Blood Sisters: A Novel of an Epic Friendship by Mary Jacobsen Paperback, Harrington Park Press, 289 pages. Available online at Amazon.com.
Using the legendary tale of Gilgamesh as a backdrop, Mary Jacobsen's freshman effort Blood Sisters: A Novel of an Epic Friendship takes us on the journey of an intimate friendship between Val and Ashmont over the course of twenty years. We follow their relationship, and learn their personal stories, through a series of letters written by each of the women as they struggle on their individual paths through life.
The charming heroines embody the many clever and sophisticated aspects of femininity. Ashmont, hidden in the shadows of a family secret, is frank, cynical, driven, and straight. Val, on the other hand, radiates forth with life and hope; romantic, carefree, and a lesbian.
Jacobsen quickly demonstrates the complexity and intimacy behind this unwavering connection and that love, in all its forms, is about generosity of self without boundaries. Rarely do we meet such courageous and engaging characters, which may be part of the magic behind this innocent and multifaceted story.
From the beginning, Val Summers is desperately in love with Emily Ashmont, hoping to find an Enkidu to her Gilgamesh. Despite repeated and sometimes painfully awkward attempts to woo Ashmont into her bed, Val establishes herself as a spirit of the heart. Her colorful adventures in Provincetown where she begins as an "Assistant Manager of Domestic Maintenance" in her uncle Desmond's hotel are reminiscent of youthful idealism and its awkward ups-and-downs. Whether it's the old, rich "fag hag" Dolores, Pamela the junkie or the quirky and bizarre nun, Sister Mary Patrick, Val Summers exuberantly embraces each affair as if it were her last. Val's unwavering enthusiasm for life is contagious, as she stumbles clumsily from one moment to the next.
On the opposite side of the same coin, we find Ashmont quietly admonishing her friend for her reckless behavior, simultaneously horrified and envious of Val's unbreakable spirit. Unwilling to believe in romance or love, Ashmont dedicates herself to her work as a therapist. Through a series of cold, superficial relationships with men and tragic attempts to redefine social work with abused children, she spends the majority of her life trying to overcome a painful past.
A large part of Val and Ashmont's enchanting experiences can be attributed to an entertaining and sometimes peculiar supporting cast. Desmond, Val's uncle, and his HIV-positive partner Raymond, entertain Val's dramatic lovers with amazing wit, constantly trying to guide her towards a more solid future. Sister Mary Patrick, a lesbian nun, reinvents Catholicism in an unparalleled manner while social worker Nancy teaches Val a thing or two about racism. One of the most heart-wrenching stories is that of Doreen, a pregnant and abused teenager that joins Ashmont's "One for One" program (a therapy program for unprivileged youth), drops out and returns years later to help Ashmont overcome her own demons in a spectacular role-reversal that demonstrates what goes around, comes around.
What Jacobsen so eloquently portrays through these women is the intricacy and sensual melody of finding a soul mate. Despite a plethora of subjects such as alcoholism, molestation, homophobia, AIDS, drug abuse, racism, religion, and unrequited love, the overall tone of this epistolary novel is one of hope, happiness, and finding your place in the world against all odds.
About the Author
Dawn McCaslin lives with her three cats in the Washington, D.C. metro area. A transplant from San Diego, she works by day for corporate America and by night as a human rights advocate, volunteer, writer, and fighter.
My curse is my gift. My nightmares, deep sensitivity, and emotional instability gives the best (and most uncomfortable) inspirations I could ever have. For me, art is passion - and visions are the mirror, which show my feelings and connect me with the rest of the world. Read More...
Blood Sisters: A Novel of an Epic Friendship by Mary Jacobsen
Dawn McCaslin lives with her three cats in the Washington, D.C. metro area. A transplant from San Diego, she works by day for corporate America and by night as a human rights advocate, volunteer, writer, and fighter.
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