For too many years, Prudence Aldrich has been numbing the pain in her life with random sexual encounters. Her marriage to cold, self-centered Nick is, not surprisingly, on the rocks. But after several dangerous experiences with strangers, Prudence finally realizes she needs therapy to stop her self-destructive behavior, and so she checks into the Serenity Hills rehab center.Prudence blames … blames herself for her irresponsible behavior and is filled with self-loathing. She’s convinced she is completely at fault for Nick’s manipulative attitude and believes with therapy, she can return their relationship to its idyllic beginnings. However, her therapist and the other members of her rehab group see the person behind the pain. As Prudence learns more about herself and the reasons for her behavior, including startling revelations about her childhood, she begins to understand the basis for her lack of sexual self-respect. She also learns she is not entirely to blame for the failure of her marriage. With the positive reinforcement of everyone at Serenity Hills, Prudence learns not to define herself by her past. But moving forward would mean letting go of Nick for good, and Prudence isn’t sure she can.
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Well, that was intense, on every level. I was so taken in by the writer’s candid style, I waded through the first ten-percent thinking the story was auto-biographical. I was reassured to discover it was a work of fiction; what was happening in Prue’s life was crazy and nerve-racking, not to mention criminal and heartbreaking. But in reality, something influenced the author to write about this complex heroine and what it cost her to push through the horrors she encountered early and often, thanks to the twin curses of beauty and tragically inept parenting.
Even though some of the scenes are quite explicit and often repugnant, I found it impossible not to care about Prue. There’s nothing wrong with her character; she’s kind, smart (intellectually speaking), strong—almost too strong for her own good. She copes with every terrible assault on her life and person with super-human resilience, paying the price for such stalwart bravery by putting the blame on herself for her gross lack of character and goodness. She shoulders the burden of past “mistakes” and manages to hang on to the fraying hopes of redemption, despite the fact that her vulnerability makes her a constant target for further abuses, self-inflicted and otherwise.
The way the author weaves the past—starting with a very young Prue—with her present struggle to rid herself of the destructive behaviors that keep her from having a normal life allows us to experience the emotional struggles and pain ourselves. While that might not sound very appealing on the face of it, Prue’s story and the writing itself are too compelling to turn away from. I take a deep bow to Jennifer Irwin for her courage and the care she took in creating a perfectly believable tale about addiction—no matter what type—the toll it can have on lives, the inner strength it takes to combat it, and those amazing people dedicated to helping addicts reclaim their lives. Bravo, Jennifer!
“Only by acceptance of the past can you alter it.” (T.S. Eliot)
Undoubtedly, virtually every person on the planet regrets at least one thing that has occurred in their past. Something which has mortified them and potentially caused shame and embarrassment. However, in most instances the intensity of these issues are such that a person can leave it behind them and move forward with their life. Be that as it may, what if the past was so traumatic and tragic that it totally defines a person’s existence? What if they are unable to overcome the obstacles of the past…even if it means a lifetime of pain and sorrow. Entirely debilitated and seeking comfort in an unhealthy and often deadly manner. If such notions have garnered your attention and interest, then A Dress the Color of the Sky by author Jennifer Irwin will be a top reading selection!
Essentially, the book follows the life and struggles of Prudence (Prue) Aldrich. Married to a sullen and abusive husband by the name of Nick, Prue copes and seeks escape in the form of sexual encounters with strangers. Recognizing the inherent danger of such a sexual addiction, Prue enters a rehab center by the name of Serenity Hills. It is here that she seeks to do battle with her demons and hopefully save her marriage and family at the same time. As the story proceeds, we are taken back through Prue’s past in a series of flashbacks. We are thus able to gain some perspective about her and why she has found herself at this lowly point. The reader is able to meet her mother, father, brother and a whole host of friends and abusers. Her guilt, minimal sense of self-worth and rampant self-loathing all begin to make sense. Although she attempts to “repair” herself by attending rehab, is Prue simply too far gone to ever truly recover from her tragic and chaotic past? Or will she manage to find a new strength of character and love for herself which she never really knew existed?
I found the plot of this novel to be absolutely captivating and engaging. As a reader you will simply melt right into this book. There are a variety of minor themes which run throughout the story, but the struggle to recover from a traumatic past is the most prevalent motif for this particular reader. It is all about the strength of the human spirit against what seem to be impossible odds. Although I can personally identify and connect with Prue’s childhood and the trauma she experienced, such a personal connection is not needed to love this book. You just have to be human. The writing flows beautifully and alternates between the past and present in an entirely seamless fashion. To say I consider this novel to be compelling and enthralling would be a drastic understatement. In truth, I found it to be magical and it moved me deeply.
For those readers who like to see the protagonist develop in great depth throughout the course of a story, once again A Dress the Color of the Sky will not disappoint. While there are certainly a variety of characters in the story, they all essentially play a supporting role to Prue. Her various relationships with them act to uncover and divulge important details about Prue and the nature and depth of her experiences…both negative and uplifting. Also, the dialogue between them flows smoothly and seems entirely genuine and believable. The interactions between Prue and the various supporting characters will ignite a whole range of emotions within the reader. Without a doubt I felt anger, sorrow, joy, contempt and disgust at various points throughout the tale. Character development at its best!
This book is a must read for a wide variety of reasons. However, the fact that it is so beautifully written stands out as paramount. I would recommend it to all adult readers and give it my highest rating.
5 out of 5 Inspirational Stars for this one! *****
This book touched every inch of my soul. I loved it. This is a must read for every woman!
A Dress The Color of The Sky by Jennifer Irwin, is an eye opening story about a beauiful woman. The book alternates between the present & the past. The reader is drawn to the sweet innocent child Prue, the protagonist of the story. Her family interactions, the people in her childhood lead her down roads which change her adult life. As an adult she faces addiction to sex, admitting herself to a treatment facility. The well written story winds understanding of the situation into the pages of this contemporary affliction into the news lately. This is a riveting story, based on a poem, which twists through the tragedy of this woman’s life & experience, shining light on her needed recovery.
The story had me from page one. Joining Prue on her emotional roller coaster ride takes its toll on her and on the reader. We’re right there with her. I wanted to smack her stepfather and her husband, Nick, with something heavy and painful. Both were abusers and both were pricks. Prue makes many questionable decisions, or at least they seem suspect to someone who hasn’t faced the level of abuse she has, but she manages to grow and, we hope, prosper by the end. This novel is so well written I found myself lost in the story all the way through–and I’m a writer and editor, so I don’t get that experience often. I thought the implication that Prue and Alistair were going to share a future together was a little too contrived, but Prue deserves happiness, and I was glad to see her get it.
Very good read, i enjoyed it!