When we share ourselves with other people, we often find ourselves. It doesn’t take much to reach out, and in the end, the rewards often outweigh the effort. In Judy Alexander’s “Desert Medicine,” a single mother in transition discovers the give and take of being a selfless friend, but she also discovers herself, her truth, and her desire to trust again.
Laurelle is the mother of five-year-old twins. She works two jobs, she is divorcing her cheating husband, and she agrees to visit a member of her church who is confined to her home. Rhoda has terminal cancer, but the first years of her life damaged her spirit the most. When Laurelle visits, Rhoda shares stories of her growing up in Texas during the Depression and then in Calexico, California, as a babysitter for her aunt. With an abusive alcoholic father, Rhoda was lucky to be able to escape. Laurelle listens, reluctantly at first, but is later captivated by this woman’s strength and determination to survive. She is learning about her own life through these tales as she applies certain lessons to her dealings with the father of her children and her impending divorce. Her current life continues.
Invitations to singles events at church, meeting a man in traffic school, a new puppy, and the holidays all put Laurelle on an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs. Realizing that she is bringing joy to Rhoda’s life is a gift in itself, but Laurelle also receives support and love just when she needs it most. She gives him enough perspective to find these things within her own family as well. Rhoda becomes an integral part of her children’s lives, and just as she realizes how close she is to this old woman, Laurelle begins to doubt what she’s been told. Will she be able to trust again? Is there hope for love in her life?
Judy Alexander has written a captivating story in two voices. Laurelle is someone many readers can relate to, and sadly, her struggles are all too common. Her story is familiar and her character is likeable. Rhoda’s tales are sprinkled throughout the book in a different font and dialect, giving it her own charm. Theirs is also a family story from a different generation. The plot of the book runs like a gentle but fast river, deep and green, that embraces the rocks of life and passes under the bridges that connect us all. “Desert Medicine” is a book you won’t want to put down but will regret reaching the end. I look forward to more from this author in the future.
desert medicine
by Judy Alexander
ISBN-10: 0825420083
Review by Heather Froeschl
