Benedict
Stone wanted his wife to come back home. Estelle moved out for a while, and Benedict
did not know if she would return home. When somebody knocked on his door one
night, he thought it was Estelle. He was wrong. The person at his doorstep was
Gemma, his sixteen-year-old niece, whom he had never met in-person. Gemma had
traveled from America to England to visit him for the first time… and she was
determined to stay with him.
Benedict owned a Jewelry store he had
inherited from his parents who died unexpectedly in Sri Lanka after a tsunami struck
the region, when they were on vacation. After the tragedy, Benedict took the
responsibility of raising his younger brother, Charlie. Charlie was Gemma’s
father, but he and Benedict had not been in touch with each other for eighteen
years. The reason for their estrangement is not revealed until later in the
book, so I was intrigued to understand the source of the conflict between the
two siblings.
Benedict
had a special interest in gemstones. In his attic he kept a journal his father
had crafted in which he described the history of each gemstone and the meanings
assigned to them. The discovery of this journal mesmerized Gemma. Her
enthusiasm and interest in gemstones awakened in him a talent for crafting more
creative designs. Her presence brought new ideas, triggered changes in his
lifestyle and sparked the excitement of new beginnings.
Benedict was also determined to inspire his
wife to return home. I was about to type the words “win her back,” because
those were the words that Phaedra Patrick used repetitively when she expressed
that Gemma encouraged him to “win her back.” Gemma used those words, and then I
was about to type them here. Thankfully, I stopped myself on time. When we
think about “a man winning a woman back,” we are implying that a woman is some
kind of trophy that needs to be obtained. The situation can be considered the
analogy to some sort of competition in which the man works to attain something.
Yet a woman is not an object. It is a human being with feelings, emotions,
aspirations, flaws, strengths and talents—just like a man. Therefore, I think
it is appropriate and fair to express it differently. Words matter. Let’s say
that Benedict strongly desired to inspire Estelle to return home. Women
are considered the “muses” of men. Can men also inspire women? Yes, it can work
both ways. Don’t we want a fair and egalitarian society? Thankfully, the plot
aligns well with the idea.
There is a lot to like and a lot to dislike
about Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone.
I like how Phaedra Patrick digs into the
nature of the characters intertwining bits of backstory into the situations of
their present. Infertility had caused a lot of stress in the couple. For this
reason, Estelle decided to move out for a while to find out if she wanted to
stay with Benedict the rest of her life. Phaedra Patrick exposes the heartbreak
of not being able to conceive and how it stoked tension and stress in the
relationship. After so many years of trying without success Benedict discussed the
possibility of adopting a baby. Estelle blatantly opposed the idea. In their
discussion I found something I dislike about the story. Estelle treated the
process of adoption with contempt. I understand that she did not like adoption
as an option and that everybody has a right to make their choices. However, her
statements about adoption are disrespectful to those who choose this path. I
believe that Phaedra Patrick could have presented another viewpoint to
counteract Estelle’s irrational, inappropriate comments about adoption. She
never did this.
Another aspect I did not like about the novel
is that there are situations I did not find credible. How did a sixteen-year-
old teenager have the money to purchase a plane ticket from England to America?
How did she manage to do everything without her father’s knowledge and consent?
As far as I know, she did not have a job or a source of income.
What did I like about the novel? The main
characters are well developed. The story takes place in a small English
village. I like the pace of the story and how the author connects the present
with the past without boring the readers. Moreover, the author blends into the story the
significance and history of gemstones, projecting on the reader’s mind a
display of colors and shapes that delight the senses and kindle the
imagination. I appreciate the quirkiness in connecting them to the themes of
the novel. Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone can be considered a light read
you may take with you when you are on vacation.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica “gemstones have attracted humanity since ancient times and have long been used for jewelry."
It is entertaining and fun to learn about the history and symbolism of the gemstones. For example, lapis lazuli legends are among the oldest in the world. According to the Gem Society the myth of Inanna, the Sumerian goddess of love, and her descent and return from the underworld may date from as early as 4,000 BCE. Inanna entered the underworld wearing a lapis lazuli necklace. Many ancient civilizations valued lapis lazuli, and the stone has religious significance.
Green aventurine is a type of translucent quartz found in India, China and the state of Vermont in America. The origin of the word is Italian and it means “by chance.” This gemstone is associated with good fortune and abundance.
Ancient Egyptians worked amethyst into
amulets as a form of prayer and protection against harm. St Valentine (third
century, Rome) wore an amethyst stone carved with Cupid’s likeness. In Medieval times
chaste love was highly valued as true love. Amethyst symbolizes this vision of
love because the stone has the power to calm passions and enhance mental
clarity.
The themes of Rise and Shine, Benedict
Stone offer fountains of hope and optimism. The novel
inspires readers to do the best they can with what they have in life. It is
about making choices that help us thrive in the direction we choose, accepting
the life we have with inspiration and creativity. It is about being truthful
and open to the challenges life throws at us. It is also about the magic and
force that exist within the family bonds we cherish and cultivate with patience
and wisdom, and the work we can do to make those bonds stronger over time. It
is about the importance of choosing and cultivating thoughts and attitudes that
support one’s goals and life purpose.
It is about being unstoppable.
Here's an insightful article on the need to eradicate the stigma around adoption: