The Secret of Rose-Anne Riley
By (author) Shaw J. Dallal
Publication date:
09 September 2013Length of book:
318 pagesPublisher
Hamilton BooksDimensions:
227x151mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9780761861744
The Secret of Rose-Anne Riley is a historical fictional account of four generations of an American family. Rose-Anne is the gentle grandmother whose violent rape, covered up and papered over, continues to fester like a corrosive wound, finally emerging to darken the life of Alexia, a beautiful girl in the family's third generation. Rose-Anne’s benevolent care endears her to Alexia who becomes her grandmother’s confidante and companion during her final illness. The grandmother reveals the account of her violent rape by a young man who was the spoiled son of a wealthy family for whom she did housework. Before confessing this to Alexia, Rose-Anne stipulates that she must keep it a secret, and herein perhaps lies the most destructive aspect of her influence on her granddaughter. The novel deals with Rose-Anne’s toxic secret and how it has come to haunt the consciousness of her granddaughter.
The Secret of Rose-Anne Riley is an altogether different type of novel, but like its predecessor, one that will appeal to a wide spectrum of interests. ... The most intriguing and unusual feature of this story is the degree to which the memories and tragic personal history of a beloved grandmother, come to haunt –perhaps possess would be a better word–the consciousness of her grand-daughter Alexia. ... The story of Alexia’s depression will appeal to teenagers and their parents, especially at a time when teen-age suicides have reached epidemic proportions in many communities world-wide. ... I strongly recommend this novel to readers of all ages. The author deals with a number of highly controversial contemporary problems in a decorous and tactful narrative. Problems such as rape, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, depression, suicide, inter-generational relationships, clerical sex abuse, and even the current popular interest in adopted or artificially-inseminated children searching forlornly for some contact with their biological parent or parents. Though it contains explosive material, the story is told with great restraint and good taste, and will I think attract an immediate and very receptive audience from every age-bracket. I can see it becoming an instant best-seller.