cover image The First Thing and the Last

The First Thing and the Last

Allan G. Johnson. Plain View Press, $28.95 (408pp) ISBN 978-1-935514-69-5

Katherine Stuart barely survives a night of unspeakable violence by killing her abusive husband, and doubts she'll ever regain a semblance of normal life. Still reeling, Katherine finds a safe haven on the Vermont farm of Lucy Dudley, a sympathetic stranger who seeks Katherine out, and the friendship that develops between them catalyzes Katherine's grueling journey of recovery and renewal. A debut novel from sociologist-activist Johson (Privilege, Power, and Difference), this story could have been relentlessly downbeat, but is more concerned with the redemptive powers of friendship and forgiveness than the specters of violence and self-recrimination that haunt its characters. The scenes of abuse are graphic, but they set up convincingly the real story, how Katherine, Lucy and those around them can rise above what perpetrated against them to reclaim their places in the world. Johnson seizes every opportunity to challenge preconceptions about domestic violence and the popular tendency to hold victims accountable for the actions of their abusers. His tale is often predictable, but lyrical prose, sympathetic characters and an unwavering sense of hope and compassion make for a moving, engaging read.