“Two Minus One,” by Kathryn Taylor

Kathryn Taylor

Reviewed by Jessica Williams

In Two Minus One, Kathryn Taylor bravely shares her personal story of pain, betrayal, and loneliness following a divorce that she didn’t foresee. Her divorce followed several years of a fairytale marriage highlighted by extravagant adventures and trips and numerous acts of kindness. However, the union ended abruptly in an onslaught of verbal cruelty.

As a thirty-year educational professional, Taylor opted for early retirement and uprooted her entire life by relocating for a man who would soon abandon her without warning, leaving her alone and devastated. Although his background is unknown, her husband’s behavior is indicative of someone who suffers from multiple internal insecurities and deep fear of abandonment. He never attempts to repair the relationship.

Knowing this, Kathryn moves on. After a grueling search for the right type of therapy and counseling, Kathryn finds love again in the most unexpected places. For example, a loved one places a rescued lab-mix in her lap. Comically named Lucifer and, later, Lucy, this new canine companion restores a little of her faith in herself and helps to heal her wounds. The little companion she rescued ends up rescuing her.

After raising two children, having grandchildren, undergoing two divorces, and ending a thirty-year teaching career, Kathryn accepts the extremely difficult challenge of starting over at age sixty. Making matters worse, she soon suffers one of the most painful of all life experiences: losing a parent, unexpectedly and without the chance to say goodbye. But, once again, she does not give up. Instead, she develops an unlikely closeness with a new friend with whom she has more in common than she ever thought possible.

Two Minus One is a remarkable story of never giving up, a memoir bravely written, and an inspiration for all women who feel alone after experiencing a painful divorce.

Kathryn Taylor was born at the Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago, Illinois, and spent much of her life in the Chicago area. She taught in the schools of Illinois, California, and Virginia before her retirement and relocation to South Carolina.

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