Review of Relieved
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Ifionayi Onosetale
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Review of Relieved
[Following is a volunteer review of "Relieved" by Cheryl Richardson.]
Cheryl Richardson's novel, Relieved, tells the story of Debora, a wealthy heiress in the oil industry who lived a solitary life with only her assistant Cheryl and an occasional masseuse for company. Cheryl, the personal assistant, demonstrated remarkable patience and resilience, even though she had quit her job four times and realized her livelihood depended on Debora. Despite enduring repeated mistreatment, Cheryl remained dedicated to maintaining Debora's home in impeccable order. During one of her workdays, Debora reflects on her troubled past, including her tumultuous relationship with her mother and a stint in a psychiatric ward following a complicated entanglement with her psychiatrist and his wife. The novel primarily focuses on Cheryl, the devoted personal assistant who carries out her duties with unwavering patience and commitment to her demanding boss.
Without a doubt, the personal assistant stands out as my favourite character in this book. She displays incredible strength of character in the face of mistreatment from Debora. Despite the hostility and challenges posed by Debora, she remains resolute and unwavering. Even though she made several attempts to connect with Debora, who seemed unresponsive to her efforts, she continued to diligently perform her duties. One particularly touching moment was when Debora expressed her gratitude to her assistant for organizing boxes as per her mother's request. It truly underscored the profound significance of their bond to both of them.
The part of the book that I disliked was how, over time, Debora continued to hire more helpers without any improvement in her treatment of them. Instead of becoming more compassionate, she turned to spiritual pursuits. It was disheartening to witness Cheryl, the personal assistant, taking on additional roles at Debora's house without any compensation. As I delved into the later chapters, I was disappointed to discover that despite numerous opportunities for personal growth and self-improvement, including treating others with greater kindness, Debora did not embrace these changes.
While one's upbringing can significantly influence their character, it ultimately does not justify mistreating those around us. In summary, this aspect of the book left me dissatisfied due to its portrayal of unchanging behaviour and missed opportunities for character development. I would recommend this book to individuals who are interested in character-driven narratives that delve into complex themes like patience, abuse, personal growth, and the enduring effects of one's upbringing on their behaviour.
I gave this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The primary reason for my high rating is the book's adept exploration of themes like patience and abuse, which vividly depict their enduring impact on individuals throughout their lives, even into adulthood. The portrayal of character development, especially in the face of adversity, was exceptionally well executed and thought-provoking. The book's ability to emphasize the significance of kindness and compassion, regardless of one's upbringing, is truly commendable. The book was exceptionally well-edited and error-free.
******
Relieved
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Cheryl Richardson's novel, Relieved, tells the story of Debora, a wealthy heiress in the oil industry who lived a solitary life with only her assistant Cheryl and an occasional masseuse for company. Cheryl, the personal assistant, demonstrated remarkable patience and resilience, even though she had quit her job four times and realized her livelihood depended on Debora. Despite enduring repeated mistreatment, Cheryl remained dedicated to maintaining Debora's home in impeccable order. During one of her workdays, Debora reflects on her troubled past, including her tumultuous relationship with her mother and a stint in a psychiatric ward following a complicated entanglement with her psychiatrist and his wife. The novel primarily focuses on Cheryl, the devoted personal assistant who carries out her duties with unwavering patience and commitment to her demanding boss.
Without a doubt, the personal assistant stands out as my favourite character in this book. She displays incredible strength of character in the face of mistreatment from Debora. Despite the hostility and challenges posed by Debora, she remains resolute and unwavering. Even though she made several attempts to connect with Debora, who seemed unresponsive to her efforts, she continued to diligently perform her duties. One particularly touching moment was when Debora expressed her gratitude to her assistant for organizing boxes as per her mother's request. It truly underscored the profound significance of their bond to both of them.
The part of the book that I disliked was how, over time, Debora continued to hire more helpers without any improvement in her treatment of them. Instead of becoming more compassionate, she turned to spiritual pursuits. It was disheartening to witness Cheryl, the personal assistant, taking on additional roles at Debora's house without any compensation. As I delved into the later chapters, I was disappointed to discover that despite numerous opportunities for personal growth and self-improvement, including treating others with greater kindness, Debora did not embrace these changes.
While one's upbringing can significantly influence their character, it ultimately does not justify mistreating those around us. In summary, this aspect of the book left me dissatisfied due to its portrayal of unchanging behaviour and missed opportunities for character development. I would recommend this book to individuals who are interested in character-driven narratives that delve into complex themes like patience, abuse, personal growth, and the enduring effects of one's upbringing on their behaviour.
I gave this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The primary reason for my high rating is the book's adept exploration of themes like patience and abuse, which vividly depict their enduring impact on individuals throughout their lives, even into adulthood. The portrayal of character development, especially in the face of adversity, was exceptionally well executed and thought-provoking. The book's ability to emphasize the significance of kindness and compassion, regardless of one's upbringing, is truly commendable. The book was exceptionally well-edited and error-free.
******
Relieved
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Edwin Steelside Searching out the devil by Bradford Bennett
