Review of Walking In Each Other's Shoes

Ann Ogochukwu · Post by **Ann Ogochukwu** » 05 Jul 2021, 22:50

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Walking In Each Other's Shoes" by Ronda Mau.]

3 out of 4 stars

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After experiencing the horrors of the war front, living a normal life becomes nearly impossible for Paul. So, fearing that he would become a bad father and husband, he goes on a self-imposed exile, leaving his family behind with nothing but a letter. Many years later, Paul returns home and reunites with his wife, Darlene, but things are never the same between him and his first daughter, Sara. One day, after Paul and Sara fight, Darlene tearfully prays that God would help them understand each other. The next morning, a switch happens; Sara wakes up in Paul's body, and Paul wakes up in his daughter's. Only Emma, Sara's three-year-old daughter, is aware of this unusual occurrence. The switch comes with certain terms and conditions, and, until further notice, both parties are to learn to walk in each other's shoes.

Walking In Each Other's Shoes by Ronda Mau is a short story about a father and daughter's journey on the path of forgiveness. Comprising of just about 70 pages, it was a short and interesting read. The story was written in form of a play; the narrative unfolded as dialogues between the characters, accompanied by stage directions at intervals. This book could pass for a domestic play, although I doubt the author intended for it to be performed; the book was divided into chapters, as opposed to acts and scenes. The plot was straightforward, and the diction was simple. The story was set in the late 20th century, but the language and characters seemed a lot more contemporary.

For me, the best feature of this book was its attractive cover page, followed by the story itself, spiced with a dash of magic, and then the unique form of the book. I liked several other things about this book, like the pencil-sketch pictures that illustrated the story. I also liked some characters in the book, especially Emma. It was funny seeing little Emma slip and honestly call her 'mother' grandpa, even after repeated warnings from her gramps, who was at that time the true occupier of Sara's body. I especially appreciated the values portrayed in this book. The book demonstrated the importance of peace and forgiveness in the family. Per the author's hope, the ending of this book made me happy. Considering the positivity of this book alongside other of its good features, I'm rating the book 3 out of 4 stars.

I didn't give this book a perfect rating for two reasons. The first was its editing, which I don't think was professionally done. I noticed more than ten errors in this book, which I reckon was one too many for such a short read. The second reason is that the book was unevenly paced. The beginning happened so fast and with little detail, while the middle of the story dragged on with mundane details. The period between Paul's return from war and his return from his self-imposed exile happened so fast that it was vague and unbelievable. For instance, during the period Paul was gone (which was supposedly for many years), Darlene receives only one letter from him. After that letter, Paul returns, and the first thing he says is, "Hi honey, it's me." At that point, I checked to see if I missed any part of the story, but alas, I didn't. The ununiform pacing of this book made the narrative choppy. On a lighter note, I didn't like that Paul never got treated while he was away from his family. He left his family as a troubled man, worked himself till his body was weak, and then came back home, still troubled. This book was good, but it could use some improvements.

I recommend this book to fiction readers, especially those who enjoy fantasy. It is suitable for all ages. This book was neither action-packed nor emotionally overwhelming, but it was engaging.

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Walking In Each Other's Shoes
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Aarti Jha · Post by **Aarti Jha** » 15 Jul 2021, 01:32

The cover page is really captivating. This seems to be interesting read. Thanks for the great review!

markodim721 · Post by **markodim721** » 15 Jul 2021, 12:47

While it may seem like the book has a humorous approach at times, I think walking in someone else’s shoes is the right path to achieving a better understanding.

Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 15 Jul 2021, 13:26

This has a great cover! I think things would go a whole lot smoother in the world if we could all learn to walk in each other’s shoes.

Zaeda Amrin · Post by **Zaeda Amrin** » 15 Jul 2021, 21:08

That sounds like a really novel story! The cover is very eye-catching too. Unfortunately, the uneven pacing is a deal-breaker for me and the negative parts you mentioned are pretty upsetting. Thanks for the review!