Review Posted on Women and LifeStyle

lifestyle-womenstyle.blogspot.com/2011/01/born-to-return-gift.html

Born to Return the Gift

Catherine E. Johnson has created a faith based, fictional novel that deals with very heavy issues in a very caring way. "Born to Return the Gift" follows the life of Nyima. As a young girl, Nyima has seen the outcome of addiction and bad choices, but unfortunately, her life follows the same pattern. She begins by choosing the wrong man, over and over. She is abused, put down and led to believe she is worth nothing. She drinks to avoid thinking about what has become of her life. She knows she wants more but can't seem to find it as her choices always seem to be the wrong ones. She attempts a major move to California, to start over, but the same issues arise and her depression grows. She can't break the cycle. She can't get her much needed fresh start.

Nyima is a character that all readers can relate to. We have all made choices that have put us in positions we did not expect. Nyima's journey is hard. She is constantly struggling between the physical and spiritual. She knows that there is a higher being, and that she can lead a better life. She also knows that everyone has constantly put her down; her mother, her cousin and society. She is clinically depressed and just doesn't know how to get out of her situation so she can lead a better life. The author does a wonderful job showing this conflict and struggle.

At 50, Nyima begins to make the change. This is a pivotal, inspiring moment. If Nyima can find the good in her life, shouldn't anyone be able to? The author delicately takes us through Nyima's transformation. Her strength coming from her spiritual beliefs. Her trust that someone does believe in her and that she can overcome her past. After so many years, she realizes that she can be who she wants to be, who she always wanted to be.

This novel is uplifting and gives hope to those in similar situations. It is not always pretty, there are very harsh scenes and disturbing language. The author uses these scenes to show the change, the extreme turnaround. As harsh as those scenes are, the ones at the end are touching and inspiring. This author knows how to use language to emphasize her points and succeeds in creating a novel that will leave the reader with both points to ponder and a warm heart for Nyima.

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