Strange piece of paradise

Strange piece of paradise

Summary

The story of the book starts on 22nd of June, 1977 in the summer following the freshman year of the two protagonists at Yale. Terri Jentz (the author of the book), along with Shayna Weiss (her roommate and friend), rides the BikeCentennial which is basically a bicycle route crisscrossing through the country. On day seven of their trip, the two bid farewell to a couple that they stumbled across earlier during the journey. Tired of their long and tiresome journey, the two then set up a pop-up tent in a park which is only open during the day. They eat heat packaged food on a tiny portable stove and sneak into their tents looking for a good night's sleep.

In the middle of the night, the two are awakened by the noise of a roaring engine and screeching tires. The truck runs over Terri and Shayna and a man with a headless torso advances towards them madly swinging an axe at the two of them. Unbelievably, both of the protagonists survive the terrible attack, escaping with physical injuries and post-traumatic shock. While Shayna strongly wants to believe that the terrifying incident never took place in her life, Terri is more courageous and wants to learn the identity of the assailant who nearly killed her and her friend that fateful night.

Analysis of Terri's Emotional Healing Process

'Strange Piece of Paradise' is a gripping and riveting piece of writing that leaves the reader in a state of shock and confusion. The strange events that the author has lived and which are covered in the book in minute detail make up for a very powerful story and this captures the interest of the reader while also feeding his curiosity as to the identity of the assailant. However, the book is much more than just an account of an attempted homicide. It also describes the healing process of Terri and Shayna as they both try to overcome their worst fears and the memories of the terrifying night that still haunt them.

One of things that the author has clearly and repeatedly mentioned in the book is that the events of that fateful night divided her life into major parts - 'now' and 'then'. Before the event, she was a lively and effervescent woman who loved adventures and spontaneity. It seems that Terri enjoyed her freedom and this is evident in ...