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Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite
Yvonne deSousa’s candid and moving memoir, Shelter of the Monument: A Provincetown Love Story, follows her relationship with a man addicted to cocaine. Through his love and support, she began a journey of discovering her worth and finding her voice. Before meeting Richard, deSousa had always felt inferior to those she encountered. In high school, she was the anonymous one, the one who diminished herself and did what was expected of her. But Richard saw something special in her and at their first meeting deSousa knew she had met the man of her dreams. Richard was handsome, loving, and funny, all the things she had hoped for in a boyfriend. He was older, though, and was battling a deadly addiction. She describes her relationship with him, including the beautiful moments and the turbulent ones. With unfading hope, she held on to the dream of sharing a beautiful life with him.
I found this memoir to be an excellent work that evoked a myriad of emotions, beginning with deSousa’s experiences before meeting Richard to their enduring association. It captures the depth of the couple’s love skillfully, the dreams they held onto, and the impact his addiction had on their relationship. It includes intriguing discussions about deSousa’s interactions with her parents, sister, and friends during the on-and-off romance. The author discusses her attraction to Richard and the impact his love had on her with refreshing authenticity, while also covering the devastating effects of his cocaine addiction. The story’s setting and her experiences in college are described in vivid detail. Shelter of the Monument by Yvonne deSousa is a hopeful yet heart-wrenching story that follows her coming-of-age years, highlighting her unwavering love and endurance.
