The Gravel Drive

by Kirk Martin

Kirk Martin takes readers where no other novel has ventured: inside the heart and mind of a father whose son is missing. The Gravel Drive is the heartwarming story of a man's transformation. Amidst... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0971614512
• ISBN13: 9780971614512
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Cantwell-Hamilton Press
• Length: 173 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A True Love Story

I read Mr. Martin's first novel, SHADE OF THE MAPLE, and was amazed by the intimacy he captured. It reminded me very much of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I enjoyed his writing style and decided to give THE GRAVEL DRIVE a try, even though I don't have kids. The Gravel Drive is one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read. To me, it is the story of a father falling in love with a son he has neglected emotionally. I felt like I was living and breathing along with the father in this story while I read his journal. I read on the author's website that many of these journal entries were actually taken from his personal diary--apparently this book is so powerful because it's not all fiction. For anyone who enjoys love stories and a good cry, I recommend both of Kirk Martin's books.

Two of the Best Books I Have Ever Read...

Last weekend, I curled up on the sofa with both of Kirk Martin's books, SHADE OF THE MAPLE and THE GRAVEL DRIVE. Someone should have warned me to buy extra Kleenex! Yes, I cried and cried....not because I was sad, but because of the intensity of love the characters in both of the stories feel for each other. Shade of the Maple is an exquisitely told love story and very different from anything else I have ever read. The Gravel Drive is a love story of a different kind, that of a father and his son. These books changed my relationships with my husband and kids - they are the kind of books that inspire and make you somehow better inside. For that I am grateful. Not to mention the money that is donated to charity for each one. I am looking forward to more from Mr. Martin!

Touching

Child abduction is a parent's worst fear. "The Gravel Drive" is a father's journal of the days following his son's abduction from the street in front of their home. It is a moving account of the desperate days wondering about and waiting for the safe return of his 8-year-old son, Robby. Kirk Martin's thought-provoking novel takes you deep inside this man's heart and head. Experiencing his emotions. Waiting with him. The police suggest the father keep a journal incase he thinks of something that might help them in their search. So he writes even when he feels he should be out looking for his son. The hours turn into days and he continues to write and explore his thoughts and feelings. Sadly, he realizes that the distance began even before Robby was abducted. As painful as the physical separation is the knowledge that he was mentally separated as well cuts deep. His mind was often on other things, work or chores. Misplaced priorities and other responsibilities seemed more important or pressing at the time. This was a difficult realization to come to. How he longed for another chance for that father/son basketball game. This emotional separation is something we've all probably felt at one time or another. This is Kirk Martin's second novel. Through his books, he asks you to look at your relationship with your child and those closest to you. Communicate, appreciate and find ways to connect with them. Martin challenges you to cherish them and know them in the smallest of ways. This is what matters most in life. "The Gravel Drive" is another unforgettable novel. Thank you Kirk Martin for sharing your talent and insight with us.

Could Not Put It Down!

The Gravel Drive is one of those books where you open it up, intending to just read the first few pages to get a feel for the style...and three hours later you are still thoroughly engrossed, you've forgotten that dinner time passed by, you're still in your work clothes and kleenex is littering your floor! It is that engrossing, that completely moving. I am not a parent, but Kirk Martin took me inside the heart of a father so I could feel everything he did. I will never take my relationships for granted again. Powerful book.

Redemption Triumphs!

I have to admit I approached The Gravel Drive cautiously because it is a story of a man's transformation when his son is abducted. I wasn't sure if I could handle a heavy book. But Kirk Martin, once again, did not disappoint. He somehow found a way to paint a very realistic view of the struggles the parents endure while highlighting the redemptive lessons these parents learn. So I ended up feeling inspired to know my child better...and while I cried many tears, they were cleansing tears springing from the tremendous love the father poured out in each page of his diary for his little boy. Life-changing? Yes. Heartwarming? Yes. A must read? Without a doubt!