Wednesday, Apr 8, 2009

Book Review: Edgewise

Author:       Jan Stites

Publisher:    Niangna Books

ISBN:          978-1439204870

Website:      www.janstites.com

 Type:         Fiction:Psychological

Pages:        314 Softcover

Purchase:    $15.95 @ Amazon.com (HERE)

The Story

“Simone, a popular but troubled teacher, is very adept at hiding her inner turmoil, until it lands her in an Oakland outpatient psychiatric hospital where hers is the only white face.  She inadvertently alienates Satch, a fullback of a woman, who relentlessly taunts Simone for her denial and cheerful demeanor.  Though she flees, Simone is forced to return because “Oakhell” is the only facility she can afford.

In the weeks that follow, Simone and Satch are thrown together both inside and outside the hospital.  Their surprising and often tumultuous friendship becomes essential to both women’s quests to uncover the hidden truths of their pasts.  Alternately heart-wrenching and funny, Edgewise is a timely story of love, abuse and the hope of redemption.”

(Above excerpt is from the cover of Edgewise)

The Review

This novel came to me for review.  However, the cover really kind of set me apart from the book as I was a bit afraid of cracking it open and finding out what was inside.  But, when I agree to review a book… I do.  And, so it came the book’s time to be read, yet a part of me resisted.

During the first few chapters, I kept myself distant from this book.  Reading about others’ heartbreak and dysfunction just held me arm length’s away.  I have been through too much in the past year to immerse myself in other people’s fears and faults.  But, I don’t walk away from a commitment and I never leave a book unfinished.  I read on.

Within a few more chapters, I came to understand the characters and learned to relate to them rather than avoid them.  I found myself wanting to watch Simone’s psychosis unravel itself within the story.  I wanted to know what it was that caused Simone to fall apart.  As I pressed on, I was able to relate to the supporting characters of the story.  I wanted to see them succeed and move beyond the fears that trapped them.  

This book is not what I would consider a “light read.”  It includes considerable depth into the inner workings of the minds of the broken characters.  The author must have extensive experience in the psychiatry field and the book reflects it.  In many ways, this book is sad, yet it provides hope.  I found myself happy for Simone’s small victories: leaving Michael at the dinner table, confronting her father, and not giving up on Satch.  However, the overall feel of the book left me feeling a bit “bluesy” and down.  It is hard to think about how the parenting of a child can severely affect their well-being as an adult.  It’s even harder to think about my own personal challenges and what it will take to overcome them fully. 

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”

This book is the first of its kind that I’ve reviewed.  Without a solid comparison book, I am rating this one of my pure opinion.  For the genre Fiction:Psychological, I am going to rate this book a 7 OUT OF 10. 

My thanks to Ms. Stites for a signed copy of this book!

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