Review: Intelligent, emotional, heartbreaking...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 23, 2013
I fear I cannot write a review to do this book justice. I cannot seem to dredge up the correct adverbs and adjectives... poignant sounds trite and banal. The story is intelligent and emotional. At times I had to put it down and walk away, it is not an easy read that you can plow through in a day. I wanted to throw it against the wall a few times. However, the writing is superb and deeply personal, the observations keenly insightful. The story is well crafted and contemporary. Ms. Mariaca-Sullivan has put into words many private musings and personal insecurities that most of us have, but actually don't have the words for... and generally thoughts we would never admit to and feel few others would grasp. At times it is humorous, and other times - extremely painful. I alternated between wanting to smack the main character, being repulsed by her, wanting to cry for her, wanting to hug her, and finally cheering for her. She is an enabler, a doormat, oblivious, and as her sister aptly labelled her in the book - a Pollyanna. For all her nurturing, she is ultimately betrayed by nearly everyone in her sphere of existence. At first, the alternating points of view were a bit confusing, but it also kept me intrigued. The author feeds you hidden jewels of information that if you are paying attention, are able to piece together and ultimately feel so very pleased with yourself for making the connection. The threads are not tied up in a nice bow for you in the end, you need to work for it, and I liked that. We don't need to be force-fed a happy ending all the time. Well done Ms. Mariaca-Sullivan, I hope you keep writing as I would hate for your talent to be squandered.