Assorted Flavours by Lois Cloarec Hart
Ginger's Fire by Maureen Brady
Murky Waters by Robin Alexander
  Assorted Flavours: A Collection of
Lesbian Short StoriesBy Lois Cloarec Hart P.D. Publishing, Inc. Paperback ISBN: 0-9754366-2-7 $19.99, 296 pages Lois Cloarec Hart has written an outstanding collection of ten short stories which decidedly display the author’s rich and vivid character development, inventive plotting, and original thematic material. These selections vary in length, and each one is a radiant gem to be appreciated. All deal with love and relationships and the inevitable conflicts that occur. At times poignant, bittersweet, and whimsical, Hart’s collection is an absorbing, fascinating, and intriguing exploration of the human condition. Three stories are particularly commendable and memorable. In “9 Minutes,” the main character experiences a virtual lifetime as she and her fellow passengers await their fate during an airplane in-flight emergency while traveling to Toronto. For far too many years, this woman has alone visited her daughter, leaving behind her lover and partner—her family. Call it an epiphany or just a wake-up call; she decides she can no longer live her life the way her daughter expects. Following a successful and safe landing, she makes a startling decision given the recent events, and her actions will make the reader smile. The crisp and intelligent dialogue is alone worth the reading. “Rude” is the story of a woman who finds she possesses a thoroughly fascinating skill. If she says it, it becomes fact. Courtesy, good manners, and the simple niceties of life are becoming farther and farther removed from everyday existence, and this collapse of human decency has compelled this woman to take drastic measures. This reader found Hart’s story very reminiscent of some of Rod Serling’s innovative and artful Twilight Zone episodes. The reader is reminded that things aren’t always as they seem, and Hart’s conclusion will leave you both bemused and disconcerted. The development of the characterization for the supersensory woman is deftly and occasionally wryly created. The third story that this reader found impressive is entitled “Lost and Found.” It is all too rare today to find authors writing about the so-called senior lesbian. Here Hart has written a moving and articulate story of love and renewal forty years after the fact. Misunderstandings, lives lived according to the tenets set by others, and realizations that, indeed, life is too short are all themes that Hart handles with a masterful and compassionate eye. Again, the author treats the reader to another relevant and lucid denouement. Assorted Flavours: A Collection of Lesbian Short Stories is a worthwhile addition to anyone’s library. These short stories are told with candor, sentiment, intensity, and acuity, and they provide the reader not only with satisfying and entertaining fiction but also with intelligent and significant substance. Hart has a highly readable and coherent style of writing which, at times, achieves eloquent elegance. This compilation of fiction is a commendable and imaginative presentation of Hart’s artistry of the short story. Reviewed by Arlene Germain |
 Ginger’s FireBy Maureen Brady Alice Street Editions/Haworth Press Inc. ISBN: 1-56023-444X Paperback $14.95, 171 pages Maureen Brady’s novel, Ginger’s Fire, focuses upon the trials and tribulations of relationships and the arduous journey toward self-understanding and acceptance. Ginger and her partner of eight years, Nellie, have worked long and hard to restore an old farmhouse in upstate New York. Ironically, while they build their dream house, their relationship begins to crumble. Unfortunately, a devastating fire destroys countless hours of hard work and each must re-assess their lives and goals. This leads Ginger to strike off on her own and attempt to find again the inner spark of who she once was. Ginger’s journey of self-discovery is guided by a sympathetic therapist, Esther, and it is this woman’s patient counseling which enables Ginger to explore her past and cope with the baggage that has fueled Ginger’s alcoholism and dependency. Along the way she unlocks the secrets of her childhood, deals with issues of trust and infidelity, and begins to understand the meaning of Socrates’ statement, “The unexamined life is not worth living for man.” Brady’s characterization is quite delineated; the reader has a genuine understanding of Ginger’s desire to comprehend the changes in her life and her attitudes. The secondary characters, Esther the therapist, Roxy the sexy gardener, and Nellie the equivocator, are developed and intrinsic to Ginger’s discovery of self. At times one wants to shake a few of these characters for occasional lapses into complacency and self-pity. However, overall, the author has captured the dichotomous natures of these women. The point of view of any novel is critical to both the storytelling and the comprehension of that story. Although some readers may find the use of the third person present to be more in the moment, this reader found it to be less desirable, and at times, off-putting. Brady has created an overall poignant tone and consistent mood. However, both appeared to lose their intensity somewhat when one was so aware of the present tense exposition. Ginger’s Fire is a novel whose title clearly presents the thematic content. Brady has managed to capture with clarity and honesty those most vulnerable of moments in a person’s life, the crossroads of being held captive by the past and of being shown the way to personal redemption. As the protagonist so finitely displays, self-actualization can be so painfully uplifting. Although this novel is relatively short, one hundred and seventy-four pages, it succeeds in creating within the reader an empathy for Ginger and others who have reached this pivotal point in both their emotional as well as intellectual growth. Brady is also the author of Give Me Your Good Ear (1994) which this reviewer also highly recommends reading. Reviewed by Arlene Germain |
 Murky WatersBy Robin Alexander Intaglio Publications ISBN: 1-933113-33-2 Paperback $17.95, 203 pages Claire Murray, her life fraught with uncertainty and trepidation, has relocated from Houston to Baton Rouge and begun her new job as the travel manager for the Valor Marine Corporation. She realizes that she has left behind some unresolved problems but, nonetheless, she is hoping to make a fresh start. Tristan Delacroix is the head of the Valor Marine personnel department, and although Claire and she do not hit it off well when first they meet, Claire is intrigued by the mysterious woman. Each has secrets and each has no desire to share them any time soon. Complicating the situation even more is the fact that Claire has unfortunately not escaped her most serious problem--a stalker has followed her to Louisiana. Murky Waters is Robin Alexander’s second published novel, the first being Gloria’s Inn. The latter was a somewhat short yet irreverently humorous novel which was an entertaining light read. Murky Waters is a slightly longer novel but one with a distinct difference. The author has ventured into the darker realm of human behavior and interaction. There is a maturity to her writing, a more stylistically developed piece of fiction. The characterization of both Claire and Tristan is a gradually evolved set of circumstances. The speech and actions appear to be more precisely drawn, and the thoughts and feelings of these women are more finitely developed. Both these women have unsettling baggage, and Alexander takes her time sharing this with the reader. The dialogue flows freely and rings true as spoken by these young women. With the abysmal prejudice of Mallory, Tristan’s exasperating mother, to the cavalier comments of Ellen, Claire’s friend, the reader becomes a part of the scene, and this ability to empathize with all the characters is a result of carefully crafted writing. It is apparent to this reader that greater care was taken with the editing of this novel, and the reader benefits from this. Overall, Murky Waters is an engrossing reading experience. The plotting and characters keep the reader thoroughly involved and pleasantly entertained. There are themes here which will invariably lead to some lively discussions among those who have read this novel. The conclusion is certainly different and may even cause some to question its validity, but that doubt in itself is something the author has successfully achieved. It is always encouraging to see an author apparently learn from previous work and improve in such a way as to enable her genuine talent to come forth. Despite being a relatively new author, Robin Alexander’s latest release shows an inordinate amount of growth and promise. This reader enthusiastically awaits her next book. Reviewed by Arlene Germain |