The Vice Of Courage

Artists often come from troubled families. Aaron Kantro wants passionately to be a musician but his mother opposes his dreams. She mounts a campaign of terror to ensure that he won't get what he wants. What's wrong with this woman? Why does she turn her family's life into a reign of terror? It takes some time to see what's driving Esther Kantro's behavior.

The classic Hero's Journey begins as Aaron storms the blockade raised by his mother. He has won an important scholarship to study music. He's only nine years old but he finds courage and learns the art of deception in order to take his prize. This is the first of many battles that Aaron and his siblings must fight. This novel explores a fifty year slice of life through the eyes of the Kantro family. Without losing warmth and humor, the story tells a tale of childhood abuse. It explores the price paid by children who suffer from parental violence. Along the way we pass through high school in the 60's, The Summer Of Love, meet Jimi Hendrix, fight in the Soviet Afghan War and make the arduous journey from addiction to recovery. This is a psychological book. It observes in minute and honest detail the quirks of human nature. It amuses and horrifies. It always surprises.

Father Max, mother Esther and the four children are portrayed with deep inner logic. Youngest son Mark is a mediocre martial artist and a sociopathic collector of weapons. Mari-lee is a climber, looking to marry the wealthiest man she can snare. Sarah and Aaron seek refuge in creativity. They are damaged souls but in the response to their wounds we see how moral choices are made that influence the outcome of a life.

While working in music, Aaron meets his mentor, a famous jazz musician named Zoot Prestige. The saxophonist demonstrates an approach to living, a loose, flexible world view that helps Aaron in his time of deepest crisis. Zoot defines the nature of Evil in a few pithy sentences. What is Disease and what is Evil? Zoot knows the difference. Though Aaron loses his way and suffers his "dark night of the soul", he never forgets his teacher's admonition: "ask for help. Don't be too proud. You can't do it alone. Ask for help".

This book is a coming-of-age adventure novel that looks "under the hood" into human beings' deepest motivations. Its observations keep the reader engaged, in suspense, turning the pages. There is so much here with which to identify! The Kantros aren't necessarily ordinary people but they aren't difficult to understand. They want to live, to love, to thrive. Why is that so difficult? Some of the answers to that question are here, in "The Vice Of Courage."

Dettagli