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The Wisdom to Know the Difference
Todd Randall spent his life pushing the limits: stealing a pack of cigarettes and a beer and coming home smelling like tobacco and cheap beer; “borrowing” his father’s car, usually to screw girls in the backseat; snorting lines of OxyContin after a knee injury on the football field, eventually landing in rehab at the age of seventeen. Now he spends his days in his uncle’s auto body shop, struggling to stay clean, and refusing to get close to anyone because he fears he is unfit for human consumption.
When he meets Shawna Clifton, for the first time begins to see himself differently, and even though it scares the hell out of him, he feels compelled to reach for the life she offers. But just as Todd dreams he can have more, their relationship is challenged by a tragedy that forces them to decide what is really important.
When he meets Shawna Clifton, for the first time begins to see himself differently, and even though it scares the hell out of him, he feels compelled to reach for the life she offers. But just as Todd dreams he can have more, their relationship is challenged by a tragedy that forces them to decide what is really important.
- GenresRomance
268 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
54 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Leesa Freeman
4 books21 followersA native Texan, Leesa Freeman enjoys escaping the chill of New England, if only in her imagination, often setting her stories in the places she loved growing up. Some of her favorite moments are the ones where it’s just her, her Mac, and simply conversing with the people who live inside her head, and sharing their lives with those who take the time to read her stories. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two daughters, where she is also an artist, an avid baker, and a self-proclaimed music snob. She can be found on her blog at http://www.leesafreeman.com/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LeesaFreeman.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 8, 2012
It is difficult to explain the connection to a protagonist who seems to be fueled by guilt and shame, and doesn’t believe that he has grown or changed. That is exactly what happens when you delve into this book, and pass the first chapter. Todd is, in his own words, not fit for human consumption. A recovering addict, with all of the associated baggage he is an incredibly sympathetic character and the source of the book’s point of view.
With a steady and relaxed hand, the author has woven a story that places you inside Todd’s head, able to feel the panic when his fears overwhelm him, celebrate his highs, and wallow in his lows. From his own perspective, Todd is far less likeable: so enmired in the shame of his addicted self he has yet to realize that life is full of second chances and opportunities.
I was immersed in this book, not wanting to put it down. Todd was so beautifully crafted and developed, that he was instantly present and he developed into a far more attractive character as the story went on. The book shows his growth change, rather than looking back on all that ‘may have been’, this is a book that captures the entire struggle of a life in transition and does it with heart and skill.
Beautifully voiced and story line that will grab hold of your thoughts, this debut novel is one that shows great promise of more to come from this author.
I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review on my blog, I am, Indeed. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.
December 5, 2012
The coffee had, as always, one thing going for it: it was hot.
Thus begins Leesa Freeman’s debut novel, The Wisdom To Know the Difference. The reader is immediately introduced to Todd, a recovering drug addict. A high school sports injury led him to an oxi-contin addiction. But now, five years sober and attending college, Todd meets Shawna, a photographer who is honest and compassionate.
The connection between them is instant and electric. Shawna accepts Todd for who he is and where he has been. However, Todd continues to struggle with his self-worth. He wrestles with it for most of the book; it was so beautifully written that I couldn’t help but feel his pain. His struggle is almost physical and it made me love his character even more.
As their relationship progresses, tragedy hits them hard, leaving them broken once again. They both struggle to recover- ultimately forced apart by their inability to cope.
It was absolutely heartbreaking.
Leesa Freeman writes the story from Todd’s point of view, which surprised me. I actually did a double take when I saw that the author was a female-she writes the male perspective beautifully.
My only critique is the cover. I don’t understand the connection between the boy walking on the beach and Todd’s story. But don’t let that stop you from reading this novel. The Wisdom To Know The Difference has fantastic characters and a story that will make you ache for Todd and Shawna.
This is definitely a book you won’t want to put down and a story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
Thus begins Leesa Freeman’s debut novel, The Wisdom To Know the Difference. The reader is immediately introduced to Todd, a recovering drug addict. A high school sports injury led him to an oxi-contin addiction. But now, five years sober and attending college, Todd meets Shawna, a photographer who is honest and compassionate.
The connection between them is instant and electric. Shawna accepts Todd for who he is and where he has been. However, Todd continues to struggle with his self-worth. He wrestles with it for most of the book; it was so beautifully written that I couldn’t help but feel his pain. His struggle is almost physical and it made me love his character even more.
As their relationship progresses, tragedy hits them hard, leaving them broken once again. They both struggle to recover- ultimately forced apart by their inability to cope.
It was absolutely heartbreaking.
Leesa Freeman writes the story from Todd’s point of view, which surprised me. I actually did a double take when I saw that the author was a female-she writes the male perspective beautifully.
My only critique is the cover. I don’t understand the connection between the boy walking on the beach and Todd’s story. But don’t let that stop you from reading this novel. The Wisdom To Know The Difference has fantastic characters and a story that will make you ache for Todd and Shawna.
This is definitely a book you won’t want to put down and a story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
May 29, 2012
Though this isn't my typical type of book, I knew once I heard of the book that I had to read it. The book took me away to my happy place of reading almost immediately. It was one of those books that I could not put down. The author's writing style is awesome. She touches on some pretty tough subject matter, all the while throwing in some humor just to keep it real.
This author has the ability to bring you into the world she has created with her words, to make you feel as the characters do, and understand how tough life can be for someone who you might not otherwise even know about.
I very much enjoyed reading this book, and I can't wait to read more! Keep them coming Leesa!
This author has the ability to bring you into the world she has created with her words, to make you feel as the characters do, and understand how tough life can be for someone who you might not otherwise even know about.
I very much enjoyed reading this book, and I can't wait to read more! Keep them coming Leesa!
November 19, 2012
I enjoyed this 25 chapter book. It was told through Todd’s first person point-of-view. It was a refreshing change to get only a guy’s perspective on love, relationships, and breakups. The author had an amazing talent with voice. The narration, Todd’s dialogue and thoughts, his interactions never trailed from a college guy, who was fighting addiction, who treated every girl as a piece of meat or a booty call until he met Shawna. The cussing, oogling of women’s parts, and masturbation didn’t offend me. I thought it was a realistic portrayal of how a young, immature, horny, man’s man would act.
My favorite lines were: 1) There’s a reason addicts are almost forbidden from getting involved in a relationship during their first year of sobriety–we’re a damn mess. 2) No matter how impossible it seemed for her to even want to be with me, in that moment I knew with absolute certainty I could love her. 3) Without a word, I stood and went to the bathroom where I turned on the faucet so they couldn’t hear me wrestling with the fact that somehow she had moved on, and I was still stuck in the five minutes after she’d asked me to leave in despite the months that had passed. 4) While I was shaving, he gave me the version of the birds and bees–it wasn’t pretty.
Leesa Freeman should be very proud of her debut novel. It was engaging, plus drama filled. I appreciated getting to see Todd deal with his friends, his family, and I liked the insight into his work life. All the characters felt very real, and it broke my heart to see his friends and family deal with Todd when he went into self-destructive mode because he was in so much pain over the breakup. I loved that they stood by his side, no questions asked.
As a reader, I was invested in Todd and Shawna’s relationship. After their breakup, I couldn’t wait to see the aftermath. My expectations and what was written was completely different. I wanted to see him try and win her back, to focus on how much it hurt to lose the baby. Instead, he pined over another girl–I’m assuming to show Todd was in denial and wanted to settle, too afraid to fight for what he wanted. But I just thought this section took too long (just my opinion). By the time, Shawna entered the picture again, I debated whether Todd was really in love with her. Was it love? Addiction to love? In love with the idea of being in love? Lust?
My favorite scenes: 1) Todd just finished posing for art class and Shawna approaches him to work for a famous photographer 2) at a football game, Todd stands up for his brother against their uncle 3) the breakup scene 4) in the dark room with Todd, Allison, and Shawna 4) Todd’s intervention with his roommate, AA sponsor, and his roommate’s girlfriend.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
My favorite lines were: 1) There’s a reason addicts are almost forbidden from getting involved in a relationship during their first year of sobriety–we’re a damn mess. 2) No matter how impossible it seemed for her to even want to be with me, in that moment I knew with absolute certainty I could love her. 3) Without a word, I stood and went to the bathroom where I turned on the faucet so they couldn’t hear me wrestling with the fact that somehow she had moved on, and I was still stuck in the five minutes after she’d asked me to leave in despite the months that had passed. 4) While I was shaving, he gave me the version of the birds and bees–it wasn’t pretty.
Leesa Freeman should be very proud of her debut novel. It was engaging, plus drama filled. I appreciated getting to see Todd deal with his friends, his family, and I liked the insight into his work life. All the characters felt very real, and it broke my heart to see his friends and family deal with Todd when he went into self-destructive mode because he was in so much pain over the breakup. I loved that they stood by his side, no questions asked.
As a reader, I was invested in Todd and Shawna’s relationship. After their breakup, I couldn’t wait to see the aftermath. My expectations and what was written was completely different. I wanted to see him try and win her back, to focus on how much it hurt to lose the baby. Instead, he pined over another girl–I’m assuming to show Todd was in denial and wanted to settle, too afraid to fight for what he wanted. But I just thought this section took too long (just my opinion). By the time, Shawna entered the picture again, I debated whether Todd was really in love with her. Was it love? Addiction to love? In love with the idea of being in love? Lust?
My favorite scenes: 1) Todd just finished posing for art class and Shawna approaches him to work for a famous photographer 2) at a football game, Todd stands up for his brother against their uncle 3) the breakup scene 4) in the dark room with Todd, Allison, and Shawna 4) Todd’s intervention with his roommate, AA sponsor, and his roommate’s girlfriend.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
August 9, 2015
An absolutely phenomenal novel by Leesa Freeman. Both heartbreaking and heartwarming throughout, "The Wisdom to Know the Difference," is a truly moving and memorable read.
For Todd Randall, like has been a challenge. He was an addict at age 16 after an injury that ended his ability to play football; a high school drop out by age 17. While he has remained clean for the last five years, he has done so by just getting by. He took his GED and applied for college. He attends with his best friend Brandon. He works for his uncle in his car shop and sticks to himself. He has a negative attitude toward himself and believes he is unfit to truly engage with others. Yet, when he meets Shawna Coleman, a photography professor at his school, Todd begins to make changes in his life for the better.
Shawna has a passion for photography, but has never truly let her photos be truly representative of herself. She is a childhood leukemia survivor and is very protective of herself and afraid of getting hurt in any relationship she is in.
Todd and Shawna being out the better parts of the other and develop a living relationship with positive give and take. They learn from each other, they lean on one another and are making plans for the future. Then Shawna finds out she is pregnant. Something she never thought she would ever be. On the night Todd planned to propose to Shawna, she tragically miscarries. Something serve stating to the both of them. Yet Shawna makes a decision that night that effects both of them: she asks Todd to move out and give her space. What happens to both of them during the next year is a period of further tragedy, learning, mistakes, relationships and life lessons.
In the end, the question is will each of them have the wisdom to make the right choices for themselves and each other? Will they have the wisdom to accept themselves and the other as they are and to grow from there? Will they each have the wisdom to accept their faults and know they are only human? Will they be able to accept the things they cannot change, change the things they can, and have the wisdom to know the difference?
A profound and truly riveting novel from beginning to end. Highly recommended and and a definitive must read.
For Todd Randall, like has been a challenge. He was an addict at age 16 after an injury that ended his ability to play football; a high school drop out by age 17. While he has remained clean for the last five years, he has done so by just getting by. He took his GED and applied for college. He attends with his best friend Brandon. He works for his uncle in his car shop and sticks to himself. He has a negative attitude toward himself and believes he is unfit to truly engage with others. Yet, when he meets Shawna Coleman, a photography professor at his school, Todd begins to make changes in his life for the better.
Shawna has a passion for photography, but has never truly let her photos be truly representative of herself. She is a childhood leukemia survivor and is very protective of herself and afraid of getting hurt in any relationship she is in.
Todd and Shawna being out the better parts of the other and develop a living relationship with positive give and take. They learn from each other, they lean on one another and are making plans for the future. Then Shawna finds out she is pregnant. Something she never thought she would ever be. On the night Todd planned to propose to Shawna, she tragically miscarries. Something serve stating to the both of them. Yet Shawna makes a decision that night that effects both of them: she asks Todd to move out and give her space. What happens to both of them during the next year is a period of further tragedy, learning, mistakes, relationships and life lessons.
In the end, the question is will each of them have the wisdom to make the right choices for themselves and each other? Will they have the wisdom to accept themselves and the other as they are and to grow from there? Will they each have the wisdom to accept their faults and know they are only human? Will they be able to accept the things they cannot change, change the things they can, and have the wisdom to know the difference?
A profound and truly riveting novel from beginning to end. Highly recommended and and a definitive must read.
August 23, 2013
Don't let the cover or the title fool you. This is not a self-help book, or a book about small children, but a fictional story about a young man who had everything - and blew it all through drug addiction. Then he battles back, finds the perfect partner, and loses her, through no fault of his own. Will be stay on the wagon, or leap off, and destroy his life again?
Disclaimer: I connected with the author on the Writer Unboxed FaceBook group, and received a free copy of the book preparatory to hosting an interview with her on my blog.
This book is written from male POV, and was surprisingly convincing (granted, I am not one of "them," so it's possible a male reader may see discrepancies I didn't notice). At a very young age, Todd blew out his ACL, requiring surgery, pain pills... and resulting in an addiction to Oxycontin. Where the book falls a little short, IMO, is in other books I've read featuring addiction, there's more detail about the buzz from the booze/drugs, almost an orgiastic, loving description of how wonderful it feels to be high. I knew Todd was fighting addiction, because he told us so and went to meetings; I didn't feel him fighting it, dreaming about getting high - though he doesn't present a perfect recovery, either.
Where it excels is in Todd's drifting, not sure what he wants to do with his life, and his relationships with other people, notably Shawna, a slightly older woman who introduces him to the world of modelling. Their romance is steamy and poignant and heartbreaking and more. There's also a sweet subplot where one of Todd's brothers realizes he's gay.
Disclaimer: I connected with the author on the Writer Unboxed FaceBook group, and received a free copy of the book preparatory to hosting an interview with her on my blog.
This book is written from male POV, and was surprisingly convincing (granted, I am not one of "them," so it's possible a male reader may see discrepancies I didn't notice). At a very young age, Todd blew out his ACL, requiring surgery, pain pills... and resulting in an addiction to Oxycontin. Where the book falls a little short, IMO, is in other books I've read featuring addiction, there's more detail about the buzz from the booze/drugs, almost an orgiastic, loving description of how wonderful it feels to be high. I knew Todd was fighting addiction, because he told us so and went to meetings; I didn't feel him fighting it, dreaming about getting high - though he doesn't present a perfect recovery, either.
Where it excels is in Todd's drifting, not sure what he wants to do with his life, and his relationships with other people, notably Shawna, a slightly older woman who introduces him to the world of modelling. Their romance is steamy and poignant and heartbreaking and more. There's also a sweet subplot where one of Todd's brothers realizes he's gay.
September 11, 2014
I enjoyed this book very much. It is quite different from the genres I usually read. The author has created a beautiful story of Todd Randall fighting his addiction to painkillers as he struggles to rebuild his life and make his way in the world. Then he meets Shawna who introduces him to the world of modelling for a world famous photographer. Todd falls madly in love with her. Their passion ignites the prose.But then tragedy befalls them and their idyllic relationship is shattered. Todd is tempted to fall back on old patterns but instead he continues to model for the photographer and starts to fall for another woman who is already in a relationship.
This novel could have ended quite differently. The author chose to give it a happy ending by bringing Todd and Shawna back together after a year. She ties it up with a
bow and then goes beyond the believable with her final flourish.
The book is beautifully written and almost impossible to put down. I look forward to reading more of Ms Freeman's work.
This novel could have ended quite differently. The author chose to give it a happy ending by bringing Todd and Shawna back together after a year. She ties it up with a
bow and then goes beyond the believable with her final flourish.
The book is beautifully written and almost impossible to put down. I look forward to reading more of Ms Freeman's work.
January 19, 2015
Todd injured his knee in a high school football accident. During his recovery he became addicted to drugs. He lost his scholarship and at 17 found himself in rehab. Todd overcame his addiction and earned his GED and now a student at University of North Dallas. Todd and his best friend Brandon are living the college life, when Todd decides he wants something new.
Todd embarks on a new adventure. . . being a model. This is a much different road compared to tinkering on cars with his uncle. This is where he meets Shawna and his journey gets more intense. Will he be strong enough to endure the changes and the paths he will travel . . . . .
Very well written ! ! ! It sucks you into Todd's life. It was easy to read the characters and even attach yourself to them. I found myself crying with them and hoping for good outcomes !
4 stars :)
Wende
August 4, 2012
This was the most heart wrenching book I've ever read. It was the most beautiful thing!!! I loved it. I cried and felt the different surge of emotions the author had the characters reflecting. And for that I have to say that the author has a amazing talent. It's quite rare for an author to have a tremendous effect of emotion on the reader and I than you. I pray that if something like what happened with shawna and Todd, it would end in a way like their story did. With friends and family who have my back and an outstanding love shared between me and the person I choose to spend the rest of my life with. So again thank you. Your story was a real eye opener!!! I loved it!!! 8P
September 14, 2014
Todd is a young man who's fallen more times than he's gotten up. His life is riddled with mistakes and consequences but few triumphs. Then he gets a lucky break. He's given a job posing for art students. With his physique, he's a natural model, and his life begins to have some meaning. The novel follows Todd on his journey from failure to drug addict to his ultimate goals.
The author does a great job with the characters. Even Garrett, a minor character, is written with detail that brings him to life in the reader's mind. The novel is full of emotion and will hook the reader from the beginning.
The author does a great job with the characters. Even Garrett, a minor character, is written with detail that brings him to life in the reader's mind. The novel is full of emotion and will hook the reader from the beginning.
August 19, 2014
I enjoyed this book. I was compelled to keep reading, as I wanted to know what was going to happen. I liked Todd. I disagreed that he was not safe for hun consumption. He had made mistakes and paid for them. He was not an angel, but never claimed to be. He did attend his meetings weekly. When he started modeling, the world started to open up for him. He falls hard when he finally falls in love. I like his relationships with his brothers. This is a very realistic story.
ARC provided in exchange for homest review.
ARC provided in exchange for homest review.
July 30, 2012
After reading this book, I found myself wanting to get back to my Kindle to keep reading. But, alas, it was over. I became attached to the characters and wanted more of them. Leesa's style is relaxed and comfortable. The reader is engaged from the first chapter. I hesitated to get this book because it's not my genre of choice (I prefer Koontz, Patterson, Connelly, etc.), but I was pleasantly surprised and immediately hooked. I look forward to reading more from this first-time novelist.
April 4, 2012
Fantastic read. Either quick, or I was just really enthralled and completely could not put the book down. A very unique and interesting way to deal with some difficult subjects. I really enjoyed the author's detail in many aspects of the book-really brought the characters to life!
December 21, 2022
Excellent book!!!
dearly-departed
March 21, 2014Won as part of the Goodreads first reads program. Review to come.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews