The Alley of Wishes

A Novel by Laurel Johnston
Published by 1st Books Library
ISBN # 1-4033-7059-1 (e-book)
# 1-4033-7060-5 (paperback)
313 pages $18.95

Sometimes a book comes along and just totally blindsides you. You think it is going to be one type of story and before you know it, it takes you to places you never been before and manages in the process to elicit emotions that are unexpected and real. The Alley of Wishes is one of those books.

This is not just a romance book; to pigeonhole it into that narrow of a definition is unfair to what a joyous work this is. The is a book about love, the kind that is pure and real. This is about people, how they really feel and what their hopes and aspirations are. This is about dreams, and wishes, with white knights that appear out of nowhere to carry you away from the nightmare that has become your life. Not long after the turn of the 20th Century in Paris, Cerise L’Oiseau lives that nightmare every day in the guise of an abusive boyfriend that mercilessly beats her, and then comes to her with apologies and false promises, only to repeat the cycle over and over.

This is also the story of Beck Sanow, a still wet behind the ears plowboy from Kansas that goes to fight during the days of World War 1, the first war that was supposed to end all wars. He lives his own nightmare in the trenches of battle, horrified by what he sees going on around him. One day, he simply has had enough and just gets up and leaves the war behind him. Beck walks in a daze until he reaches a small hotel in Paris where he is sheltered and nurtured back to health. Healed in the body but not the spirit, he is sure that he will never see beauty again until he walks into a small café and sees Cerise dancing. He is struck by her beauty, devastated by her elegance, and whishes only a dance with her, which she cautiously grants. Not only do their bodies meet as they dance, but their hearts do as well. Both unsure of how to deal with their newfound emotions, they stay at arms length, neither allowing the other to get close. Until the night that Cerise’s boyfriend comes and beats her within an inch of her life. When Beck discovers her, he nurses her back from the brink, and their romance goes to an entirely new level, that of friend, lover and protector. He will see that no further harm befalls her-no matter the cost.

This barley touches the richness of the story that Ms. Johnston has weaved. Until now, I had thought that the most romantic thing I had ever read was The Bridges of Madison County, but in my opinion, this puts that ‘thin in more ways than one’ story to shame. Alley of Wishes is a much richer, fuller, more robust read with characters that are as real and true to life as any I have ever read in any other book-ever. My heart sang with the good times, and sank with the sad right along with Beck and Cerise’s.

This is a story that Ms. Johnston should be proud of crafting. Her writing is clear, crisp, and filled with imagery that will make the story unfold with an exuberance that embraces life and love that will leave you wanting more. I know there is a massive audience for this type of work, and I sincerely hope that they find this book. If only they would put down those books with the half naked man holding a scantily clad woman on the cover and read a true love story expertly written, I don’t think they would ever go back to those again.

One other thing I want to mention, and then I will wrap this up. Read the foreword. Too many times, we as readers think that forwards are there just to say “Hi-here is who I am and who I want to thank,” only glorified acknowledgements. Not in this case-it will add a deeper richness to the story you have in your hands. You honor her memory with this story, Ms. Johnston, thank you for sharing it with the world.