A Different "Love Book"

“If I see another book telling me to be content in being single and focus on God, I’ll scream.”

Well, don’t hit the high notes yet. Especially if you’re a woman whose biological clock has just ticked beyond curfew.

Letters to a Single Woman is different.

First, it is not written by some contented wife telling her unattached sisters to suck up and wait for their turn at the altar.

Second, it is not a manual for finding Mr. Right. Even the Foreword written by Darlene Sala is forthright about that. Darlene is the better half of Dr. Harold Sala.

Third, it is disarmingly honest. No sugar coating or sour grapes here. Many books bring words to eyes. This one speaks heart to heart.

In 28 poignant chapters, author Karen Huang shares her own highs and lows of being a 40-something single woman. She has made her mark as a book editor par excellence and her impressive list of “edit-ees” are overjoyed to hold a book from her own pen. I ought to know, because I am one of them. I found her so uncannily efficient and detailed that I wonder if she’s even human.

Well, Letters to a Single Woman is indisputable proof that she wasn’t born on Vulcan. She begins with the familiar lament “Where did the years go?” and launches into 28 poignant vignettes. With about 150 pages, the whole book can be read in one sitting (I read my copy while having my haircut). Then one can go back and relish each piece.

Karen doesn’t shy away from the sensitive topics like age, shame, forgiveness and grief. She doesn’t apologize for her femininity and sexuality. Yet she exquisitely balances the book with inspiring pieces on fun, friends and of course, the Lord. Her style is like Goldilocks. Neither fluffy nor morose. Neither permissive nor preachy. It’s just right. The book’s the next best thing to having Karen as your confidant and companion.

Oh, did I mention that she’s Chinese? The surname would be a dead giveaway. I sprang from the same culture where progeny is one’s treasures. It starts with the question tossed in practically every family reunion, “When will you ever get married?” Then when you finally land a spouse, it’s “When will you ever have kids?” There’s no satisfying your customers.

I am being facetious, of course. But I can only imagine the pressure and struggle Karen went through. Going through the book, I marvel that, through it all, she kept her dignity, good humor and appreciation for life intact. How she pulled it off is pure wisdom by the grace of God. It’s all there in the book.

Case in point: she loves being called Ah-ee (a Fukinese term for “aunt”) by her adorable nephews and nieces. Me? There was a time when one of my nephews-in-law called me Ah-pe. I felt very respected… and very ancient. He has since called me Tito Nelson instead. It’s much hipper that way. I digress, but you get my point.

My favorite line in the book is “We take the time to cry, because the best smiles in the world are made of tears…” When I read this gem to my darling wife Lucy, her face lighted with a silent “Wow!”

That’s Karen’s skill as a wordsmith. I won’t tell you the page, because the rest of the book is so good. And I want you to meet Petunia along the way.

Petunia who? Sorry, no spoilers here.

Give yourself a heapful of blessing and get your copy.

Letters to a Single Woman is available in all OMF Lit bookshops and online via https://shop.omflit.com/products/letters-to-a-single-woman

About the Reviewer:?Nelson T. Dy is an author, speaker and trainer on career, relationship, and spirituality issues. His day job is being an Assistant Vice President running two factories for a well-known beverage conglomerate. He is among the Top 100 Filipinos to follow on Linkedin in 2021.

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