Eternal Journey

October 2, 2000
In a painfully earnest attempt to pluck heartstrings, Hutton's brief debut novel succeeds only in twanging out a tale rife with clich s and coincidence, employing supernatural visitations to advance a story of loss, grief, acceptance and renewal. Anna Carroll--a psychologist, author of self-help books and host of the popular radio call-in show Get a Grip!--has lost three friends to cancer in the last three years, most recently her best friend, Beth. Anna never married, and her friendship with Beth has been the one constant in her life, from their days at Catholic school through their college years and on into Beth's married life and Anna's high-powered career. Afraid she herself is losing her grip, Anna escapes to a cottage on Martha's Vineyard to come to terms with her grief. While there, she meets a mysterious stranger. So easy is he to talk to, she ends up telling him her life story without once asking his name. This stranger turns out to be a priest and the brother of Anna's "one true love," Kevin, who was killed in the Vietnam War. The stranger informs Anna that Kevin always loved her, and Beth's ghost assures Anna that she is "always with you." Readers in search of soft-serve sweets for the soul will enjoy this easy weeper. Agent, Janell Walden Agyeman.

October 1, 2000
Rational Dr. Anna Carroll grieves for the loss of her dearest and lifelong friend Beth, a victim of breast cancer. After the funeral, Anna escapes friends and family by relaxing in Martha's Vineyard during the nontourist season, in November. Thinking that she had dealt with Beth's death and her own battles with cancer, Anna discovers that she has never fully expressed her emotions. As a successful psychologist, she has trained herself to be the attentive listener, but now she is the one to unleash her emotions as a patient and kind stranger lends a helpful ear. To face the future, Anna must piece together the past. So she recalls memories of her childhood days playing with Beth and their college years, which developed into a deep friendship. This emotional journey shows the power of spiritual healing and the importance of reflection as a way to live one's life to the fullest.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)