BOOK REVIEW:

Alligator Blues

by
Beckon

Publisher:
Spirit Roots Publishing,
Santa Rosa, California, USA

Reviewed by: Marie T. Russell

They say that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. Well, in this story the teacher does appear, even if she is a rather unconventional teacher. Not only are her teaching methods out of the ordinary, but the teacher herself is rather odd. Celeste, the teacher, is a wise being who happens to have the body of an alligator and at the start of the story resides in the Everglades in Florida as do many alligators.

Now, obviously this alligator is not your every day alligator... she can speak, and she has dreams of becoming a dragon... but let me not get too far into the story.

The heroes (or let's call them participants since they don't always act like heroes) in this story are Neil and Rose. Rose has a dream that she's nurtured within her heart but has never felt she had what it took to make it come true (sound like anyone you know?) Neil may also seem familiar. He is the young enterprising fellow who is in sales and who sees getting up on the ladder of the business world as the most important thing in his life... more important than his relationship with Rose, more important than an alligator, even if it is one who talks and who claims to be his teacher.

You'll definitely need to let go your concept of reality to enjoy this book, because if you stick to your rational linear mind you won't be able to get into the story (after all, alligators can't talk! can they?) But is you're willing to step into the world of fiction and allow your teacher to appear in any form she chooses, then you're in for a fun voyage. Celeste is a quite lovable sort and she's got some teaching methodology which I'd never seen before (and enjoyed greatly).

This story has a mix of adventure, wisdom, suspense, and romance. It's a fun read and also carries a wallop of wisdom. Go ahead! Let yourself get lost into a strange world where an alligator can teach you a thing or two.