Scarlet Sage - Softcover

Ylitalo, Gail

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1411626419 ISBN 13: 9781411626416

Publisher: Lulu.com, 2005

Synopsis

The world of psychiatry is a journey into the nether corners of the mind. To his patients and colleagues Doctor Clifford Cowen represented the highest values of the psychiatric field. All paid homage to the man but one-his friend and colleague, Cindy Pietila. But when Cowen began to unravel, Doctor Pietila, against her better judgment, agreed to take him on as a patient-a mistake that will lead her to expose a brilliant mind tormented by demons she'd never fathomed. If she fails in her treatment, not only will her career be on the line but her life as well.

About this title

From the Author:

Review from Tami Brady at TCM Reviews: “Amanda Jackson retreats to her old hometown after a love affair gone bad. She had been deeply in love with Dan Owen and thought they were happy, that is until she found out Dan was cheating on her. Back at her childhood home, Amanda meets Scott Flynn, an acquaintance from the past. Scott has inherited his father's hardware business and volunteers to fix up the old homestead for Amanda. Amanda is sure that Scott is just hitting on her, so she is extremely disappointed that he actually works on the house and never even asks her out.

A Twisted Nod is a great romance with a lot of very difficult obstacles for each of the characters to negotiate. Amanda has to deal with her broken heart and painful memories from her youth. Scott has to deal with his guilt over letting go of his deceased wife, as well as his stepdaughter's unhealthy expectations of him. This story has a nice smooth, gentle pace that is perfect for a lazy afternoon read. There's also an interesting psycho twist with the stepdaughter.”

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

He was one of the honored analysts of his day. Do not think that I was very impressed by his papers, but they were the essence of Doctor Cowen. In reality he cared little or nothing for his patients; in fact, he detested neurotics, but he learned the ropes and used his knowledge to counteract the feeling of inferiority he’d felt for most of his life. He derived a great deal of satisfaction from the knowledge that, on his climb up the social ladder, he could see the perverted side of those he detested. In medical school he was Doctor Span’s star pupil. Span taught all his students to think like Freud and had an apt disciple in Cowen. He was so bright that Span used him as his personal assistant. Truthfully, Clifford wasn’t mature enough to warrant the job, and he quickly got into trouble over some "medical error", which cost him his seat by Span’s side. This only increased Cliff’s growing distaste for psychiatry, but it also gave him the drive to be the best, and it certainly improved his relationships with the other students. In his last year at med. school he drank too much and frequently stayed out all night carousing with those of like mind. Yet, I never actually met anyone who liked associating with him, and no one would cover for him either. Human nature being what it is, when he became a big success years later, former students would swear they’d been "bosom buddies" with Clifford Cowen.

I’m skeptical of simple explanations regarding one’s behavior, especially those concerning Clifford. I’d assumed that he’d fallen out of favor and was soon forgotten by Doctor Span, but, as fate would have it, I had dinner with the doctor on one occasion and found that he not only remembered Cowen vividly but had followed his progress over the years. He had often watched him on talk shows and had read his books, "Urban Man", and "Isolated Woman".

Clifford was rich through his father and a Catholic through his mother. At the prep school where he studied hard to get into Yale, no one bothered to build his ego. His fellow students barely acknowledged him as a member of the human race, which made him bitter and cynical. Probably due to the isolation he endured, I became fond of this complex man as we progressed through medical school. He was a plain looking boy and, despite his attempts to fit in, was actually shy and painfully aware of just how different he was from the rest. Despite his difficulties he somehow graduated with honors, went on an ego trip, and married an older, society lady. He was married to her for only two years when she suddenly died, leaving him with two dachshunds (which he soon gave away) and plenty of money. Truth be known, he’d been entertaining the thought of leaving her for some time but had lacked the courage to follow through, so her death came as both a shock and a relief.

After the funeral Cowen took off for Los Angeles. While there, he gambled heavily and consorted with hookers, which soon depleted his late wife’s funds. Reluctantly accepting the fact that he’d have to work for a living, he set up his practice and, in record time, was backing mental health reforms. His papers were published and read by those who counted. Californian’s loved his mystic insights, and his colleagues were delighted by the brilliance of the young psychiatrist. Cowen was regarded as a saint and had his face plastered on major magazine covers across the country. He used his own money to publish his first book, "Urban Man", and discovered he liked the authority of being a writer. But self-publishing became too expensive, and he grudgingly gave it up.

He’d been living with a "lady of the evening" by the name of Kathy Thomas who quite satisfactorily assuaged his carnal needs. Anxious to put her old life behind her, Kathy talked Clifford into going abroad to further his studies in pursuit of his goals. So they went to England where she changed her ways and developed a new sense of worth. During their stay abroad they had a relaxing time and enjoyed sharing new experiences.

After returning to the states they settled in Richmond, Virginia, not far from my husband, Daniel, and me, where Cliff went on another ego trip and began writing again. It was then that he wrote "Isolated Woman", and he would sit for hours regaling me with his thoughts on the inner conflicts of man and how determined he’d become to save the "common folk" from their ineptitude.

Despite strong misgivings on my part I became, at his request, Clifford’s analyst. I first became aware of his dangerous attitude towards humanity one night after we’d dined together. Cliff, Daniel, and me ate at a low budget affair—Cliff didn’t want to spend too much—and afterwards went to a bar for drinks. After several whiskey sours he began talking about the need for an atomic war and the replenishing of the planet, and declared his desire to drive off to the mountains and feel the "very essence of life".

About this edition

• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1411626419
• ISBN 13: 9781411626416
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 173