Diana Stevan
I was so impressed with this author's ability to tackle a difficult subject in such an innovative way.
An amazing book illustrating that you don't have to leave home to find what you want.
I was pleased to find this book as it informed me about a chapter in my family's history. It made me think about the refugees everywhere, the ones who have their stories buries in the past, and the ones who have yet to write them.
This was a surprisingly good read, surprising only in the fact I hadn't heard of this book before. Russell Smith skillfully wove the stories of four main characters, each distinctively different in voice and journey.
What a lovely and inspiring book! It hit home just at the right time as I'm writing my grandmother's memoirs set in the Ukraine during World War I. Elizabeth Bachinsky colors her prose poems with touches from that culture. Enjoyed the read immensely.
Great little book revealing secrets of special haunts by native new yorkers. The anecdotes both entertain and inspire visits to the places that are recommended. Enjoyed the read immensely, and used the book as an added resource for our trip to New York this year.
An eye opener. He writes with such compassion, taking you inside the world of those who for whatever reason are down on their luck. The characters are those who society often overlooks. Their pain and confusion over how to make it life is written with such understanding, I wonder if David Adams Richards has ever worked in the helping professions.
A beautifully illustrated book for young people. Whale hunting as it was done by first nations is not well known. The author sheds light on the subject in a way that teaches children not only about this form of hunting for food, but also about what's at stake for the people who try.
An excellent book by someone who struggled with depression. I found it informed me as I developed my skills as a therapist.
I was thrilled to find this author. Each of the short stories in this collection are nuanced, and speak from the heart. There is something here for everyone. Pamela shows she knows the human spirit and the trouble it finds at every level, especially in the southern USA. What I especially loved about this book is the fact that at end of each story, Pamela tells us what inspired her to write that particular tale.
As I'm doing research for my grandmother's story, this book appealed to me on so many levels. Also, I'm a fan of William Kereluk's paintings.
I loved this story by Kristin Butcher. Her work is so accessible and yet very clever. At the threshold of adulthood, her protagonist, Dani, discovers more than she expected when she visits a relative she didn't even know existed. And through that, she learns her mother, who is off on yet another honeymoon, is more than she gave her credit for. The book made me laugh and cry and when a book does that, I can't help but give it top marks.
Mathias B.Freese is a former psychotherapist and teacher, and though he shares some of those experiences, this is no dry academic text. His essay collection is a rich concoction of stories, feelings, dreams, ideas, perceptions, and distilled memories. By sharing his own emotionally deprived childhood and family losses, he touches a core in all of us who've considered our early years and/or have gone through the pain of losing those we love. And he doesn't flinch when he shares his regrets or his inability to make those tender family connections that we all crave. In doing so, he shares his humanity.
But This Mobius Strip of Ifs is much more than a compilation of personal reflections. Through discussing the people who've had an impact on him—like Jefferson, Freud, Buster Keaton, Orson Welles, and the writers, Camus, Krishnamurti and Kazantzakis, he encourages us to look at our own lives. As he weaves in his encounters with these great men and others through film and books, he raises those big questions we all ask ourselves. What is our purpose? What is of value? What are we teaching our children in schools? What are we giving them at home? How do we get over our mistakes, our regrets in life? Can we? And can we ever know ourselves?
This Mobius Strip of Ifs is one book I plan to visit again and again.
Julia shows such skill in weaving the paranormal with the erotic. Easy to read, a lovely escape into the unknown.
Though this isn't a genre I typically buy, I was intrigued by the storyline and was rewarded by a “can't put it down” read. The author swept me into a world that's unique in fiction. ‘The Gift' the protagonist, Emelynn Taylor, receives is unusual; one I enjoyed vicariously through her actions. J.P. McLean also has a gift for writing racy scenes that are not only surprising but titillating, a bonus for those who like mystery and adventure peppered with spicy romance. I see movie written all over this one.
I was so impressed with this story and this author. In fact, I was jealous of her literary style. Mercy is a can't put down book, with unique characters trying to get the love they need in the strange little town of Mercy, Manitoba. Though dark at times, it's quite the moral read. Men of the cloth (priests and ministers) struggle with their demons along with other town folk, who've made this place a home. I'm surprised it hasn't won some award, though its author has for other works.
Joy Fielding is a “can't put this book down” author. She knows how to tell a story. However, I did like See Jane Run better. Still, you can't go wrong with her books. They're easy to read and compelling.
A very moving tribute to the author's mother. What struck me was how brave the author was to get in touch with what her mother had gone through in escaping the holocaust, this at at time when she herself was undergoing treatment for cancer. The love she has for her family shone through the pages and touched me.
Beautifully written story for the early to mid teens, maybe even for a twelve-year-old. The characters are well depicted and very believable. I like how Bailey, at sixteen, manages some difficult situations, one where there are no easy answers. It all takes place at an outdoor resort, that has an interesting history of its own.
I was privileged to get a copy from a relative of Mary Chaworth's. Not only was it a great read, but it also got me thinking more about Byron, his poetry, and his muse. There was so much to love about this book. The characters were well-crafted and the story moved well. I was particularly intrigued by the times, and the obstacles to love that existed during his time, given society's norms and condemnations.