| Reality Checked - Life through Death, is a moving | | | | murders her family and Catherine is dragged |
| saga about finding meaning in a world of suffering | | | | away by the police and incarcerated for many |
| and pointless hate based on the color of skin. | | | | years. She survived the harsh environment |
| Former school teacher and Theologist, Victor | | | | through the friendship of her cellmate - and their |
| Waller has incorporated many of life's issues | | | | hunger for revenge. |
| through the lives of his characters who were | | | | As an old woman, Catherine is only free from the |
| forced to make decisions in hopeless situations. | | | | bars of her prison. Her body is now her jailer - it |
| Racism, revenge and hate are rampant in this | | | | is discovered that she inherited her mother's |
| book. Domestic abuse and the dangers hidden | | | | mysterious illness. Thinking she had no family |
| within our society's foster care system are also | | | | remaining alive, Catherine is surprised when she is |
| addressed. | | | | invited to a family reunion. This reunion proves to |
| There is only one main character - Catherine | | | | be one of Catherine's greatest challenges. As she |
| Brown - along with a host of supporting | | | | seeks to repair the family discord, she is |
| characters. Catherine grows up under the terrible | | | | contacted by a person from the past and her |
| threat of racism - which many use simply as an | | | | chance for revenge is handed to her on a silver |
| excuse to harm another human. In fact, her | | | | platter. |
| father and uncle were orphaned at a very young | | | | Victor Waller has created an important and |
| age through a racist attack. The fairy-tale | | | | meaningful story in Reality Checked. In fact, the |
| romance of her parents slid away as fears of her | | | | work is well titled. The novel provokes the reader |
| father's suspected infidelity enforces her mother's | | | | to question their own choices in life -and possibly, |
| accusations that she is being poisoned. Never | | | | to release some of the pessimistic inner voices |
| really knowing the truth, Catherine stumbles | | | | which influence their decisions. |
| through her youth and into adulthood. | | | | I give this 377 page novel the highest of ratings |
| Unfortunately, a disturbed individual brutally | | | | with no hesitation, what-so-ever. |