Trying To Do What's Right Versus What's Easy


I like The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. It is a book that deals with a long-term problem faced by every human. It starts from when we master walking to when we are no longer able to do so.

The struggle with human nature is a daily occurrence. Striving to rise above our selfish impulses or sacrifice temporary desires to help another is part of life demands. Every human wants to be the hero of his own story. But there is also a side of humans that want to hurt others, self-sabotage, do away with obstacles no matter what it takes... all in the bid to get what we want.

This constant fight is at the root of existence and one of the subjects of Tara Gilboy's new book, Unwritten.

In Unwritten, we see fairytale characters escape from an unfinished manuscript written by a writer named Gertrude Winters. Ms Winters' characters are on the run from a villain that seeks to capture and draw them back into the story. But the escapees are determined to live their lives outside of what has been written about them.

For example, one of the escapees, Gracie, who is a villain in the manuscript, has behaved otherwise since living outside of the story. As the power of the story pulls her to behave in an obnoxious way, she fights against her scripted self to do what she thinks is best for herself and her family. All through the book, we witness Gracie torn between who she is supposed to be and who she desires to be.

Unwritten by Sarah Gilboy reveals the difficulties of trying to do what is right versus what is easy. It also shows that internal struggles, though personal, needn't be borne alone.

Many thanks to Jolly Fish Press for review copy.

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