Review of Kalayla
Posted: 17 Sep 2021, 13:23
[Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.]
An Italian widow with questionable family ties who insists on wearing only black. An Irish single mother struggling to find the balance between her sudden thrust into both the world of single motherhood and the world of dating after the loss of her beloved husband. A bi-racial 11 year old with an ample amount of sass who redefines her world after discovering her parents won the award for the “World’s Biggest Liars”. Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas follows the threads of these three women, Lena, Maureen, and Kalayla, as their lives interweave in Cambridge, NY, in 1999. A close knit family unit is formed between the three women as each of them finds a way to deal with the ghosts of their past. Can Lena forgive herself for the mistakes she made when raising her own children? Will Maureen be strong enough to stand on her own two feet and stop letting people push her around? Will Kalayla learn health coping mechanisms for her emotions? Social issues of racism, homophobia, and then depth of the connection one has with the family they choose are highlighted through the heartwarming dialogue and connection between all of the characters in the plot.
The book was easy to read with a heartwarming banter that made sure to endear each of the characters to readers in their own way. The relatable nature of the three main characters allows the author to navigate through the murky waters of some very polarizing social issues: racism, homophobia, and ostracizing family members. The main characters have a way of worming their way into the heart of the reader making empathy second nature and fully immersing the reader into the time warp of New York in the late 90’s, early 00’s. The plot paints a picture of the importance of surrounding yourself with people that love and value you, but also allowing people the grace to change if they choose to do so.
There are a lot of time gaps throughout the novel. Some of these time lapses have explanation, but most seem to leave out important details of relationship building and make for a bit of a jarring experience. It is hard to believe that some of the characters go from resenting one another to having a close relationship with these gaps in time. There was nothing else in the book that I didn’t like. This was a very enjoyable read, overall.
I rate this novel a 3 out of 4. I genuinely enjoyed the plotline of the novel and the connections made between the characters. This novel is a heartwarming escape that gave a needed break from the stress of every day life while still tackling important social issues in a way that enables empathy. I have officially added this novel to my list of comfort reads to return to time and time again.
Anyone who loves reading about the intricate drama of family dynamics, but craves a happy ending, would enjoy this novel. The language used throughout the novel is easy to understand, even for the younger readers. The social issues that are addressed are important for all audiences to engage in thinking about. There is a caution for younger readers that there are some triggering scenes of racial hate crimes and violence that may be too sensitive for some.
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Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
An Italian widow with questionable family ties who insists on wearing only black. An Irish single mother struggling to find the balance between her sudden thrust into both the world of single motherhood and the world of dating after the loss of her beloved husband. A bi-racial 11 year old with an ample amount of sass who redefines her world after discovering her parents won the award for the “World’s Biggest Liars”. Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas follows the threads of these three women, Lena, Maureen, and Kalayla, as their lives interweave in Cambridge, NY, in 1999. A close knit family unit is formed between the three women as each of them finds a way to deal with the ghosts of their past. Can Lena forgive herself for the mistakes she made when raising her own children? Will Maureen be strong enough to stand on her own two feet and stop letting people push her around? Will Kalayla learn health coping mechanisms for her emotions? Social issues of racism, homophobia, and then depth of the connection one has with the family they choose are highlighted through the heartwarming dialogue and connection between all of the characters in the plot.
The book was easy to read with a heartwarming banter that made sure to endear each of the characters to readers in their own way. The relatable nature of the three main characters allows the author to navigate through the murky waters of some very polarizing social issues: racism, homophobia, and ostracizing family members. The main characters have a way of worming their way into the heart of the reader making empathy second nature and fully immersing the reader into the time warp of New York in the late 90’s, early 00’s. The plot paints a picture of the importance of surrounding yourself with people that love and value you, but also allowing people the grace to change if they choose to do so.
There are a lot of time gaps throughout the novel. Some of these time lapses have explanation, but most seem to leave out important details of relationship building and make for a bit of a jarring experience. It is hard to believe that some of the characters go from resenting one another to having a close relationship with these gaps in time. There was nothing else in the book that I didn’t like. This was a very enjoyable read, overall.
I rate this novel a 3 out of 4. I genuinely enjoyed the plotline of the novel and the connections made between the characters. This novel is a heartwarming escape that gave a needed break from the stress of every day life while still tackling important social issues in a way that enables empathy. I have officially added this novel to my list of comfort reads to return to time and time again.
Anyone who loves reading about the intricate drama of family dynamics, but craves a happy ending, would enjoy this novel. The language used throughout the novel is easy to understand, even for the younger readers. The social issues that are addressed are important for all audiences to engage in thinking about. There is a caution for younger readers that there are some triggering scenes of racial hate crimes and violence that may be too sensitive for some.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon