Customer Reviews

One Belief Away

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

One Belief Away is the second book by CN Winters I have read (Irrefutable Evidence was the first) and I can safely say she's got a fan for life. I was an impressionable young girl growing up in New York City at the time this story takes place and she managed to bring back all the memories of that time...especially the incredible tension between the Establishment and the Counter Culture. CN manages to bring two radically different women together despite the pressure each of them are under. And when they finally do get together, they must battle their own inner demons until in the end they both realize that the only thing that matters in the world is love.

I keep hoping that something will reach out and grip me in this book. I found that the characters do not have any personal charisma. The character development in this book is unsatisfying superficial, as is the story itself. Although I don't mind the occasional lesbian quasi-erotic pulp, the writing is just absolutely not what I expected from Winters. I never witnessed the author's understanding of what the plot should be, nor the human relationships and feelings she was obviously hoping to express. I was truly disappointed in this book.

I really enjoyed this novel. I was in College in New York City during the time in which this novel is set and the events brought back many memories. The events were well written and realistic. Although not gay, I found the romance to be warm, satisfying and courageous. I cheered at the conclusion. I only wish that I could have followed these two wonderful women into their future. It is an excellent study of two people with different backgrounds and ideals struggling to get past them to find happiness, as well as a study of a turbulent time in the life our country.

If I was a young lesbian, just coming into my own today, I might not understand this book. Just like I'm not sure that a young woman today can really understand what's going on in the recent Julia Roberts movie, "Mona Lisa Smile", about women in the 1950s. Sometimes you just have to have lived through something to "get" it. As someone who was first discovering her lesbianism during the period this book is set in, I understand the forces tugging on Carol and the decision she has to make. If anything, I think Winters made the decision too easy. It sure wasn't as readily accepted as this book would indicate, especially in a period when women were just winning some positions in society where "deviant" attitudes would not be tolerated. Many of us who wanted to make a difference were forced by circumstances to adopt attitudes and behaviors that kept us closeted for many years to come. The book captures some of that, but you have to understand it's historical context to fully feel what is going on. If you're a younger lesbian today and you want to understand why some of the older women you meet act like they do, read this book.

I loved this novel and it is my favorite by the author. The characters are beautifully defined as real people with real issues. I never wanted this book to end.

The writing is just super ! And I hope the author has more romances published in the future.

from the publishers website - In the early 1970's, American was in a state of civil unrest. Not since the 1860's had the country become so frayed by the issues that held the fabric of American lives together. Masses spoke out in protest as another side of the culture tried to keep order in an unruly age. As the `flower power' era comes to an end, radical and soon-to-be-grad, Erin O'Fallon, confronts Patrol Officer Carol Johnson, which leads to Erin's arrest at a college peace rally turned explosive. Soon after, both women are forced to make life-altering choices in their quest to find true happiness and themselves. `One Belief Away' is a novel of self discovery and how two such women, from opposite ends of the spectrum, come together to find a common ground and a deep love.