Amelia Michaels

Autumn Seclusion Amelia Michaels

Autumn Seclusion is a serious narrative told through the eyes of a thirty year old woman as she reflects on her life. Many women appear perfect in the eyes of the world, but have underlying fears that remain hidden behind a multitude of closed doors. This is true of the main character in Autumn Seclusion. Spanning a lifetime, the novel details the main character's challenges at home, as well as, the desire for acceptance and unconditional love from those she encounters later in life. Her voyages take you from the tidewater regions of North Carolina to the hidden quest for self-identity in Thailand.

The novel allows the reader to intimately connect with Anna, the main character. Rejection from home and a series of draining, abusive relationships lead the character to costly decisions and a loss of self-awareness. The rejection begins when the character's family fails to accept a relationship between their daughter and a Native American from upstate New York. Even though the relationship is based on mutual love and respect, the ties at home are severed. Lamenting the loss of her family, the character travels down lonely and winding paths, which eventually forces her to flee the United States to restructure her life.

Autumn Seclusion is a novel that urges the reader to re-evaluate how they view themselves and those they love. Focusing on the evolution of a person's life and the meaning of forgiveness, it will leave you searching for new colors in each season of your own life. Complimentary of the landscapes of North Carolina and of Thailand, it paints a lasting image in your own mind.