"Explorations" by
David Russell
Explorations is the story of two newly divorced people, Janice and
Cedric, who, up until this time have been in stale, safe relationships. Neither
was happy during their respective marriages and both were bogged down by
society rules and behaviors. Now, each is looking for new and interesting
experiences. Each wants to transform themselves into the person they have
secretly wanted to be.
Explorations
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BOOK REVIEW – Explorations, by David Russell
There is an old saying that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” or put another way, something that one person considers of no value may be considered priceless by someone else, Explorations proves just that.
Charting the lives of two couples recently divorced David Russell examines the frame of mind of these individuals, even the cause of the split between each couple as in his first paragraph he states:
“Many are the currents and pressures of life which disperse people, pull them apart. But some, dispersing the majority, draw units together…”
Janice and Phillip “married at a point of maximum weakness and vulnerability” even as the cautionary words crossed their minds “are you sure you don’t want to hold on to your freedom” – each ended having the “delayed action pang of entrapment” until finally they cut their losses and the marriage ended in divorce.
On the other hand, Cedric lived with the constant put-downs by Magda, his wife, with taunts of him being an ‘indecisive wimp, effeminate to boot” as she kept an “electronic hawk’s eye on him, gagging his articulacy” while her words twisted his own perception of self.
Both marriages exhibited signs of tedium, boredom and dreariness with no real love or affection. But then, as life would have it, they, meaning Janice and Cedric started crossing paths more and more often and soon the attraction started. See how what one person sees as irrelevant another will view with appreciation even anticipation.
As he did in Sensual Rhapsody, David Russell, in this short story, takes you on a sensual journey of yearning and connection – something to think about as the subtle pangs of lost love, good or bad, threaten to overwhelm you in the aftermath of divorce.
There is an old saying that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” or put another way, something that one person considers of no value may be considered priceless by someone else, Explorations proves just that.
Charting the lives of two couples recently divorced David Russell examines the frame of mind of these individuals, even the cause of the split between each couple as in his first paragraph he states:
“Many are the currents and pressures of life which disperse people, pull them apart. But some, dispersing the majority, draw units together…”
Janice and Phillip “married at a point of maximum weakness and vulnerability” even as the cautionary words crossed their minds “are you sure you don’t want to hold on to your freedom” – each ended having the “delayed action pang of entrapment” until finally they cut their losses and the marriage ended in divorce.
On the other hand, Cedric lived with the constant put-downs by Magda, his wife, with taunts of him being an ‘indecisive wimp, effeminate to boot” as she kept an “electronic hawk’s eye on him, gagging his articulacy” while her words twisted his own perception of self.
Both marriages exhibited signs of tedium, boredom and dreariness with no real love or affection. But then, as life would have it, they, meaning Janice and Cedric started crossing paths more and more often and soon the attraction started. See how what one person sees as irrelevant another will view with appreciation even anticipation.
As he did in Sensual Rhapsody, David Russell, in this short story, takes you on a sensual journey of yearning and connection – something to think about as the subtle pangs of lost love, good or bad, threaten to overwhelm you in the aftermath of divorce.
***
Explorations is
the story of two newly divorced people, Janice and Cedric, who, up until this
time have been in stale, safe relationships. Neither was happy during their
respective marriages and both were bogged down by society rules and behaviors.
Now, each is looking for new and interesting experiences. Each wants to
transform themselves into the person they have secretly wanted to be.
Janice decides to take a drawing class to let her creative side show. She meets Cedric, an art model. They are instantly attracted to each other.
There are several more chance meetings and the sexual tension between them builds, then one night Janice, who has always been shy in the past, make a bold move and asks Cedric to model privately for her.
Each finds fulfillment in the encounter; a rejuvenation of spirit.
I liked the characters and the premise of the story. It’s an entertaining short tale that most readers will enjoy.
Anna James
Janice decides to take a drawing class to let her creative side show. She meets Cedric, an art model. They are instantly attracted to each other.
There are several more chance meetings and the sexual tension between them builds, then one night Janice, who has always been shy in the past, make a bold move and asks Cedric to model privately for her.
Each finds fulfillment in the encounter; a rejuvenation of spirit.
I liked the characters and the premise of the story. It’s an entertaining short tale that most readers will enjoy.
Anna James
This novelette tells a story of
emerging or perhaps re-emerging sexual vitality, as told from both male and
female perspectives. While it describes adults, it has the quality of being
both a projective look by adolescents, toward their sexual future, and
retrospective looks by adults, toward their earlier, and now re-awakened
sexuality.
Much of the sexual energy is
diffused in the telling of the story, and the climax (which is both literal and
figurative) is really a plateau. The reader could stand on it, along with the
protagonists, feel satisfaction at having reached this place, and then gaze out
and wonder, “what new sexual adventures await these two sexual adventurers?”
It’s certainly not “deep” as one commentator suggested, but the novelette is
introspective, and does build to a satisfying conclusion. It is work of surface
textures, well suited to the milieu of swimming. Definitely well worth reading.
The author also has poems and original artwork that build on this motif of sex
and swimming, at eroticpoems.org.
Paul Dolinsky
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