 |  |
"Telling stories that are not easily told; creating characters that transcend the final pages of the book..."
Debut author A.L. Smith has a niche for spinning urban fiction tales which address a variety of sensitive issues in the urban community. According to Smith, "there's nothing new under the sun." Her goal is to give her readers a different perspective.
Dr. Smith is a native Louisianan, graduate of Grambling State University, Major in the Army Reserves, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and humanitarian. In 2010, she traveled to Haiti twice after the devastating earthquake and provided anesthesia care for a countless number of victims. She holds firmly, the concept of giving: "In as much as you've done for the least of these, you’ve done for me."
About her book
Behind Closed Doors
"The love of money is the root to all evil, but poverty and lack are its greatest companions..." A.L. Smith
Human trafficking is often considered an international phenomenon and women from third world countries are the first images that come to mind. However, “familial human trafficking” is a more intimate crime due to the dynamics of the underlying relationships.
Behind Closed Doors 2 is a riveting tale of one little girl’s struggle to overcome circumstances beyond her control. Born and raised on the ruthless streets of East St Louis, Dana Toussaint was accustomed to a life of privilege; thanks to her father, a Haitian-born immigrant and notorious drug lord. Dana’s mother; a materialistic southern belle from South Louisiana, is consumed by the good life, as memories of her upbringing in an East New Orleans housing project become a distant memory.
In spite of the similarities between the Haitian and Louisiana Creole cultures, the marriage unravels and the unthinkable occurs when Dana’s father abruptly abandons the family. At the age of 12, Dana becomes the ultimate sacrifice and her mother brokers the deal.
alsmithbooks.com
Most Favorite Book Review
Really emotional
I found this book really emotional and had to read it all in one go. It was impossible to put it down because I just had to see what was coming next. This book discusses a topic that is uncomfortable for many to discuss. Unfortunately, sexual abuse within families is so common but treated in a hush hush manner. As a result, it leads to low self -esteem, negative self- image and self –loathing in the victims. These are all the issues this author addresses brilliantly in this book. The story sounds so real because I felt like I knew Alex, Sierra and Lattice personally. I found it difficult to understand how Sierra’s family could turn her from the victim into the villain and the unfairness of it all. Comments made by her family members when she revealed what Keith had done to her made it worse. Sadly the idea of hiding these situations and pretending they did not happen are the biggest barriers to healing.
I was also moved by Tiffany’s story, again it sounded so familiar and real.
Behind Closed Doors has been brilliantly written by the author as she skilfully connects the dots between her many characters whose lives are intertwined. This is an intense book and my first one by this author. I look forward to reading more from her. At the end of the book, I gave a sigh of relief. Irrespective of all the wrong that may have been done, justice did prevail. This is a really emotional book worth reading.
Avid Reader from the UK
RSS Feed
