Review of Kalayla

[Yananisai Gavi]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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KALAYLA by JEANNIE NICHOLAS is a touching story about friendship, domestic violence, psychological abuse, racial discrimination, survival, broken families,love, second chances and hope. Serious issues such as domestic violence, abuse in all its forms, racial discrimination amongst others are grossly potrayed in the novel making it more relatable to this present day society pressing issues. The novel exposes how some matches are made in hell as Lena is scarred for life and is haunted by memories of her abusive dead husband and twin sons. The novel has tones of great sorrow, regret and hurt. However there are sparks of hope for new beginnings as new friendships are formed. The author also presents problems and difficulties of being a single parent and the importance of family.

Lena has a serious inferiority complex. She felt inferior and overshadowed by her husband the entire length of their marriage. She ended up as a result losing both her true self and her children. She continuously wears black as a symbol of her deep wounded soul, an ugly scar left behind by her husband and twins. She meets Kalayla and is reminded of her dead sons. She befriends both Kalayla and her mother Maureen.

Lena is Italian, Kalayla is bi-racially both irish and black whist, Maureen is Irish. This proves how different races can coexist and live together in harmony. The author also shows how family doesn't necessarily have to be blood relations but, family are those people present both in the goood and bad times. Maureen is a wounded being as both her family and friends abandon her for getting married to a black man. She pursues her love for art. After her husbands tragic accident she is heartbroken and devastated and gives up art to raise her rebellious daughter. She loves Kalayla even though lies and secrets threaten their relationship.

What l loved the most about this novel is how even though life kicks the characters to the deep end, at the end they manage to rise from the ashes like phoenix. The story line is incredible and is applicable to this present society we live in. So one has the opportunity to learn and discover things about life unknown to them in the novel.

It's an exceptionally well written, interesting novel, thus there are no negative comments about it.

Therefore l rate this novel a 4 out of 4. It's an amazing novel, well written, without any error. Thus l recommend this novel to drama loving, mature and open minded readers with an incredible imagination .

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Kalayla
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