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Weed Therapy
Kelvin Rockwell’s thirteen-year-old son, Spencer, is doing what teenage boys do, ignoring his father and growing apart. His four-year-old, Jason, is still planted firmly in his ‘mommy and me’ phase. And his wife, Holly, has spent years demonstrating apathy towards their marriage. The emotional reward of family is disappearing from Kelvin’s life.
In an attempt to find an answer to his unhappiness, Kelvin leaves his family for a few days to visit Santo Cielo, a remote village along the coast of Baja California. There, he experiences a life far removed from his own and explores his frustrations with Father Juan Miguel Santos, an old priest who shares his wisdom and life lessons.
The first lesson Father Santos teaches Kelvin is that a marriage is like a garden. It must be weeded every day. Kelvin thinks back to a comment Holly made years after they were married – that she wasn’t comfortable with him – and they did nothing to resolve the problem. The weed that Holly planted squarely in the middle of their marriage hadn’t been pulled. Instead it joined other weeds, choking the color out of their marriage.
Weed Therapy follows Kelvin as he searches his soul and his
memories in response to Father Santos’s lessons, including the
simplest of messages – that Kelvin deserves to be happy. Motivated by the old priest’s advice, Kelvin returns home and attempts to put the lessons into action, to replace the weeds with a beautiful garden.
In an attempt to find an answer to his unhappiness, Kelvin leaves his family for a few days to visit Santo Cielo, a remote village along the coast of Baja California. There, he experiences a life far removed from his own and explores his frustrations with Father Juan Miguel Santos, an old priest who shares his wisdom and life lessons.
The first lesson Father Santos teaches Kelvin is that a marriage is like a garden. It must be weeded every day. Kelvin thinks back to a comment Holly made years after they were married – that she wasn’t comfortable with him – and they did nothing to resolve the problem. The weed that Holly planted squarely in the middle of their marriage hadn’t been pulled. Instead it joined other weeds, choking the color out of their marriage.
Weed Therapy follows Kelvin as he searches his soul and his
memories in response to Father Santos’s lessons, including the
simplest of messages – that Kelvin deserves to be happy. Motivated by the old priest’s advice, Kelvin returns home and attempts to put the lessons into action, to replace the weeds with a beautiful garden.
227 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2013
229 people want to read
About the author
Mark Paxson
13 books13 followersI've spent my life reading and always wanted to write. About ten years ago, I started One Night in Bridgeport, a legal thriller. Bridgeport is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon, and in all other e-reader formats on Smashwords.
Writing that story opened the door to writing. I've since written about 45 short stories -- with two stories published by The First Line and two at www.toasted-cheese.com.
Weed Therapy, about a man's journey to find happiness, is my next novel ready to be published. And, after that, I have three partially completed novels ready for my attention.
In my other life, I'm an attorney. I have two teenagers about ready to start college. I cook, bake, garden ... and read.
You can keep up with my writing news at www.markpaxson.com, and read my latest thoughts on virtually everything else at www.kingmidgetramblings.wordpress.com.
Writing that story opened the door to writing. I've since written about 45 short stories -- with two stories published by The First Line and two at www.toasted-cheese.com.
Weed Therapy, about a man's journey to find happiness, is my next novel ready to be published. And, after that, I have three partially completed novels ready for my attention.
In my other life, I'm an attorney. I have two teenagers about ready to start college. I cook, bake, garden ... and read.
You can keep up with my writing news at www.markpaxson.com, and read my latest thoughts on virtually everything else at www.kingmidgetramblings.wordpress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 21, 2013
It took me less than a couple of chapters to fall in love with this book and clear my schedule of everything else in order to give it the appropriate attention.
I believe this is a book that anyone would be able to relate to. Whether you are married, a parent, or a single person there is a part of this novel that is certain to touch you. This book will make you stop and evaluate your life.
A very introspective novel, this is told from the point of view of Kelvin, a main character who is on a quest to answer the deepest questions about his life--why he feels as he does about his marriage, his relationship (or lack thereof) with his children and what he wants to do with the rest of his time.
The setting could not be more perfect for the subject matter. The community, landscape and essence of place that Mark Paxson brings to life in this novel is palpable. You almost feel you are there right alongside the characters, experiencing the world as they are.
I loved this book for multiple reasons. First of all, this is not your standard *enter the priest at the tiny out of the way mission* save your soul and find religious glory kind of book. Thank you Mr. Paxson, for leaving the beaten path for something less travelled and much more interesting. This book explores the nature of what aging, stress and life in general does to relationships. I loved that I was able to get inside the head of the main character and see his view of the world.
Secondly, Father Santos. He is just an all around great character. I really enjoyed how human he was. I think we tend to think of religious officials as being superhuman and not capable of having problems and histories like the average person. Mark Paxson made this character seem real. Rather than having him be a rather faceless shadow who was just there as a sounding board for the main character, he was active in the story. His advice and mannerisms made him feel like I could just ring him up anytime to discuss my own life.
Watching new relationships form throughout this story as well as watching the understanding of the main character grow and change was wonderful. The story was progressive and stuck to the plot. Love that.
I was sorry to see this end, although impressed with the way it did. The story has a strong finish, where you see all of the loose ends tied together and feel like there was a point to everything you read. Beautiful.
I think it would be interesting to see another book that mirrored this one from Holly's POV and see the other side of the same coin, as it were. This is such a journey, and one that I strongly recommend you take. Some people are just meant to write a certain book, I think. It is clear that this was one of those cases. I am looking forward to further work from this author.
I believe this is a book that anyone would be able to relate to. Whether you are married, a parent, or a single person there is a part of this novel that is certain to touch you. This book will make you stop and evaluate your life.
A very introspective novel, this is told from the point of view of Kelvin, a main character who is on a quest to answer the deepest questions about his life--why he feels as he does about his marriage, his relationship (or lack thereof) with his children and what he wants to do with the rest of his time.
The setting could not be more perfect for the subject matter. The community, landscape and essence of place that Mark Paxson brings to life in this novel is palpable. You almost feel you are there right alongside the characters, experiencing the world as they are.
I loved this book for multiple reasons. First of all, this is not your standard *enter the priest at the tiny out of the way mission* save your soul and find religious glory kind of book. Thank you Mr. Paxson, for leaving the beaten path for something less travelled and much more interesting. This book explores the nature of what aging, stress and life in general does to relationships. I loved that I was able to get inside the head of the main character and see his view of the world.
Secondly, Father Santos. He is just an all around great character. I really enjoyed how human he was. I think we tend to think of religious officials as being superhuman and not capable of having problems and histories like the average person. Mark Paxson made this character seem real. Rather than having him be a rather faceless shadow who was just there as a sounding board for the main character, he was active in the story. His advice and mannerisms made him feel like I could just ring him up anytime to discuss my own life.
Watching new relationships form throughout this story as well as watching the understanding of the main character grow and change was wonderful. The story was progressive and stuck to the plot. Love that.
I was sorry to see this end, although impressed with the way it did. The story has a strong finish, where you see all of the loose ends tied together and feel like there was a point to everything you read. Beautiful.
I think it would be interesting to see another book that mirrored this one from Holly's POV and see the other side of the same coin, as it were. This is such a journey, and one that I strongly recommend you take. Some people are just meant to write a certain book, I think. It is clear that this was one of those cases. I am looking forward to further work from this author.
October 10, 2013
I loved the craftsmanship in the way this book was written and the author’s writing style. The word pictures created were superb. The beauty of the well written story was magical. The novel really moved me in a deep and spiritual way. Paxon’s insights and intuitions were well woven into this account of a man’s quest for understanding his own unhappiness. It reminded me that men, whom we often regard as the stronger, less emotional sex, really do have feelings, hopes, and desires.
The characters, both primary and ancillary are truly tangible. Kelvin, his family, and the people of Santa Cielo are very real people to me now. You can see the characters, hear them speak, and feel their pains. Father Santos is a humble man. Santa Cielo is a most inspiring place that I visited with Kelvin, and his home is not unlike so many in America. The settings are vivid and clear, and come alive with the people, sights, sounds, smells, and flavors of the distinctively different cultures. At times, I thought Kelvin most selfish, and as I read on, I realized that he was truly selfless, compassionate, wanting the happiness of all: himself, the people of Santa Cielo, and his family. Kelvin, however, is not a humble man.
The author is very talented, and I would have loved to have seen him expound on how Kelvin was able to achieve happiness, the changes that were necessary in both his thinking and behavior, in order to attract the sort of happiness of his desire. I did not feel that Kelvin ever thoroughly and effectively cleaned up the weeds on his side of the garden path. I wanted the book to be longer. It felt somewhat incomplete. What it was like before, and what Kelvin did different were there, but what it is like now was not. There needed to be a conclusion chapter, at least, for a more satisfying ending. I felt this was an awesome and inspiring book wherein the author does not preach his ideas, but relates to people and their issues in a way that is genuine and not forced. All good books leave you wanting more. If you have ever been in a relationship, are in a relationship, or plan to be in a relationship, you really should read this book. I would love to read a sequel by this author. I would definitely buy it, read it, and most certainly find it interesting. I love books that get me to think, and not simply entertain. This book did both!
The characters, both primary and ancillary are truly tangible. Kelvin, his family, and the people of Santa Cielo are very real people to me now. You can see the characters, hear them speak, and feel their pains. Father Santos is a humble man. Santa Cielo is a most inspiring place that I visited with Kelvin, and his home is not unlike so many in America. The settings are vivid and clear, and come alive with the people, sights, sounds, smells, and flavors of the distinctively different cultures. At times, I thought Kelvin most selfish, and as I read on, I realized that he was truly selfless, compassionate, wanting the happiness of all: himself, the people of Santa Cielo, and his family. Kelvin, however, is not a humble man.
The author is very talented, and I would have loved to have seen him expound on how Kelvin was able to achieve happiness, the changes that were necessary in both his thinking and behavior, in order to attract the sort of happiness of his desire. I did not feel that Kelvin ever thoroughly and effectively cleaned up the weeds on his side of the garden path. I wanted the book to be longer. It felt somewhat incomplete. What it was like before, and what Kelvin did different were there, but what it is like now was not. There needed to be a conclusion chapter, at least, for a more satisfying ending. I felt this was an awesome and inspiring book wherein the author does not preach his ideas, but relates to people and their issues in a way that is genuine and not forced. All good books leave you wanting more. If you have ever been in a relationship, are in a relationship, or plan to be in a relationship, you really should read this book. I would love to read a sequel by this author. I would definitely buy it, read it, and most certainly find it interesting. I love books that get me to think, and not simply entertain. This book did both!
October 31, 2013
Normally I don't recommend that a reader go through the About This Author page or Note to the Reader page in a book, but for this one I do. I say this because as I read Weed Therapy, it seemed like two very different stories woven together to make one novel.
Kelvin Rockwell is unhappy in his marriage, in his job, and with his life. A stranger in a bar tells him about a priest in a tiny town in Baja California, and how the stranger's visit there changed his life. Kelvin leaves his family and visits this poor village to get some answers and some advice.
The first thing I would have you understand is that Mr. Paxson has a wonderful writing style, a great way of putting words together to paint a picture or convey a feeling in a story. The narrative about visiting the village, learning how these simple people find their happiness, and the conversations with the old priest remind me of Hermann Hesse's writing. There's something mystical and spiritual about the experience, and I wanted to soak in the aura as long as possible.
The other aspect of the novel is Rockwell in first person telling the reader how his marriage has gone south, how his wife doesn't express her love for him the way he wants, and how his kids have drifted from him. I went through a divorce and custody proceedings more than a decade ago, so when I read these sections of Rockwell complaining and blaming his wife, I wanted someone to shake him out of it and see the other side of the issue. But I realize that is my perspective, and that re-marrying as an older, hopefully wiser person has changed the way I look at relationships.
Ironically, the old Mexican priest's words are spot-on for Rockwell, despite his protestations and complaining, and the reader can go a couple of different ways with this story. You can feel the pain Rockwell is experiencing, and sympathize with his thinking. Or you can view his narrative as flawed and myopic, and sympathize more with his wife.
Either way this is a good read, and makes me want to get a copy of Paxson's other novel, One Night in Bridgeport.
Kelvin Rockwell is unhappy in his marriage, in his job, and with his life. A stranger in a bar tells him about a priest in a tiny town in Baja California, and how the stranger's visit there changed his life. Kelvin leaves his family and visits this poor village to get some answers and some advice.
The first thing I would have you understand is that Mr. Paxson has a wonderful writing style, a great way of putting words together to paint a picture or convey a feeling in a story. The narrative about visiting the village, learning how these simple people find their happiness, and the conversations with the old priest remind me of Hermann Hesse's writing. There's something mystical and spiritual about the experience, and I wanted to soak in the aura as long as possible.
The other aspect of the novel is Rockwell in first person telling the reader how his marriage has gone south, how his wife doesn't express her love for him the way he wants, and how his kids have drifted from him. I went through a divorce and custody proceedings more than a decade ago, so when I read these sections of Rockwell complaining and blaming his wife, I wanted someone to shake him out of it and see the other side of the issue. But I realize that is my perspective, and that re-marrying as an older, hopefully wiser person has changed the way I look at relationships.
Ironically, the old Mexican priest's words are spot-on for Rockwell, despite his protestations and complaining, and the reader can go a couple of different ways with this story. You can feel the pain Rockwell is experiencing, and sympathize with his thinking. Or you can view his narrative as flawed and myopic, and sympathize more with his wife.
Either way this is a good read, and makes me want to get a copy of Paxson's other novel, One Night in Bridgeport.
July 17, 2015
‘Weed Therapy’ is an introspective journey of a man wrestling with marriage and fatherhood. In it, Kelvin Rockwell leaves his family for a few days to travel to Mexico in hopes of insight. There he meets Father Santos, an old priest who serves as a sounding board for Kelvin’s angst and struggles. Through their discussions, the elderly man imparts valuable lessons. The novel is more thinking than action, and the reader ‘travels’ with Kelvin through his decision-making process: whether to end his marriage or not.
The book is from Kelvin’s point-of-view. The reader imagines his wife, Holly, would have a very different interpretation of events. But that adds a degree of self-reflection to the novel. It reminds us there are two sides to every story.
The author has a knack for description, and his words sucked me into Kelvin and Father Santos’s world so deeply that I wouldn’t be surprised if I encountered them out on the street. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an introspective glimpse into a marriage on the rocks.
The book is from Kelvin’s point-of-view. The reader imagines his wife, Holly, would have a very different interpretation of events. But that adds a degree of self-reflection to the novel. It reminds us there are two sides to every story.
The author has a knack for description, and his words sucked me into Kelvin and Father Santos’s world so deeply that I wouldn’t be surprised if I encountered them out on the street. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an introspective glimpse into a marriage on the rocks.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews