Thursday, April 3, 2014

Dealing With Guilt

We all make mistakes. Some seem bigger than others. Some remain in our memories longer. Others may be so bad that we block them out but deal with them subconsciously for a long time. In The Devil Walks In Mattingly author Billy Coffey deals with the issues of guilt and shame through a fictional tale of a small, secluded town. The story focuses on the sheriff of the town, whose shame has made him dead inside as he does all he can to maintain a put-together exterior. His wife, blaming herself for the same death as her husband, though neither knows it, tries to make up for her mistake by helping others. In this tale, this couple comes face to face with their past in a way that forces them to divulge the secrets they have tried to keep buried inside.
I enjoy a fiction novel that has a practical point to it. This novel has just that. While there seems to be a lack of clarity on some points about guilt and shame, the author does a good job of demonstrating the importance of honesty, both with yourself and others, particularly when dealing with guilt. The book seemed long and slow in getting to the point, but in a way, that enabled me to share the anxiety and awkwardness the characters felt as they found their way to the truth of the day that had changed their lives years ago.
I would recommend this book as an intriguing tale dealing with guilt. However, I would also add that it is in no way a comprehensive guide to dealing with guilt and shame.
I appreciate BookLook Bloggers for providing this book to me for review.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Very deep true though