5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning Mosaic!

Reviewed in Canada on August 7, 2021

Shifting to Freedom is a wonderful tale, artfully recounting the struggles of Dr. Tess Elliot, from her childhood in the Canadian Prairies to her life as a surgical pathologist in Vancouver. The author has an easy and fluid style, vividly pulling the reader into the events and situations Tess experiences with an attention to detail that masterfully bring them to life. Glimpses into Tess’ childhood in the Prairies and her innate affinity with the “Indians” are particularly poignant. Events from Tess’ childhood are eclectically juxtaposed with glimpses into other aspects of her life, leading the reader through a unique experience seen through Tess’ eyes. The story is carefully crafted piece by piece, building to finally unveil a stunning mosaic which sheds some light on the pain, chaos and tragedy of mental illness.

Tess’s story is beautifully presented. A good read. A highly recommended read.

Shifting To Freedom
by 

Marlene F. Cheng (Goodreads Author)

Laura's review

Jul 22, 2021

It was amazing

A painful story highlighting a difficult issue, that of mental illness in general and of Multiple-Personality Disorder in particular. I read the book in a very short time because it’s difficult to put down and, if you’re like me, you’ll want to know what is going on, exactly.

The narrative jumps between episodes of the narrator’s life, but feels disjointed in some way; obviously the reader doesn’t expect a blow-by-blow account of every event in the life of the protagonist, but this feels as though some essential information isn’t there.

This isn’t bad writing, far from it and quite the opposite, indeed; there is a reason for the gaps, but it’s not for me to tell you why here. All will become clear, but you’ll need to read this excellent yet disturbing piece of work for yourself to find out.

Clare

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best reads of the year.

Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2021

I'm just so glad I picked up this book to read it! Shifting to Freedom quickly gripped me and threw me into the story straight away. I couldn't stop reading it until I had finished it. This is one of the best books I've read this year and I urge everyone to buy it! Clare, editorial, Federation of BC Writer's Magazine

P. Jeffery

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling read!

Reviewed in Canada on August 8, 2021

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Shifting to Freedom, by Marlene F. Cheng

Reviewed by Diana Jewell in Canada

Western society is awash with troubled people doing bizarre and sometimes violent things which make the sensational news cycle. This novel brings us Tess, an M.D. with a very troubled past. She is a sympathetic and likeable heroine, and the author warns us at the beginning that it is about multiple personality disorder, so if it is disquieting and sometimes difficult to follow as the various identities pop up and then disappear, that is to be expected. It does, however, make for an exciting read, and suspense builds as new characters enter and exit. As a reader, I found it to be a page-turner, wanting to know what came next.

The action shifts between early childhood on the Canadian prairie with some traumatic events, and modern-day Vancouver and its medical community. Being of 'a certain age' myself, I could relate to the comfortable images of the wood stove with attached water tank, and fragrant bread rising atop the warming oven. I also related to the snippets of then-popular songs which made their appearance, and which were very familiar to me, helping me to relate to Tess and her tense, lonely journey through life.

The writing and descriptions are high quality, and the knowledge the author has of various areas of life are amazing. Was some of this material autobiographical, I wondered? This is not your usual novel of family life, love, etc. but rather, about a high-powered professional individual trying to hold her life together. It was a compelling read, going deep into the psyche, trying to find the base for the syndrome the heroine copes with in her life. She is resilient and crafty in her shape-shifting, seeking to elude a deeply buried childhood incident.

I would recommend it highly to everyone who wonders why some individuals behave in such strange ways, and hopefully feel more compassionate for those who are different, realizing that there may be a reason for why they are the way they are.