No Going Back [Paperback]

Norah Griggs (Author), Barbara Paulson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2005

In Omaha, Nebraska, 1900 or so, the world revolved around Henry Taylor. All the poor guy ever wanted was to live his two lives quietly and separately. Was that so much to ask? No Going Back follows the dealings of Henry Taylor on his mission to reclaim what (he considers) is rightfully his. He believes his wife, Rachel, ran off to Virginia City, Nevada with a gambling man. He also believes his twelve year old daughter, Tess, ran away four days later to find them. In Cheyenne, Wyoming he meets up with silver-tongued Joshua Baker, a minister who befriends, counsels and then swindles him. The story then follows Rachel and Tess as they each face agonizing hardships but also find true integrity in others. For Rachel, it’s in Janey Walker, a wise and gracious woman in her fifties. For Tess, it’s the Coles, a family full of love and spirit. Day by day, mother and daughter unconsciously experience each other’s emotions, keeping them close at heart until they find their way back to each other. With unexpected twists and turns, this book flows with circumstance and happenstance. It explores Native American life from a distinct perspective. It looks at organized religion, from the practical and honorable to the misuse and disgrace that can occur within it. These issues, which are just as pertinent in our world today, are put forward here in an era often seen as naive and sometimes even primitive.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Norah Griggs’ life experiences, such as her many years studying and teaching the Martial Arts, raising her children and working blue-collar jobs, are very much reflected in her writings. Her Previous works include “Rocklady, The Building of a Labyrinth”, a non-fiction book. Articles and short stories she has written have been featured by various e-zines as well as the LuminQuest e-book and CD, “Spiritual Symbology”.
Norah lives in northeast Ohio along the coast of Lake Erie. Since retired from teaching, she explores the many aspects of spirituality, health and wellness. Besides writing, she most enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her four granddaughters.

Barbara Paulson was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota and grew up in and around the Minneapolis area. She now resides in northeast Ohio.
At age seven, her father began teaching her to play the guitar. Since then, her interests have varied widely, but always within the creative realm, from writing music, poetry and short stories, to sewing, crafts, home decorating and computer play.
In 2001, she co-published the book, “Rocklady, The Building of a Labyrinth” with Norah Griggs, the book’s author. Barb’s contributions to the book also included editing, cover design and poetry. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Winterwolf Publishing (April 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976247194
• ISBN-13: 978-0976247197
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,854,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Aussie Book Club Notes, August 4, 2005

By 

Sandra Gauci "Queen Moonstone" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Going Back (Paperback)

Norah and Barbara have done well to collaborate their talents together.

The plot and storyline certainly had an air of credibility. The coming together of two cultures was a twist enjoyed by most. We found the vocabulary and grammar of the book written in an easy style with some interesting characters. Rachel and daughter Tess, having similar experiences throughout the book, showed us that an invisible bond occurs between mothers and children.

Everyone enjoyed reading the book and we would like to congratulate Norah and Barbara on this endeavour and hope they continue on their journey with as much hope as we saw Rachel and Tess portrayed.

This book had me turning page after page. The characters are three dimensional, wanting you to know what happens next. A great story and a great read! Well done.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read - NO GOING BACK, June 30, 2005

By 

Rita Lot (MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Going Back (Paperback)

Hats off to Norah Griggs and Barbara Paulson for the page-turner, hard-to-put-down "NO GOING BACK". The characters immediately come to life and you find yourself cheering for the good guys and loathing the bad. It's a step back in time, but addresses timeless issues from injustice and abuse to spirituality, courage and the basic human right to happiness. I highly recommend "NO GOING BACK" and anxiously look forward to the authors' next book - "THE AMULET". Bravo!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a modern tale about the Old West, October 23, 2005

By 

Rebecca Brown "rebeccasreads" (Clallam Bay, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Going Back (Paperback)

Rebeccasreads recommends NO GOING BACK as a lively, if unedited tale told in the present tense, & from each of the protagonists' point of view, about the foundations of domestic abuse, the kindness & deviousness of strangers, awakenings of the heart, coming of age & the swindlings & violence men brought with them to the wild & wooly West.

While NO GOING BACK is inexpertly written (thus the 3 stars: it has much repetitive language & many glaring anachronisms) from a modern perspective & an overly romantic & simplified view of the Native American way of life, it does have an underlying morality theme: of seeking a better life, of walking your talk & of what goes around coming around... to bite you on the you-know-where.