Seasons in Purdah

by Anjuelle Floyd

What happens when the loss of your sight ignites a war between your two best friends? Such is the case for 35-year-old, psychologist, Sahel Ohin, involving her two friends from childhood, Titus Denning and Carl Pierson. That she marries Titus enrages the flames of a battle brewing between him and Carl. A treacherous surgical procedure, at its most successful, could restore Sahel’s sight and her independence. At its worst she could die during the operation or be rendered permanently comatose. Sahel’s husband, Titus, a cardiac surgeon, and fearful of losing her urges Sahel to forgo the operation and allow him to love and care for her. Aware of the risks, Sahel’s neurosurgeon, Carl Pierson, believes Sahel’s blindness has rendered her hostage to Titus’s need for control. Caught in the middle, Sahel worries that she has become a burden. Despite her fears, she cannot fully relinquish of the possibility of regaining her sight, and returning to her passion of practicing psychotherapy. Seated at a table in the Masonic Ballroom on her first venture out since the accident, Sahel grows ever more anxious of how she will maneuver eating during the annual medical society dinner. Titus is to receive an award, Surgeon of the Year. Seconds later a friend introduces Sahel to James Bolton, a former San Francisco stockbroker. Holding tight to all he loved, James has lost everything. On the winter afternoon James stood in court, and received life imprisonment for a murder he did not commit, his fiancée ended her life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Though never having met, Sahel and James converse as if old friends reunited. Their souls mirror a familiarity that Sahel cannot explain. During dinner Sahel accidentally spills water on her gown. James escorts her out onto the verandah. On matters settling, Sahel longs to see James’s face, senses him about to kiss her. Surprisingly he asks, “Do you believe… in life after death?” Sahel’s hesitancy at answering draws a shocking interpretation from James. She responds to a reply of silence. James has gone. Seasons in Purdah shows what happens when best friends become adults, and how among many things, life is but a series of choices, the consequences of which yield a drama that both weaves and unravels the knots binding our lives to those whom we love, and who cherish us. Not so often by the purposes of our actions, but rather through the integrity of our intent, life bestows grace leading us to redemption.

Genres: Romance

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2012

About the author

Click here, http://www.freado.com/users/settings/..., and read to the opening of Dancing Siva the first of 8 interconnected short stories comprising my linked novel, Keeper of Secrets…Translations of an Incident and and excerpt of my novel, The House.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a story that blends science with mysticism, reincarnation with Catholicism, and blindness with sight, Anjuelle Floyd’s Seasons in Purdah is a tale of America’s successful misfits and the need for individuality underlying the desire to belong.

Purdah is a Muslim tradition of female seclusion. Viewed from one angle it’s a trap or a jail, but it’s protection too, a safe place to rest after trials, and a gift of love. Sahel’s marriage offers her protection in her blindness, but it serves as well as a kind of purdah or purgatory, waiting before the joy of true life can begin.

Seasons in Purdah repeats images and symbols from many cultures, blending them into the tale of a love triangle. Dark-skinned Sahel, light-skinned Titus, and darker Carl have been friends from childhood, making mudcakes together in an oft-remembered scene. But each memory lends a different shade of light to the blindness of unknowing. Protected Sahel wants more. Carl wants more for her. And the intruder, James, wants nothing and everything.

Strongest in its depiction of a woman coming to terms with her blindness, this novel covers lots of ground, from physical ailments to the meaning of dreams, and from breaking marriages to bonds of love. It’s an oddly captivating novel, despite the slow, introspective read; and it’s a powerfully visual novel despite the main character’s excellently depicted blindness.

Healer, heal yourself, is the call of our time. But time can heal too, and seclusion, and purdah perhaps.

Disclosure: The author kindly gave me a free ecopy of this novel. I’m just sorry it took me so long to get around to reading it.

[Dream 4 More Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anjuelle Floyd sophomore novel, Seasons of Purdah, Floyd embraces love, friendship, and relationships in a triangular scope. Sahel has deeply cared or loved her two male best friends: Titus and Carl; however, she married Titus. Once she loses her sight, she has past memories that alarms her heart and wishes she'd picked the one she loved, not who her mother felt was best for her. A stranger, James, raises the heat because of the conviction of his health condition versus Sahel reminds him of his past lover that didn't choose him. It's like reverse psychology at its best in relationships.

The readers sees the depth of the relationship between the two best friends and did she choose the wrong one but as James suddenly comes into her life, she sees how it happened in reverse and he's left holding the hurt and pain from a major decision not based on love.

If you love romance and psychological aspects coming into play, then you will enjoy this read. Relational readers that can see the connection, the binding forces and factors that untangle, then you will be inspired and heart transpires the most important aspect in relationships--love. Moreover, if you believe in DREAMS and able to see each other realities through each other eyes, then this will be a sweet dream journey read for you.

My only issue with the novel was the redundancy with the dream about the Kingdom of Purdah, Sahel's blindness in relation to her love for Titus, and a few other incidents reiterated throughout the novel from beginning to end.

Dream 4 More Reviews has received Seasons of Purdah by the author for a book review.

Dream 4 More Reviews,
What a Dream but Sweet! (3.5)
Adrienna Turner
www.dream4more.org

[Divya · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The dreamer is any and everything in their dream, but what if other people have experienced the same dream, shared the experiences with you?" Just a couple of days or so before I read Seasons in Purdah I was having a conversation with a friend about out of body experiences and dreaming. I was telling her how a dream is an out of body experience. And she asked, ''So if you are dreaming about me, and it is indeed an experience, then I must experience it too ..." and then we were wondering that perhaps people do have the same dreams.

Seasons in Purdah is a metaphorical journey of Sahel & Titus, Sahel & Carl, Sahel & James, Sahel & her dad, Sahel & her mom and Sahel & Sahel..

Sahel is a psychotherapist who has lost her eyesight to an accident. She has lost her vision, but is however now able to visualize beyond the seen and the unseen. She gets in touch with her inner self only to be a spectator to many a secret. Mystified, she resolves to find answers to the many questions life has thrown at her.

Seasons in Purdah is not just simply about a psychotherapist, it's in fact a psychotherapy in itself. This book is a very honest, straight from the heart experience with many layers and sub layers to it.

Highly stylistic in writing without fancy jargon, yet a beautiful play of words; this book makes a sheer brilliant read.

....and when you finish reading Anjuelle Floyd's Seasons in Purdah, you begin your Seasons in Purdah!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seasons in Purdah by Anjulle Floyd

Sahel Ohin married Titus Denning six weeks after an accident that left her blind. Carl Pierson, her neurosurgeon wants her to have surgery that may restore her vision but could kill her. The three of them have been best friends since childhood, she trusts them both, but has a tough decision to make.

All three have pasts that they chose to forget. Then Sahel Meets James Bolton a man who is dying, he asks if she believes in life after death. Soon Sahel's life is about to change, she has to face her fears and has some Major life altering decisions to make.

Well written unforgettable story. Sahel is very likable, I could feel her emotions. I really loved Seasons in Purdah, it definitely left an impression in my heart and soul.

[Gabby-Lily Raines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received via Member Giveaways at Librarything.

Seasons in Purdah follows, primarily, three characters who have known each other since childhood and who are in three different medical disciplines. Two of the main characters are also married.

Seasons is a beautifully written story about how a life-changing incident can cause ripples and impact lives in different ways. It shows how it can bring people closer together and how it can try (and sometimes succeed) in tearing them apart.

I enjoyed reading Seasons in Purdah - mainly because it gave greater insight into characters first introduced in Ms. Floyd's Keeper of Secrets...Translations of an Incident. Having said that, I think I preferred reading Keeper more due to the differing viewpoints on a single incident.

Both are very interesting reads and Ms. Floyd brings, in my opinion, a great depth to her characters and subject matter.

[Adrienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote a professional review under Dream4More Reviews.

Personally, I enjoyed the read and some of the inspirational messages outlined clearly in this novel. In some instances, I felt Sahel had to get over the man she dearly loved since he couldn't love her as she needed to be loved (Titus). I felt towards the end, he was a coward to leave and give her divorce papers and never coming to tell her face-to-face. I was rooting for Carl, her other best friend, and one who loved her. Yet, Sahel blindness was a doorway in dream world and face those dark demons that were inwardly to see clearly outwardly what was holding her back and finally unleashed her true beauty and do what she loved most.

I truly enjoyed this work to the utmost except some of the redundancy was a bothersome for me.

Adrienna Turner
Author of "God is in the Equation"

[Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Long and a little like the stories by Ms. Floyd in Keeper of Secrets

[Birgitta Norberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the book. It's a beautiful heartfelt story that stays with you. Can't wait to read more from this wonderful author.

Won in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received 'Seasons In Purdah' by Anjuelle Floyd through Goodreads 'Firstreads' over three years ago.
This is the last of the books I left unread for two years during a time when reading was the last thing on my mind. I apologise for not following through with this review until now.

'Seasons In Purdah' is a journey of many emotions. It is rare for me to find a book thrumming with so much life!
Sahel Ohin is such an inspiring, beautifully written character that captured my heart from the beginning.
Her life circumstances were complex; but when is life ever easy. Her determination and kind spirit are virtues that define the very essence of this novel - and it's been a joy to read!

[Skylar · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is true literary fiction: beautiful prose and a focus on the internal life of the main character. However, I could not finish it. I actually stopped quite early in the book because I was really offended by some of the content. A man passes out during a meal with two doctors, who later find out (in so many violations of HIPPA) that the man has AIDS. In short, they freak out and are screaming and accusing the man's Godmother for not telling them their guest had AIDS (since that's their right to know?). As doctors, these people should know full well how HIV is transmitted, and if there had been bodily fluids "loose" during his passing out, I imagine the Godmother would have brought it up. And even if not, as doctors, they know better than anyone how to properly care for themselves during someone else's medical emergency. Overall, the descriptions of the doctors strikes me as both illegal and totally unrelated to reality, as well as being bigoted fearmongering about people with HIV. In another case briefly mentioned (to be expanded later, I'm sure) would any hospital allow a husband to accompany his wife to the ER and then continue to treat her as she lies dying? No f-ing way. It makes a good story, but every hospital would forcibly remove a doctor who will undoubtedly be compromised by his emotions.

It ruined my trust in the author to tell an authentic story, and I couldn't keep reading.

[Carol MacInnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from a contest on Goodreads.

Sahel Ohin is a black woman in her mid thirties and is a psychologist with a thriving practice. That is, until a terrible accident, where her, then finance, backs his car up and hits Sahel which results in her losing her sight.

Sahel is the product of a black father from Ghana and an American white woman who abused her physically and emotionally due to Sahel's dark skin. Sahel's escape was her two best friends, Titus Denning and Carl Pierson who all grew up on the same street making mud pies. Now as adults, Carl in a neurosurgeon and Titus is a heart surgeon and is Sahel's husband. Sahel and Titus' marriage has not been a easy road to travel and when Sahel joins her husband at the annual medical society dinner in honor of Titus as 'Surgeon of the Year', Sahel is introduced to James Bolton, a former stockbroker. James was falsely accused of killing his finance's father and just before James is exonerated, his finance kills herself and James' life is left without meaning. Sahel and James quickly become friends and Sahel's life takes on a whole new meaning.

A poignant, yet enlightening story of three best friends growing up and how as adults their lives become so convoluted it makes the reader wonder if there is any point of return.

[Rachel Beaver · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book in a first reads giveaway, this has no way influenced my review.
A story with far too much going on - blindness, suicide attempts, AIDS, a love triangle, communication with the dead, a dream land that everyone experiences... just too much! Pretty depressing stuff.
Besides this, things are repeated - often whole paragraphs, nearly word for word. Completely unneccessary & annoying. Needs a really good edit.
Can't say I really liked it.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the chance to win this book through Goodreads First Reads program. I liked the story in general, the characters were well-defined. I loved the moral of the story. However, the author lost me at the part when the dream occurred while Sahel is having her surgery. I understand the importance of this dream, but I also think that this part was too detailed for its purpose. There are also some other parts of the book that, I think, gave some unnecessary length to the story.

[Sandy Klocinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free as part of the GoodReads First Reads Program. I'm not altogether sure why I read this book. Not my usual fare. Seasons in Purdah is a beautiful tale of three people who love each other with all their heart. If you love romance and emotional aspects coming into play, then you will like this book.

[Ebony · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally was able to sit down and put all my energy into this book. To be honest, it was good, but not one of my favorites. It was very heavy, and at times seemed to be all over the place. However, it was did have some gripping moments that kept me reading. As always, don't take my word for it. You should read it and make your own opinions. Thanks again for picking me as a First-Read!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway. I enjoyed this book very much. It had a great range of characters and also contained a mystic quality to the story line. I didn't like the end however as I found that things were wrapped up too quickly.

[Emma Moulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book!