Reviewed first for author
B J Bloch's Confronted With Death presents eighteen year old Beth Stuyvesant who faces the death of her mother Mattie with the same stoic resolve she has maintained from the time Mattie was diagnosed with ALS five years previous.
At first Beth's demanding father had continued to expect his 'marital due' even as the degenerative illness ravaged his wife's body until two years after the onset he leaves.
Beth is forced to simply accept the awful illness and watch as her beloved mother wastes away. Alone at eighteen Beth begins college, falls in love and is betrayed by the married man who has lied to her.
Beth is nearly devastated and contemplates suicide before she leaves Philadelphia to begin teaching school in Indiana where meets a promising student. Working to help Pete Bascomb learn to read is the one bright spot in Beth's life.
Beth's unselfish devotion to her new job and Pete are repaid over time by the youngster's caring for her.
Writer Bloch has an interesting writing style which is sure to evolve into even better over time. The straight forward narrative to be found in Confronted with Death is not similar to his mystery "Another Senseless Killing".
The latter was a mystery, Confronted with Death is a contemporary 'slice of life' type offering.
Bloch presents an array of well developed, although not always likeable characters such as we confront in life. Beth's father and Art the fellow student with whom she is in love are both weak men willing to use others and think of themselves first.
This is a not an 'it all works out well' type tale.
Beth is confronted with misery, death, and heartache more than her share, also such as is often confronted in life. Bloch's writing is hard hitting, decisive and on the whole well thought out.
My one reservation is that one so young and with so little education as Beth would be given a teaching position in the manner she was.
I, a teacher of 35+ years Public Elementary classroom experience; question that Beth would have met the requirements for a teaching credential in Indiana.
Other than that one glitch Confronted with Death offers as well written, not an easy read and not one to leave the reader with warm fuzzy feelings when it ends.
Confronted with Death is a thoughtful, realistic presentation by one in the medical profession of what families may face when they confront the reality of illness for which there is no explanation, no cure and nothing to do but watch the degeneration of their loved one.
It is a story that needs to be told, and Bloch has told it well.
Confronted with Death is not a tale for a lazy afternoon in the hammock.
It is a book to be read thoughtfully and with growing understanding for the terrible problems confronting both those suffering form catastrophic illness and those who are caring for the sufferer.
Difficult read due to the tragedy of catastrophic illness and the long term ramifications attendant to such.
Recommended for the counselors book shelf, public library and for those who like a compelling, well written work with power to hold reader interest.
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Reviewed by Molly Reviews Books molly martin
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AMAZON BIO, Optometrist Dr Ben J Bloch, Ohio resident is an actor, writer, who has been told to write what he knows. He has found that research and rewriting are also key to production of a good book. Dr Benton and his wife of many years are parents of two grown sons.
Amazon Product Details
Title Confronted with Death
Author B J Bloch
Paperback: 368 pages ublisher: Booklocker.com (July 1, 2001)
ISBN-10: 1931391130
ISBN-13: 978-1931391139
Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 3.8 x 0.9 inches
