Regaining My Senses

M.A. Broadhurst
Redcatt Press (2005)
ISBN 0976412306
Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (3/06)

Ms. Broadhurst has a style that is simply stated and very authentic. Her characters are very real and down to earth; her story line, authentic. When I first began the book, the cover itself led me to believe it was more like a ‘self-help’ kind of book than a fictionalized novel. What I ended up finding was a bit of each.

Maggie is a likable character. Typical of most girls her age and throughout her school years; Smart as a whip and full of vim and vigor. What she finds is that this isn't always what is 'wanted' so to speak. She suddenly is faced with the realization of the fact that no matter what decade we live in, there are always going to be people that feel women should be seen, not heard. Women have a place and that place is not standing up on their own. And women aren't supposed to create their own path in life, but follow one of the many cut out for us ahead of time. But, Oh Contra ire!

I found myself instantly connecting with Broadhurst's character, Maggie. She was a young child that was very bright and, at first, that was great. But as she aged it became more of a nuisance to her teachers and other adults around her. She slowly started to feel as though she couldn't truly be herself. She had to appear less intelligent, less interested and NEVER correct in her thoughts, even if she was. Bluntly put, she had to be 'a lady'. What I loved was that while she tried to accomplish this feat, often with bad results, she ends up realizing what works best for her.

Her character is one that doesn't allow for 'average'. She's not a-typical. She didn't jump off the high school trends, onto the college campus, into a man's arms and get happily married to become someone’s woman. She struggles, laughs, cries and more often then not, learns from all she does. It was so refreshing to see a real woman with real struggles that were realistic. And not only did you get to enjoy the struggles, but they didn't always turn up the way you thought they would. There was no 'plan' in her life, just as there is no real 'plan' in life at all. It simply happens and you make it happen as best you can.

A refreshing change from often humdrum female fiction characters who are either such go-getters that they stomp on all fingers going up the ladder that you tend to hate them or are so cutesy and sweet that you want to scream after spending a chapter with them. Maggie was one of the strongest characters I've witnessed in a while, yet so very realistic you couldn't help route for her to have things fall in place.

The end result of the book is not only a great, easy going, quick read but you close the book thinking.... "hmmm, maybe it's time for ME to make some changes and do what is right for ME". It's almost a book of self help, written in a fiction style.

Different, intriguing and genuinely unique in its own way, “Regaining My Senses” is a great read for any woman, young or old, who feels they are someone special and have the right to carve some of their own paths, even later in life.

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