Laura Nicole Diamond's SHELTER US Goes from Luster to Dust

The award winning novel "Shelter Us," by Laura Nicole Diamond tackles issues of grief and social responsibility but fumbles badly midway into a sophomoric soap opera.  Sarah Shaw is wife to Robert and mother to 3 children, Oliver, Izzy and daughter Ella.  Ella died at 6 weeks. Sarah was instructed in her grief support group to name her daughter & speak of her death when asked about her children  The support group proved futile.  Both Sarah & Robert disband but become isolated in their own sorrow. Despite the insurmountable stupor of pain they still needing to care for their children & themselves.  Diamond evokes our empathy for Sarah who valiantly strives amidst the murkiness of self-doubt, grief & loneliness.  "Shelter Us" also takes a profound look at the homeless who remain invisible to those fortunate to have a roof, food & stability. "There's so much need, it becomes easy to ignore people.  That's terrible, isn't it?"  Sarah is drawn towards a young mother & her small child who are homeless & vulnerable.  Her acts of kindness & generosity towards them confront us with our own behavior.  Sarah questions her own motives.  Is she using them to help heal the hole left by Ella's death?  Regardless her motives, we admire Sarah's heroic efforts to help this family.  Robert prohibits Sarah from becoming  involved.  Sarah's strategy to be of aid twists the focus onto a tattered & unwinding marriage caused by deceit, breakdown in communication & adultry.  The integrity of a novel that addressed coping with grief & commitment to those less fortunate needed protecting from morphing into the angst of a rocky marriage.