Looking Down on the Moon - A Review (article) by J Russell Rose on AuthorsDen

A review of Looking Down on the Moon follows from Patsy Hamilton, Freelance Writer...

Looking Down on the Moon

A book review
Looking down on the moon, a new novel by J Russell Rose is not really about the moon. It’s about secrets and love.
The main character, Dolores de Los Rios, lives in the “wilderness” of New Mexico, or at least that’s what her brother, Paul Summers would say. Dolores started life in Houston, as Deidre Summers, but neither her birth name, nor her birthplace suited her. So, she changed them both, moving to a place with mountains so high that from the tops, you will feel as though you are “looking down on the moon”.
The author, J Russell Rose, lived for a number of years in Houston and had the pleasure of visiting the wilderness of New Mexico from time to time. His description of the landscape made me feel as though I was there. Sometimes, authors choose settings with which they are unfamiliar and it can show, particularly if the reader does happen to be familiar with the setting.
For example, I could never read Patricia Cornwell’s novels. Even though she lived in Richmond, as I did for many years, she takes a lot of liberties with street names and locations. Maybe I’m a perfectionist, but it annoyed me, so I stopped reading her books.
Now, since I’ve never actually been to New Mexico or Mexico (the setting for a couple of chapters) I cannot guarantee that Rose is 100% accurate in his details, but I get the feeling that he is. I can picture the road leading to the “hacienda”, in my mind’s eye and it’s like a real memory.
The focal point of the novel is an old secret, long kept, but the story is more about love, than secrets. The characters experience different kinds of love…romantic love, love for family, friends and self. Dolores loves people. She chooses to live almost like a hermit, because people have hurt her, particularly during her childhood. But, she leaves her private paradise almost every day, to work with the needy, the sick and the poor children (Los Pobrecitos) of New Mexico.
Looking down on the Moon spans three generations and three separate romances. It is sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes thought provoking and depending on what your beliefs are, it could make you a little angry. The characters discuss everything from evolution to God and pre-marital sex.
Character development is another “pet peeve” of mine. When books have six or eight major characters, it’s hard to get to know each of them. Writer’s sometimes do not seem to go to the effort of creating real people. Through dialog and description, J Russell Rose is able to bring each of his characters to life.
I guess the novel is about the moon, in a way. Most people associate moonlight walks with candlelight and romance. I don’t know if the author is aware, but there are Native American stories about the moon. In those stories, Grandfather Sun chases Grandmother Moon across the sky. Sometimes, she turns her face away, in anger or shyness. At other times, when she is happy with him, she faces him, shining (smiling) brightly. The relationship between Dolores’ son, Luis and Carmelita is similar.
I knew, almost from the beginning, what secret Paul had learned. I wondered why Delores/Deidre had never figured it out. It never even seemed to occur to her. The end, though, was surprising, as the ending of a good book should be. I laughed and I cried. I had a good time with Dolores, Paul and the rest of the family. I think you will, too.
BY: Patsy Hamilton – Freelance Writer

Currently, Looking down on the Moon by J Russell Rose is only available for purchase online at Lulu.com and thesaws.org, the website for the Southern Appalachian Writer’s Society.