4 out of 4 stars
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What can breakthrough a formidable wall that has been designed so meticulously? Can there be genuine friendship in a world where superficiality has taken control? These are some questions that will be answered as one reads this memoir. A Second Chance at Dancing: A Memoir of Sorts narrates the life of the author, Michael T. Tusa Jr. It is a memoir containing approximately 300 pages and seventy-four chapters.
Michael and Caroline are very intimate friends. Michael is an atheist whereas Caroline is a Christian. The fact that one is a believer and the other is not does not keep them apart. They hold deep and enviable discussions on many areas including the existence of God and the basis of ethics. Michael cannot recall much about his early childhood. He has formed an imaginary wall that safeguards him from being emotionally hurt, for instance, he has made sex a way to avoid intimacy. He reserves intimacy for intellectual matters where he feels his armor was impenetrable. When he breaks up with Rebekah, his lover, the wall he thought was impenetrable begins crumbling down. Michael has to find out about his past and resolve some issues.
There was nothing I did not enjoy or like in the book. I found myself wondering at the level Caroline and Michael had connected. They knew each other very well and held delightful intellectual conversations. Despite differing in their opinions, their friendship seemed to be growing after each conversation. In a world where the flame of sincere friendship is rapidly dwindling, we find Caroline and Michael being proof that genuine friendship still exists and is desired by many people. The reader discovers people can still exist as friends even while holding divergent views.
The author developed a brilliant plot. I felt like I was devouring an enthralling story, and hence it was hard to put this book down once I began reading it. The author does not just paint a picture of a perfect person but one with some weaknesses as well. He confesses it was easier to dissect someone else’s theory but hard to explain his own. He also described his reading habits as running in spurts, and I felt this was one thing among many that reflected my own life.
The book was professionally edited. I discovered only four typos which did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. The book made me realize the importance of congruence between what I profess and what I typically practice. The emphasis on reasoning being compatible with faith cannot be understated. Therefore, I heartily rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I conscientiously recommend the book to all fans of memoirs. Regardless of whether you are a devout believer or not, you will most undoubtedly enjoy reading this memoir.
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A Second Chance at Dancing: A Memoir of Sorts
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