Review by JessicaChamberlain -- Geraldine

[JessicaChamberlain]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Geraldine" by Edmund M Aristone.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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Geraldine by Edmund Aristone begins by introducing the main character Tom, a borderline alcoholic with a suspended medical license. His life seems to be going nowhere but down. In walks Geraldine, a beautiful, intelligent, artistic girl, whom he falls head over hills in love with. Geraldine's only problem with is that she suffers from a bipolar disorder, the same disorder that led her mother to commit suicide. Tom is determined to find a way for Geraldine to live with her bipolar disorder without interfering with her artistic senses. The book follows Tom and Geraldine as they navigate life's ups and downs including losing close friends to suicide, moving through jobs, family relationships, and mental illnesses.

I disliked certain elements of the story. Tom's experimentation with Geraldine's medication, notwithstanding his lack of a valid medical license, bothered me. I was frustrated that Tom and Geraldine seem to uproot their whole lives and move every time they face a problem. The couple moved at least three times throughout the book, following a big, usually tragic, event. Some of the relationships between characters lacked a proper build up and could have left a bigger impact if they had been explained better. For example, I felt that Tom and Geraldine's relationship was fast, and easy and started too soon. It seemed unrealistic and forced. I feel that the characters Marshall and Virginia deserved a better explanation and ending to their story, the relationships between them and Tom were short and overlooked, with very little substance.

I did find the author's treatment of mental illness to be realistic and almost refreshing in a way. He captures well the issues that couples face when facing the often frightening and overwhelming challenges caused by mental health issues. I almost wish that the author would have made Geraldine see a real medical professional at some point in the midst of the book, instead of relying on Tom's questionable medical judgement.

I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. I struggled to engage with the plot, and the editing seemed sloppy and unprofessional. The book seemed poorly edited. Readability suffered as a result. Many times statements are incorrectly ended with question marks. The book does contain a fair amount of adult language, and coupled with the heaviness of the themes, this book is not recommended for young readers. I would target this book to an audience comprised of romance lovers.

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Geraldine
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