Reading this book is like meandering through someone's dreams, their daydreams, their nightdreams, their revisits to the past, and their struggle to come to terms with unsatisfactory relationships left behind and get to grips with an ever-elusive self-confidence and constant self-questioning. It is quite unlike anything else I've ever read. A poetic contemporary novel, even the opening paragraph, at first glance prose, is actually poetry. Poetry is the protagonist's means of expression, therapy and relaxation. It is her first language, one might say. Poetry is also the way in which her paintings first take form. Visions, memories, fears and hallucinations in the mind become poetry on paper, before pictures on canvas. Mirage is the name this painter gives to the gallery she has the sudden and unexpected chance to run in a strange (mirage of a?) town that she has difficulty situating, amidst a mirage and blending of by-gone memories, hues, ghosts and lakeside reflections. The chance to begin anew, although the path to reconciliation with the past, with grief and with her own inner struggles is not quite as smooth as she had hoped it would be.

This book was a gift to me from the author. She generously sent me (from Florida) the novel of her friend the late Sharon Spencer, and included this, one of several works of fiction of her own. Although she was unfamiliar with the concept of bookcrossing, this was in true bookcrossing spirit! So it is my intention to offer this as a bookring, as it is the first of her books to be registered. I'd like others to taste for themselves this hugely original style.

This will be going to:

catbot

Anyone else?

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I posted this today to catbot in Australia. I wonder if it'll get there by Christmas?! Perhaps not...

Thanks ETMadrid! Books arrived safe and sound, looking forward to reading them!

Sending to ETMadrid tomorrow, sorry for the delay.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to ETMadrid

This one's made it back to me - thanks.

Posted today after I offered it on the forum "buffet" during the Virtual Unconvention. It's off to France!