Review and Author Interview with Char Stratton's She Has a Right

 

https://www.amazon.com/She-Has-Right-Charlene-Stratton-ebook/dp/B0CFGF1GKM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=F0X3NDIAVOEE&keywords=she+has+a+right+charlene+stratton&qid=1693097314&sprefix=She+Has+a+Right%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1

My Review:

She Has a Right by Charlene Stratton is a memoir about some of life's disappointments and wonderful gifts.  The short (around 70 pages) read begins with Char's childhood.  Her mother gave her to her grandparents who raised her like their own child.  Char did not know her father until she was a young woman.  She then meets the love of her life, her husband Roger and learned the art of farming.  Other rough patches she encountered include her struggle with cancer.  Char has had an amazing life and is an inspiration for people who have had a rocky start.  She believes like her title that she and so many others have a right to be treated kindly, to be respected, and to be loved.  5/5 Stars

Interview with Charlene Stratton

1) What inspired you to write a memoir?

I had thought about writing my story, but didn't have the courage or know where to start. I went to a book signing in Plainfield, WI, a town close to me to see who wrote a book.  CJ Boyd and I got talking about her book and I started telling her my story. . We talked about 1 hr and shared so much. She told me you have to tell your story, and you can't smake this up. She also told me about She Rises Studio, a world wide women group that is women supporting women.  I started writing down my story and joined She Rises Studio . And they are wonderful . They are so supportive and do what they say they're going to do. I'm almost 75 and I did It!! I'm so excited and happy that I did it  . 

2) How did your grandparents feel about your mother?

My birth mother I don't think grandparents thought much about. They didn't understand her. My grandmother who became Mom they loved and seemed to respect. 

3) In today's world, how would you label your mother?  Do you think she had psychiatric problems?

Yes, I think my birth mother had psychiatric problems, very much so. Back then there was no help or understanding of this. She was never responsible, a liar, was nasty to everyone at times, and borrowed more money than I can imagine. She went for horrible men who used her. Very sad life. 

4) Do you wish you knew your father better?  When you were in Greece, did you try to find his family?

I am so glad I got to know my birth father. I wish I would have had our pictures taken together and that my kids could have met him and knew him . But the time we had together was great and sharing and loving. He told me the truth and he never said anything nasty about Joyce . We had a strong connection and I can see me in him and I'm so thankful for that 

5) What advice do you have for others in terms of forgiveness towards those who were supposed to be there for you?

The advice I have for people is that you need to forgive.  It frees your soul. They are products of their time and the generations before them. The only way you will grow and rise, is when you forgive and go on and teach your children to rise and don't let anyone for any reason treat you like a lesser person. Grow, rise, make a difference.   And have a beautiful life. You have only one chance to do so.

6) Your book is very inspirational.  What authors inspire you?

Alot of different authors have been interesting, but no one in particular. 

7) What is your next book going to be about?

I don't know if I will write a book again.  Maybe I will if I can help people with it and grow and rise.  Thank you for having me do this. I hope my friend helps women grow and also tell their stories to help others women rise.

Great book about forgiveness, hope, and positivity!  Thanks for being my guest, Char!

Review of Stephen King's Fairy Tale

    Stephen King's Fairy Tale (2022) is part horror, part fantasy, and even part young adult if you don't mind the colorful language.  The book begins with a sad, lonely boy, Charlie Reade, who gets a rough start at life when his mother dies in an accident.  His father turns to the bottle and neglects Charlie as alcoholism and depression takeover.

    Charlie spends his middle school years getting in trouble with an evil friend.  His bad decisions are ignored by his father.  Charlie turns to God in despair and prays for his father's sobriety.  His prayers become bargaining tools.  If God could bring Charlie's dad back from his blurry haze, then Charlie could change as well by doing good deeds instead of cruel shenanigans.  And God hears him. Charlie's dad comes back from his personal hell through AA.  

    Now it's payback time.  Charlie gets an opportunity to pay it forward.  His neighbor, Harold Bowditch, a cantankerous elderly recluse, falls in his yard as Charlie is on his way home from school.  Charlie helps the man by getting an ambulance and then promising to watch his dog as he recovers.

 Several months go by and they form a relationship.  Mr. Bowditch is a mystery.  He oddly doesn't have Medicare or insurance to pay his medical bills.  In his desperation, he asks Charlie to go into his safe and take some of his gold to a place that will buy it without questions.  Charlie learns that Mr. Bowditch is beyond wealthy.

    Once Mr. Bowditch is released from the hospital, Charlie continues to care for him and Radar, his German Shepherd that is also not doing well due to old age.  He discovers more odd things about his neighbor and friend.  When it becomes clear that Mr. Bowditch is going to die due to other complications, he tells Charlie about his shed, a winding staircase that leads down to another world, and a magical sundial that will restore Radar by making the dog young again. After Mr. Bowditch dies, Charlie and Radar descend into the unknown where the fairy tale begins.  NO SPOILER!

The title, Fairy Tale, is just that.  There are lots of tie-ins with the great fairy tales of the centuries.  For example, Mr. Bowditch has a fairy tale library in his house.  As Charlie reads these classics, King deftly reminds the reader about famous characters and story lines.  There are many comparisons with lots of fairy tales, especially Jack and the Beanstalk.  Charlie meets several princes, princesses, ogres, monsters, talking animals, and more once he descends into an alternative world below the shed of Mr. Bowditch's house.  He gets put into a position to play the hero.

Fairy Tale is not Stephen King's best.  My personal faves are The Stand and The Shining, but it's solid King that keeps you turning the pages, loving the characters, and connecting with the plot.  One of the many interesting things that King does throughout the book, is illustrate the beginning of each chapter.  The pictures resemble old wood-cuts from the Hans Christian Andersen tales.  

    Besides the fairy tale tie-in, King brings up God a few times with universal themes of good vs. evil.  Besides the AA program with God as a higher power and Charlie's deal with God, King uses the name Gogmagog as the name of the evil force/character that has taken over the fairy tale world.  Gogmagog is technically a famous giant and also goes with King's mention of Jack and the Beanstalk.  Furthermore, Gog and Magog as separate words are biblical references from Revelation that focuses on the End of Days.  

    The characters in both Charlie's life and his alternative fairy tale life are some of the same, like a mirroring effect.  We all have princes, villains, fairy godmothers, ogres, and other archetypes that show up throughout our lives.  We have also played these archetypal roles for others.  Joseph Campbell, author of Hero with a Thousand Faces, wrote about how mythological and fairy tale characters are ingrained within our psyche.  

    Lastly, Stephen King is currently 75 years old.  For decades, he has never failed to entertain us with his infinite imagination.  I will always be a fan.  Fairy Tale does not disappoint!  5 Stars.