The Inexquisite Eye
D. B. Smith
(Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan)
2001 Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1401033148

Young lawyer Elissa Laughlin disdains office politics & pursues her ideal of love, protecting her vision of a world where everyone becomes the person they are meant to be.

Sr. Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan writes:

A classic case of "Lawyer Burnout" -- these were the first words that came to my mind soon after finishing The Inexquisite Eye. D.B. Smith's debut work is a novel of self-discovery, were a young woman pursues her idea of a perfect world.

Ellissa Laughlin is a hotshot lawyer. Young in age & gritty in the courtroom, she is assured of a rich & powerful future. However, Elissa the person, is unhappy & believes that she has more to attain in life than her career as a lawyer.

Elissa yearns for a life where she can do whatever she likes, yielding to none, without any adjustments & compromises. One fine day she does just that, disdaining office politics, detaching herself from her lover & friends, As Elissa embarks upon her journey of self-discovery, pursuing her ideal of love & a life without compromise, she slowly realizes that swimming against the current is a big, big struggle.

The highlight of the work is the sheer poetry in the narration -- D.B. Smith has a flair with the words & The Inexquisite Eye makes flowing reading.

The cover art, Giovanni di Paolo's Paradise, totally captures the mood & spirit of the work. Save for these two aspects, in the whole scheme of things, I did not find The Inexquisite Eye so exquisite. I thought that the protagonist's quest for self-discovery bordered on impudence. Most of the problems she faces are because of her illogical decisions which make them seem compromises -- & in her thoughts -- a life of adjustments.

I feel that W. D. Smith has been inspired by Jane Austen works, in particular Pride and Prejudice & Emma. The author does an admirable job in capturing the Jane Austen touch, & avid Austen readers will enjoy The Inexquisite Eye.

In the end, though, The Inexquisite Eye is a mildly amusing work.
(08/04/02)

Narayan
2002©Narayan Radhakrishnan
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
I am a 26 years old lawyer practicing in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Along with my legal practice, I have finished post-graduate studies for both Business Law & Human Rights. I am a self proclaimed numero-uno legal thriller lover & am the proud owner of all of Grisham's & Turow's novels. I enjoy John Mortimer's Rumpole & relish an occasional Martini & a rare Scot(ch)t-oline with a Patterson on the side.

My work A FICTION OF LAW is now about 500 pages in length & features 500 lawyer authors & 2000 legal thrillers covering a 300 year period - inclusive of entries from the USA, UK, Asia, Europe, China, Middle East etc. Still in search of a publisher.
www.keralatourism.org