?’, ‘What does it mean to be happy?’, ‘Am I good?’, and ‘Can I be redeemed’ are universal concepts with which we all grapple.”
ASIN: B0DFYPQ7ST
VSKU: BVV.B0DFYPQ7ST.VG
Condition: Very Good
Author/Artist:CANFIELD, CURT A.
Binding: Hardcover
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: Book has little sign of wear or use