Carol Naylor's REVIEW it...

  "Wouldn't it be a blessing to forget some of our memories forever, erased from the mind as if they'd never happened?" We begin in September 2016 when 30 year old Lizzie seems to be having a nightmare-standing alone by a dark lake feeling "helpless, aimless and without memory of what has happened."  It is atmospheric with present continuous verbs of shaking and shudder[ing], naked feet sinking into a graphic image of mud, followed by a desperate scream. A hooded giant had chased Lizzie, caught her, dropped her into the water and pushed her under. Over the course of the novella, Leuschel's first, the opening is ominous and complete with pathetic fallacy. This, in effect, is the end, the nightmare being the " remnants of confusing, unsettling years." She has survived three very difficult years being controlled, manipulated by Morag, a neighbour and a "surrogate" mother as well as a husband verging on the narcissistic who relishes hav...

                                  C RUEL SUMMER by Bernard Jan. " I'm lost in a world I do not understand and I'm trying to find myself." It's mid-August and NYC is established as the main setting to this tragic and disconcerting story about Michael Daniels a 17 year old, suffering grievously from the recent death of his mother Melanie, losing the will to live. We are plunged into a cold NYC suggesting that America is experiencing a new climatic disorder and establishing pathetic fallacy to set the scene for some shocking revelations. It is " a perfect setting for his {Michael's} gloomy feelings and depressing thoughts." "Cruel Summer" is an apt title, ominous, reflecting Michael's mind and life. Young adults will understand and appreciate the intensity, dark moods and melancholic tones. His relationship with his step-father, Hank is a brutal one. He works at RIRL-Roosevelt Island Research Institute wh...