AnnAlysis: The Gentleman in Room 205
July 26th, 2009 | 
Author: Another reason I love Twitter, it has introduced me to some really cool people. And without Twitter, I wouldn’t have stumbled upon Bart Harper and his books.
I had Bart send me both books, Adventures of a Fat Kid and The Gentleman in Room 205. I probably should have read the Fat Kid first, since it was his first book, but I grabbed the other one instead. I normally try to read a light book then a serious book and continue that pattern to switch it up.
Within the first page and a half of this book, I was wiping my eyes. I knew this book was based on the death of Bart’s father, which shows he is family man (it takes a lot to write about your family and a hard experience) but you don’t realize who someone is until you see how they feel about their family. Just in the prologue, I saw how much Bart’s dad meant to him and that set the stage for the rest of the book.
I am also automatically connected to this book because Bart’s dad had a stroke. Last Christmas, my Grandma had a stroke, so I definitely understand his pain from the beginning and I think that actually the connection intrigues me to keep reading.
And even though I knew this had a sci-fi twist, it wasn’t what I expected. It turned out to be much more. This is a great book. It’s a page turner, very creative and just the right length. Every chapter is a great addition to the book. There are many that by the time I’m done, I realize I could have cut the book in half. Not this one. Any longer and it may not have had the same effect on me.
I sent the author some questions. It’s nice to be able to chat with someone and get the answers to all of the burning questions that come up when you’re reading.
INTERVIEW WITH BART HARPER: **SPOILER ALERT**
1. How much of this book is based on real life events?
-my father fell ill from a second stroke in 2007, we were in a nursing home for a year before he passed. He did have 17 brothers/sisters, grew up poor, was a football star, …..dad would have these breathing fits and was ventilated several times til i finally let him go one night when he coded, held his hand as he went, still having problems with that…don’t think it will ever go away….. There was a Lena (not blonde and beautiful tho lol, but very helpful) … max was based on my son Trey who went with me to visit grandpa. Mrs. Kessler, Mr. Pyle, and Mr. Rent were made up characters. Dad did want me to play football, and i was good, but I preferred basketball. He was a very caring father and put me first. Of course, my grandmother did not have an affair with superman lol……..
2. Did the idea for this book just hit you, or was it a work in progress deal? It had some twists and turns all through out it. Were those things you know you wanted to do, or did they come as you were writing (I want to write a book, these are things I think about when reading).
-to tell you the truth, i just typed and things popped in my head. No outline really! I typed the book in a little over a couple weeks. It was lacking, so i added the characters Max and Mr. Pyle, the demon. I can’t remember when i decided to make Mr. Rent an aging superhero, but like i said…i just let it flow. Most authors do a detailed outline, I just go with what pops in my head.
3. What is your favorite part of the book?
-Gee, I really love the part where Mr. Rent rises from the chair to go into the burning building and picks the cop up lol ( i get choked up when reading that part)….. I also like the part where the young man tackles the demon and flashes back to when he used to hit the old tackling dummy “Unleash it, let it go!” got choked up there too. And I like the ending where the young man realizes he has the powers too (Mr. Pyle shoots him)
4. Is there anything you’d change?
-MMMM there is always room for improvement. I wish I could have made the book longer. It seemed a little rushed, perhaps added more about when the father and son were younger! I had several people proofread it, and some didn’t get that Mr. Rent was a superhero, so I added more hints to the epilogue. I have some good reviews. My mother didn’t really get it. lol
5. What are you working on now?
-My next book will be called Pet Peeves. This will be like the first book “Fat Kid” ….comedy…….. this will also be the first book that i know of that is being written completely on facebook. Should be out in October 2009.
Most importantly: Where can people get your book????
-amazon, barnes and noble, target.com.. but for a better price and signed copies www.authorbartharper.com
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy read, but it was very creative and a great story. Plus, who doesn’t love a book by a local author? Drum roll please, I give The Gentleman in Room 205 4 bookmarks!
CLICK HERE TO WIN A SIGNED COPY OF THE BOOK!
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Hey, thank you to Kari for a great review! Yes, this is WV author Bart Harper lol……and no, i am not famous! I love to write for those who need to laugh or to cry! Kari decided to buy my books so I will repay her by saying that she is a great girl! I wish her the best with her upcoming wedding! Love is a beautiful thing! Hope everyone enjoys my books!
I cant wait to get my grubby paws on this book, fat kid was great, a easy funny read, but, after about 20 years of knowing Bart, it will be interesting to see a more serious side.
I am going to go get me a copy.. Thanks Bart !
Great Review! I connected with Bart though facebook. I grew up in Roane County. I look forward t reading his books. Happy Reading!
Just a question Kari! Can I win a copy of my own book haha……jk. Thanks so much for the comments and I am sure Kari appreciates it as well! Keep them coming! Don’t forget to go to Kari’s homepage and read about the contest! And check out her other blogs…….very talented young lady!
Hey Kari, Bart is my boy (no relation) & I loved his first book. I can’t wait to get up to Spencer & the BWF to get a copy of this one. Nice interview, he’s a good boy who tells it like it is..
I own both of Bart’s books and I love them both. I recieved adventures of a fat kid during a very hard time in my life. My mother was dying of cancer and his book became an escape from that horrible reality. I was able to find laughter through his book when all I felt was sadness. I love the other book as well, it is a heart touching beautifully told story. Anyone who doesnt have the books I recomend that you buy them both … I gurantee you will love them…..Great Job Bart!!!!!
I agree with Kari….The Gentleman in Room 205 is a well-executed, well-written book. Bart Harper pulls the reader in with his descriptive writing and the sensitivity with which he writes. I started reading the book one evening and couldn’t put it down. So many emotions were stirred in me while reading; I laughed, I cried, I smiled, and I sighed. I’m looking forward to reading more of Bart Harper’s books in the future.
OMG…I can’t wait to get a copy of your new book. I really enjoyed “adventures of a fat kid” and am excited about getting my hands on the next one. Keep up the great work.
Thanks again for the love everyone! Also want to let everyone know that I am donating all profits from my book sales for the month of October and November to Special Education at Spencer Elementary. So its a great time to order .. http://www.authorbartharper.com Much love to all….
Bart, I knew your dad more then I know you. I must tell you that you really make everyone very proud of your hard work. He would be very proud! Keep it up and I’m sure you’ve passed all of your greatness to your boys.
Its neat to be living in our small town with such a talented man.
Thanks Deb…………..that went straight to me head lol………….:)
Just wanted to say, I am Barts’ mother and I did get this book. I picked it up several months af’ter he wrote it, it was very hard for me to read, because we had such a bad time with my husband, Barts’ Father, it was such a sad situation and of course, I cried every time I started to read it, but this one night I picked it up and started to read it and cried through the first part, but could not put it down when the second part started, it was very good, and I know that in the back of Barts’ mind, he ended the book like he wanted everything to end, he wanted his dad to be well again. I read into this, he thinks that I did not get anything because we did not discuss it very much, to me, it brings back so many bad memories and I try to avoid thinking about that, I try to escape reality, but Bart was very brave to write this book and I am very proud of him, he does have good writing abilities and I hope that people do enjoy his writings. I have a girlfriend that her husband passed away and I took her a copy of adventures of a fat kid and she said that this was the first time that she had laughed, since her husband had passed away, also, I went to a night get- a- way with 5 of my friends, I took them each a copy of Adventures of a Fat Kid, I had to read some passages and I could hardly get through the story, because they were laughing so hard. It is good to make people laugh, and it is good to make them cry, by making them have feelings that they compress. I am glad Bart can do this for people and I think that his dad would be so proud of him. We both loved and supported him in anything that he did and we still do!!!