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If you love books, you've come to the right place. Here's where you'll find great books and more that our tomato reviewers have read and think other tomatoes will love too. Happy reading.
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The Three Tomatoes Book Shelf
Recent Reviews
Editor’s Note: Our book reviews can not be bought. We only review books that we and other tomatoes have read and think you’ll enjoy. And while this section may occasionally be sponsored by a publisher or author, it does not guarantee that the book will be reviewed here, unless it stands on its own merits.
Reviewer: Mali Mikhli
This unique novel by Connie May Fowler, author of five novels chronicles the path of Clarissa Burden's struggle to evolve and make her life into one of meaning and significance. In the lush pine forests of Florida's Panhandle we see our central character burdened and plagued with many issues. It is the summer solstice and Clarissa has a bad case of writer's block . She is tortured over her husbands indifference to her and his suspicious behavior. Seeking some answers she sets off on a day of mystical adventures, near death experiences and life altering conversations. Leading up to this memorable day is Clarissa's miserable childhood and subsequent joyless marriage.
Memories of Clarissa's mother haunt her as well as other ghosts that make themselves known to her. She sees her brutish husband frolicking with his nude models ( he is an artist) though he never produces a sketch worth selling. He is deeply resentful of Clarissa's successful career as a writer and offers no support whatsoever. Undermining her every chance he gets he discounts her suspicions and chalks them up to her flowery imagination. Under the sweltering summer sun Clarissa begins to long for some release. Her realization that she alone is responsible for her existence begins to take hold and like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon we see Clarissa fight to do so as well.
How Clarrisa Burden Learns to Fly tends to meander in various directions and as the reader begins to long for release its explodes in a climax of resolution. The folksy yet charming tone of the book interspersed with a variety of colorful characters gives it its charming appeal.We end up rooting for this special woman in the throes of self discovery and rejoice when it all comes together in an explosive conclusion. This story of self actualization and female empowerment rings true . Connie May Fowler is a powerful and imaginative writer producing a memorable central character who engages the reader and draws her into a lush and seductive world that will long be remembered.
Mali Mikhli lives in Brooklyn with her family, works as a social worker and is endlessly fascinated with the human condition. In her spare time she loves to travel, make jewelry and read as much as possible. Growing up and to this day walking into a library or book store is still one of her favorite things to do.
