Review of 'The Rubber Fence' by Diana Stevan
Review of The Rubber Fence by Diana Stevan
E-book and paperback available at Amazon
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REVIEW
Set in the 1970s, The Rubber Fence is an intriguing inside view of the business of psychiatry. Our main character Dr. Joanna Bereza is an intern with a strong conscience and a passion for doing right by her patients, even if it means going against the norm and the establishment. She fights hard against the standard treatment of ECT (Electroconvulsive Treatment) but do her efforts make a difference or even budge the status quo? She wants to use safer methods of psychotherapy and has seen positive results.
This novel has lots of conflict. Joanna is fighting a war on two fronts: one at work and another at home. Her personal life is in shambles. She has lost two pregnancies and her husband is not coping with her busy life and continuing desire for children. She has a solution but it is not one he can accept. And he runs away from their issues into some dangerous romantic territory: one that could destroy all trust in their marriage. Joanna, though the stronger of the two in this relationship, is upset by her husband’s reaction to her and their problems, and is also faced with temporary temptation. But how far will she go or let herself ponder the options? Her husband still means a great deal to her.
Aside from the characters’ personal challenges, The Rubber Fence is mainly a story about treatment of mental health, the injustices, the confusion, the connections and power of drug companies. ‘And the pressure to get those patients out, it’s just easier to give a pill than to admit you don’t know what to do.’ And if the pills don’t work? There’s always ECT. They generate the big bucks. Joanna wants to use psychotherapy but she is a lone voice crying in the wilderness as ‘the powers that be’ say it takes too long to see results (and ECT and medication offer financial gain). She is fighting an uphill battle. Will she ever win against the giants?
The blunt edge of reality hits hard in this novel. Diana’s writing is exceptional and I certainly felt the anguish of the characters. The tension was right and I was pinned securely to the pages wondering the outcome of the patients, their families and the staff. There were plenty of twists and unexpected outcomes, some of which left me feeling deeply saddened. But, of course, this is reality so events are true to what happened or could have happened. There are no airy fairy neat solutions. The author’s experiences working as a therapist on a psychiatric ward come through loud and clear as she takes us on a journey through difficult psychological terrain. Issues of greed versus care emerges, too. But people like Joanna, at that time, were against great odds. How much has the mental health care system changed today? Sadly, just as the author’s experience shines through that there will be losses of lives along the way, some rules will stick and any who fail to comply will be removed or quieted by those in power.
This is a powerful novel that I will not soon forget—if ever. It has heightened my compassion for those who suffer mental illness and raised my concern of treatments that seem inhumane. Yes, this was the 1970s but how much has changed in regards to protecting the patient from extreme measures? It would be a hard profession to be involved in, especially if one did not agree with the options of treatment. Of course, today, psychotherapy paired with medication seems to be the most utilised road to recovery. Joanna was definitely a pioneer in the area of psychotherapy as she truly believed it was effective and saw results. But the response to her was that it takes too long and time is money or loss of funds for the establishment. And the drug companies are tied in with all that, too, which the author touches upon through Joanna’s conversations with various personnel.
The Rubber Fence is a solid jarring story that will make you think and feel and even weep. I certainly recommend this well-executed and researched novel. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to the author for a review copy.
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About the author (see her website for more details):
Diana often jokes about her checkered resume, referring to herself as a Jill of all trades.
Besides working as a clinical social worker, she’s been a teacher, school psychologist, administrator for EFAP firms, model, actor, and freelance television writer for a sports show.
Her novels include: A Cry From The Deep, The Blue Nightgown (novelette), The Rubber Fence, Sunflowers Under Fire, Lilacs in the Dust Bowl, Paper Roses on Stony Mountain.
Diana lives with her husband in West Vancouver and Campbell River, British Columbia. When she isn’t writing, she gardens, goes for walks in the forest, and reads. But most of all, she loves spending time with friends and family.
