Historical Family Life Fiction

At the Far End of Nowhere by Christine Davis Merriman centers around a young girl by the name of Lissa Power as she narrates her life from pre-kindergarten to young adulthood. I grew up in the 50s, and this historical fiction carried me along memory lane to a different time when life was simpler but also more challenging. The flow of the storytelling is never stagnant but drifts like a river compelling the reader onto the next page. Sometimes gently with pleasant reminiscing and other times with turbulence. But it is never stagnant. It holds the attention and engages heartfelt emotions as the reader experiences life through the eyes of childhood innocence as Lissa navigates her financially needy home life which is also emotionally deficient but demanding. 

Her mother is a hard-working plain woman who long ago settled for her lot in life. Her older brother Spence is close to his mother and is often unengaged because of the critical need for perfection from his obsessive-compulsive father. Lissa’s relationship with her “Daddy” is at the heart of the story. He is in his 70s when she is born; an inventor and watchmaker. Lissa thinks the world of him. He in turn wants his daughter to be “perfect like his other inventions.” This highlights the crux of the issue between father and daughter as time goes on. He does love her but it is a stifling love. And she does love him unselfishly, but always questions if she is making the right decision.

At age twelve Lissa loses her mother to breast cancer. Household responsibilities like cleaning the house, doing laundry, and making meals fell on her shoulders along with going to school. By this time her Daddy is 84 years old and they live in a rundown farmhouse that belonged to Lissa’s grandparents before they died. Daddy is lonely and still has two young children to provide for and he becomes even more restrictive limiting where Lissa can go and what she can do in his effort to protect her.

 

Book review: At the Far End of Nowhere

The setting for this fictional autobiography traverses three decades with a narrative arc that provides the framework for a cohesive engaging path to follow. It’s a good-old-days story that reveals the good old days weren’t always “happy days.” At the Far End of Nowhere navigates topics including hidden pasts, sexual trauma, losing a parent, living in poverty, loneliness, caring for an aging parent, and death. I enjoyed Merriman’s storytelling and am happy to give At the Far End of Nowhere 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to baby boomers, people who read coming-of-age historical fiction, or who enjoy familylife fiction.

* * *

As BookHookup, I am a longtime book reviewer. I received a free review copy of this book from BookTasters and have not received compensation for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites

 

Highly imaginative coming-of-age fantasy

When I first saw the title, Re-Birth (My Own Mythology) by Cristoph A. T., I thought it curious. I wondered about the meaning. It was enough to open the book and take a peek. From page one, Re-birth unfolds through the first-person point of view of the protagonist, Anessa. Introduced at her birth, it is instantly evident she is not an ordinary baby. Born with a history of a previous life and a grownup outlook rooted in Earth’s culture, she’s mentally she is a little confused, wondering what is going on. Anessa is no longer an Earth Dweller. Instead, she is the younger of a set of twins born (I should say, reborn) on the planet Anfang, and she can speak from day one. I was hooked and turned the page to keep reading.

 

 

Complex worldbuilding and unique sci-fi elements create the perfect backdrop for this original fantasy with a social structure comprised of mortals and immortals and those in-betweens growing and evolving. Starting at the age of three standard years and every three years after that until age 12, children visit the church of Nu Wa and experience an Awakening ceremony. If it aligns with the will of the gods and goddesses, the child may resonate with one of them. As Anessa attends her awakening, her innocence and growth as a character provide the perfect vehicle to learn the magic of Anfang as she walks away a changed person. 

 

It’s difficult to nail down the wide range of cultural and political themes embedded in this story without spoilers, but I will say Anessa’s parents are powerful–each in their own way. It takes her by surprise to learn her parents have other spouses, but it isn't cheating because Anfang is a Polyamorous society. Not only that, but marriage rituals and social norms result in her inadvertently collecting a few spouses of her own as a child, though for her, they are childhood companions with the title of husband or wife. With her earth-dweller background, it takes some mental adjusting.

 

Book review for Re-birth (My Own Mythology)

 

This book is a fresh read. Anessa’s journey of discovery is fun on many levels with this tiny girl with a grownup outlook and developing supernatural powers. A clever girl who grows more powerful each year but doesn’t let it go to her head. She’s compassionate but often mouthy and sometimes disobedient, but the more she learns, the heavier life becomes as she discovers how to navigate family dynamics, politics, betrayal, and loyalty. Who should she trust? Or, better yet, who can she trust?

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy books like A Thousand Li: the First Step: Book 1 Of A Xianxia Cultivation Series. Rebirth is a highly imaginative coming-of-age fantasy perfect for mythology enthusiasts who enjoy the portrayal of incredible events, danger, intrigue, characters with unusual powers, and a protagonist’s metamorphosis. This is the making of a new legend. 

 

As book one in the My Own Mythology series, Re-Birth ties things up nicely but leaves plenty of room for the characters to blossom and discover more about who they are and their roles in Anfang in book two. As a word of caution, some readers may struggle with the child marriage concept. I was wary when the book went in that direction, but in this case, think of it more as an arranged marriage with other children who get to know one another outside of a sexual context. I give this book a strong 4 stars.

 

* * * *

As Book Hookup, I am a longtime book reviewer, and I received this book as a free review copy and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

About Author Christoph A. T.

Cristoph A. T. is the first author for Fantasy.Productions L.L.C.

He is also the author of the My Own Mythology series. Focused on bringing the world of cultivation, and all that it entails, to the west.

Find him on Twitter @cristoph_a_t