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Suzanne Jenkins
Author
B072ZCCQF1
Synopsis The Jade Emperor by Suzanne Jenkins A marriage of nearly half a century faces its greatest challenge when a stranger arrives, bearing life changing news. Although Steve and Kelly Boyd live together, they barely tolerate each other. Marrying in their teens and quickly becoming parents, the separation due to the war in Vietnam forms the foundation for the next forty-five precarious years. Filling the empty marriage with the companionship of her twin sister, Karen, and the family she made with Steve, Kelly’s life revolves around her six adult children. Their childhood was largely spent with Kelly attempting to protect them from the harsh and often cruel disinterest of their father. After all of Kelly’s careful ministrations, the detritus of her relationship with Steve is seen in their children presenting as alcoholism, food and sex addictions, and all the other obsessions society offers. \tThe stranger is Steve’s son, Titan, born in Vietnam after Steve returned to the states. His sudden appearance clarifies so much about Steve’s lifetime behavior to Kelly when she accidently witnesses the affection Steve has for Titan’s mother, Lee. Steve admits that he has always loved Lee, and subsequently leaves Kelly to move in with Lee, who is battling liver cancer. \tShortly after Steve moves out of Kelly’s house, Titan’s wife dies after a long illness. The family witnesses Steve’s humanity for the first time when he shows compassion for Titan’s loss. Earlier deaths in the family didn’t affect him to the same extent. The death, and Steve’s jealousy as Kelly embraces Titan for the sake of her children, and for companionship, forces Steve to acknowledge his shortcomings as a father, and cultivate a desire to make restitution to his children in some way. \tIn spite of the upheaval, it is clear to the family that Steve is finally happy, and they respond to the difference in their father by making changes in their own lives, not always positive. The oldest son nicknamed the Prince because of his drive for perfection since his youth exposes his first failure. Hard working, deliberate Augie, has an affair, leaves his wife and family shortly after Steve leaves, stating he doesn’t want to end up like his father, waiting until he’s sixty-five to be happy. Next in line, a set of twins, and most well-adjusted of the children, battle their obsessions. Serious, workaholic, caretaker Ben, takes overeater sister Lisa for a nightly fitness walk after he’s worked all day, while Ben’s wife is left home alone caring for their newborn. \tThe middle son, rakish, irreverent Ken, who’s the most effected by his father’s neglect, is forced to join AA after a co-worker smells alcohol on his breath, and his recovery paves the way for success. His antics along the way cause the most concern for Kelly. \tThe last two children, although not twins, find a way to bind together when timid, professional student Reggie provides the means for sister Alice’s life-partner to conceive. This achievement occurred in spite of Reggie’s former fear of Maxine, who admittedly did everything in her power to intimidate Reggie. \tThrough all of this Kelly is determined to keep the family together for her children’s sake, including Steve and Lee in all family get togethers, making more sacrifices, acknowledging where she went wrong, and seeking ways to change for the wellbeing of everyone by no longer enabling those she loves. \tHeartfelt conversations at the local coffee shop where Reggie works as a barista, help the family resolve differences, build new relationships, and grow in acceptance of one another. \tAt the end, together they celebrate Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, and the affection Kelly and the ailing Lee have for each other paves the way for transformation for everyone in the family. \t
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