Review: Women in Love and Lust
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 29, 2013
Featuring a mixed bag of eloquently written vignettes, Slum Roots: Julianna and other short stories by noted author Dan Carroll brings to life the dramatic fictional tales of five unique female characters. Although each can be a stand - alone story there is a connection, the commonality of their circumstances - each female lives within a dense, oppressive environment while embodying a strong emotional tie to a particular issue in their life. The heroines are beauteous in their own right and hail from assorted ethnicities and lifestyles.  Readers will find themselves instantly engaged, as they are made privy to the lives of each female as she arrives at a crucial turning point in their lives.Author Dan Carroll conveys the stories of each protagonist with a deep appreciation of each of the individual character's plights, especially when dealing with their oppressive circumstances. Intrinsically detailed and entirely believable, these stories portray a gamut of emotions as experienced by each character. While all the short stories are haunting, well-written reads there are some stories in particular that appealed to me. Starting with the story of Julianna, a central figure from two other acclaimed novels Slum and Slum Story, We learn that Juliana's passion for her illicit relationship with Roberto is brought to a screeching halt by his act of conscience.  In Holding Hands, the youthful and beautiful Marjan abruptly realizes that the oppressive life she once lived in the Middle East falls behind her, when she moves to America and starts a new life awash with liberties. Her new freedoms leave her open to experience feelings and situations once forbidden by her culture but she desired.  Her realization comes through the simple yet intimate act of holding hands in school with an admiring classmate. And my favorite of all, is the story - Christmas Tears which tells the heart rending but fortifying story of six year old Millie who was drowning at home in a hostile environment but found the strength to love herself. Overall, this book is a must read for those adults who enjoy reading emotion packed narratives about life.