Book Review…A Story of Sin, Forgiveness and Redemption

Mar 01, 2015 Book Review…, Features / Columnists

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Book: Hearts in Motion: An Inspirational Story

Author: Janet Hilliman

Reviewer: Dr Glenville Ashby

 

Arguably, Hearts in Motion is one of the most authentic and revelatory narratives. It is detailed, honest, self-deprecatory, unassuming and emotively chronicled.

Author Jamaican born Janet Hilliman can be faulted for marginalizing the broader setting where this drama unfolds. Instead the reader is fed with an unrelenting heavy dose of Gigi, her protagonist’s inner world: her fears, apprehensions, conflicts, battles and failures and victories. And as the battles rages, readers do forget all else and are hooked on every twist and turn; on every nuance and possibility. Hilliman traces an embattled juvenile’s life without moral compass, parental guidance and the inexplicably devastating loss of Remises, her brother.

This is Social Darwinism unhinged and Hilliman emerges, bruised, bitter, defensive, distrustful and hardened by the shadowy world of prostitution. She’s is street smart and no dummy in academia, landing a respectable job in a Public Relations firm. Hers is an enigmatic, paradoxical existence. But she tactically withdraws from her sub-cultural existence.

Maybe her pregnancy, with a potentially fatal outcome due to medical reasons is Eureka, a life-altering experience. She hunkers down, ever determined to beat the odds and have that baby, Providence smiles and she gives birth to a healthy baby boy, aptly named Chances.

Hilliman must go deeper and explore her purpose in life. She proves an existentialist, seizes the moment, determined to revolt against the old and usher in the new in the form of surrender and faith in God. It is a move that jolts her friends, especially Marc. But she is poised and makes her move, juggling full time matriculation at Ebenezer Theological College with a PR weekend job. And don’t forget Chances. The responsibilities are daunting.  But those clothed in faith are most likely to surmount every challenge. And not surprisingly, they confront Hilliman head on.

This is a voluminous, incisive rendition of art imitating life. Hilliman excels as a writer. Her timing, tone and cadence are exemplary. She becomes indistinguishable from her lead actor; there is unmistakable symbiosis; they feed off each other in a bewitching, vicarious relationship.
The Pollyanna Principle is foreign to her. It’s a dog eat dog world out there and Gene is the top dog. There is dirty money, duplicity, exploitative sex – a lifestyle that borders on sanitised debauchery. It’s a grueling fight to be on the top of your game, but the fight to save her soul from perdition proves more exhausting.
The struggle to control her mind, to leave the ways of the world behind; to resist temptation and the enchanting wiles of Dexter (Dr O’Bannon), the director of Student Affairs, an ordained minister and her professor, trumps the unpredictable, uneasy and potentially incendiary relationship with her mafia-like bosses at the Gentlemen’s Club. She won out there, loosening their hold on her.

Although a bible student and student minister, she stumbles at first, ensnared by an amorous acting Dexter but eventually pierces his veneer and awakens. But fending off the duplicitous, Jekyll-Hyde persona of a respected cleric and academic seemingly demands divine intervention. An environment that should have sheltered, counseled, uplifted Gene became her battleground. Indeed, it just takes a single rotten apple.
But this is life unadulterated, unscented; wolves in sheep clothing. The ministry has always been bedeviled by them. They have turned scripture on its head; adept at deceiving their followers. Oh the bad shepherd is ever among us and Gene is the hounded sheep. It escalates to an assault and as much as she readies herself to retaliate in kind, she exhales. The ‘eye for an eye’ days are behind her. ‘Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord.’

She eventually pours out her soul in a packed auditorium. You could hear a pin drop. It’s about courage, vindication, redemption. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, always. This is the spiritual game-changer. Gene grows in faith and spiritual gems are delivered with clinical precision. She admonishes; “Not every spiritual leader has spiritual eyes.” She then observes, “Some ministers are great orators, some are very dramatic, some are very theatrical, some had all of the above, but lacked anointing that was necessary to change lives.”
And all who profess to be Christians may not conform to its most basic tenets of love and tolerance. Her observation hits the mark: “Of course I know that even though we all love God and were striving for the same goal doesn’t mean that life will be heaven on earth. Some people are a work in progress, while some people are a piece of work. I was working on my salvation everyday…”
Hearts in Motion wrestles with life, its challenges and curve balls. Gene must brace for the imminent demise of her friend, Onyx, to cancer. It gnaws at her and her faith is put under tremendous strain. But we are reminded of HIS command: “Be still and know I am God.” This is another chapter in Gene’s life; another growing pain.
But life is seasonal, cyclical, and so too are chapters in our life. Gene eventually finds genuine love after a shaky ‘introduction.’ She excels in her student-staff capacity and graduates. Betrothal and marriage follow. Oh, how lives are turned around. Bathed in faith, Gene emerges from the ashes, bruised, but healed. It is a divine catharsis not easily forgotten.
Indeed, this is a compelling undertaking, it ricochets with timeless truths, mirroring life on multiple levels; espousing lessons in patience, humility, modesty, determination, self examination and submission to a Higher Power.
Hilliman and Gene could not have done it better.

 

Feedback: [email protected] or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby

Hearts in Motion: An Inspirational Story by Janet Hilliman

ISBN 13-978-0-615-74277-7

Available: amazon.com

Rating: Highly recommended

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