My Mirror Self, and I,
By T. James
Now Cassie has to choose. Does she let her downward spiral continue all the way to the bottom, or can she find something – anything – to fight for and make her future worth living?
My Mirror Self, and I,
Book Description:
The novella My Mirror Self, and I is about finding the courage to carry on in the face of adversity. An intimate exploration of a young woman’s struggle with breast cancer and depression, it has been described as “powerful”, “compelling”, and “uncompromising” by readers.
Cassie is a small town girl with everyday dreams: a happy marriage, a fulfilling job, and eventually a family. In eighteen short months her life and hopes slide from her grasp – her marriage to David is failing, and her career prospects are fading fast. Already struggling with her isolation as depression tightens its grip, she is devastated to discover she has breast cancer…
This novella touches on themes explored in books like Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, but it is written in a style more akin to Alan Bennett‘s Talking Heads, with elements of Victoria Hislop’s The Island.
the review:
I’m a fan of literary fiction because it usually represents a mirror of life with all that is good and not so good. In this intense novella, the author T. James delivers a vivid,and compelling story.
It opens much like a love story full of life and vigor. A young couple falls in love, marry and start a life together, then all Hell breaks loose.
The story is told through the eyes of a young woman named Cassie. T. James does an amazing job of transporting the reader into Cassie’s life. His writing can be lyrical as seen in an engaging prologue, but he has the ability to deliver gut wrenching realism dealing with terrifying consequences. Most of the story involves a powerful inner dialog as Cassie wrestles with the discovery that she has breast cancer and concerns about her marriage. When there is dialogue, you’ll find powerful exchanges given in a candid and frank manner.
Be prepared for a gripping and engaging story with strong emotion. You’ll find yourself cheering for this young woman even as her life appears to be cascading out of control. It is not a story for the faint of heart but if you enjoy psychological drama, T. James delivers!
Website of T.James novella, My Mirror Self, and I
Rich Weatherly - Author 
Thank you for reviewing My Mirror Self, and I, Rich. I’m pleased that it resonated with you, and I like your analogy of literary fiction as a mirror for life: it was exactly the sort of ‘feel’ I was aiming for with this story (with some inevitable concessions as it is a work of fiction).
It covers some extremely emotive topics, and I hope I did them justice. I have only admiration and respect for anyone who has had to face either cancer or depression, and has managed to press on regardless.
Pleased to hear you enjoyed the review. I’m confident it will connect with a sizable audience. The key now is to keep up the exposure to potential readers. Feel free to share 😀
A great review. Congrats T and thanks for the recommendation Rich.
Reblogged this on The Word On The .Net and commented:
I’m posting a copy of my first blog review of My Mirror Self, and I. Please take the time to head over to Rich Weatherly’s blog to leave any comments, and to have a look around. Rich is talented writer and poet in his own right.
Rich, thank you for taking the time to review my novella, and I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
Another wonderful review Rich! T.James debut work will be a resounding success. He deals with a difficult subject with sensitivity and insight. I think readers of literary fiction will follow his work for many years.
Thanks Sandy, there isn’t much I can add to your comments. I agree completely. T.James ventured into the realm of literary fiction and he didn’t disappoint.
Congratulations on the great review, TJ.
Love your style!
Thank you, Billy Ray!