Night Blind

Jan Worth
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 0595399770
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/07)

Raised as a preacher’s daughter, Charlotte is finding her way. She joins the Peace Corps and is sent to the Kingdom of Tonga. As she learns about the language and customs, she feels herself bonding to the island and the people. She also has several liaisons along the way. One night, a woman in her group is murdered by another Peace Corps volunteer. This casts a huge shadow over Charlotte’s experience in the islands. Essentially, the murderer’s wrists are slapped. He is sent back to the United States for voluntary treatment in a mental hospital. When the group finds out that he signed himself out, they are distraught over the injustice and also feel concerned for their own safety.

A psychologist comes to the island to help the Peace Corps volunteers. Charlotte falls in love with him. They try to keep their relationship low key, but on the island, secrets are hard to keep. One secret that was kept was that he is married. Charlotte doesn’t find out until he has to leave because his wife is having difficulties with her pregnancy. She is very distraught because she has fallen in love with him, and he is able to satisfy her needs like no other man. Charlotte always drew the line at getting involved with married man. At the same time that she discovers her lover’s marital status, she also learns that her mother has discovered that her father has been having an affair. Charlotte learns a lot about forgiveness at this time. When a huge earthquake rocks the island and destroys most of her belongings, Charlotte really discovers what is important.

“Night Blind” is an excellent book. The author, Jan Worth, draws upon her experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Polynesia to richly create a background that makes you feel like you are actually on the island with Charlotte.  In addition to reading a great story, I loved learning about the island language and customs.  Charlotte’s inner growth is aided by the people that she encounters on this journey. I highly recommend this novel.

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