| thelovesurvey.org Dissertation Project |
doreenlewis.com
| Her Backyard by Doreen Lewis |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Official Website of Doreen Lewis
| Audrey Beane is a New York executive who has lost balance in her life. She's overbearing. She yells, and she's defensive. Confused about who she is at age thirty-four, Audrey begins to self-reflect, wondering - what happened to the carefree girl she used to be? She wants to paint, feel the sun on her face, and enjoy life more. When an unexpected phone call from Audrey's sister begs her to come back home to Florida to tend to a family emergency, Audrey is given a chance to see another side of life she could have had, including a relationship with her one love. Old wounds open. Meanwhile, her corporate account is in chaos. And what’s working against Audrey behind the scenes in New York City challenges her integrity and ethics. Ah, but the Big Apple is a hypnotic place, and the power and money is good. When Audrey’s career and personal life collide, she is faced with tough decisions about her future and balancing it all. With this funny and poignant novel, Doreen Lewis chronicles the path of an overworked woman who begins to take charge of her own destiny. |
BOOK REVIEWS:
Amazon.com Top Reviewer A sound message of how to prioritize ones life, May 28, 2005 By Michael Erisman (Seattle, WA) In her first published book Doreen Lewis has written a story about how a New York advertising VP has to face the reality of her life, and what is important to her. What is compelling about the story is how accurately it depicts the "hamster-on-a-wheel" existence that plagues most executives. I was personally drawn to the story as I too find myself at times trying to better balance my life. When a tragedy strikes the lead character she is forced to step off the wheel so to speak, and this pause allows her to see a glimpse of the simpler life she once had, and could have again. The book captures the longing for meaning and purpose, and emptiness of climbing the ladder, with remarkable insight. The story is written in a novel format, and there are areas that I would caution readers, especially men, on. First, while I have never actually read one, the book at times seems to fit the caricature of what I imagine a "romance novel" would be like. So men be forewarned. The other issue is that some of the foul language seems a bit gratuitous, and although I imagine it's there to provide a dose of realism, I found some to be unnecessary. Overall, I would recommend this highly to anyone who enjoys reading quick novels, and has also struggled with trying to balance the demanding schedules and tempting payoffs of corporate America with the child inside of them that wants to really be alive again. ************************************************************************************* *********************************** 5 Out of 5 Stars Exceptional, May 21, 2005 By Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer" In this outstanding work, we meet Audrey Beane. Audrey lives and works in New York; her life centers around her work, her achievements and advancements and leaves little time for lives small pleasures, but this is about to change. Faced with a family emergency, Audrey must leave her work zone and head to Florida where the heart of true living is about to hit her square in the face. As she struggles to deal with heartbreaking circumstances in Florida, a love she thought was gone forever, and a drawing within her she didn't know existed; her corporate world in New York is moving like a ticking bomb about to explode and shatter her world. She is soon faced with decisions that will be life-changing, will she make the right ones? Author Doreen Lewis definitely opens up the often hidden world of a workaholic, who buries their heart and soul in their work, often forgetting what life is about. In her storyline, she shakes this world with real life circumstances, heart-felt relationships and raw emotions as our main character collides with life, bringing her to a abrupt stop. This is a wonderful read, that is certainly true to life with an ending that will leave you with a smile. Recommended. ************************************************************************************* **************************************** 4 out of 5 Stars Emotional and heart-felt, May 4, 2005 By booksforabuck "BooksForABuck.com" (Dallas) When her father takes a turn for the worse, Audrey's plans to head back to New York immediately are put on hold. Meanwhile, in her office, politics, illicit love, and greed continue. And Audrey spends time with Roger--falling in love with him all over again. But has anything really changed? Aren't their needs just as divergent as ever? Audrey can't get Roger out of her mind when she returns to New York--and tries to clean up the mess that her absence created. Still, can she give up everything just to return to her man? Author Doreen Lewis writes an emotional and heart-felt story of a woman coming of age. The death of her father and the recovery of her long-lost love force her to confront the choices she made years before and question them. I would have liked to see a bit more of Audrey actually painting and exploring alternatives to the advertising world, and would really have liked to see more of Roger being willing to make some sacrifices of his own rather than simply demanding that Audrey give up her life if she wanted to spend time with him (couldn't he have offered to move to New York? It wasn't as if he had major attachments to Florida). Also, I found the multiple arguments between Audrey and Roger to be off-putting. In HER BACKYARD, Lewis explores questions that everyone must ask as they grow in maturity. Lewis's answers, as expressed through Audrey, ring true in a world where pursuit of stuff often seems to take priority over pursuit of joy. ************************************************************************************* ******************************************** 4 out of 5 Stars A Great Debut Novel, June 1, 2005 By Rian Montgomery "ChickLitBooks.com" (Nashua, NH United States) If you have ever gotten so involved with your present life and job that you wake up one day and realize that you have become a completely different person than you ever wanted to be, you will be able to identify with this novel. When the book starts out, Audrey is living in the great city of New York. She has a tiny but tastefully decorated apartment, and a tough, demanding but well-paying job as a business manager, complete with hellish hours and rude boss. Audrey is generally happy, but discontent at her corporate life gnaws at her from time to time. One night, at a company dinner party she is hosting, Audrey discovers that her coworkers think she is cold and kind of mean. Audrey gets pretty upset, knowing this isn't the life for her. What has she become? And what can she do? Then a phone call from her sister Ava back home in Florida comes through - it turns out their father is very ill, and Audrey needs to fly home immediately. Audrey puts her New York life on hold and flies home. She is immediately absorbed into her sister's wonderful family and the sadness of her father's condition. Audrey soon discovers that maybe she shouldn't have left so many things behind... Such as her loving sister, her ex-boyfriend (an old flame that is still burning), and her father, who doesn't seem to have long. She also finds that she has been missing the peace of mind she gets in the beautiful, quiet place she grew up in. And when eventually she is faced with a difficult choice, she has to decide what she truly wants... either to continue clawing her way up the corporate ladder (complete with the high salary and status it comes with), or the love of her life and the simplicity she has so long craved. Her Backyard was a great read. It was absorbing, touching at times, funny and sometimes uplifting, and just plain a darn good read. Audrey was a wonderful main heroine - she had flaws that many will be able to identify with, but at the same time had a definite strength. Her Backyard has all the ingredients of an outstanding chick lit book: a character going through job angst, uncertainty in life, romance, and family issues. The only downside to this book was that it seemed to be drawn out longer than it needed to be. Overall, I recommend this book. It left me with a smile on my face, and I don't doubt it will do the same to others! |