A fictional memoir encompassing a woman's life, her loves, lost ones, and how she manages and views the world.
It is the 20th century in California and the main character, a woman, has lived her life to the fullest. Nestled in her favorite spot during a snow storm she recalls the events of her life from her earliest memories of resisting birth and losing that futile battle to finding her true love and their beautiful family. There are monkey wrenches thrown in at every turn as she struggles to find her place; demonic teachers, cliquish students, her nightmare job, a love lost, and an earthquake that threatens her family. Life continues to dismay her until she can’t take it anymore and sets off on a journey. She is a lost soul with no destination, a wandering heart until something happens, something so incredible she could have never imagined it! Through her harrowing and dark story she finds light, justice and true love. She is a humble and lovable character who is quite ordinarily extraordinary. Her story is anyone’s story.
Excerpt
I went to the couch and could see Mommy crying in her hands. On the TV were reporters. What were they saying? It sounded like jumble; my mind wouldn’t process what they were saying. I pulled myself together, and I looked at the pictures. The pictures were showing buildings, some huge skyscrapers knocked down. They looked as if a huge bulldozer had come along and run over the tops of them. A bridge had collapsed and many people had fallen into the river. I was finally able to hear what they were saying. There had been a massive earthquake, maybe the largest North America has seen yet. I was mesmerized by the news; what did it mean? I stared at the TV unable to speak, unable to think. Finally, I asked Mommy where Daddy was. She looked at me with tears in her eyes, and she held me. We sat that way for what felt like forever. Then she looked at me and said, “I don’t know.” We stayed glued to the TV all night. Mommy eventually fell asleep curled up on the arm of the couch. I couldn’t sleep. All I could do was think, Are my Daddy and Emily out there somewhere? There were rescue crews digging people out of buildings and cars. None of the cars looked like ours.
Professional Reviews
As Years Fly By
As Snow Falls by Elle Klass is a heartwarming yet bittersweet novella about the life of Everywoman, a nameless character who explores the mysteries of life with a retrospect that borders on the surreal at times. The author's first-person narrative is filled with subplots, expository vignettes and introspections that gives the audience an authentic feeling of the protagonist's life flashing before her eyes. It is a reading experience that will leave the audience hoping there's more where this came from.
The theme of fate vs. free will is resonant throughout the plot as our heroine is constantly challenging and questioning what seems to be an irresistible current in her life, though wisdom and experience help her to see the whys and wherefores of everything working for the best. The loves of her life, war hero Nathan and underachieving Cobie, result in a polarity in her life that causes dissonance from puberty to her golden years. The pain and pleasures of growing up are also explored as she constantly seeks release and discovery through travel, and inevitably learns that though the open road can be liberating and transcendent, there's no place like home where her strength and security lie. The wisdom of experience is also a recurring leitmotif as the protagonist discovers more about herself and the meaning of life in accumulating knowledge at the expense of loss. She survives both Cobie and Nathan, though her grandchildren remain to fill the void and restore the promise of the family's future.
As a University-level English scholar, I have trouble recalling another work where both the major protagonist's name and the use of dialogue are almost non-existent. That alone is a feat in itself that other writers would marvel at. The family themes of the novella are reminiscent of works such as On Golden Pond, though without the shrill argumentation that define such works. The protagonist's perceptions and world view as an absolute reference resonates with works such as Johnny Got His Gun, and putting it on that level with a war testimonio speaks volumes about the uniqueness of the work.
the story of life
As Snow Falls, by Elle Klass, reads like a biographical novel, telling the life story of a woman from birth to death. While her life is not in itself particularly extraordinary, the story is compelling as she deals with the issues of life over a life span, and it gives the reader a real sense of the human condition.
The book could be seen as interweaving two romantic stories, but my take is more on the overall depiction of a life. Not many of us are extraordinary - renowned politician, star athlete, etc. - most of us are just ordinary people, and yet our lives, with the pains and joys, are interesting if examined. We put our hope in our children and our grandchildren.
The writing is in a simple easily accessible style, somewhat reflective of the woman's life, and it pulls the reader along wanting to know more. In the end, it leads the reader to reflect upon the span and arc and meaning of their own life. A good read.
Intriguing, Emotional, Tender Sweet
Author Elle Klass brought to the writing world a classical reminiscing story of the life of an elder lady reliving her past as she sits a snow storm out. As the elder lady continues to rock in her rocking chair she slowly reveals the good and bad times she had growing up. The emotions that are played out in this story is like riding a roller coaster, one minute I was finding myself being happy and then as soon as I turned the page a whole new emotion was brought to the surface Elle Klass took this story to a whole new level to capture the innocence but hurtful events that life can bring. Elle created this short story with such a tender sweet touch but at the same time left the reader intrigued my wondering what the past will bring.
TRUE STORY. Bella survived an abusive powerbroker father with organized crime ties, a drug-addicted mother and a physically/sexually abusive brother. Shocking & inspirational. When she couldn't cry, she tattooed a crying angel to cry for her.
After a long awaited weekend visitation caused by false allegations of sexual abuse, Glen got to see his children for the first time in over two months. He promised them that they would never be apart again and then they disappeared.
