Author Description

It is one thing to hear people talk about the horrors of a hurricane and quite another to experience one first-hand. Martin Forde has captured his feelings and that of his family in very dramatic and moving terms; in fact, his narrative is so real that you cannot help but feel that you are there with him, seeing the trees perform a limbo dance and watching a wrestling match between Hurricane Ivan and the 'green roof.' Like the author, you think that you can hear wicked Ivan chuckle over his successes. Martin has succeeded in giving this particular hurricane the shape of a real living monster: huge, malicious, powerful and so fear-inspiring that even a 'cool'; man can lose his balance and experience fear. Yet, through all the terror, his strong faith in his God keeps him focused and prevents him from falling into paralyzing depression. It lifts him to such heights where he can find great joy at having retrieved a cushion from the living room, just to make his cramped kitchen cupboard confine a little more comfortable, or where he derives unusual pleasure in even in the smallest and insignificant thing like taking off his storm-soaked T-shirt and putting on a dry one. His account is fast moving and compelling, and finishes on the note that all is not lost because of mankind's indomitable spirit to survive and start life anew, even from scratch.