Here's the latest review of my novel:
Regaining My Senses
By M.A. Broadhurst
Redcatt Press (2005)
Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views
Ms. Broadhurst has a style that is simply stated and very authentic. Her characters are very real and down to earth; her story line, authentic. When I first began the book, the cover led me to believe it was more like a “self-help” kind of book than a fictionalized novel. What I ended up finding was a bit of each.
Maggie is a likable character, typical of most girls her age. Throughout her school years she’s smart as a whip and full of vim and vigor. What she finds is that this isn't always what is “wanted” so to speak. She is suddenly faced with the realization that no matter what decade we live in, there are always going to be people who feel women should be seen, not heard. Women have a place and that place is not standing up on their own. Women aren't supposed to create their own path in life, but follow one of the many cut out for them ahead of time. But, Au Contraire!
I found myself instantly connecting with Broadhurst's character, Maggie. She was a young child who was very bright, and at first that was great. But as she aged she became more of a nuisance to her teachers and other adults around her. She slowly started to feel as though she couldn't truly be herself. She had to appear less intelligent, less interested and NEVER correct others, even if she was right. Bluntly put, she had to be “a lady”. What I loved was that while she tried to accomplish this feat, often with bad results, she ended up realizing what worked best for her.
Her character is one that doesn't allow for “average”. She's atypical. She didn't jump on the high school trends, onto the college campus, into a man's arms and get happily married to become someone’s woman. She struggles, laughs, cries and more often then not, learns from all she does. It was so refreshing to see a real woman with real struggles that were realistic. And not only did you get to enjoy the struggles, but they didn't always turn out the way you thought they would.
There was no “plan” in her life, just as there is no real “plan” in life at all. It simply happens and you make it work as best you can. A refreshing change from often humdrum female fiction characters who are either such go-getters that they stomp on all fingers going up the ladder that you tend to hate them or are so cutesy and sweet that you want to scream after spending a chapter with them.
Maggie was one of the strongest characters I've witnessed in a while, yet so very realistic you couldn't help root for her to have things fall in place. The end result of the book is not only a great, easy going, quick read, but you close the book thinking ... "hmmm, maybe it's time for ME to make some changes and do what is right for ME". It's almost a book of self-help, written in a fiction style. Different, intriguing and genuinely unique in its own way, Regaining My Senses is a great read for any woman, young or old, who feels she is someone special and has the right to carve out her own path, even later in life.
