Desert Med
Desert Medicine
Judy Alexander

Reviewed by Sabrina Williams

Judy Alexander’s novel, Desert Medicine, is the bittersweet tale of a struggling divorcee with the determination to raise her family on her own. Strong-minded and even hard-headed, Laurelle is a dedicated mother to twins with no intention of asking for help. She’s working two jobs and doing well for herself, but the nagging emotion associated with a failed marriage drives her to seek a diversion from her daily hardships. 

She thinks she’s doing the best thing for her children when she joins a local church. After all, children need stability and routine. But she’s hesitant when Pastor Mark suggests she visit an elderly church member who’s at home, battling cancer. The old woman isn’t exactly the saint of the church, and she’s already been labeled a witch by neighborhood children for her cackle and lack of teeth. Laurelle finally decides that listening to someone else’s real problems might give her a bit of perspective on her own trivial issues, and heads out to meet the mysterious Rhoda.

Rhoda has her own lifetime of struggle and hardship, and each visit prompts the woman into lengthy bouts of reminiscing. At first, Laurelle is annoyed by Rhoda’s depressing stories, but eventually, she grows to appreciate them in a way she never imagined. She looks forward to hearing about Rhoda’s experiences, and they do manage to provide Laurelle with a great deal of perspective into her own problems. After all, with the life Rhoda’s had to live, it leaves the rest of the world little room for complaint.

Desert Medicine is a story about struggle, faith, and friendship. It’s about the good and evil that exists in every person and the stories hidden beneath everyone’s hardened exteriors. It is a beautifully written novel, endearing to the last page. While it’s meant to be a work of Christian literature, that intention is so well-developed into the story, the reader will doubt that design until the very last page. It’s more of a story of struggling with faith and overcoming odds than a tale of salvation. And that makes it appealing to a wide audience, especially with its incredible literary qualities. 

The only fault with Desert Medicine is that Rhoda’s life is so fascinating and mysterious, that when the author pushes her story out of the way to focus on Laurelle’s spirituality, it feels like the book is ended on a giant cliffhanger. Readers will want to know the truth behind Rhoda’s tragic life. Laurelle’s struggle is just as interesting, and by the end she has become a familiar friend to the reader, but Rhoda’s tale is just as important to the plot and meaning, and the reader is shorted on that privilege. Especially with Rhoda suffering and so close to death, the book demands closure that never arrives.

Despite the closing letdown, Desert Medicine is an amazing novel. For anyone who appreciates the wisdom of elders or loves tales of the old days, it’s the perfect read. The characters are realistic, down-to-earth, and lovingly flawed. In short, they’re incredibly easy to relate to. Judy Alexander is an author to keep an eye on.

Author Web Site
To enter to win an autographed copy of this book go to Breeni Books!

 FRONT STREET REVIEWS HOME PAGE