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Descanso
Two years ago, psychotherapist Chris Cameron was devastated by the murder of her partner, Robyn. Even now she struggles daily with the loss as she once again tries to find meaning in her own life. Living in a culture that offers psychotropic drugs, celebrity therapists, "reality" television, junk food, phone sex, credit cards, and banal entertainment as diversions from pain and to avoid the recognition of loss, will Chris be able to rediscover her spirit? Does her resurrection rest within the very symbol of pain--descansos--the makeshift roadside shrines that dot the landscape of the West that symbolize loss and transformation? Will she ever be able to love again?
A blend of humor, loss, social commentary, and relationships, Descanso takes you on a moving, tragic, yet exhilarating journey from despair to hope and redemption.
A blend of humor, loss, social commentary, and relationships, Descanso takes you on a moving, tragic, yet exhilarating journey from despair to hope and redemption.
169 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2005
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 4, 2011
I discovered Cynthia Tyler's works after reading Finding Polaris, a Kindle release that I stumbled across. I was entertained enough and impressed enough to go back and read her other works, all of which I found enjoyable albeit for various reasons. I must say I don't understand the low ratings here (especially like three stars from someone who claimed to have read and liked it), so here is my individual reaction to Tyler's work.
First, I don't read much lesbian fiction because it tends to be too badly written and too outrageously unrealistic (everyone is rich, powerful, drop dead gorgeous, etc). That's fine for those who want to celebrate shallow consumerism, adolescent-style romance, and enough fake trauma drama to make Charley Sheen blush, but it's just not my cup of tea. Contemporary writers who can hold me to a page from start to finish are people like Carolyn See, Elmore Leonard, and Robert Parker. Also by way of introducing my qualifications to judge content, I am a licensed psychologist with a PhD from UCLA as well a certified shamanic counselor who has studied with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies.
Now, about Descanso. I liked Tyler's dialog. It was crisp, real, and the protagonist had an almost detective style delivery which I thought fit her personality. At the same time the character is vulnerable and goes through a reawakening and personal growth that I felt followed a very realistic trajectory. The shamanic experiences are very solid, although if someone is viewing the story as simply magic realism the blend of psychology and shamanism may possibly seem confusing from a literary point of view, but to me it worked as it actually does in real life. Aside from a solid understanding of psychology, a solid understanding of shamanism, I felt the character was developed and believable, although Republicans and fans of Fox (Faux) News may not agree or like it, but it suits the character of Chris Cameron and the tale). Finally, the novel is written in a decent manner and there was one other aspect to Tyler's writing that I love: she's funny. The books are laugh out loud funny and very entertaining. And that I imagine is a hard thing to accomplish in a novel. So for holding my attention, allowing me to escape into someone's else's world, and for keeping me turning the page, I give all the books so far five stars.
Just a thought on Goodreads.com, which I also just discovered. There is such a discrepancy between the Amazon reviews for this book and the reviews I see here. Why? I wonder about the wisdom of just allowing a reader to click and rate without explaining the reason which may or may not be relevant to the information about a read that I am seeking. I just think the Amazon system is more informative......
First, I don't read much lesbian fiction because it tends to be too badly written and too outrageously unrealistic (everyone is rich, powerful, drop dead gorgeous, etc). That's fine for those who want to celebrate shallow consumerism, adolescent-style romance, and enough fake trauma drama to make Charley Sheen blush, but it's just not my cup of tea. Contemporary writers who can hold me to a page from start to finish are people like Carolyn See, Elmore Leonard, and Robert Parker. Also by way of introducing my qualifications to judge content, I am a licensed psychologist with a PhD from UCLA as well a certified shamanic counselor who has studied with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies.
Now, about Descanso. I liked Tyler's dialog. It was crisp, real, and the protagonist had an almost detective style delivery which I thought fit her personality. At the same time the character is vulnerable and goes through a reawakening and personal growth that I felt followed a very realistic trajectory. The shamanic experiences are very solid, although if someone is viewing the story as simply magic realism the blend of psychology and shamanism may possibly seem confusing from a literary point of view, but to me it worked as it actually does in real life. Aside from a solid understanding of psychology, a solid understanding of shamanism, I felt the character was developed and believable, although Republicans and fans of Fox (Faux) News may not agree or like it, but it suits the character of Chris Cameron and the tale). Finally, the novel is written in a decent manner and there was one other aspect to Tyler's writing that I love: she's funny. The books are laugh out loud funny and very entertaining. And that I imagine is a hard thing to accomplish in a novel. So for holding my attention, allowing me to escape into someone's else's world, and for keeping me turning the page, I give all the books so far five stars.
Just a thought on Goodreads.com, which I also just discovered. There is such a discrepancy between the Amazon reviews for this book and the reviews I see here. Why? I wonder about the wisdom of just allowing a reader to click and rate without explaining the reason which may or may not be relevant to the information about a read that I am seeking. I just think the Amazon system is more informative......
June 5, 2008
My ex was reading this book earlier this year when we were together and told me about how the main character was working with a shamanic practitioner as part of her healing journey after losing her partner. This idea was intriguing, as I've not found much fiction in which characters seek spiritual counsel from a shamanic practitioner - unless, of course, it is the shamanic practitioner's story. I decided to read the book and liked it. I liked watching the main character's healing journey unfold, and thought the portrayal of the shamanic practitioner was accurate - something you don't always find in fiction.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews