Becoming [Hardcover]

Charlotte Vale Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1994

Sidonie Graham got married and allowed her husband Frank to be the center of her universe -- until the day she suddenly realized she was overweight, unhappy, and desperate to be free.

At the urging of her bold, outspoken Aunt Claudia, Sidonie begins reclaiming her life. Unfortunately, the marriage and subsequent divorce have left Sidonie feeling misshapen and ugly, even when she no longer is.

So when she meets Michael Quinn, producer of what he prefers to call "erotic films," she's primed to fall into something that can only end badly. And it does. Because Michael Quinn wants to make his dream of producing a "legitimate film" come true and Sidonie is perfect for the leading role.

But is Michael Quinn's dream film art or pornography? And does it matter if the end result is the loss of a rather naive, lonely woman's innocence?

It's a painful, humiliating learning experience for Sidonie, but she does learn. And, having discovered unsuspected strength within herself, she is at last prepared to stake a claim on her future and pursue her own dreams.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charlotte Vale-Allen was born in Toronto and lived in England from 1961 to 1964 where she worked as a television actress and singer. She returned to Toronto briefly, performing as a singer until she emigrated to the US in 1966. She sold her first novel Love Life in 1974. Prior to this book's publication she contracted to do a series of paperback originals, with the result that in 1976 three of her books appeared in print. Her autobiography, the acclaimed Daddy's Girl, was actually the first book she wrote but it wasn't until 1980, after she'd gained success as a novelist, that the groundbreaking book was finally published. One of Canada's most successful novelists, with over seven million copies sold of her 39 books, Ms. Allen's work has been published in all English-speaking countries, in Braille, and have been translated into more than 20 languages. The mother of an adult daughter and grandmother of twins, since 1970 she has made her home in Connecticut.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers (November 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727846590
• ISBN-13: 978-0727846594
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,885,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charlotte Vale-Allen was born in Toronto and lived in England from 1961 to 1964 where she worked as a television actress and singer. She returned to Toronto briefly, performing as a singer until she emigrated to the US in 1966. She sold her first novel Love Life in 1974. Prior to this book's publication she contracted to do a series of paperback originals, with the result that in 1976 three of her books appeared in print. Her autobiography, the acclaimed Daddy's Girl, was actually the first book she wrote but it wasn't until 1980, after she'd gained success as a novelist, that the groundbreaking book was finally published. One of Canada's most successful novelists, with over seven million copies sold of her 39 books, Ms. Allen's work has been published in all English-speaking countries, in Braille, and have been translated into more than 20 languages. The mother of an adult daughter and grandmother of twins, since 1970 she has made her home in Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very ahead of its time, June 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Becoming (Paperback)

For a book that was written in 1978, it's nothing less than remarkable how very timely this novel is. Certainly, it's indicative of the fact that, despite the gains women have made, the moves forward have been in very small increments. Dealing with several issues (pornography, divorce, loneliness) Allen takes us along with Sidonie Graham on a journey of self discovery that is alternately disturbing and invigorating. It is, in essence, a learning experience, in the course of which the heroine finds that there are far worse things in life than being alone/single. Refreshingly, the author refrains from tying everything up in shiny ribbons at the end and sending her heroine off, hand-in-hand, with a new partner. Rather, Sidonie goes forward with new fondness for and awareness of herself. A novel with quirky characters and an unpredictable plot-line, yet again author Allen takes us down a memorable road. Each of her books is different; each is a thoughtful study of human potential. That is, perhaps, why she is not a household name. But she deserves to be. This is yet another insightful examination of yet another of Allen's unique, forgivably flawed, heroines.