John Asher pulls us into this story of Monroe right from the beginning with his skillful descriptions of where we are, the colors, the smells, the feelings in the air. Monroe Colson is an artist, living in small-town Texas. Despite his generous spirit, he is unhappily estranged from his family, and dissatisfied with his life. He's closing up shop and heading to Mexico, ostensibly for a year, to pursue his art and "find himself".Once there, the fates intervene in the form of a beautiful young American woman who has been abandoned there by her fiance who also took all their money with him. Monroe's generous spirit overcomes his desire to be alone and he tries to help her out.There is so much to like about this book! The pictures Asher paints of Mexico, the culture, the art, the life styles draw the reader in -- I felt like I had been there, and should I ever find myself there, could find my way around with no problems! The characters are real, and as we watch the dance between them all, we delve deeper into their essence and humanity. Despite their flaws, Asher draws their pathos with enough humor to keep the story from becoming dramatic or stereotyped. Monroe finds himself making other friends in Mexico, despite his desire to be reclusive, and as he does, we find ourselves engaged in the outcome of this beautifully painted book.We can tell that John J. Asher is an artist from the cover of his book, but he paints with words just as beautifully. This is a book I thoroughly enjoyed. I will be haunted by this book for a while. Monroe, upon discovering he has a terminal illness and wishing to avoid being a burden to his family and friends, leaves for Mexico, to die alone. Within a day, he meets Angelina, who has just been abandoned, penniless, by her fiancé. They strike up a friendship. This book was classified as a romance, but for me it was more of a coming of age of both Monroe and Angelina, where they both find their place in the world.
What do You think about A Dignified Exit (2000)?
Captivated by the characters...a heart wrenching look at life. Excellent use of my time!
—7jordan6
Interesting and fast read. Love books that dig into relationships!
—Goldfishh
This is a surprise! Great read, well written, thoroughly enjoyed!
—jeesyang
