Saving Annie

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By William Reimers

Mathew Tekulsky delivers a striking and morally nuanced novel in Saving Annie, a story that pulses with urgency, emotional resonance, and quiet courage. With compassion and clarity, Tekulsky captures the gravity of youthful idealism and the precarious nature of doing the right thing in a world where consequences can be unforgiving.

Saving Annie's literary craftsmanship is emotionally astute and precise. Tekulsky's prose is both fluid and deliberate, guiding the reader through moments of ethical uncertainty, societal friction, and internal conflict with a confident hand. The emotional stakes are maintained at a high level without ever descending into sentimentality, and the pacing is measured yet propulsive, so the dialogue rings true. The author's talent lies in the ability to reveal the intricacies of human motivation, and the novel's intimate, human-scale drama is never forgotten.

At its core, Saving Annie addresses themes of moral responsibility, justice, and sacrifice. The narrative explores the concept of taking action for the well-being of others, even if it means putting one's own future at risk, as seen through the perspective of Paul, a college freshman who is compelled to confront an impossible situation. The novel is both a coming-of-age narrative and a contemplation of the repercussions of empathy and integrity in a world that is frequently indifferent.

There is a significant emotional cost. Characters who are sincere in their efforts to navigate a morally ambiguous situation are encouraged to be accompanied by readers, which should elicit both admiration and concern. The narrative of Tekulsky continues beyond the final page, prompting readers to reflect on the depths to which one would go to protect a life and the genuine nature of saving an individual.

Saving Annie does not offer simple solutions, nor does it romanticize its characters or their decisions. The alternative it offers is more enduring, as it presents a sincere and courageous confrontation with the challenging realities of human existence.

Saving Annie is an unforgettable contribution to contemporary American literature, a must-read for anyone who appreciates thought-provoking fiction that is rooted in moral complexity and emotional depth.

About the Author

Mathew Tekulsky

In recent years, Mathew Tekulsky has been busy writing fiction, resulting in his first published novel The Martin Luther King Mitzvah (Fitzroy Books, 2018). He has also written two other novels and a collection of more than twenty short stories.

Mathew has dedicated himself for more than thirty years to photographing birds in his gardens in the Brentwood Hills of Los Angeles, California; in Adamant, Vermont; and in various places around the world. This work culminated in the publication of his book Backyard Bird Photography: How to Attract Birds to Your Home and Create Beautiful Photographs (Skyhorse Publishing, 2014). From January 13 through March 8, 2015, the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History in Jamestown, New York mounted an exhibition of thirty of the bird photographs that are featured in the book. This exhibition, entitled “The Art of Backyard Bird Photography,” has also been shown at Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary from April through May, 2016 and at the Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center in July 2016.

Mathew is the author of The Art of Hummingbird Gardening and The Art of Butterfly Gardening (both Skyhorse Publishing, 2015). He is also the author of “The Birdman of Bel Air,” a column at NationalGeographic.com featuring essays about his birding experiences. His bird photographs have been published in field guides such as the National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: California and the Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America.