Customer Reviews

Thorns of an Innocent Soul: Novella

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Barbara Watkins has produced a story that held me enthralled and on the edge of my seat as I followed the life of a young girl as she grew to womanhood in the shadow of her abusive mother. How she coped with that abuse, and the effects it had on her own development thorugh her teens to her own adulthood are explored in detail,giving a fascinating insight into the mind of the abused and the abuser. Despite being only 60 pages in length, 'Thorns of an innocent Soul' leaves nothing out and the unexpected twist in the tale will satisfy those who, like me, enjoy being taken by surprise.

Brian L Porter, Author of the award-winning novel 'A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper

Thorns Of An Innocent Soul is a short novella about two women, corrupted by hatred and enmity in life, forced to confront their own flaws and failings after death. Ella, the mother, was cruel to her children in her obsession for beauty, wealth and prestige; Jennifer, the daughter, hated her abusive mother so much she refused to take any responsibility for the pain or grief that she caused in her own life. Neither woman would believe in or accept God; when the day of reckoning came, both would have to confront the greed, hatred, and revenge that had colored their lives for so long. A profound tale about the difficult journey to redemption and the quest for lost innocence.

"...I dreamt I was sitting in a brier patch. On one side of me was a bush of beautiful red and pink roses, and on the other side was nothing but a bush of thorns. Every time I would reach for a rose, the petals turned into thorns..." Reaching for thorns - an apt metaphor for an attitude of victim hood and one that can be pruned through experience and awakening to revelation's wisdom.

Sound familiar? Surely it does, yet how many just don't get it? This is a book for those who find themselves perpetually fearing the Damocles sword over their head no matter where or to whom they turn. Barbara Watkins tells the story of a dysfunctional family who abusively and cruelly thwart the development of Jennifer into a confident, loving woman.

She in turn begins to repeat the painful scenario on the death of her abusive mother, Ella. But something prevails and Jennifer begins to realize that her desire for telling the truth is as destructive as what was done to her. What she does with that is lovely, lovely, lovely to read!

No more about the plot here. After all, this is a novella of short duration, an art that requires spare or concise telling of a story. Watkins does just that - reading this novella about an innocent soul is bound to touch the reader's own innocence and...look twice at one's own world. Perhaps it may also enlighten someone you know, for who among us does not know similar characters with different stories but living a pattern that yields thorns instead of the beautiful flowers larger than the thorns.

This writer has something to say about responsibility - not just the proverbial dysfunctional story! Find out what she has to say - it's well worth it!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on January 14, 2007