The Ghostwriter: where there is one last story to tell

The Ghostwriter by A.R. Torre is a story of a world famous, bestselling romance author with a deep and haunting secret. Four years ago, Helena Parks lied. She lied in front of the police, her friends and family, and told a story. Her best one yet because they all believed her. With fifteen bestsellers and millions of fans, she shouldn’t be surprised. After a terminal diagnosis, Helena has one last story to tell. The one she has been keeping secret all these years. It will have a jaw-dropping twist that no one will see coming. But she needs help. She enlists a ghostwriter. Another bestselling author, Marka Vantly. The two authors have been fierce competitors and rivals for many years. Helena feels that Marka is the only writer with the ability to capture the darkness. She may already be dying physically, but this story will be the one to kill her soul. 

From the back cover synopsis, A.R. Torre warns readers that this book “is not a romance” as A.R. Torre also writes romances under the name Alessandra Torre. It is described as suspenseful with dark secrets and wow, does it deliver! From the very beginning, Helena tells readers that they don’t know the whole story, no one really does. She is determined to reveal the truth after her death and she does it in the firm of one last book. She enlists her rival, Marka, and the two begin the process of writing her last story. The most painful and darkest story yet. Helena is a woman filled with grief, pain and guilt. She has created a harsh and eccentric façade in order to protect her secret. I enjoyed the development of her relationship with Marka. This story kept me guessing and I was on the edge of my seat until the end! I highly recommend The Ghostwriter! 

The Ghostwriter is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

A Million Little Things: a real to life drama show that takes an honest look at suicide, grief, and cancer

A Million Little Things is an American drama series which premiered on September 26, 2018 and currently finished its second season on Thursday nights on ABC. It has not been officially renewed for a third season, although it’s creator, DJ Nash, has hinted that an official renewal is coming. The show’s premise is “It has been said that friendship isn’t one big thing, it’s a million little things.” It has an ensemble cast: David Giuntoli (Eddie Saville), Grace Park (Katherine, Eddie’s wife), Romany Malco (Rome Howard), Christina Moses (Regina, Rome’s wife), Allison Miller (Maggie Bloom), James Roday (Gary Mendez) and Stephanie Szostak (Delilah Dixon). The show deals with suicide, depression, cancer, the grief process and the struggle to move on in a new light.

The show starts as just another day with this tight knit friends/family. Gary is at his doctor’s office, waiting on important test results. Rome is at home writing a suicide note before preparing to take a handful of pills. Eddie and Delilah are together on their weekly rendezvous. All seems normal until they all get the call. Jon Dixon (played by Ron Livingston), Delilah’s husband has just jumped off his office balcony to his death. His suicide is so out of the blue that the group of friends are left wondering what they didn’t see and so many questions that can never be answered. The four men, who became friends after getting stuck together in an elevator, bonded together by their love for the Boston Bruins and Jon, their de facto leader, their champion and cheerleader. Without him, the group struggles to find their center again. As they grieve and cope with the aftermath, secrets and drama are revealed as life goes on.

I started to watch the show because James Roday was in it. I love him in the USA show Psych (2006-2014) and I was curious to see him take on a dramatic role. From the beginning I enjoyed the show’s ability to tackle hard topics with honesty and heart. First, I appreciate the honest and openness about cancer especially male breast cancer. While rare, male breast cancer occurs in an estimated one in a thousand men will be diagnosed. I also appreciate the writers’ ability to show the truth about depression in men. Men are taught to be tough, to hide their emotions, and not to talk about their feelings. Depression occurs in about 9% of men while only 1 in 4 will seek profession help (American Psychological Association, 2015). I also liked the realistic portrayal of the grief process. The initial shock, the sadness and anger, especially the anger. The show is raw, it is real, and it is sometimes hard to watch.

There are a few things I don’t care for. At first, I didn’t care for Katherine, the high-powered attorney, and felt bad for Eddie, the hen-pecked stay at home dad. However, as season 2 opened, I started to like her take-no-prisoners approach and I saw how hurt and devasted she was by the situations. Actress Grace Park plays Katherine beautifully and I have enjoyed seeing her character evolve since episode 1. Second, I really don’t care for Katherine’s and Eddie’s son, Theo. I’m not sure if it how he is written or the young actor’s acting, but Theo comes off as annoying and sometimes a tad unbelievable as an 8-year-old. In season 2, Delilah gave birth to a daughter, Charlie, and every time the child is on screen, the baby is wearing a beanie. I understand that the show takes place in Boston so its cold, but a child doesn’t need her head covered all the time especially when inside.

In conclusion, I recommend A Million Little Things as a dramatic show which takes an honest look at grief, depression, cancer and the human ability or inability to deal with it all. It takes an honest look at suicide, its aftermath and its prevention. For fans of Psych, if you haven’t already, I recommend checking out the show to see James Roday in a dramatic role. He is just as talented in this role as he was in a comedic role. Every actor in this show fits his or her role perfectly and as you watch, you will grow to love the characters as you watch them in grief, struggle with unanswerable questions and find a way to move forward. If A Million Little Things open the conversation which saves lives from suicide, then it’s worth watching.

References

American Psychological Association (December 2015). By the Numbers. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/12/numbers. Retrieved March 7, 2020. 

The Fault in Our Stars: a story of living in the moment

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a story about two-crossed lovers who are battling cancer while experiencing the angst and rebellion of adolescence. The story opens with Hazel, a cancer survivor, who has to be on constant oxygen due to the medication which keeps her cancer at bay. She is pressured by her mother to attend a support group for teenager cancer patients. She reluctantly goes where she encounters a new attendee. Augustus “Gus” Waters is 17 and immediately drawn to Hazel. They discuss their favorite books, Hazel’s is An Imperial Affliction written by Peter Van Houten, who has become a recluse since the book’s publication. Together, Hazel and Augustus go on an adventure of discovery and romance.

I enjoyed this book for the beautiful story. It is rare for me to say that when I didn’t like the main character. I feel that Hazel is too philosophical. At one point, she rants about eggs for breakfast and why not for other meals. I don’t know about you but I grew up with “breakfast” foods for lunch or dinner, just like I’ve had “lunch” or “dinner” foods for breakfast. I also didn’t understand her willingness to get into a car and go to Augustus’ house when she makes it clear after the meeting that she seems to be annoyed by him. I also didn’t enjoy Hazel’s “life sucks, cancer sucks” rants that seem to be her personality. I know that cancer is a very difficult disease. I have seen and watched many people suffer. While some have survived and others have not, not once did I see a “poor, pitiful me” attitude. Even when at the end and the bleakest reality was facing them, I have seen optimism and hope until their last breath. I enjoyed Gus the most. I enjoyed his flair for life despite his cancer. I enjoyed the interactions between Gus and his friend, Isaac. There is one scene (which I won’t spoil for you) that I laughed and said “That’s being a teenager!”

There are so many great quotes from this book that could summarize the theme. However, I feel the precise of the story was summarized in the line “Grief does not change you. It reveals you.” I find this statement to be very true. Grief has a way to reveal the inner strength of people but it can also reveal someone else’s weakness. The Fault in Our Stars is an enjoyable story filled with laughter and tears.