#BlogTour Re-Navigation by Sue Parritt

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Re-Navigation by Sue Parritt. It's a story of self-exploration, passion and faith. A tale of what God means to each person on an individual level and how to navigate faith or loss of faith.

About the Author

Originally from England, Sue worked in university libraries until taking early retirement in 2008 to concentrate on creative writing. Since then she has written short stories, articles, poetry, a short TV drama script and six novels:

Sannah and the Pilgrim, first in a trilogy of a future dystopian Australia focusing on climate change and the harsh treatment of refugees from drowned Pacific islands. Odyssey Books, 2014. Commended in the FAW Christina Stead Award, 2014. Pia and the Skyman, Odyssey Books, 2016. Commended in the FAW Christina Stead Award, 2016. The Sky Lines Alliance, Odyssey Books, 2016. Chrysalis, the story of a perceptive girl growing up in a Quaker family in swinging sixties’ Britain. Morning Star Press, 2017

Re-Navigation recounts a life turned upside down when forty-year old Julia journeys from the sanctuary of middle-class Australian suburbia to undertake a retreat at a college located on an isolated Welsh island. Creativia Publishing, 2019.

Feed Thy Enemy, based on her father’s experiences, is an account of courage and compassion in the face of trauma as a British airman embarks on a plan that risks all to feed a starving, war-stricken family. Creativia Publishing, 2019.

Sue’s current project, A Question of Country, is a novel exploring the migrant experience through the protagonist’s lifelong search for meaningful identity.

Passionate about peace and social justice issues, Sue’s goal as a fiction writer is to continue writing novels that address topics such as climate change, the effects of war, the treatment of refugees, feminism and racism.  Sue intends to keep on writing for as long as possible, believing the extensive life experiences of older writers can be employed to engage readers of all ages.

Follow Sue Parritt on Facebook, Visit www.sueparritt.com, Buy Re-navigation

About the book
A gloomy seascape is of little consequence to Julia, as a ferry transports her to an isolated Welsh island to undertake a Spiritual Development course.

Soon, Julia finds herself surrounded by new friends and questions. As relationships deepen, so does Julia’s feeling that something crucial is missing from her life.

As passion ignites and deep-buried secrets surface, Julia faces choices that will forever change the direction of her life. But at what cost?

Review
When Julia treats herself to a spiritual retreat she doesn't expect her entire life and relationships to be questioned, by herself of all people. Her vulnerability is exposed which opens up a quagmire of emotional turmoil.

Parritt addresses a lot of controversial issues in her story. I believe her intent is to inform, make aware and get readers to think about a variety of issues. I couldn't decide whether they were purposely presented in a way that comes across as offensive white privilege and ignorance, which is exactly the way it happens in real life, ergo gives her character more of a realistic feel. Or is there a lack of awareness in the tropes and how ignorant some of the dialogue and thoughts are?

That isn't meant in negative way at all. Having read something about the author I know her intent is to engage. My concern is that readers without that extra info will only see the often offensive characters and not the intent. It's a provocative way to show the problems in thinking and reactions. Will people recognise themselves in these racist beliefs, sexist presumptions, religious affectations? Or will it just be a case of - that's the norm.

Spirituality, faith and religion play a large part in the plot. In particular when Julia loses her faith during her time at the spiritual retreat. Loss of self or a complete re-navigation is quite common in an environment where one is asked to delve into emotions, memories and structure of self.

It's a story of self-exploration, passion and faith. A tale of what God means to each person on an individual level and how to navigate faith or the loss of it.

Buy Re-Navigation at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Creativia; pub date 14 May 2019. Buy at Amazon.com. Amazon au. Buy at Book Depository.