Reviewer June Maffin:Living on an island in British Columbia, Canada, Dr. Maffin is a neophyte organic gardener, eclectic reader, ordained minister (Anglican/Episcopal priest) and creative spirituality writer/photographer with a deep zest for life. Previously, she has been grief counselor, broadcaster, teacher, journalist, television host, chaplain and spiritual director with an earned doctorate in Pastoral Care (medical ethics i.e. euthanasia focus). Presently an educator, freelance editor, blogger, and published author of three books, her most recent (Soulistry-Artistry of the Soul: Creative Ways to Nurture your Spirituality) has been published in e-book as well as paperback format and a preview can be viewed on YouTube videos. Founder of Soulistry™ she continues to lead a variety of workshops and retreats connecting spirituality with creativity and delights in a spirituality of play. You can find out more about June by clicking on her Web Site.
ISBN: 978-1-938223-23-5
Author: Shari Vester
Publisher: Mill City
Press
ISBN: 978-1-938223-23-5
In
1906, before marrying his fiancee who is expecting their child, a
young man mysteriously disappears. That young man was the
author’s biological grandfather.
Intrigued by this
occurrence in her family history, author Shari Vester began to
imagine possibilities of what might have happened in the heart, soul
and mind of the man whose disappearance resulted in the abandonment
of her biological grandmother and his unborn child ... her mother.
This semi-autobiographical novel set in twentieth century
Hungary, dramatically weaves the lives of three generations through a
tapestry of two world wars, a Communist takeover of Hungary, and
political revolt.
Reminiscent of author James Michener in both
writing style and length, Degrees of Courage is an epic work
addressing the courage, tenacity and spirit of three women in
different generations, each facing adversity in her own way.
The
lengthy saga begins in 1901 in Sopron, Hungary with eighteen year old
Angela. The eldest of nine children, Angela is forced to set
aside her life to raise her eight siblings when their 39 year old
mother dies. Offering his condolences at the unexpected demise of
Angela’s mother, the local priest comes to visit. Attraction
leads to an affair and Angela naively arranges trips to the city so
they can meet more frequently. Marriage is discussed, but
ecclesiastical reality complicates the situation. The priest
disappears from Angela’s life, leaving her pregnant to deal with
societal shame, her father’s blame and rejection, and the reality
of being a single mother.
Angela struggles to give her
daughter Lensie a better life than she had, but as little Lensie
grows up, she finds herself living through the realities and
consequences of war, depression and political take-over which
devastate her.
The story of the third generation
of this family begins with Lensie’s daughter, Sari, whose mother
has very different ideas about how her young daughter ought to live
her life. Conflict arises. Crises ensue. Tragedy
follows.
While this reviewer found the story to be well
written with excellent plots/sub-plots, character development,
setting and writing style, it lacked the professional expertise of
both proof reader and copy editor. For example … some comical
errors: page 140 - “horse d’oevres” rather than “hors
d’oevres” and page 224 - “a priest’s vice” rather than “a
priest’s voice”.
As well, throughout the book,
numerous words have been manually whited-out calling attention to
original errors. All of these, plus the length of the book
(over 560 pages), and confusion because the author used both Lensie
and Ilonka for the middle generation woman’s name, and that
“Ilonka” looks like “Honka” when reading the book, result in
this reviewer rating the book a score of seven.
If
it had been well edited, shortened and proof-read, it would be a ten
because the author can write - and write well.
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