Reviewed by Donald H. Harrison

San Diego (special) -- Like any self-published first novel, this one by Brenda Sue, a spa owner in Massachusetts, is an uneven production. Her descriptions of a Jewish woman being victimized by a non-Jewish abusive husband are so gripping, one fears that either the author lived through such a horrible marriage herself or that someone very close to her did. 

On the other hand, certain dialogues seem wooden, contrived, or written primarily to advance a plot that is far too distended. Characterization is minimal. Strong sexual content is repetitive and gratuitous. At the end of the novel many seemingly important matters are left unresolved, perhaps because Brenda Sue is attempting to seed reader' interest in other potential novels that will feature the main character, Suzanne Morse. In my opinion, every novel ought to be a complete piece of work, capable of standing on its own.

A description in the book about Brenda Sue identifies several similarities to her main character. Her heroine owns a chain of spas, is a single mother, and enjoys traveling, especially to Bermuda. Suzanne Morse calls her spas "Metamorphosis Spas" but the transformations we are confronted with are only incidentally those of ladies who emerge from the spa's aesthetic treatments. The important ones are those that occur in Suzanne's own life.

Initially, Suzanne submits to her husband's mistreatment, figuring that without the financial security he represents she would be unable to raise their children. Having an artistic bent, she hopes to someday support herself and her children with proceeds from her paintings. Although this course at first seems promising, she recognizes that the art world is too insecure. She decides to work in what we used to call the "beauty business" but is now called the "aesthetic business." 

Because it is profitable, such a career is highly fortuitous for Suzanne and her children. When her husband begins to make the couple's first daughter a target for his rages, Suzanne realizes the time to leave is immediate. With the help of supportive friends and parents, she separates from her husband--a major step in her metamorphosis. 

As a single mother, Suzanne faces many problems, which evidently Brenda Sue solved in her own life. First and foremost is finding someone to take care of her children while she works at the spas; next is finding a way to give her children full and qualitative attention in the limited amount of time that they have together. This was an area, in my opinion, needing far more explication by the author.

In telling her tale, Brenda Sue utilizes quotations from Chasidic literature, the High Holy Day liturgy and from Maimonides. One infers that the author's familiarity with the Jewish idiom is derivative: her grandparents, perhaps, spoke Yiddish, leaving behind a phrase here, a minhag there, but that her own practice is far removed from that of her grandparent' generation. 

Nevertheless I find it pleasing that in wrestling with the way in which a woman can confront 21st century problems that Brenda Sue finds inspiration as well as source material in traditional Jewish sources. Perhaps we will see more of this in the expected sequels. As Brenda Sue grows as an author, we will have the opportunity to grow with her.

(Editor's Note: The book may be obtained directly from the Fairmount/ Ballou Publishing at 5 Ansie Road, Chelmsford, Mass. 01824, or calling (978) 256-6472.)