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AWAKENING, THE by Donna Boyd Ballantine, July 2003 208 pages $12.95 ISBN: 0345462351 Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

THE AWAKENING is a story of ghosts and second chances. Penny and Paul Masons’ summer home has always been a place where they can relax and reconnect with each other. Unfortunately, this year is different. There are martial problems resulting from an affair and an unmentioned problem that has caused them to put their daughter Elsie into therapy. Not only have the inner dynamics of their family changed, the house itself feels different. There is a woman wandering around that Elsie sees but cannot speak to, whom Paul can talk to and whom Penny does not see or hear. Penny, however, does have violent nightmares that are perhaps the reason the house has a ghost. There is a chance that this ghost might be the one thing that can turn these individuals back into a family. Intermixed with the story of the Masons, is the story of Mary. After surviving an accident that has killed her family (she believes), Mary returns home and catches glimpses of Paul and Elsie. Mary needs to remember what happened to her family and learn why she can see the Masons. The goals of the Masons and of Mary overlap and there is a chance that there will be another death before the history of this house and its ghost, are resolved.

Although THE AWAKENING is not an Oprah book, it does have the feel of one. A family must overcome the threats that originally tore it apart (thrown in a family member dying of cancer to round things out) to find happiness. In addition, an individual, Mary, must struggle to regain her memories and hopefully her family. However, unlike Oprah books, the chapters concerning the painful heartrenching details are not included. The idea of a possibly threatening ghost is different than overcoming the harshness of life; however, the analogy remains. THE AWAKENING is a short touchy feely book based upon a dark and troublesome family history.

Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, July 2003

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