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How to Be a Vampire

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   How to Be a Vampire: A Fangs-On Guide for the Newly Undead

   Amy Gray

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Wendy Robards, May 29, 2009 (view all comments by Wendy Robards)
Judith Ryan Hendricks’ fourth novel, The Laws of Harmony, opens in New Mexico and is narrated by Sunny Cooper - a 32 year old woman whose life is suddenly wrenched out from under her. When detectives arrive at Sunny’s door to inform her that her fiance Michael has been killed in a fiery car crash, Sunny’s grief is quickly replaced by confusion and then anger when she discovers Michael was keeping secrets from her.

The tragedy opens a floodgate of memories from Sunny’s childhood growing up in a commune - the drugs, sex and rock n’ roll; her close relationship with a brother who has since disappeared from her life; the sister she lost to a freak accident; and the strained connection she still has with her mother. On an impulse, Sunny sells nearly all her possessions and quits her job, heading west to a new future in the tiny town of Harmony on San Miguel Island.

The Laws of Harmony is a novel about personal growth, the impact of the past on our future, and the delicate connections we make with other people. Sunny’s journey is not just a physical one from New Mexico to Harmony. Her memories do not simply stop the moment she leaves the desert and arrives on the fog enshrouded island of San Miguel. Sunny’s journey from despair to hope and her gradual understanding that she cannot walk through life alone is what drives the narrative…and it is a compelling and satisfying story.

Hendricks is a capable and talented writer whose prose is filled with warmth, humor and a deep understanding of what it means to be human. Half way through the novel, I found myself immersed in Sunny’s world, comforted by the rich descriptions of food, and not wanting the novel to end. Although there is a bit of a mystery in the book, it is not the mystery which kept me turning the pages. Hendricks’ ability to create character is her strength, and it is the characters who engaged me.

The best novels are those which leave the reader with a more acute awareness of what motivates a character - and a better understanding of how a character’s life might parallel our own. The Laws of Harmony does both those things. The writing is accessible and honest. Judith Ryan Hendricks has written a novel which women especially will love. If you are looking for a comfortable and gratifying summer read, look no further.

Highly recommended.

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Denise Morland, February 18, 2009 (view all comments by Denise Morland)
When Sunny Cooper turns eighteen she flees the commune she grew up in, trying to get away from her mother's hippie lifestyle and the tragic death of her little sister. Just as she begins to piece together a normal life, her fiance dies in a car crash, and she is forced to face the fact that their life was full of secrets and half truths. No longer certain of anything she flees again in search of a life she can believe in.

This is the story of a woman trying to reinvent her life in the face of tragedy and uncertainty. What makes this book really stand out is Judith Hendriks Ryan's beautiful sense of place and character. Both the mesa of New Mexico and the town of Harmony on San Miguel Island are almost characters in the book, they are so realistically and thoroughly described. In these destinctive settings she places unique and interesting characters. The relationship between Sunny and her mother will feel familiar to many women who read this book. The struggle between seperating from your mother and the strong maternal pull is a classic one and the author gets balance right.

If you have read Judith Hendricks Ryan's other books and loved her eloquent descriptions of food don't despair. Sunny is a chef and baker and there is a lot of cooking in this book as well. In the end this is a satisfying story of a woman finding herself and her place in the world.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780061687365

Author:

Hendricks, Judith R

Publisher:

Harper

Author:

Hendricks, Judith R.

Author:

by Judith R Hendricks

Author:

Hendricks, Judith Ryan

Subject:

General

Subject:

Women

Subject:

Sisters

Subject:

Mothers and daughters

Subject:

Psychological fiction

Publication Date:

February 2009

Binding:

Paperback

Language:

English

Pages:

480

Dimensions:

8.00x5.48x1.17 in. .80 lbs.