Tare

Peggy Sue Yarber
Strategic Book Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781606933954
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (8/09) 


People often ask me whether I prefer reading fiction or non-fiction books. While I have always preferred fiction, lately I’ve come to realize that the fiction I like best tends to be barely a step or two from non-fiction. No matter what the subject is, if the author manages to use elements of today’s utterly crazy world and twists them just enough to make them into fiction I tend to enjoy the results of such “close to home” encounters.

Peggy Sue Yarber’s “Tare” intrigued me from the moment I saw the title. My mind was racing all over the place… “Tare” as in armor? Are we going to Rwanda? Something to do with the weight? Reading the book description on the back cover did not enlighten me much on that subject, but it certainly intrigued me further. Government conspiracy, a take-over of a small town, deadly virus in the grain, a soldier seeking sanctuary, The Rocketship Cafe… Treason. Evil. Death. Choices. Decidedly “close-to-what-could-have-been” sounding stuff, and therefore compelling. Without giving away much more of the plot, let me say that I was not disappointed.

There was little that I did not enjoy in this book. The story was gripping and quite haunting, making one wonder constantly about the matters of truth and treason. Ms. Yarber’s writing style is unique and distinctive, and her characters come alive, not only with their direct actions, but also from the clever little pieces of information Ms. Yarber inserts here and there, such as Colonel’s interest in charcoal drawings. The sci-fi part of the story never takes over the – at least for me - more fascinating story of human mind and emotions. The many parallels with today’s world are cleverly incorporated in the story and make it modern and relevant. And the meaning of “tare” is explained through a parable from the Bible, and even more so through the twists, turns and story development.

The only slightly discordant note was the usual bane of self-published books, namely the obvious lack of proofreading. Mistakes such as “mantle” instead of “mantel” cannot be caught by a spell-checker alone. I have little doubt though that Ms. Yarber will write more books, and I am sure such issues will be promptly addressed in her next tome.

Overall I’ve really liked “Tare” by Peggy Sue Yarber and I found it to be a thought-provoking, if not always easy reading. Those readers who enjoy an intelligently written tale should certainly pick it up as well. As long as one does not get scared by the initial darkness of the book, one’s patience will be rewarded - just like in the parable of the tares.

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