Lilith is a hauntingly tragic and stirring story that will punch you in the gut, leaving you teary eyed and breathless. Eric Rickstad has expertly crafted a profound tale that holds up a mirror to today’s society and asks us to explore our humanity.
Elisabeth Ross is a teacher who heroically saves her class from a school shooter, then returns to rescue her wounded son. Their lives will never be the same and she dedicates herself to caring for her physically and mentally traumatized son. But there are powerful men who use this tragedy as a means to further their second amendment cause, enraging Elisabeth and making her wonder how this epidemic of violence will ever end. She decides to act and posts a video of her crime under the biblical name Lilith. As people both praise and demonize Lilith online, and with the FBI closing in on her, Elisabeth questions the justification of her actions and wonders if she’s a hero or a part of the problem. Regardless of the answer, she knows she will do anything to protect her son and stay out of prison to continue caring for him.
This book might be a work of fiction, but damn if it doesn’t feel real. It probes the fear, helplessness and rage that follows every school shooting we hear about in the news. And it puts the reader in Elizabeth’s shoes, giving us a taste of the pain and anguish survivors feel in the aftermath. It then makes us all question what we would do if this was our own child. If the system and protocols fail us. If others use our suffering to further their own interests. Would it justify perpetrating violence on those who use it for their gain? Or does that make us no better than them? Tough questions that require a lot of introspection and Lilith forces the poignant discussion.
This novel is emotional to say the least. It wrecked me. Left me a mess with tears streaming down my face. But I’m grateful to Eric Rickstad for having the courage to write such a challenging, significant and powerful story. It’s an important book to read. One that goes well beyond literary excellence and entertainment, pushing readers to search the depth of our souls to determine who we want to be as a society.
Not for the timid or feeble minded, Lilith requires strength and bravery to read. But if you can summon the guts to pick it up, you will be rewarded with one of the finest books you’ll read this year.
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Purchase Lilith
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