“Swallow,” by Tonya Plank, is one of those books that sounds frightening, and it is. But it is so much more!
From the first page, I was so fascinated that I simply could not put it down. It’s a story about Sophie Hegel, a shy New York lawyer from a small Arizona town. She is a graduate of Yale Law School, an achievement that she doesn’t seem to feel she deserved. She is excited about landing her first job handling appeals, and her engagement to the love of her life would seemingly forecast wonderful events in her future. So why, then, does she suddenly find herself unable to swallow? As if a huge Fist Ball (hereinafter referred to in the book as FB) had suddenly grown in her throat?
When the condition begins occurring regularly, and when she starts to lose an alarming amount of weight, she seeks medical advice, and, of course, therapy. But unfortunately, nobody can tell her much. And the therapist is one of those who seems to just repeat everything she has said, without offering any help or opinions.
Sophie’s dramatic experiences in this journey through her psychological condition (Globus Sensate) was so fascinating. My mind kept traipsing along various pathways (considering my own background in social work!), as I imagined all sorts of causes. The fact that Sophie’s father is distant and emotionally unavailable grabbed my attention, just as his career as a pornographer sent up red flags.
What about Sophie’s past experiences may have contributed to her condition? Why does this condition recur just at the moment when her life seems destined for good things? And what, if anything, can she do to turn things around?
I wish I could give Swallow more than five stars. It is that engaging!
POTPOURRI 