REVIEW: Ghellow Road by T.H. Waters

Synopsis

Ghellow Road is a literary diary of a young girl's journey through the tangled labyrinth that is her life. Theresa's story begins in a large midwestern city where she is born to loving parents in 1965. For a brief moment in time, her life is full, as is her heart, and the world is hers to receive without consequence. As time passes and Theresa grows, supernatural forces begin to shape her existence, no matter how carefully her father colors the empty spaces of her world. After a series of tragic events, Theresa and her family seek refuge in a small Minnesota town nestled near the shores of Rainy Lake. She creates a new life for herself there, sharing adventures with friends and riding the ups and downs of adolescence. Yet through it all, her mother remains forever lost in the prison of her own mind and forever lost to Theresa. The young girl feels as though she is leading a double life, one that no one else could possibly understand. She begins to peer at the world as if looking through a thick, black veil, never certain which pieces are illusion and which are not. Through the kindness and support of the townspeople, She eventually summons the strength to survive. This is a story of tragedy and triumph. This is the story of my life.

• Pub. Date: October 2010
• Publisher: Verefor Publishing Company LLC
• Format: Paperback , 302pp
• ISBN-13: 9780982893111
• ISBN: 0982893116

About the Author

T.H. Waters lives in the charming city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she resides with her significant other and their two adorable kitty cats. She spent the first half of her childhood in Minneapolis before moving to International Falls, Minnesota, in 1975. Compelled to write this book based upon the unique experiences of her youth, she is grateful for the privilege of finally being able to live out loud.

Learn more about author T. H. Waters

Read an excerpt from Ghellow Road

My Thoughts

"I was born in the arms of the City of Lakes."

The story takes place in Minneapolis and International Falls, Minnesota.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began this book, and I really kept my expectations low. However I found myself pleasantly surprised with the genuineness and honest humor used to share the author's story.

This story really hit home for me. Growing up, my best friend spent several years living in much the same way as the author, and I was the stable friend in her life.

While the circumstances may have differed, I could certainly identify with the feelings surrounding many of the situations the author dealt with as a kid. I came from a pretty stable home, but my best friend had a mother who mentally checked out for awhile, had two-way conversations with Jesus and Moses, and eventually was institutionalized. I’ve seen some of the behavior described in the book firsthand, and have sat and cried with my friend as we were separated from one another when she had to go live with other family members. I’m all too familiar with The Invisibles mentioned in the book, and remember the chills of listening to my friend's mother carry on conversations with her own invisible visitors.

The author's description of herself as a kid, and the way that she covered up her pain with a put-on bubbly personality, is even reminiscent of my friend, as well as the explosive way she would speak to her mother in anger, pain, frustration, embarrassment and helplessness.

I was really impressed with the author's writing style, as it far-exceeded my expectations. I found it engaging and effective, easy-to-read and unpretentious.

Happily, you are left in the end with hope and promise for the future of the author following a childhood of turmoil.


Quotes:

I swore that someday, when I grew up, I was going to have that, too, and the blood running through my veins would flow into a valley where the scent of despair never dared permeate. (p. 59)

The rest of that summer dragged on, and I dragged right behind it like a bunch of empty beer cans tied to a trailer hitch on the Charter Bus to Boredom. (p. 131)


My final word: I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this memoir to anyone. Fresh, heartfelt and sincere, I embraced this story wholeheartedly.


My Rating: 8 out of 10


Disclosure:

I received a copy of this book to review the author T.H. Waters, in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not financially compensated in any way, and the opinions expressed are my own and based on my observations while reading this novel.