Again, although I am not a fan of first person writing, Julie Wright has done an excellent job of taking us into the life, mind and emotions of an unwed mother, Suzanna Quincy. I am so pleased to state that Julie is one of the best writers in the LDS market and could easily compete, hands down, in the national market (hint to the national publishers looking at her fantasy work).
Masterful in her exposition, dialogue and understanding of a confused unwed mother’s mind, she takes us through a journey that begins with terrible parenting. Diving into a world of booze, sex and sorrow, Suzanna is kicked out of the house when, much to her mother’s anger, she refuses to get an abortion. With no support from her parents or friends, this takes her on an odyssey across the nation to Utah where her brother has joined the Mormon church and has a home for her, complete with his brand new bride.
This is a story of forgiveness, not just the Lord’s, but deeper understanding of the atonement and the ability to forgive oneself. It is a story of acceptance, of love (both familial and romantic) and understanding that truth exists whether we wish to acknowledge it or not. It is the story of a mother’s grief when giving her child up for adoption, even when she knows it is the right thing to do.
I absolutely devoured this book in two hours (I couldn’t put it down) and highly recommend it to any and all people across the nation, but especially to all those in the situation of the parent, sibling or the one who finds herself pregnant and unable to raise the child.
My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life by Julie Wright (Deseret Book) is a must buy for everyone. Well done, Julie.
Learn more about Julie at www.juliewright.com.