BEYOND MORNINGSTAR LANE by Miriam C. Crouch is deeply invested in exploring the inner lives of women, and how they navigate life’s challenges within a patriarchal society. The protagonist Valentine Monroe is an intensely self-aware woman, constantly trying to learn from past adversities even as she expresses gratitude for the present, taking a rational approach to a situation before concluding. The novel follows her journey, as she and her mother flee from New York in an attempt to escape from an abuser and begin a new life in Texas with her Aunt Nona in the 1940s.  Shortly thereafter, Valentine loses her mother in a fatal accident. Readers watch Valentine grow up, get a job in a clothing shop, come to terms with class and gender biases, and pursue teaching in a bid to be self-reliant. However, even in Texas, a fresh abduction attempt is a reminder that the threat of male violence never truly disappears, highlighting how the lives of women are defined by patriarchal power structures, affecting them in insidious ways. For the independent Valentine, it also manifests in a hesitancy to commit to a relationship with the attractive Rowan. The novel features a strong cast of supporting female characters, particularly Aunt Nona–who plays the role of Valentine’s guardian angel–and Jessica, Valentine’s childhood best friend who works as a model. In fact, her wholesome friendships with both Jessica and later, Pastor Leland, are a testament to the life-sustaining value of platonic bonds.

The story is written as a memoir, filled with anecdotes and letters, in a lucid and reflective tone. However, at times the prose feels rather overbearing as the author focuses more on “telling” than “showing”.  Some of Valentine’s inner monologues feel repetitive and monotonous and could have been edited into shorter paragraphs. Even as the novel touches on class issues, an engagement with race relations would have been better. Nevertheless, BEYOND MORNINGSTAR LANE is a page-turning novel of women’s resilience and solidarity that is both relatable and relevant for our times.

BEYOND MORNINGSTAR LANE by Miriam C. Crouch is an intensely relatable and relevant novel that engages with women’s struggles in a patriarchal world and teaches lessons in resilience and gratitude.

~Archita Mittra for IndieReader