Review: "Take control of these damaged girls": Engaging, Fast-paced, Well-written, Exquisite, Extraordinary
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 25, 2013
(Quote) "Take control of these damaged girls"... (unquote) This sentence gives the book its title, and it is well-chosen indeed. This book is about not one, but two damaged girls, Jessica and Jillian. The "damage" is psychological as well as physical, mental as well as emotional. The person responsible for all this is Mr. Steven Briggs. Again, I quote: "He is thirty-five, gorgeous and partially successful as an auto shop owner-wannabe. He loves women - young women to be exact."Author Janice Ross has penned a very profound social commentary in the literary style of Charles Dickens (A Christmas Carol), John Steinbeck (The Grapes of Wrath) &  Alice Walker (The Color Purple). These three great authors clearly understand the power of fictionalized reality. It is a paradox that this literary style ultimately allows the reader, in a poetic kind of way, to take a closer look at some aspect of life that would otherwise go without closer observation.The key, of course, is that the author must have experienced life, lived it, and felt a compelling need to bring it to the attention of others. In fact, it requires a lot of living. Alice Walker herself says this much more eloquently than I do. (quote) "...it comes naturally from that wellspring of being present to life. It's a lot of living--and a lot of time." (end of quote)  Alice Walker.After reading this book, there will be no doubt in anyone's mind that Author Janice Ross has "a lot of living" behind her, living in which she has been "present to life." That is what makes this engaging, fast-paced, well-written book such an exquisite, extraordinary read. I highly recommend you get a copy of this book.Reviewed by Thomas Jerome BakerAuthor ofHow to Teach Debating: Theory & Practical Handbook for the Non-Native Teacher, Debate Coach & International English Language Learner Worldwide*****Many thanks to the author for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.*****