{ The Outlook for Earthlings by Joan Frank - TLC Book Tours }

 

• Paperback: 237 pages
• Publisher: Regal House Publishing (October 2, 2020)

The Outlook For Earthlings traces a difficult friendship across a lifetime. Melanie Taper is rule-bound, timid, self-erasing. Yet in unguarded moments she demonstrates such deadly insight into human foibles as to suggest a strength that has, for dark reasons, deliberately hidden itself lifelong. Scarlet Rand is rash, willful, abrasive—vexed by “demure” traits and “small fussing motions.” Shocked by Mel’s passivity and near-archaic saintliness, Scarlet disbelieves it. Their friendship suggests to each a final frontier, a saving sanctuary. Yet at its core each woman takes a secret, moral offense at the other’s inmost nature—and her choices. Against the deadline of the illness which is slowly destroying one of them, a reckoning must occur.

The Outlook for Earthlings considers the limits of friendship—and of witnessing. It asks how we may finally measure a life—and who should do the measuring.

Purchase Links

Regal House Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Joan Frank

Joan Frank is the author of ten books: eight of literary fiction and two essay collections. Her recent books are WHERE YOU’RE ALL GOING: FOUR NOVELLAS and TRY TO GET LOST: ESSAYS ON TRAVEL AND PLACE. A MacDowell Fellow and recipient of many honors and awards, Joan also reviews literary fiction and nonfiction for the Washington Post.

Find out more about Joan at her website.

 

REVIEW:

The story follows Melanie and Scarlet.  Two young girls born in the 60s who meet on a school bus and forge a friendship and bond that will take them through their childhood, all the way to adulthood.While they do have similarities in that they both came from pretty dysfunctional upbringings, their way of being and their personalities themselves are pretty different.Joan Frank explores the ins and outs and innermost thoughts and feelings, tied to female friendships. 

 

Though they remain friends, each takes a different path in life.  One goes the traditional route and marries, has children, while the other takes to the road and travels as a journalist.20 years later they come together again, and though happy to see each other, each can't help but look a bit sideways at the choices the other one made.  

 

Whether we admit it or not, as we grow, the people we were in our teenage years, become different people as we experience life and all it's ups and downs.The trick is to be respectful and to understand that not everyone will act and react the same way we do, or the way we expect them too.

 

Outlook for Earthlings takes a brilliant deeper look into what it means to be a friend, to set aside whatever judgement we may feel we need to pass on their life choices, and rather focus on being supportive and understanding.If you enjoy books about friendship, then this one needs to go on your shelf.