If I Should Die

In a brilliantly crafted story, Keith Clemons ventures where few Christian authors dare, tackling issues surrounding euthanasia, abortion and sexual orientation. But he does so from a completely fresh perspective. A young reporter risks her job and her life, entering a nursing home after receiving a professional make-over, searching for the real story behind the palpable fear among residents. The pithy wisdom of Ruth, a sprightly old woman with a mind as crisp as the crack of a whip; the sometimes winsome, sometimes whining, but always very human effeminate makeup artist, Peter, who assists Laurie with her disguise as she tries desperately to not overdo forty years of instant aging; and the Nursing Home Director in financial crisis, resorting to the "Peaceful Slumber" room to ease finacial burdens -- are all tied together by a main character who somehow acts as a catalyst, taking a straight-forward plot and repeatedly surprising the reader. The sensative and compassionate development of Peter, who struggles with his sexual orientation, combined with the tough love of Ruth, an uncompromising senior who confonts his tendencies head-on, while accepting him fully as a person, achieves some of the most effective writing on gay issues in print. Another mark of the genius of the writing is that much of the time we actually "Like" the Nursing Home Director and ache for him as he battles his financial demons. We disagree, but understand and almost sympathize as he resorts to desperate measures. He is not an inherently evil man that we love to hate. He is a man caught in a world of muddy ethics; a "victim" of his time who is simply following the logic of a world that values "Quality of Life" more than "Life" itself. Topnoch writing, this book is also far more. It speaks strongly and effectively to pertinent issues. Not for the lazy reader, Clemons will exercise your intellect, grip your imagination and your emotions and keep you turning pages late into the night. He will leave you mulling over issues for months to come. Never preachy, this book achieves that rare balance of masterful storytelling, gripping entertainment, and a message that engages your mind and calls you to think. BUY IT!! READ IT!! PASS IT ON!!