The Ain't No Mo' Pizza Book Club: "Allure: NO Regrets..."

Around the beginning of my kindergarten year, Pizza Hut developed the BOOK IT! Program rewarding kids for their enthusiasm to read.  Knowing I had a personal pan pizza waiting for me, I was reading everything and anything while feeding my hunger for knowledge.  However, I stopped being as consistently eager to read a book for leisure as I aged unless I knew for sure it was good--despite becoming someone whose various platforms hinge upon another person's earnest desire to read.  Fast forward 21 years to adulthood...when my coworker first shared her book idea with me, I knew she had something special on her hands simply because of her insightful and passionate viewpoints on a wide array of topics.  Little did I know how powerful the finished product would be where the thought of putting it down for the sake of sleep was dreadful.  In a story involving love, marriage, family, sex, ambition, business, dreams realized and deferred and understanding the Universe's purpose for certain occurrences in life, Teeonah Talaya's addictive debut publishing, Allure: NO Regrets..., is full of emotional roller coasters and inspiring gems.  So as an ode to what put me on my reading path, it brings me great pleasure to unveil the inaugural edition of "The Ain't No Mo' Pizza Book Club" with some of my favorite parts of Allure: NO Regrets...

THE "STIMULUS PACKAGE".  Having someone who is one of your greatest inspirations is priceless and as Allure unfolds, high school sweethearts Donovan Neuman and Christina Sterling-Kennedy--the primary characters who grew up in the D.C. area and reunite once he returns from Shanghai after years out of touch--epitomize this reality.  In Chapter 8 while at dinner during their business trip to Miami, the "fine" and "successful" Donovan (a once-promising basketball star turned partner at investment firm Banks, Cohen, Steinman and Neuman) "impressed and intimidated" Christina (who runs 3sync, a company specializing in providing utilities and health and wellness services as well as generating multiple streams of income for its members) with his assertive attitude that was an advancement of the "fun, sweet and quiet" boy from high school.  "You're truly an anomaly," she tells him fondly.  "I just really wanted you to know that I'm so proud of you.  I truly am."  Genuinely touched, he hits her with a riveting response: "Thank you Christina, you have no idea how much that means to me, especially since you have been my muse for all of these years."  When she typed the word "muse" in a Google search, she discovered the following:

Muse- a woman or force personified who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist, see also stimulus.  I hurry and click on stimulus.  Stimulus- a thing or event that arouses or evokes activity or energy in someone or something.  I was speechless.

As a creative artist in many areas, having a woman who I view as a "muse" or a "stimulus" has been an essential part of my success and push to continue my dreams.  The most creative writing I did prior to high school was the fledgling dialogue in my comic books, but as stated previously, a young lady was one of the greatest catalysts for my writing career as I started off writing poetry to win her heart and eventually graduated to song writing, and journalism.  Hence, Donovan saying what he did to Christina is a refreshing reminder of the importance of not only having someone in your corner who consistently energizes and fuels your creativity and passions in life, but also making sure they know how much of an invaluable influence he or she has had on the trajectory of your life.

THE FIRST-PERSON SWITCHES.  Being raised by a single mother for most of my adolescent years, I find myself straddling the fence between the sensibilities of a woman and the natural tendencies of a man.  Considering that perspective, Allure appeals to that duality by fluctuating between the perspectives of Donovan and Christina and causing me to relate to different aspects and experiences of both characters.  The most salient example involves Christina's 33rd birthday celebration at a restaurant in Georgetown.  In Chapter 10, Christina felt more hopeless as her dream to have a child was being dashed by her husband Bryan, who already had a 23-year-old son and was adamant in not having any more children.  So when Bryan takes her to dinner and infuriates her even more with news of leaving the next day for a six-month business stint in Dubai, seeing Donovan walk in with his new lady friend Adrienne only added fuel to the fire--especially after the Miami trip when he insisted on keeping things professional because he could "no longer afford to emotionally invest" in a married woman.  Slighted when her friend of 18 years introduces her to this "random a-- woman" as his "business partner" and forgets her birthday, she revealed her inner feelings after withholding the reason for her tears to Bryan:

I hadn't even realized that I was crying.  I could not believe Donovan was so cold and dismissive.  Like I didn't mean anything.  Like I didn't even matter...and to think, I actually thought that he and I could have been something...I was heartbroken, I felt like I had lost my baby...

On the flip side, the next chapter finds Donovan fresh off of a disagreement with Adrienne about spending $15,000 on a "stupid picture".  Trying to make up for the "rude and pretentious" defense of his pricey purchase, he unknowingly takes her to the same restaurant where Bryan and Christina are--although he knew she liked Italian and wanted to take her there himself.  Admittedly "nervous" when the love of his life who "looked like every man's dream" approaches their table, his seemingly-dismissive behavior was actually suppression of his true emotions for her while avoiding an inquisition from Adrienne--hence referring to her as his "business partner".  Even with the train wreck of an awkward exchange, he and Adrienne got into it regardless and made this candid confession after the spat spelled their demise: "I didn't even like this girl like that, not for me to be defending myself and lying about how I truly feel for Christina."  Presenting this one incident from two vantage points not only manifested the frequent difficulties for men and women to understand each other, but also highlighted the oversight people make trying to "read" others while failing to comprehend the circumstances contributing to a person's disposition.

WHEN YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE ALLURE.  Speaking of the book's most impactful moments, the one that made me appreciate Teeonah's ability to translate visuals into a prominent message is Donovan's aforementioned art purchase in Chapter 11.  Initially wanting something to "focus on" when "deep in thought", he was drawn to a black and white picture titled "Allure" featuring a "beautiful" woman with eyes and a face "hidden in the shadows" and "slightly parted" red lips providing the only splash of color.  When the salesperson approaches him to discuss the piece, Donovan professes his inability to stop looking at the woman, but his trepidation about her eyes being the missing link and the possibility of them being "hideous".  The salesperson interjects with his interpretation:

But what if they aren't?  What if they are the most beautiful eyes that you have and will ever see?  What if her eyes unlock something in you that you never knew you had...look at her: you don't know anything about her and yet you are mesmerized...all you see is a woman, you know nothing of her, her background.  It leaves you wanting more.  It's the allure of the unknown that keeps you intrigued.  Makes you imagine, draws you into her...

On one hand, it's easy to assume the salesperson is interpreting this picture as primarily a representation of the mystery of love.  However, whether we're drawn to a person, a career path or an ideal, this section captures how we are often clueless as to why that particular passion is in our heart and spirit to the point where we can't stop looking at, thinking or dreaming about it.  It can consume us so much that we question where and how far that obsession will take us and/or make others think our desires are "insane" like Adrienne ridiculing Donovan's seemingly impulsive and frivolous purchase of "Allure", calling it "blah" and "just a woman's face".  Nevertheless, Teeonah brilliantly uses Donovan's fascination with "Allure" to emphasize how our worthiness of having what we treasure is based on our intrepid imagination, unflinching faith and relentless pursuit overcoming uncertainty.

SHOTS OF REGRETLESS SCHNAPPS.  While I have always believed teachers are some of the most underappreciated workers in our society, bartenders could be in that conversation as they not only serve beer, wine and spirits, but they also split their time as therapists and life coaches.  Toward the end of Chapter 11 right after his debacle with Christina and Adrienne, Donovan heads to the bar at the Four Seasons and has a heart-to-heart talk with the bartender, Julian.  He pours his heart out about his undying love for Christina since they were in high school and the heartbreak of her being married now.  Although Julian frankly expresses the pitfalls of falling in love with a married woman, he follows up Donovan's defense with the following as part of his "there are no coincidences in life, only divine appointments and connections" mantra:

...yes, she is married, but to be honest, if the love that you all have is true, then love conquers all.  Truth is, if a woman can entertain another man, it means her heart isn't fully where she is.  Trust me.  Now I'm not telling you to run after her.  But envision her.  If you want her, see yourself with her.  Think of her.  Dream of her.  If it's meant to be, then you all will be.  And that is the truth.  No matter what circumstance she or ye are in.  Trust in the Universe.

If there are any parts of the book that drive home the overarching theme, then one of the most resonant ones reside in this critical section.  Julian admits to making some "bad choices" in life as well as leaving a woman he loved "to LIFE" because he thought she was pregnant with another man's baby, but he maintained an attitude of "no regrets".  Consequently, he essentially told Donovan not to regret the love he had for Christina despite her situation because regret obstructs the ability to ponder and visualize the possibilities despite the obstacles or what conventional thinking tends to dictate.  This is an all-encompassing moment where Teeonah encourages her audience to confidently envision whatever is not presently seen as if it's already tangible and apply that mentality to every area of life--even the seemingly-insurmountable parts.

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Now I'll be completely honest and this aspect of Allure: NO Regrets... deserves to be an honorable mention: it's extremely easy to be "excited" by the fluent sexual tension and energy between Donovan and Christina.  While the book tackles the taboo of ardently pining after someone society and convention says you shouldn't, the reader with a flexible understanding of the human heart will either secretly or openly pull for these two to act on and escalate their brewing desire for one another spanning nearly two decades.  However, Allure isn't merely run-of-the-mill erotica as the sum and substance of Donovan and Christina's relationship as well as their individual stories equal a common reality for us all: every desire or passion we have in life should assist in adding depth to how we're shaped and must have a rock solid foundation rooted and grounded in love.  Resembling the captivating picture of the inexplicably beautiful woman, author Teeonah Talaya executed her own work of art inasmuch as Allure leaves you intrigued about life, love and the pursuit of the unknown well after you put down this "provocative" and "scintillating" page turner.


To find out more about Teeonah Talaya and to purchase a copy of Allure: NO Regrets..., please visit www.teeonahtalaya.com.  If you've already read it, then PLEASE feel free to share some of your favorite moments in the comments section.