Beyond All Desiring (Unabridged‪)‬

Recipient of 3 awards, Beyond All Desiring reveals the deep secrets of Sara, a woman who was "different" in a time of conformity. When Sara's niece, Janice, is notified that her sharp-witted aunt, now in her 80s, hasn't been seen for several days, Janice's panicky drive to find out what's happened begins our journey of discovering that Sara has led a life very different from what her relatives and friends assume. Historical events of the 20th century form a backdrop to Sara's often tumultuous personal life. As Sara visits a museum exhibit about Buddhism, we learn of her two marriages, the first to an abusive man and the second to a kinder man involved in top secret projects, who develops a bizarre illness. We discover Sara's long but secret love relationship with a woman. And we learn of hidden booklets that hold the key to yet another secret. Judith Laura's writing in this novel is stylistically innovative, realistic and magical, erotic and spiritual.