Title: Be Not Afraid

Author: AJ Saxsma

Genre: Fiction

 

Lloyd Wood and his family live in the town of Larton. Larton has been in decline for some time and corporate interests are seeking to buy up many businesses. Lloyd is the lone holdout. Lloyd firmly believes in his restaurant’s ability to serve a good meal to the townsfolk and make profits. The restaurant and his finances consume Lloyd’s waking thoughts. Lloyd’s Wife, Dawn wants more from her life. Her relationship with Lloyd has been frayed since she made a sizable dent in the family’s bank account a few years back. A vision of an angel leads to a greater spiritual search and a new church. Toby Wood is their only son lost in questions about his identity.

AJ Saxsma brings a heavy dose of pathos in exploring the members of the Wood family. The engrossing story revolves around Lloyd, Dawn, and Toby and their often-fruitless attempts to achieve what they desire most. Saxsma will often build up to a high point in the character’s plot and then swiftly bring them crashing to reality. The eccentric lot of characters that play a part in the family’s life are multifaceted and add to the story’s allure.

A unifying theme with all three characters is progress. Lloyd resolves to keep his business but is willing to make sacrifices in order to turn its fortunes around. He is a study in contrast in holding up the town’s progress while achieving his own. Dawn has felt marginalized in the aftermath of her financial transgression and wants to move forward. Her vision opens up new possibilities for enlightenment and empowerment. Toby is a teenager who believes his thoughts are unnatural and will only lead to trouble. He believes progress is possible with a form of controversial therapy.

The contrasting theme with progress is cost. Each character moves forward with their plans, often in an inconspicuous manner. Lloyd’s upgrading of his restaurant comes with more than financial expenses as he begins to compromise his initial vision. Dawn’s membership in the church begins with a litany of good vibes, yet as time passes, she soon realizes that there are certain tolls to be had. Toby begins his therapy with positive hopes. Every day, while in treatment, he believes it will bring him closer to normalcy. However, Toby learns that his cure is equivalent to the amount of money he puts in each week. Each character’s successes are bookended with soul crushing frustration.

The story hinges on a fair amount of dark humor mixed in with the drama. The dialogue in a variety of sections resemble a scene from a David Mamet play where the same question is asked over and over, which can be subtle but occasionally frustrating. The rift in the marriage between Lloyd and Dawn is hinted at, but would greatly aid the story if further expanded upon.

Be Not Afraid is a beautifully written story about a dysfunctional family beset by individual crises. Each character’s path proves absorbing even when poignant. This is a book that proves cathartic and entertaining.

 

 

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