Review: An Intelligent, Funny, Multi-Generational, Multi-Timeline, Multi-Story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 2, 2014
Disclaimer: "I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review."Author, Dr. Sally Ember, EdD, has utilized every book formatting element recommended by successful authors. She includes: an attractive cover, a detailed TOC, and front flap reviewers remarks.This Changes Everything is a science fiction story about a woman who is chosen to be the media contact for "The Many Worlds Collective" (MWC). The aliens she meets will provide information to her to give to Earthers in order for Earthers to become members of the MWC.Ember does grab my attention in the first pages with the opening scene where Clara, the protagonist, invites aliens, who have come into her home, to a late night tea.While I want to know more, as the story unfolds into a grand multi-story, multi-senses, multi-timeline story within a story, I get exhausted.As I age, I can not read long fiction stories in one sitting, I have to read them in chunks. When I was younger, I could get lost in worlds created by others.Ember has a seamless writing style that flows as she goes from event to event, experience to experience, and interaction to interaction. She uses energetic, positive, imaginative, intelligent language and humor. The aliens are "cute", telepathic and funny.The main story is broken up by real time events and diary entries by the author covering the not just the author's life but all of historic time.Ember introduces the concept of "simultaneous time concept." For lovers of time travel stories you will enjoy this multi-universe present time.I love learning new things, the author injects biological, psychological and Buddhism, technological and historical facts into the story. There is even a reference to marginalia and a discussion of the Sandwich Generation.Then there are the Spanners, who exist as one giant dysfunctional family. Spanners live in the best and worst of years of the modern era.Ember's stories are like a brain dump of all her education, knowledge, experiences, philosophies, hopes and dreams, and observations.Ember is the Alice Walker of the Spanner Generation.