The time-honored tenets of friendship, love and being true to oneself all come together to challenge the definition of "normal" in Cheryl Anne Gardner's passionate book "The Thin Wall" (ISBN 9781430312567, Twisted Knickers/Lulu.com, 2008).
"The Thin Wall" follows the lives of five friends; all are in their late-30s, but none follow the traditional, societal norms for adults entering mid-life. Though they're a diverse group, the friends are bound together by one common perspective: "To each his own--between consenting adults, of course." As children, they were all outcasts, but they strongly believe "normal" is a matter of opinion, especially in regard to self-expression.
Though most coming of age stories deal with young adults, "The Thin Wall" is also a coming of age tale because of the wisdom, experience and perspective the characters gain as they approach middle age. Readers will identify easily with Laleana, a thoughtful woman in a codependent, S&M relationship, who finally discovers that her real needs are not being fulfilled. In order to move forward, Laleana must let go of her comfortable and predictable life, but she fears leaving the familiar behind to face the unknown.
Laleana and her friends are able to share their most intimate secrets because of the deep trust they hold in each other. In order to demonstrate the depth of their friendships and trust, Gardner took the characters' sex lives to the extreme--from celibacy to sadism and masochism. Though readers may not share these preferences, the themes of acceptance, love and unconditional friendship still ring loud and clear.
Ultimately, "The Thin Wall" is a truly romantic love story, as Laleana struggles past her own fear, to find the strength to release herself from her bonds and seek the love she has always believed in, the love that is right for her.
About the Author
Cheryl Ann Gardner resides on the East Coast, USA. Her love affair with literature began at a young age with such iconic authors as Poe, Kafka, Lovecraft and de Sade. Those deep, dark, penitent stories of suffering and enlightenment moved her to pursue her passion for writing. She is the author of three other novellas: "Kissing Room," "Logos" and "Splendor of Antiquity." She is currently working on "Sin-eater," a psychological horror story about the gruesome effects of violence and the desensitizing consequences of media portrayals of violence.