#Bookreview of Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness

Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness

By: Jane Kim Yu

Publisher: Absolute Author Publishing House

Publication Date: November 3, 2023

ISBN: 978-1649539113

Reviewed by: Rebecca Jane Johnson

Review Date: April 6, 2024

Jane Kim Yu

Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness expounds a powerful journey that begins with one woman’s realization of enlightened consciousness that unfolds into a wish-fulfilling jewel, making the journey to fulfillment available to everyone.

At a young age, Jane Kim Yu suffered an affliction—she was allergic to the sun. Every summer, she broke out in a scaly, painful rash that immobilized her. She lived a solitary, bedridden existence as a child when healthy children could run and play outdoors. She felt unlovable and unworthy. By the time Yu reached college, her condition eased somewhat, and she learned how to live with it. One clear spring day, she was passing beneath some trees on her college campus, and she was struck by a profound and deep sense of love, beauty, and enlightenment.

Wisdom of the Ages coursed through Yu and made her aware that every living being’s true nature is a constant flow of Love and Peace. She remained in this state of profound bliss and connection for six months. Her thinking mind totally shut down, and her ability to feel the flow of essential love through every being and every experience sensitized her to divine benevolence that exists here and now.

After she tells her own story, Yu uses the rest of the book to offer inspirational messages to anyone who enjoys encouragement. She is not proselytizing any particular path, religion, or spiritual practice. Instead, Yu is confidently proclaiming that everyone has a heart that is capable of higher knowingness; every soul feels a burn of passion from within, and it is anyone’s faith in their unique soul’s purpose that will manifest a person’s dreams into reality. She goes on the explain that the journey is about expressing our authentic selves. Release critical judgment of ourselves and others, and spend quality time listening to our unique hearts sing about our personal passions, joys, loves, interests, and curiosities. She explains how to heed the callings that speak to us.

This is a friendly, personable, accessible, and satisfying read for anyone looking for encouragement through any of life’s challenges. It’s a book a reader can keep and grab from the shelf when there is any need to be reminded—no matter what life throws our way, we can handle it. Love and peace have our backs while we are walking each other home.

Quill says: Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness is an inspirational read. It is like having a personal life coach cheering us on and believing in us, so we can focus on keeping our soul’s fire burning.

For more information on Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness, please visit the author's website at: https://www.janekimyu.com/

#Bookreview of Snoodles on the Loose! A Tashi Non-Stop Adventure

Snoodles on the Loose!: A Tashi Non-Stop Adventure

By: Natasha Hanina and Houston Howard

Illustrated by: Anhelina Van Gogh

Publication Date: February 9, 2024

ISBN: 979-8864785775

Reviewed by: Holly Connors

Review Date: March 4, 2024

Tashi Non-Stop

How can an imaginary friend compete for a boy's attention against all the digital fun offered by a brand-new phone? It’s a quandary that is resolved in a wonderful way in Snoodles on the Loose!

Lucas is a young boy who is happy, playful, and a fantastic student. He lives in Borington, a small town where not much happens. Fortunately, Lucas has an amazing best friend:

“Lucas had the greatest friend.

They met in the library.

His name was Snoodles,

He loved chocolate noodles,

And – gasp – he was imaginary!”

Snoodles and Lucas played every day and had loads of fun. They pretended to be knights and had sword battles and hid in forts. And the best part? Snoodles could change his shape and color all the time. There was so much to do and the only limit to their adventures was Lucas’s imagination. But that all changed one day when Lucas was given a phone.

Poor little Snoodles did not understand the attraction of the electronic device that Lucas seemed hypnotized by. The boy slouched in his chair as he stared at the phone, playing games and downloading apps. Snoodles attempted to play with his friend, showing him toys that they could take outside and play with, but Lucas ignored his playmate. Snoodles tried and tried to entice Lucas away from the phone, but eventually he realized he was now alone. Lucas would not pull his eyes away from the phone. It was time for Snoodles to leave...

Snoodles wandered around town, not sure where to go. Unfortunately, wherever he went, children were playing with their electronic devices. A tear fell from Snoodles' eye – he was so sad.

Eventually, Snoodles stumbled upon a treehouse, with a banner that announced, “The Super Secret Non-Stop Imagination Club for Kids.” It sounded like a great place and when a nice girl, Tashi, invited him to come in and play, he happily agreed. Snoodles soon discovered that it was, indeed, a really, really fun place. He loved spending time there, but he still missed Lucas. Would they ever be reunited?

The authors of Snoodles on the Loose!, Natasha Hanina and Houston Howard, have done a fantastic job of writing a creative, entertaining story that really shows how letting your imagination run wild is such a great alternative to sitting inside all day, staring at a screen. Snoodles is an adorable imaginary friend and it was easy to see how sad he was when Lucas lost interest in playing with him. The story does have a happy ending, with a treehouse that encourages everyone’s creativity to blossom. At the back of the book is a page of questions to discuss with your child; a QR code that will take the reader to a free activity packet that is loaded with drawings to colors, a maze, a crossword puzzle, and crafts; information on streaming a musical adventure featuring Tashi and her treehouse; and finally, a QR code that will take the reader to the YouTube channel Tashi Non-Stop. That’s a lot of fun packed into one little book – Don’t miss it!

Quill says: Snoodles on the Loose! is a fun rhyming story that teaches young children that there is so much more to do than stare at a screen all day. The power of imagination is a fantastic tool to learn about yourself and the world around you and this book shows youngsters how to do just that.

For more information on Snoodles on the Loose!: A Tashi Non-Stop Adventure, please visit the author's website at: https://tashinonstop.com/

#Bookreview of The Loon's Song: A Wynter Island Mystery

The Loon's Song: A Wynter Island Mystery

By: Kim Herdman Shapiro

Publisher: Level Best Books

Publication Date: March 12, 2024

ASIN: B0CW1KRY8Y

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: April 3, 2024

Kim Herdman Shapiro

The Loon's Song: A Wynter Island Mystery by Kim Herdman Shapiro is an intriguing mystery that centers on a celebrity whose troubles began when she confessed her desire to change her ways and make amends with her former adversaries. The ramifications of this decision are the main focus of this gripping tale.

At CWYN, the new community television station, the station manager Kate Zoë Thomas, station owner Gwen Wynter, and program host Selesia were all taken aback when popular actress Rose Morgan, also known as Rosalie Morgann, insisted on being interviewed first rather than their planned guest for their upcoming television show, Vox Pop. Superb beauty, unimaginable wealth, and global recognition characterized Rosalie, a local girl turned Hollywood celebrity. Instead of asking nicely for an interview, she demanded the interview and even went so far as to send out a press release announcing herself as the first guest on Vox Pop to all of the main media websites in Southwest British Columbia.

Rosalie is remembered by most islanders as a troubled young woman who lost her parents when she was a young girl. She fled the island when she was a teenager, having managed to end many marriages in an apparent attempt to exact revenge for not being helped out of her situation. Nobody knew where she lived until they saw her in a soap opera on television. Selesia was Rosalie's close friend at the time, but the latter had tricked her with falsehoods and dishonesty about her then-fiancee, Rick, which led to the dissolution of their union. After all that agony, one can easily guess that Selesia would never want to interview her, right?

Finally the day of the show Vox Pop's debut arrives, but something unexpected and tragic was about to unfold. Something that Selesia could never have anticipated happening on her debut show. Within seconds of her fervently desired interview, the well-known star was on the verge of dying. Was Rosalie unwell before she walked in, or did someone at the station poison her for whatever purpose, as the inquiry headed by Staff Sergeant Singh appeared to indicate?

This book does a great job of giving curious readers a background of historical information on living at Wynter Island, British Columbia, which will help them look for likely reasons for the disastrous occurrence that was caught on live television. In the first few chapters, the author presents a high-stakes quandary that eventually puts the decent characters in danger at the expense of genuinely selfish individuals. As the plot develops, she skillfully twists things up by bringing in a new character who knows the very likable protagonist extremely well and who reveals a shocking episode that would probably make readers begin to question her morals.

This well-written, tightly-plotted mystery novel will intrigue readers with how much is packed into just a few hundred pages. The cast of well-developed and diverse characters includes the austere Staff Sergeant Singh and the mysterious sponsor who threatens to dash the protagonist's hopes for success in her career. The nicely rendered insights from the Buddhist philosophy will enthrall readers, as will the exquisitely rendered settings.

Quill says: This book's real power is the tension it manages to build. The build-up is powerful, like a little campfire that progressively intensifies into a conflagration that threatens to consume the forest.

For more information on The Loon's Song: A Wynter Island Mystery, please visit the author's website at: https://www.kimhshapiro.com/

#BookReview of Death of a Shrinking Violet: Nice Guys Finish First

Death of a Shrinking Violet: Nice Guys Finish First

By: James Robinson, Jr.

Publisher: Amazon Kindle Direct

Publication Date: March 1, 2024

ISBN: 979-8875593482

Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford

Review Date: April 1, 2024

James Robinson, Jr. delivers a bevy of humor and food for thought in his latest body of work, Death of a Shrinking Violet, Nice Guys Finish First.

In his first chapter titled ‘Take the Shot,’ Robinson shines the light on the issue of: "...What movie could I watch anytime..." This challenging notion came to him after having read this premise in the entertainment section of a Pittsburgh newspaper. Apparently, this was a question that stuck with him for quite some time until he decided it was time to get down to the nuts and bolts of it all and pick a (or some of) his personal favorite(s). He transcends decades of what he perceived to be ‘favorites’ and decided upon: The Godfather, Forest Gump, The American President, Unforgiven, Tootsie, Scrooged, Shawshank Redemption and The Cider House Rules. It isn’t until he adds 27 Dresses to his list, that I dug a little deeper into his assessments. He dissects a particular scene: "...there’s the scene with Ms. Heigl and all of the bridesmaid dresses—all 27 of them—that she has worn throughout her life. What in the world would keep dragging me back to this picture show? Every time I run across it on the cable movie guide I unwittingly pull the trigger..." (pg. 2) After exhausting his fascination with this particular film, he moves on to a new chapter, but not before penning his final: "...Quiet on the set! Turn off those cell phones! Take One! Action!...’ (pg. 5)

As the chapters grow in number, he fine-tunes his ‘Siskel and Ebert-like’ skillset for the next five chapters filled with vignettes devoted to more movies: Fatal Attraction, Jaws, and Ali. We arrive at Chapter 5 and he changes direction and enlightens the reader on how he donned the name ‘Pap’ as his right of passage into grand fatherhood. He changes direction again in the next chapter and focuses on the proverbial cocktail party and the almighty question from strangers: "...So, what do you do?..." There is a wonderful cadence of humor that is complemented by witty sarcasm that lends way for a quick and entertaining read from beginning to end.

I applaud Mr. Robinson for staying true to his craft from the onset of this book to the very end. His style has a clear anchor of knowing his audience in that he naturally entertains through artful word placement and does it in such a way that the reader wants more because there is no predictability of where Robinson will take him/her at the turn of each page. I was particularly drawn to his view on forgiveness: "...Forgiveness is a gift both for the forgiver and the forgiven. But I haven’t totally mastered the art..." (pg. 149) There’s a lot to unpack in this blissfully direct sentiment! His take on marriage is equally thought-provoking: "...Marriage is not about convention; it’s about strength of character, love, honesty, and endurance—dealing with one another when the wedding bells have long since stopped ringing. Weddings are nice but they can’t help you at crunch time..." (pg. 75) Simply put, truer words have never been spoken. This is a must-read for a diverse audience because, in my opinion, it’s the greatest example of ‘keeping it real’ that I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a very long time. Well done Mr. Robinson! May I have another?

Quill says: Death of a Shrinking Violet: Nice Guys Finish First is a fantastic rendition of life and embracing it for what it is without judgment!

April's Book Giveaway Contest

Have you entered this month's book giveaway contest yet? This month's book is "Copper and His Rescue Friends" by Pam Atherstone. It's a super cute book for pre-teens about rescue dogs and cats that received a 5-star review from Feathered Quill (and you can read a review of the book on our website).

To enter, just go to our main page and scroll to the bottom where you'll see the submission form:

https://featheredquill.com

#AuthorInterview with Christina Maraziotis, author of Ghost

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Diane Lunsford is talking with Christina Maraziotis, author of Ghost: A Novel (Loveletting, Book 3).

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovelettingseries

FQ: I don’t want to gush ad nauseam, but I have to say, your Loveletting series is superb! With each release, the depths and the unpredictable journey that continues to evolve is incredible. I know we have discussed the lengths of each book (700+ pages) in past interviews, but there is something about this series that warrants each volume to have a voluminous girth! How spent are you after completing each novel in this series?

MARAZIOTIS: Thank you so very much for your kind words. I do really appreciate that immensely. And I truly love that question! Personally, I write with no set limit in mind, but somehow I always sense when I’m nearing the 700 page mark, and right at 650 or so, I begin to sculpt the ending of the book (or rather, the beloved cliffhanger) haha. Once I’m finished with it all, I’m swiftly onto the next prologue. I can say with honesty that I do not feel spent at all. I love it. I absolutely am so passionate about this series, the characters; the whole story, and I wish for it to continue and eventually complete before I’m literally spent.

I will say however, what tires me is the third round of editing I may do. I get very critical over every single sentence, and if it doesn’t flow a certain way, then I have to redo a whole paragraph. I do enjoy planting lots of easter eggs here and there, and I’m compulsive when it comes down to plot holes. So far, I believe there are none, but that is very tiring to think about. Writing itself? It’s freeing and cathartic.

FQ: Once again, I was drawn to the lyric by After Forever you chose to anchor this novel, "...I know I’m alone, but somebody’s watching me... Follows me everywhere I go... A cold flow surprised me again, I shiver..." There is a part of me that wonders if you experienced that ‘aha’ moment in selecting this passage because you discovered the tone you wanted to set, and it was your inspiration to set off on your next journey in the writing of this series.

MARAZIOTIS: I’m happy that you were drawn to this! It is a very meaningful lyric for me personally. Usually, when I choose such passages for each book, it is after I’ve already written them. That being said, I listened to that particular song (Beyond me by After Forever) incessantly as I wrote the book. Music is a very big part of my life, dark music especially, so it definitely helps set the tone as I write. There are particular songs that I choose for each character, as well as when I feel like waxing lyrical. Sapphire from Alcest inspires me so much, all the fluffy words seemingly come out in an instant; I don’t even have to think about it. It is the strangest thing!

FQ: This is a fantastic portrayal of good versus evil, and I wonder how you approach the analytics of this concept in your own life. Where is the balance between the two, and what would be your input toward how one can navigate both spectrums in order to remain relatively ‘sane’?

Author Christina Maraziotis

MARAZIOTIS: What a fantastic question! This is certainly something James himself would ask me, haha, and I appreciate such deep-rooted thoughts so much. To start with, we would need to decide what the definition of good and evil really is. Is there good and evil? Or are these simply subjective human labels? And can a balance be defined there, if we cannot define each spectrum with absolution.

I certainly don’t have an answer to that, and nor do I think anyone else does. But the closest conclusion I would come to on this, is to understand our own moral character. Reflect upon it from time to time, and really be open to change, if we, or others, sense there is room for it. I do think we are all good, and evil, at the same time. Some lean more to one side than others, but both elements are there. It is a very complicated subject however, for oftentimes evil is not something people truly contemplate about themselves; either due to denial, or complete ignorance. And what one perceives as evil, another may perceive as good, and vice versa.

Now, as someone who has always behaved “too good” with people, and ended up as a tarnished carpet beneath their feet, I will say there can be reason for such a person to lean more towards “evil” behavior to balance things out, and perhaps this is how society still stands, somehow. If there was only evil, or only good, perhaps we wouldn’t have a society right now.

I would like to add here a fairly unique fact when it comes to "evil" individuals like Mac. (Which, again, is he evil? If you break down his character, there arise many questions that could counteract that statement.) But let’s say now, that he is utterly evil. A psychopath. Well, in battle, which man would be more likely to be brave and fight like there was nothing to lose? And such a man, who then survives, could possibly pass on this trait into society more successfully. Meaning, is there a place for evil after all? There are some interesting studies on why this tendency towards psychopathy persists (and even thrives) in our modern world, having survived due to its usefulness through more barbaric times in our history.

Of course, I do not condone evil, whatever evil may be. But without evil, can good be?

FQ: I emphatically believe humankind is faced with battles of good versus evil. In your opinion, what do you think encourages a soul to seek the ‘evil’ over the ‘good’?

MARAZIOTIS: There are many factors that could contribute to a soul seeking evil. Of course, one of the most common ones is the manner in which one was raised. Childhood trauma can greatly impact brain development, and morph the structure and function of it, as well as the regulation of emotions. (Mac is a prime example of that, which also makes him not a born psychopath, but why would someone like James seek evil?)

There’s also genetics that wire someone’s brain differently. But if we take out the genetics, and childhood trauma, there’s still a yearning; a compulsion, for perhaps...power? As we saw with Sven, who is very focused on that aspect of life. We see that example with politics, war, and even corporations who become more powerful than the countries who govern them. Oftentimes people who do evil try to justify it, in some form or another, so it no longer appears to be an evil.

But there’s also people like James, who know evil, but are convinced they need to seek it in order to come close to something invaluable to them; and that alone justifies his actions as far as he is concerned. Then there’s people (like “the man” in association with James) that do it for sheer, sadistic pleasure.

Overall however, I would positively hope and suggest that the world as a whole is on the correct trajectory to become a less violent place; the more we educate ourselves, and the more we don’t forget the past...but it's still inherent to our world that battles of good and evil will exist.

FQ: Without creating a spoiler, how difficult was it to temper the balance between reconnecting (or not) characters Charlotte Browning and Mac Kinnon?

MARAZIOTIS: It wasn’t really difficult, unless I think of the way it made me feel. There was a lot of tension that I had to work with, also happiness and excitement, for I had kept these two apart for more than a whole book. It wasn’t easy, it was actually rather tempting to reconnect them in Curse. But I’m glad that it happened in Ghost, for I think it made it even more impactful. As far as the actual behavior between them, it came out naturally for me to write. I could just envision them both around the fireplace, feel what they felt, think what they thought. The little awkward and shy grimaces, the nature of their movements; I really enjoyed writing that part. It’s those small moments that make a book for me. The feelings, and the tension, and all the words left unsaid.

FQ: In line with my previous question, there are certain ‘truths’ that are withheld from Charlotte when it comes to Mac Kinnon. Has there ever been a time in your life when the ‘truth’ was withheld from you, and when you learned this, how did you handle the outcome?

MARAZIOTIS: Interesting question! I have to really think about that one. I’m sure there have been truths withheld from me in the past, but, at different stages of my life and maturity, I'm certain I'd have reacted differently than I would react now. I cannot think of a truth that would be major enough to compare to Mac’s, however. And thankfully, I haven’t needed to deal with that, yet. However, to give you a proper answer: if I was in Charlotte’s shoes, I would probably be very confused and disappointed — for Mac essentially allowed her to take another path, one she was now faithfully committed to.

FQ: You have a gift in your writing style in that you actively engage the reader with brilliant nuances. On one hand, there is a surreal element where the reader thinks he/she has it all figured out, and on the next page, you plant a seed of doubt and ‘predictability’ is non-existent. What is your guide to doing this so naturally? Do you spend hours among strangers mentally building a story of their life in your mind for use in a future chapter?

MARAZIOTIS: I really appreciate that. That is truly sweet, and it means a lot to me. This is all still very new to me, so that feedback is very valuable. To answer your question, not exactly; I don’t build up a story to use for a future chapter, nor do I plant those seeds ahead of time. I truly like creating characters with flaws, and allow those flaws to flourish and unravel, and usually that’s all it takes with vulnerable or fervent characters that are deeply developed. There’s many ways that a situation can change just by the individual’s perception; and there’s not always just one perception, or one reaction, but I think that is the key: provide the recipe for something chaotic to happen, and let the chips fall where they may.

FQ: To expand further on my previous question, when is your most fruitful time to write where your imagination is completely in charge? What makes this time the best time for you to write?

MARAZIOTIS: It usually is early in the morning, right after I wake up, when my mind is sharp and not distracted yet by what is yet to follow in a day, or, when it’s past midnight, and I’m extremely exhausted — this is when the lyrical writing happens most of the time — as well as all the dark chapters, of course. Hehe.

FQ: There are moments throughout this story when I had to take a moment to collect myself. Most of those occurred when you were writing a scene devoted to James Miller’s character. Did you ever have to set your pen down and take a moment to regroup after such times? "...There’s evil...her eyes shot at him, but she could scarcely find his, as though buried deep within a sheet of blackness. There was flesh, beneath that perished skin, stretched taut in solid thickness. But his look, it was from a man that had hungered for life, only to be adorned by the face of death itself..." (pg. 341)

MARAZIOTIS: Yes, indeed Ghost is very graphic, and I do apologize for any discomfort. James is definitely a very twisted character that will startle a reader, because he is so unpredictable with his thoughts and emotions. When I write him, the difficulty is to get "into" that personality, in order to write him. I think that is mostly the challenge when creating such a character, or any character that is so sinister; like an actor, in order to achieve realism with characters, you have to get under their skin and stay there a while.

That being said, I don’t take moments to regroup when it comes to him — however, that statement applies to writing Ghost. It actually gets a lot worse later on in the series, and in that regard there have been many times where I had to stop for a few breaths. There is a particular scene in the upcoming books that took me three whole days to write, stopping and starting again, purely because it was so very emotional and really devastating to experience even behind the keyboard...especially with the characters involved.

FQ: I want to thank you again for delivering an amazing read. I am honored to have had the opportunity to review another body of your work. The cliffhangers you pen at the end of each novel are fantastic as much as frustrating, which leads me to ask: When is the next book (Slave) due to release and are you able to provide a little something we can look forward to experiencing?

MARAZIOTIS: I want to thank you in turn for delivering such comprehensive and compelling questions! It is always a joy and an honor to answer them. I’m glad to hear the cliffhangers stir your curiosity for what’s to come next, and I will give a few hints. The reader is going to experience the way work was for a woman in the late 19th century, but of course, with a...very unique, and dark twist. It was very interesting to implement a few historical notes in Slave, studying certain details that really transported me back to that era, and I hope the reader will feel the same way. There will be new important characters, and different settings again within Mon Louis. Part of that will also be a rather dramatic court case that takes place in the city, and I am very curious how readers will react to that. Last, there will be a deeper backstory unraveled regarding Mac, and not in the manner of simple narration.

Slave will be completely different, again, than Ghost — which is my goal with every book. It will be a new adventure, for both the characters and readers. As for the release date? It is planned by Summer 2024...and, hopefully, you will approve of it again. Haha.

I would like to add that I have completely updated Haunt and Curse as of 2024, and included a few bonus chapters that sink into Mac’s past with his family. After my recent time spent in the rural regions of Ireland (which was solely for the purpose of enhancing the story; to understand traditional Irish culture, language, and its people more, so that I can deliver it more accurately) I have decided to include Irish Gaelic into the books, working alongside a professor and a teacher who both grew up speaking this endangered language that was far more common in the 19th century than it is today. I found it adds a new layer of textured depth to Mac’s past, and I hope my readers will enjoy the extra effort to improve the historical immersion.

Thank you so much, Diane! It's been such a pleasure, as always.

#Bookreview of Ashes at Woodstock: The Ryan Darcy Journals

Ashes at Woodstock: The Ryan Darcy Journals

By: Melanie Sovran Wolfe

Publisher: Ink444

Publication Date: November 27, 2024

ISBN: 979-8870116112

Reviewed by: Rebecca Jane Johnson

Review Date: March 28, 2024

Melanie Sovran Wolfe, Where Women's Rights and Revenge Fantasy Meet

Ashes at Woodstock is a touching novel that evokes layers of sophisticated sentiments, making it a satisfying and emotionally intelligent read. Acclaimed author Melanie Sovran Wolfe has written several novels that confront socially urgent issues, and this novel showcases her talents as a gifted storyteller who can deliver a realistic tale that is psychologically deep and compassionate.

Ashes at Woodstock tells the story of Ryan Darcy, a young man in his early twenties, who is slated to inherit a mind-blowing fortune, but the stipulations of his grandmother’s will require that he must first prove himself worthy. He starts out as an arrogant, angry womanizer with an alcohol addiction and an inability to express his true feelings. The first scene shows Ryan, anxious, in a lawyer’s office, listening to Barbara Darcy’s (his late grandmother) will being read. Those present include Ryan, the only grandson, and Barb’s three closest friends—Maggie, Cathy, and Debra.

According to Barbara Darcy’s will, each friend will inherit a million dollars, or more in some cases, if the three old women, with Ryan, drive “Ethel,”—Barbara’s 1967 Volkswagen Bus—from their home in Oklahoma to Bethel, New York where they once attended the famous Woodstock music festival in 1969. Once they arrive, there is a particular tree where Barbara wishes them to spread her ashes. Maggie, Cathy, and Debra, all of whom were activists in the 1960s, are thrilled about this adventure. Ryan Darcy, on the other hand, reacts with bewilderment and anger. He feels he deserves his fortune immediately, but he won’t get it for some years to come, because after this road trip with these three elderly women, he is required to find himself, to get on a life path with some purpose beyond partying.

Along the road, his grandmother’s friends try talking sense into Ryan, and relationships grow more dynamic when the traveling group stops along the way to pick up Luke, Cathy’s grandson who is an artist, and Chelsea, Maggie’s granddaughter who will be a freshman at Oklahoma University in the Fall. Now it’s become a multi-generational road trip, with precious revelations surrounding musical tastes, senses of humor, and indulgences in fun and frolic.

They get into serious discussions about double standards against women, and Ryan points out double standards that are in women’s favor; for instance, women are able to freely express their emotions while men hold them in. At a critical point in the narrative, Ryan and Chelsea start to trust one another with deep secrets, and Ryan’s character grows more sympathetic; readers even start rooting for him after an unfortunate event forces a hospital visit.

Ryan and Chelsea do share moments of fun and flirtation and soon enough the story has an added layer of romance. It turns out this is not just any road trip, but a shared journey that probes the ways youth and old age cope with trauma, abuse, illness, and grief. This excellent novel confronts this question: what will people learn about how to cope with difficulties while leaning on support that reaches across generational divides?

Quill says: Ashes at Woodstock brings the reader along on a thought-provoking journey that contrasts nostalgic reminiscence with forward thinking, giving readers a fulfilling experience and demonstrating how novels can nourish emotional intelligence.

For more information about Ashes at Woodstock: The Ryan Darcy Journals, please visit the author's website at: https://www.melaniesovranwolfe.net/