Title: When Writing Morphs Into A Lifetime: A Novel
Author: Myrna Lou Jastra
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1524697808
Pages: 122
Genre: Nonfiction / Memoirs
Reviewed by: Alyssa Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
It isn’t often that a non-fiction book moves me in such a beautiful and eloquent way that I’m left breathless by the last page. But that is precisely what happened when I finished reading When Writing Morphs Into A Lifetime: A Novel by Myrna Lou Jastra. You might think calling this a love story for the ages is a bit of a cliché but there really is no better description for a truly gorgeous tale of love, life, and what it all really means.
When the story begins, we first meet Lor, a university student who receives an invitation to write for an all-boys military academy. While there, she receives a request from the editor that leaves her bewildered. What starts out as a simple yet puzzling request turns into a romance between Lor and her editor, Ermin Oro, that ultimately sweeps them both off their feet. This all began, though, by the two exchanging letters which then evolved into a courtship, all because they held great admiration for each other’s writing.
This novel is set post-WWII, in the mid-1950s, and as the years pass by, we are going along the journey and learning more about the characters’ lives and how they intertwine with one another. This story is rife with incredible details throughout, leaving the reader enthralled and eager to learn what happens next to the two lovers. For instance, once Lor has entered her professional career, Ermin at the same point in time has expressed his desire for Lor in his life, yet is also committed to his cadet career. While the two navigate the highs and lows of their love story, the audience will find themselves on an emotional rollercoaster of their own. One they won’t want to get off of.
What makes this novel feel all the more intimate is when Jastra switches from third-person point of view to first-person, giving us further insight into what Lor and Ermin are thinking and feeling as individuals. Personally, I feel there is so much to love about this incredibly moving story and the way their romance evolved, leaving me reeling in the best way possible. I particularly enjoyed their main line of communication was through letters which is a long-lost art form in modern times.
For those who have yet to pick up their copy of When Writing Morphs Into A Lifetime: A Novel by Myrna Lou Jastra, run — don’t walk — to immerse yourself in this compelling, heart-wrenching, and beautiful love story. It is one you won’t soon forget.