Bøger af Linda Leven

This is a book of two super-dramatic, short novellas inspired by true events-profound, philosophical, iconoclastic, and dark. The tales touch on the broad themes of workplace relationships, psychiatry, and issues of life and death. The first story follows Jane, a self-assured, brilliant woman who spurns and attempts to defy accepted workplace maxims on dating relationships at work. Julian, in the second tale, finds himself engaged in a battle for his life and sanity with an implacable, ruthless enemy: "You can never exile or expunge me ... because I am the immutable evil of life." Leven is undoubtedly an iconoclast and image-breaker. Each tale relentlessly blasts away and shatters many of the commonly accepted truisms and stale platitudes by which we live. Readers will be unable to flee her challenge to many sacred principles and doctrines and will be completely immersed in meticulously depicted and stupefying events which, in these two novellas, will reshape, temper, and turn upside down their mindset regarding workplace relationships, psychiatry, and issues of mortality and religion.

In these philosophic and intensely profound tales of fiction inspired by true events, Leven dramatically depicts the consequences of bungling or fouling-up major life decisions. The tales deal with the broad topics of women, misogyny, teaching, the public school system, medical malpractice, and the law. Susan, an intelligent and educated young woman, even after receiving her university degrees, is still unable to decide on a career to pursue. With help and advice from her family, she decides to closely look back to her childhood for answers and chooses an ill-fated career in public education, leading to devastating consequences. Janet, a single, older woman, after losing her breast to cancer, makes the critical once-in-a-lifetime decision to pursue a malpractice case against her doctors, and here, is introduced to and becomes entangled and exasperated with the law and lawyers. Having twice taken courses in Objectivism with the famous author and philosopher Ayn Rand lecturing, Leven's iconoclastic ideas and dark analysis of life-events will often shatter or disrupt many of today's commonly accepted mores and norms. Each story relentlessly blasts away at and shatters commonly accepted truisms and stale platitudes. Leven is undoubtedly an image-breaker, and the reader will be unable to flee from her challenge to many sacred principles and doctrines by which we are guided through life. After reading these short pieces, one will surely have been exposed to a unique, often original perspective on the events depicted. Leven's characters, along with her readers, are enveloped in a detailed anatomy of the human heart and mind through meticulously painted events, dialogue, and a unique philosophy that permeates all.