Review of Smart Love

[Shavell Harris]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Smart Love" by Vincent Fudge II.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Smart Love: The Manual by Vincent Fudge II is a relationship guide to restoration. The novel details a SMART methodology that couples may employ to save their dying relationship. SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. The author came up with it to rescue his relationship while he was incarcerated. His separation from the world he knows allows him to analyze the state of his marriage and decide on a course of action. Marriage is more than a public declaration of love before God and man. It is the joining of two lives and two personalities. It requires tolerance, compromise, and love. But for it to work, the persons involved must share the same vision of what the marriage should be like.

I like the vulnerability of the author. He opens up about the good, bad, and nasty accept of his marriage. His openness allows me to connect the text to reality. It is quite commendable because such vulnerability is not easily achieved. I can see physical and verbal abuse coming from the text, uncertainty, and raw humanity. The use of spiritual quotes is another admirable aspect of the text. It communicates a spiritual inclusion in the battle to save his marriage. The quotes used are also relative to the situation that is attached.

The novel is partial to the husband. This is something that I do not like about the text. It explores the emotional depth of the husband and somewhat avoids the root cause of the wife's pain. She is primarily presented as an angry woman that does not fit the vision of her husband. The cases described in the text are solely from the husband’s perspective. Both parties involved contribute to the broken marital vision. However, the weight of error is primarily given to the wife. While I like the idea of the smart approach it is somewhat too ridge and therefore dilutes the authenticity of love and feeling.

I rate this book 3 out of 4. The book is well edited and I found no grammatical errors. However, it favors the husband and dilutes the importance of emotion a bit too much. A more detailed description of the reasons behind the wife's reactions would foster a better sense of balance.

I recommend this book to married couples who are willing to fight for their marriage. The book contains some clear steps that could be a direction for restoration. The battle of marriage is a battle worth fighting.

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Smart Love
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