"...I dreamt I was sitting in a brier patch. On one side of me was a bush of beautiful red and pink roses, and on the other side was nothing but a bush of thorns. Every time I would reach for a rose, the petals turned into thorns..." Reaching for thorns - an apt metaphor for an attitude of victim hood and one that can be pruned through experience and awakening to revelation's wisdom.

Sound familiar? Surely it does, yet how many just don't get it? This is a book for those who find themselves perpetually fearing the Damocles sword over their head no matter where or to whom they turn. Barbara Watkins tells the story of a dysfunctional family who abusively and cruelly thwart the development of Jennifer into a confident, loving woman.

She in turn begins to repeat the painful scenario on the death of her abusive mother, Ella. But something prevails and Jennifer begins to realize that her desire for telling the truth is as destructive as what was done to her. What she does with that is lovely, lovely, lovely to read!

No more about the plot here. After all, this is a novella of short duration, an art that requires spare or concise telling of a story. Watkins does just that - reading this novella about an innocent soul is bound to touch the reader's own innocence and...look twice at one's own world. Perhaps it may also enlighten someone you know, for who among us does not know similar characters with different stories but living a pattern that yields thorns instead of the beautiful flowers larger than the thorns.

This writer has something to say about responsibility - not just the proverbial dysfunctional story! Find out what she has to say - it's well worth it!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on January 14, 2007

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