Tera's Tale: Rebel on the River: A life story of love, rats, cancer, hoarding, and, did I mention love?

by Judith Gwinn Adrian

2019 Finalist of the Eric Hoffer Montaigne Medal, which is awarded to the most thought-provoking books. These are books that either illuminate, progress, or redirect thought. Through her fiercely independent, yet childlike eyes, Tera allows us to enter the recesses of her guarded world. Her Aussie sister, Beth, walks with us, compassionately guiding and explaining. Tera’s life? A world of secrets. A place of shame. A lifetime of expanding mental illness. Tera moves from collector to hoarder, progressively tipped by the compulsion into a perilous world of rats and disease. As Tera repeatedly expressed through words, actions and even rage, she did not live like other people. And yet, living an ordinary life of home and family was her greatest desire. It would never be.

118 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2019

About the author

Judith Gwinn Adrian: After retiring from twenty-five years of college teaching, I am currently mid-stride, co-writing biographies with two other writers. The processes are captivating as I learn about their Puerto Rican cultures, life experiences, and success stories. I am pleased to have four published books: Because I Am Jackie Millar (2007 & 2010), In Warm Blood: Prison & Privilege, Hurt & Heart (2014), and Tera’s Tale: Rebel on the River (2019) and Nancer the Dancer: Myositis and Me (2020). Rufus, my sturdy cat, and I are pictured. I live in Madison, Wisconsin, with my husband. My son and family reside in Minneapolis.

When not writing, I'm reading, gardening, biking, and -- of late -- taking very long walks as we address the impacts of the pandemic. This is a time to turn inward for a bit. Easy work for those of us who are reclusive introverts, I am thinking. Long term effects? I wonder...

Reviews

[Gregory Renz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading TERA'S TALE and was so moved by her story that I was sobbing at the end. The author did such a wonderful job of telling Tera's story with compassion and empathy. My heart ached for this reclusive woman, and I cheered for her as she overcame the challenges of a trip to New York. The author, one of Tera's few close friends, shares her own emotional journey as the end of Tera's tragic life approached. This must have been such a challenge to write. There are so many layers to this story and so many lessons we learn about caring for others and not judging. I love the last lines of this beautifully told memoir: "The refrain that seemed to tie this all together was the simple idea. The utterly simple idea she knew and taught us was the supremacy of Love. So simple. So very simple. Love one another."

[Kendyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I have a friend with this issue, this book hit close to home. The author was empathetic and loving in her remembrance of a life sadly lost.