Every now and then, someone from the Seal Press asks me to review one of their new books. I love the idea of the Seal Press: “Groundbreaking books. By women. For women.” They are not afraid to produce books that deal with the real issues real women face everyday, and they do it so well!
Just finished their new book Free Fall, by Rae Padilla Francoeur, and I loved it!
This is a very honest erotic memoir by a woman whose life situation would seem complicated to just about anyone. She has been caring for a partner with many mental and physical ailments for many years, when, at age 58, she discovers she is seriously in love with her partner’s best friend.
Rae speaks honestly throughout the book, about the difficulties she faces in coming to terms with her new life. She is certain she wants to follow through with this new relationship, even as her partner nearly dies from poor hospital care and worse treatment of his mental illness. She also realizes that only at this time of her life, well past 50, is she finally able to maintain a healthy relationship, because of all she has learned up to now.
So many parts of this book remind me of my own struggles in the past few years, struggles to appreciate my own luck in happening into such an amazing love affair at age 49. I received deeper insight into my need to simply trust in the universe and enjoy the ride, as I benefit from lessons learned from my many previous life mistakes.
To give you some feel for the quality of the writing in this book, here’s a few lines from the end. Jim is her lover.
“Every once in a while Jim will say, “Look at me. I’m almost seventy and I’m starting over.” I look around. I nod in sympathy. Yes you are, Jim. But I’m pretty sure this will be a good thing. Try not to worry.
I’m not worried. I’m not going to give up. This feels new. Untried. Interesting and fun. In truth, I’ve never done anything like this, never done anything I wanted, just because I wanted it. I want this. And so long as he wants it too, I’m going to persist. Persist. Persist. My life’s mantra.”
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
So nicely put! Sounds like a good mantra to adopt.
Hi Maryjo:
I just connected with the author Rae through my blog. It was so nice to hear from her and know that she enjoyed my post about her book. Blogs are amazing that way!
Take care, LLC