1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
So much grit (4.5*s), May 6, 2011
Set in Shreveport, LA, this novel is a very intriguing story about senior college student Angel Duet's halting, even painful, efforts to overcome what, to this point, has been a rather foggy, difficult life due to daily occurrences of narcoleptic reactions [sudden lost of muscular control and/or deep REM sleep]. Adding complication to her life is the mysterious loss of her mother when she was quite young, about which her otherwise helpful father remains tight-lipped. Things change for Angel in this summer of her twenty-first year.
Angel has always been drawn to a wall in her home where her mother's photographs of clouds are vaguely mindful of a variety of real-world objects. The author consistently turns to the imagery of clouds to explain the elusiveness of reality for Angel who must separate out her narcoleptic experiences including vivid dreams. That summer, the arrival of her father's new, lawyer girlfriend Carla, who tampers with her mother's photos, and her increasingly close association with two of her young co-workers, Tim and Kimmy, on a summer agricultural project propel Angel on a course of opening up and self-discovery.
In particular, Tim, a rather free-speaking individual and unwilling to allow Angel to play victim, expands her social world by introducing her into the gay bar scene and homosexual experience as well as using drugs as an alternative to her physician-prescribed regimen. She even casts aside the most sympathetic male in her life, Mac, a married doctor with whom she is having an affair, to begin her first honest romance. Most importantly, for Angel these new experiences have given her some confidence to pursue the most distressful aspect of her life, that is, the disappearance of her mother.
The author captures so well the difficulties of Angel's life: coping with the daily intrusions of her disease; not knowing who to trust with her increased vulnerability; her constant search for a substitute for her absent mother. In some respects, the author's focus on Angel's struggles leaves out some basics. For example, Angel is an elusive presence: her physical appearance is barely mentioned. Apparently, she has a certain appeal based on the attraction of Mac, a real ladies' man. The author's somewhat uneven insertion of Southern speech patterns is mildly annoying. More generally, the writing is simply superb - many insightful bits.
Ultimately, the book is guardedly hopeful. Angel's condition does place demands on others. Furthermore, she starts to appreciate that others have their own struggles, especially her father. It may be a difficult journey, but if Angel is an example, it is possible to find stability in the midst of the confusion of an unfortunate situation, even to the point of determining those who genuinely love. It is a remarkable story; it's inspiring to see a character exhibit so much grit.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Read, October 3, 2009
This book was recommended by a colleague, another R.N. I'm usually disppointed by authors that try to incorporate medical concepts into a complex story line but this author did not disappoint. The medical concepts were accurate throughout the entire story. The book follows Angel, a young woman afflicted with narcolepsy. Angel is coping with the loss of her mother and dealing with a legacy of family lies she is now determined to uncover. Angel's search for answers leads her to some unlikey discoveries, including most importantly, self-discovery. Igive this book high marks...a great read!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Book- One of the Best I have Read- Ever!, April 21, 2009
This book was spectacular- I started it and could not put it down. My book club (Eat, Read, Laugh) was reading it. The book describes the main character's (Angel Duet) struggle with narcolepsy, which was very enlightening. I now understand what it must be like to live with this disease. The book is very well written and the characters all come alive. There is a lot happening with the plot and with each of the characters but the book is well-paced and easy to follow and it never seems orchestrated or far-fetched. I found many of the issues and struggles that there characters were dealing with to be timely and it was fairly easy to relate to each of the characters. The take home message I got from this book was that life is full of gray areas- there is not always a "right" answer. Also, everyone has some sort of struggle they are dealing with or burden they are carrying, and we are all bound together in that commonality and we should try and relate more effectively and compassionately with each other. I look forward to more books by Ms. Prezkop.
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