This Side of Eden, by Derrick St. James - Book Review

My wife and children mean everything to me. As I go through my life, my greatest fear would be to lose them or to be separated from them. I believe if you asked my wife, the same would be for her. Being the father of two children and married to an amazing woman means you have to worry about these things. At the same time, you do everything in this life to protect and show your love for them. Derrick St. James in his new book, This Side of Eden, explores my greatest fear of being separated and potentially losing my family.

A young father on a cruise with his family through Alaska finds himself in his worst nightmare. On an excursion to view the Alaskan glaciers, the pilot suffers a stroke causing the plane to crash. This father and his daughter Izzie are the only survivors and are now challenged with the great cause of survival. As the reality of their situation sets in and he has to decide between living and dying; he begins to reflect on his marriage and shares with Izzie the love story of his life—Eden.

He shares with her his most powerful memories of his wife, how they came to meet, break ups, marriage, vacations, and having a child. As he reflects on his marriage and dissects the mistakes he has made in life; the stories somehow draw new life into his weak body and give him the will to survive. Before long he decides to take his daughter on a challenging and daring attempt at rescue.

I was moved deeply by this book, the ages of my children are close to that of Izzie and it brought my own fears to the forefront. As the father searches for food in a freezing cold lake and salvages what he can from the plane wreckage I imagined myself in that position and what I do. I am prepared enough to survive a disaster such as this? Would have the strength and will that he does?

What made me read the book and not put it down was how it forced me to explore my own relationships and realize how much I love my family. Each page turned made me want to know more about their love and their survival. More than once I stopped reading to tell my wife I loved her and to kiss my children.  Each chapter leaves you in suspense as to what will happen next as Mr. St. James jumps from a love story to the Alaskan wilderness and then back again.

Derrick St. James has written an instant classic for me, one that I will read again and share with many others. Make sure you have a box of tissues and your family nearby; you will need them both at some point promise.

Finally, in the end, our hero of a father comes to realize what his purpose is and what it means to be the father and to love Eden.

This Side of Eden can be purchased on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/This-Side-Eden-Derrick-James/dp/1448606632