“A Portal to Vibrancy is an honest portrayal of a woman's struggle to break free of imposed roles to find her authentic self."
"First and foremost what I love about this novel is how well it is written. Brutally honest, compassionate and cutting --- the scenes and characters are real. I especially loved her description of the seasons in New England, the portrait of a Catholic family in church, and other casual events illustrated beautifully. The words lift off the page effortlessly, the arrangement of words a delightful flow."
"The narrator's voice is strong, after plowing through this book in three sittings, I can still hear it.”
“Laurette Folk’s novel could be described as a novel of growing up from youth and innocence to maturity. However, it is so much more than that as we journey with Jackie through the mire of social and religious fear and darkness, the loneliness and isolation of a girl who wants only to please others while losing the sense of her own self, the longing to be loved and attached to a boy/man whose love would offer her an identity, the emptiness of using sex to create emotions that are tenuous and unrequited by male narcissists fearful of attachment and intimacy. No wonder the images of death and the devil follow her as she struggles to find her own place in a world that is not defined by others, but rather created by herself and her own talents and intelligence. How does a child growing up in a world in which all the important figures in her life are seriously flawed and survive only through emotional isolation or social superficiality—that is the challenge for Jackie as she attempts to help those she loves while still negotiating her own paths to independence and empowerment. Written in a style that both describes in realistic detail everyday life and characters that we all recognize and at the same time evokes the inner workings of a fragile consciousness holding on desperately to sanity, Folk’s novel A Portal to Vibrancy reveals the sensitivity and talent of an author whose work is well worth reading and remembering.”
“Jackie Felllini is a young Catholic girl, growing up in a Massachusetts town, haunted by the "programming" of her family and the church, trying to find her own way in the world. She meets Stephen when they are both still children, yet they experience a strong attraction. More than an ordinary coming-of-age book, A Portal to Vibrancy reveals a young woman overcoming her family's fears and stepping into her true independence."
"This book is so well written it feels more like living Jackie's life than reading it. Jackie is likable though thoroughly human with her anxieties and inner conflicts. The author is knowledgeable about both the worlds of art and engineering, providing interesting details without becoming pedantic."
"This could be the best book you'll read this summer!”
“A Portal to Vibrancy is the beautifully written coming of age story of Jackie Fellini. We follow Jackie from her childhood and adolescence, to college, and as she struggles to find value and meaning in her life and career. Her relationship with family and with Stephen, her unusual and artistic childhood neighbor, help guide her as she finds her way in the world."
"I loved her unique perspective on family, the tensions between worldly/traditional expectations and artistic passions, and struggles with anxiety and depression. Jackie's story is written with humor and grace. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in character-driven stories, and especially readers interested in perspectives of women not often depicted in books. I hope to read more from Laurette Folk in the future!”
“Happily, this book does not disappoint. I really enjoyed the artistic writing of this book, which makes it an easy and comfortable read. Jackie is not afraid to lay bare her fears and foibles, if only to herself, as she negotiates the years between childhood and adulthood. Even though she is speaking for herself, what she has to say about sex, anxiety, creativity, friends, lovers and parents should resonate with people of all ages."
“In this lovely and poetic first novel, Folk paints a vivid and unforgettable world. It is a coming-of-age novel, yes, but Folk also brings us deep into the psychological and emotional world inhabited by Jackie, our heroine. The writing is fluid and evocative, and the world of the novel is completely compelling. Jackie's family relationships, her complicated attraction to Stephen, and her struggles with mental health as she enters adulthood are utterly convincing and moving. A deeply satisfying and captivating work.”
“In her compelling first novel, Laurette Folk maps a young woman’s sexual and artistic coming of age with honesty, humor and compassion. Folk writes wisely and convincingly about sex and longing, family and faith, loss and anxiety, creating a world which is at once eccentric, familiar, and unforgettable.”
"First and foremost what I love about this novel is how well it is written. Brutally honest, compassionate and cutting --- the scenes and characters are real. I especially loved her description of the seasons in New England, the portrait of a Catholic family in church, and other casual events illustrated beautifully. The words lift off the page effortlessly, the arrangement of words a delightful flow."
"The narrator's voice is strong, after plowing through this book in three sittings, I can still hear it.”
“Laurette Folk’s novel could be described as a novel of growing up from youth and innocence to maturity. However, it is so much more than that as we journey with Jackie through the mire of social and religious fear and darkness, the loneliness and isolation of a girl who wants only to please others while losing the sense of her own self, the longing to be loved and attached to a boy/man whose love would offer her an identity, the emptiness of using sex to create emotions that are tenuous and unrequited by male narcissists fearful of attachment and intimacy. No wonder the images of death and the devil follow her as she struggles to find her own place in a world that is not defined by others, but rather created by herself and her own talents and intelligence. How does a child growing up in a world in which all the important figures in her life are seriously flawed and survive only through emotional isolation or social superficiality—that is the challenge for Jackie as she attempts to help those she loves while still negotiating her own paths to independence and empowerment. Written in a style that both describes in realistic detail everyday life and characters that we all recognize and at the same time evokes the inner workings of a fragile consciousness holding on desperately to sanity, Folk’s novel A Portal to Vibrancy reveals the sensitivity and talent of an author whose work is well worth reading and remembering.”
“Jackie Felllini is a young Catholic girl, growing up in a Massachusetts town, haunted by the "programming" of her family and the church, trying to find her own way in the world. She meets Stephen when they are both still children, yet they experience a strong attraction. More than an ordinary coming-of-age book, A Portal to Vibrancy reveals a young woman overcoming her family's fears and stepping into her true independence."
"This book is so well written it feels more like living Jackie's life than reading it. Jackie is likable though thoroughly human with her anxieties and inner conflicts. The author is knowledgeable about both the worlds of art and engineering, providing interesting details without becoming pedantic."
"This could be the best book you'll read this summer!”
“A Portal to Vibrancy is the beautifully written coming of age story of Jackie Fellini. We follow Jackie from her childhood and adolescence, to college, and as she struggles to find value and meaning in her life and career. Her relationship with family and with Stephen, her unusual and artistic childhood neighbor, help guide her as she finds her way in the world."
"I loved her unique perspective on family, the tensions between worldly/traditional expectations and artistic passions, and struggles with anxiety and depression. Jackie's story is written with humor and grace. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in character-driven stories, and especially readers interested in perspectives of women not often depicted in books. I hope to read more from Laurette Folk in the future!”
“Happily, this book does not disappoint. I really enjoyed the artistic writing of this book, which makes it an easy and comfortable read. Jackie is not afraid to lay bare her fears and foibles, if only to herself, as she negotiates the years between childhood and adulthood. Even though she is speaking for herself, what she has to say about sex, anxiety, creativity, friends, lovers and parents should resonate with people of all ages."
“In this lovely and poetic first novel, Folk paints a vivid and unforgettable world. It is a coming-of-age novel, yes, but Folk also brings us deep into the psychological and emotional world inhabited by Jackie, our heroine. The writing is fluid and evocative, and the world of the novel is completely compelling. Jackie's family relationships, her complicated attraction to Stephen, and her struggles with mental health as she enters adulthood are utterly convincing and moving. A deeply satisfying and captivating work.”
“In her compelling first novel, Laurette Folk maps a young woman’s sexual and artistic coming of age with honesty, humor and compassion. Folk writes wisely and convincingly about sex and longing, family and faith, loss and anxiety, creating a world which is at once eccentric, familiar, and unforgettable.”
