Review: A special kind of novella
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 30, 2013
Since the beginning of time, people have been prejudged and treated unfairly because of their race/ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, ability (or disability), economic and social background, nationality and so on. Anyone can be misunderstood, maligned or even murdered because of these perceived differences. In short, prejudice, as well as discrimination, is one of the scourges of our society.Ms. Tamara Hoffa deals with issues of prejudice in her novella, A Special Kind of Love. In this story, Sharon Daily moves to Wyoming to begin her new life. Her son, Aaron, has Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition which is oftentimes misunderstood. Not only does he need support from his mother,but also sensitivity and an unconditional love. Sharon fits the bill. He also requires a special kind of man, a father figure, who is willing to understand and be patient with him. Tanner West is that kind of man. Unfortunately, not even Aaron’s own biological father loves him as a father should. It’s a good thing Tanner fulfills the role of surrogate father effortlessly. Ms. Hoffa also touches on the issues of race and race relations as Tanner is a Native American living in a white man’s world.Although, A Special Kind of Love is a relatively quick read, it doesn’t feel rushed or underdeveloped at all. Ms. Hoffa weaves a story which shows how the relationship between Sharon and Tanner develops, from a mutual attraction to a burning passion for each other. The vivid descriptions give me some insight into Ms. Hoffa’s own character, as her love for nature, horses and her understanding of children with Asperger’s Syndrome permeated every page of her story.I highly recommend this five-star book, and look forward to reading more of Ms. Hoffa’s work.