"An Invisible Thread" by Laura Schroff
Published Novemeber 2011 by Howard Books
A good story. Uplifting which seems such a rare thing these days. Readable, and by that I mean somewhat simple. When I read memoirs I always feel the protagonist is whining. I know this isn’t a fair statement. They are writing about their lives and if they didn’t have things to whine about, it wouldn’t be much of a story. I understand why Laura compared Maurice’s life to her own but the harsh reality of Maurice’s made her complaints (serious though they were) seem frivolous. I almost think in this case it would have been better to keep hers out of it, or briefer, and instead break the story line up with statistics and facts, really focus in on what life was like for a kid like Maurice.
What I liked about “An Invisible Thread” was that it was honest, and that made the story precious. Only once did Laurie step into Maurice’s world and she continually questioned the good she was doing, if any at all. She weighed options and spoke with him about what it meant to live this double life. He did have to break away from her for a few years to figure out how to stand on his own. All that made the story seem real and true and simple. You don’t have to venture onto the streets on New York to help someone, you don’t have to visit the welfare apartments, you simply have to care and give a person the chance to do something different, to see the world as other people see it. Of course, you do also need a very special kid like Maurice. Wise and unafraid. And the idea of an “invisible thread” that connects people is beautiful. This story does almost make you believe it can be true.
This is a quick read. Worth it for a glimpse of something good, even with the whining. After reading so many tales of abuse and neglect and simply frightening stuff, it is so refreshing to read a story about people doing good, about people trying and being rewarded for their efforts.
The invisible thread is a very uplifting and endearing story that does not lose it's realness. I was concerned it would turn into a "feel good" novel and was surprised at the various degrees of separation that the author (Laura) and the young man (Maurice) endured as their friendship perseveres the realities of two cultures spontaneously clashing together. You cannot help but become enthralled with the "human" entity that his the story. You can tell this is not written by a literary giant or someone trained in the art of literature, making it a very easy and quick read. You feel just as though Laura is talking directly to you or just sat down and wrote this in a letter. Truly heartfelt and inspiring, and reminds me that we are more than just the culmination of our experiences!
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