Torch In The Dark by Hadiyah Joan Carlyle

Genre: Memoir

Publisher: Book Publishers Network

Ratings: 4 JAGS

Blog Review:  Virginia Armstrong

 

Torch in the Dark is a story of a woman’s lifelong journey as she struggles with the traumatic events of her childhood.  The story takes place during the 60’s and 70’s, the hippie generation, when pot and protests reigned.  It was also a time when little was known about the mind and how past experiences could adversely affect ones personality, emotions and overall well-being.

Once her story comes out, her parents and doctors refuse to believe the truth and she finds herself committed to a mental hospital, having to endure shock therapy and plied with medication. Faced with having to conceal the truth for freedom, she turns to friends for help.  Soon after, she finds herself pregnant.  Pressured to either abort or put the baby up for adoption, she chooses to raise her son alone. It is during this time that she learns about welding.  Taking a class among all male students, she persists, knowing deep inside her that this is something she must do.  It is in striking the arc that frees her, making her feel whole again.

Torch in the Dark begins strong, the author grabbing hold of the reader’s emotions and taking them along on the journey. Unfortunately, that only lasts for a few pages into the story.  The author then seems to engage in another style of writing, her words becoming empty and void-the material read almost robotic. Throughout the story, her instincts seem to be dead on, yet most times she looks to others for direction, which ultimately makes matters worse.

As time goes by, she becomes more aware of her issues, and yet she uses them as a crutch instead of trying to change them.  Soon the story takes on a whiny tone and the reader becomes frustrated with the author. By the end of the book, you realize the author is always eager to take from others, but is never willing to give in return.

The God of War by Marisa Silver

This is a definite recommended read. The God of War is a beautiful coming of age novel set in the late seventies as Ares Ramirez enters into his teen age years with a guilt that should not be suffered by any child. The path he takes leads him down the road of sexual identify, drugs and the straining relationship between a boy, his mentally challenged brother and a single mother who is trying her to raise her two boys into men the best way she knows how.

This story faces guilt that most children perceive responsible for, with no fault of their own, and how a child will internalize this pain and express it into anger and irresponsibility to himself, his family and to all others around them. Ares is no different and the path he takes leads him to an outcome that he himself never had expected to keep together a family, that at times felt to him ready to fall apart.

Please read. Purchase new and keep as a trophy to your library collection. The God of War is a masterpiece and should be shared with as much people as possible.

8 JAGS