PositiveSmokeLong QuarterlyWhile what women’s lives depend on can readily be seen as an underlying theme, one might argue that Rivas’s tense, clipped pieces don’t so much place a finger on pressure points, as they do create the impression of a battle-scarred warrior, pointing out each of her wounds with a dispassionate finger, sharing her \'war\' experiences with other, equally-scarred veterans of life as a woman today ... this sharp, chest-tightening collection draws on what are, sadly, familiar and heart-breakingly common experiences for many women. Rivas shares those in the tight, gristly, almost detached prose of a warrior pointing to each scar as proof of having survived that particular battle. Those who would avert their eyes from those scars, who would prefer to remain oblivious to the battles fought and the pain experienced, probably will not find what they’re looking for in this steely little book. For others, it’s a chance to find a bit of solidarity, and perhaps a bit of enlightenment, too.
Heather Morris
PositiveWashington Independent Review of Books...by alternating the abject horror and brutality of the camps — even as much as readers may think they’ve heard the worst of it, these scenes still shock — with Sokolov and Gita’s achingly tender love story, Morris reminds the reader that humans are capable not only of great evil, but also great love ... a story worth telling.
Elliot Ackerman
RaveThe Washington Independent Review of BooksThis is a tautly written, gripping read that, in the best tradition of war-related fiction, reminds us in unflinching detail of the awful cost of battle. However, it also, surprisingly, pays homage to other genres. Part mystery, part thriller, part unconventional love story, Waiting for Eden explores with gravity and sensitivity the profound questions of love and fidelity, duty and honor, and how one creates a life worth living.
