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Recommend this book:
CCNY Made
Profiles in Grit
Ronnyjane Goldsmith
2024 Silver Medal
192 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite
CCNY Made: Profiles in Grit is an anthology by Dr. Ronnyjane Goldsmith. It features biographies of twenty-eight actual and four fictional alumni who attended the City College of New York in their rise to professional success and eminence in the fields of art and design, business and education, government and international affairs, literature and screenwriting, music and the performing arts, and science and technology. The anthology is dedicated to the author’s father, a CCNY alumnus who immigrated to the United States as a child, attended CCNY and law school at night so he could work in the daytime, and became a lawyer and FBI Special Agent after serving as an aide to General Patton in WWII. An appendix and bibliography provide additional content and references.
If you aren’t sure what the word “grit” means, you won’t be in any doubt after reading CCNY Made: Profiles in Grit by Ronnyjane Goldsmith. I was utterly inspired by the unbelievable courage and resolve described on page after page of this impressive and well-written collection of biographical profiles. Being unfamiliar with the history and mission of CCNY, I was surprised to find so many notables whose names or achievements were familiar but about whose lives I was ignorant. These are people who rose above the social, economic, and educational challenges and obstacles they faced and persevered to live the American Dream and impact our world in so many positive ways. If I could make CCNY Made: Profiles in Grit required reading in every American high school, I would.
CCNY Made: Profiles in Grit is an anthology by Dr. Ronnyjane Goldsmith. It features biographies of twenty-eight actual and four fictional alumni who attended the City College of New York in their rise to professional success and eminence in the fields of art and design, business and education, government and international affairs, literature and screenwriting, music and the performing arts, and science and technology. The anthology is dedicated to the author’s father, a CCNY alumnus who immigrated to the United States as a child, attended CCNY and law school at night so he could work in the daytime, and became a lawyer and FBI Special Agent after serving as an aide to General Patton in WWII. An appendix and bibliography provide additional content and references.
If you aren’t sure what the word “grit” means, you won’t be in any doubt after reading CCNY Made: Profiles in Grit by Ronnyjane Goldsmith. I was utterly inspired by the unbelievable courage and resolve described on page after page of this impressive and well-written collection of biographical profiles. Being unfamiliar with the history and mission of CCNY, I was surprised to find so many notables whose names or achievements were familiar but about whose lives I was ignorant. These are people who rose above the social, economic, and educational challenges and obstacles they faced and persevered to live the American Dream and impact our world in so many positive ways. If I could make CCNY Made: Profiles in Grit required reading in every American high school, I would.
Recommend this book:
They Sing To Our Souls
The Animals Speak
Naomi McDonald
2024 Honorable Mention
140 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen for Readers' Favorite
They Sing to Our Souls: The Animals Speak by Naomi McDonald is a fascinating read. I love animals and all of nature. While this book may seem different to many readers, I suggest you approach it with an open mind. Naomi has learned to communicate with animals. She explains how quantum physics links all material and non-material entities. Naomi communicates with animals and then shares the information with their human owners. She refers to herself as a pet psychic. Each chapter in this book tells the story of a different animal and related human that she has helped. The stories are touching and humorous. Many may think her approach to life is New Age, but quantum physics is not new. She also believes in reincarnation.
Communication through invisible waves of energy with different frequencies would explain Naomi McDonald’s method of connecting with animals. She can obtain information to make their lives more satisfying by communicating with them. Her gift is clairaudience (hearing). Others have the gift of clairvoyance (seeing) or clairsentience (feeling). Our words begin with thoughts, and thoughts have invisible energetic impulses. A person’s imagination aids in the manifestation of the material. In They Sing to Our Souls, you will learn how chakras, ancient healing traditions, reincarnation, and shamanic practices all work together. Every creation has a purpose for existing. Naomi emphatically states, “we are not of the Earth; we are the Earth.” Everything emits energy, and that energy connects all that is, whether it be material or non-material. Even after death, animals and people continue to emit their particular vibrational frequency and can connect with those who have developed their intuitive ability. Read this book and learn new ways of thinking.
They Sing to Our Souls: The Animals Speak by Naomi McDonald is a fascinating read. I love animals and all of nature. While this book may seem different to many readers, I suggest you approach it with an open mind. Naomi has learned to communicate with animals. She explains how quantum physics links all material and non-material entities. Naomi communicates with animals and then shares the information with their human owners. She refers to herself as a pet psychic. Each chapter in this book tells the story of a different animal and related human that she has helped. The stories are touching and humorous. Many may think her approach to life is New Age, but quantum physics is not new. She also believes in reincarnation.
Communication through invisible waves of energy with different frequencies would explain Naomi McDonald’s method of connecting with animals. She can obtain information to make their lives more satisfying by communicating with them. Her gift is clairaudience (hearing). Others have the gift of clairvoyance (seeing) or clairsentience (feeling). Our words begin with thoughts, and thoughts have invisible energetic impulses. A person’s imagination aids in the manifestation of the material. In They Sing to Our Souls, you will learn how chakras, ancient healing traditions, reincarnation, and shamanic practices all work together. Every creation has a purpose for existing. Naomi emphatically states, “we are not of the Earth; we are the Earth.” Everything emits energy, and that energy connects all that is, whether it be material or non-material. Even after death, animals and people continue to emit their particular vibrational frequency and can connect with those who have developed their intuitive ability. Read this book and learn new ways of thinking.
Recommend this book:
Tales2Inspire
The Diamond Collection Series II
Lois W. Stern
2024 Finalist
237 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite
Tales2Inspire: The Diamond Collection Series II is created by Lois W. Stern is a riveting collection of nonfiction short stories by award-winning authors. Each story inspires consciousness, empathy, and appreciation for the little things we take for granted. The book is divided into two sections. The first part focuses on stories of compassion while the second one is about timeless memories. In one story, we see how training dogs helps in teaching dropouts to be responsible. Another story reveals the effect of the horrors of the Holocaust on a survivor. An assistant DA shares the values he stands by while relating an encounter with some good-looking burglars. As these stories are told, each author is introduced with an "about the author" page that follows their brilliant contribution. We experience their amazing stories and connect with their important memories, as well as the life-changing messages they hold.
I found several parts of the book quite relatable, especially being judged by a lover's parent for having different hair. Additionally, I loved that each story doesn't have too many characters or themes but maintains a concise structure that allows for quick assimilation and deep intrigue. The collection includes themes of family, loss, health challenges, pets, sports, mental illness, and romance. Apart from the stories, readers are engaged with the book's other fantastic features, including book club discussion questions, pictures of protagonists and authors, and an "about" section. I loved all the tales so much that I am now convinced that everyone should tell their story. Like the authors in Tales2Inspire: The Diamond Collection Series II, everyone has a profound experience of life that sheds light on what truly matters. All nonfiction short story fans will be happy to read this beautiful, heartwarming book by Lois W. Stern.
Tales2Inspire: The Diamond Collection Series II is created by Lois W. Stern is a riveting collection of nonfiction short stories by award-winning authors. Each story inspires consciousness, empathy, and appreciation for the little things we take for granted. The book is divided into two sections. The first part focuses on stories of compassion while the second one is about timeless memories. In one story, we see how training dogs helps in teaching dropouts to be responsible. Another story reveals the effect of the horrors of the Holocaust on a survivor. An assistant DA shares the values he stands by while relating an encounter with some good-looking burglars. As these stories are told, each author is introduced with an "about the author" page that follows their brilliant contribution. We experience their amazing stories and connect with their important memories, as well as the life-changing messages they hold.
I found several parts of the book quite relatable, especially being judged by a lover's parent for having different hair. Additionally, I loved that each story doesn't have too many characters or themes but maintains a concise structure that allows for quick assimilation and deep intrigue. The collection includes themes of family, loss, health challenges, pets, sports, mental illness, and romance. Apart from the stories, readers are engaged with the book's other fantastic features, including book club discussion questions, pictures of protagonists and authors, and an "about" section. I loved all the tales so much that I am now convinced that everyone should tell their story. Like the authors in Tales2Inspire: The Diamond Collection Series II, everyone has a profound experience of life that sheds light on what truly matters. All nonfiction short story fans will be happy to read this beautiful, heartwarming book by Lois W. Stern.
Recommend this book:
Healing Visions
Randall Brown
2023 Gold Medal
224 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Randall Brown collates the writing of multiple authors and fine art photography in his anthology Healing Visions. The stories are broken down into either fiction or 'creative non-fiction' but are not separated from each other, and the similarity between one author to another comes down only to the way Brown has placed intentional parameters around them. One photograph. One story. One hundred words, precisely. There are fifty-two authors, all of them women, and one photographer, Meg Boscov, who is responsible for the beautiful full-color photographs that do more than complement the one-hundred-word story; they incite them. The book's backmatter has individual profiles of each author and I admit they are almost as entertaining as the book itself.
I love being a woman. I love women. I love anything that lifts women up, gives women hope, and lets women know that there are other women who think, feel, and experience what we do. It will come as no surprise then when I say that I love Healing Visions by Randall Brown. Brown's one-hundred-word charter forces both the author and reader to attach themselves quickly in a whirlwind of speed dates. It is a fleeting relationship that has the dizzying exhilaration of an affair and the warmth of a momentary hug. Beth Kephart shares her kinship with Berries, Molly Gaudry remembers the human connection that defied isolation with Neighbors, and Nancy Stohlman harnesses the eventual return to soil in Born Again. Healing Visions is truly a work of art. Very highly recommended.
Randall Brown collates the writing of multiple authors and fine art photography in his anthology Healing Visions. The stories are broken down into either fiction or 'creative non-fiction' but are not separated from each other, and the similarity between one author to another comes down only to the way Brown has placed intentional parameters around them. One photograph. One story. One hundred words, precisely. There are fifty-two authors, all of them women, and one photographer, Meg Boscov, who is responsible for the beautiful full-color photographs that do more than complement the one-hundred-word story; they incite them. The book's backmatter has individual profiles of each author and I admit they are almost as entertaining as the book itself.
I love being a woman. I love women. I love anything that lifts women up, gives women hope, and lets women know that there are other women who think, feel, and experience what we do. It will come as no surprise then when I say that I love Healing Visions by Randall Brown. Brown's one-hundred-word charter forces both the author and reader to attach themselves quickly in a whirlwind of speed dates. It is a fleeting relationship that has the dizzying exhilaration of an affair and the warmth of a momentary hug. Beth Kephart shares her kinship with Berries, Molly Gaudry remembers the human connection that defied isolation with Neighbors, and Nancy Stohlman harnesses the eventual return to soil in Born Again. Healing Visions is truly a work of art. Very highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Tales2Inspire
The Diamond Collection Series V
Lois W. Stern
2023 Bronze Medal
223 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
“Change is the current that drives our lives.” Janet Rice wrote these poignant words in her creative nonfiction story, Bygone Brooklyn. Change is also what makes our stories so empowering, so sensitive and compassionate, and so important. Life is all about stories; it’s what defines us as humans. Stories reveal our history, but stories also heal, nourish, and make us whole, make us complete, like the protective powers of the moonstone. Stories like a father hearing for the first time from an adult daughter he never knew existed; a woman who explores her connection to Holocaust survivors after attending a talk given at her grandson’s school; a child who blends in well with children of different races and doesn’t experience her own sense of alienation until her comfort zone, her home, changes; a teacher struggling with the pandemic-infused new teaching format and, stressed to the limits of endurance, seeks another path to follow. Powerful stories and there are many, many more that will open your hearts and minds to the depth of the human spirit and the strength to survive against all odds.
Lois W. Stern’s book, Tales2Inspire – The Diamond Collection Series V, is a compendium of stories from two previous books of the Moonstone Collection anthologies. The stories collected cover a number of topics, from grief to love, from family tragedies to triumphs, and so much more. The binding theme of these stories is the ability of the author of each story to overcome the trials, the challenges, and to find another way forward, to accommodate the change that life presented. Like the heartwarming stories of Chicken Soup for the Soul and many others like Trisha Faye. These stories will have you laughing and crying and often cheering on the author, as we all can relate to these life-changing, challenging moments. Coupled with photographs, these stories are meant to be savored and enjoyed, one at a time.
“Change is the current that drives our lives.” Janet Rice wrote these poignant words in her creative nonfiction story, Bygone Brooklyn. Change is also what makes our stories so empowering, so sensitive and compassionate, and so important. Life is all about stories; it’s what defines us as humans. Stories reveal our history, but stories also heal, nourish, and make us whole, make us complete, like the protective powers of the moonstone. Stories like a father hearing for the first time from an adult daughter he never knew existed; a woman who explores her connection to Holocaust survivors after attending a talk given at her grandson’s school; a child who blends in well with children of different races and doesn’t experience her own sense of alienation until her comfort zone, her home, changes; a teacher struggling with the pandemic-infused new teaching format and, stressed to the limits of endurance, seeks another path to follow. Powerful stories and there are many, many more that will open your hearts and minds to the depth of the human spirit and the strength to survive against all odds.
Lois W. Stern’s book, Tales2Inspire – The Diamond Collection Series V, is a compendium of stories from two previous books of the Moonstone Collection anthologies. The stories collected cover a number of topics, from grief to love, from family tragedies to triumphs, and so much more. The binding theme of these stories is the ability of the author of each story to overcome the trials, the challenges, and to find another way forward, to accommodate the change that life presented. Like the heartwarming stories of Chicken Soup for the Soul and many others like Trisha Faye. These stories will have you laughing and crying and often cheering on the author, as we all can relate to these life-changing, challenging moments. Coupled with photographs, these stories are meant to be savored and enjoyed, one at a time.
Recommend this book:
Our Mothers, Our Daughters
Divas That Care Collection
Candace Gish
2023 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Our Mothers, Our Daughters by Candace Gish reminds us that the relationship shared between mother and daughter is deep. It’s not always positive, but it defines the identity of both mother and daughter and the way that the world sees them. We grow together and learn together and, for better or worse, we create ourselves in the image of the other. It’s like a road trip, one that takes many dips and turns and leads us, hopefully, to a positive and pre-destined place. As Jacqueline Biollo writes in her story, Alethea, “Metaphorically, road trips, like relationships, can be expensive. They take time and energy to foster. But with some planning, we can successfully navigate the road ahead and avoid some bumps along the way. Relationships can be adventurous and advantageous to exploring new things, building confidence, and making memories.” Simply put, life and relationships are journeys we must take that will lead us to places unknown.
Candace Gish’s book, Our Mothers, Our Daughters, is an anthology of stories honoring the mother-daughter dynamic. This book is part of the Divas That Care Collection, bringing together the positive and the negative (and the most loving and challenging) connections that define who we are. The stories feature three distinct themes: Connection, Inner Self, and Unconditional Love. The accounts are meant to inspire all of us mothers and daughters as we embark on the mission of bonding and love (or, sadly, the lack thereof). Some of the stories may spark a similar memory in the reader’s mother-daughter relationship. The narratives are accompanied by prompts and suggestions to further strengthen, or at least comprehend, the complexity that makes up our own stories. Through the words of other mothers and daughters, this anthology will both inspire and encourage all of us to look deeper into our emotions as we make that poignant, sometimes difficult, journey.
Our Mothers, Our Daughters by Candace Gish reminds us that the relationship shared between mother and daughter is deep. It’s not always positive, but it defines the identity of both mother and daughter and the way that the world sees them. We grow together and learn together and, for better or worse, we create ourselves in the image of the other. It’s like a road trip, one that takes many dips and turns and leads us, hopefully, to a positive and pre-destined place. As Jacqueline Biollo writes in her story, Alethea, “Metaphorically, road trips, like relationships, can be expensive. They take time and energy to foster. But with some planning, we can successfully navigate the road ahead and avoid some bumps along the way. Relationships can be adventurous and advantageous to exploring new things, building confidence, and making memories.” Simply put, life and relationships are journeys we must take that will lead us to places unknown.
Candace Gish’s book, Our Mothers, Our Daughters, is an anthology of stories honoring the mother-daughter dynamic. This book is part of the Divas That Care Collection, bringing together the positive and the negative (and the most loving and challenging) connections that define who we are. The stories feature three distinct themes: Connection, Inner Self, and Unconditional Love. The accounts are meant to inspire all of us mothers and daughters as we embark on the mission of bonding and love (or, sadly, the lack thereof). Some of the stories may spark a similar memory in the reader’s mother-daughter relationship. The narratives are accompanied by prompts and suggestions to further strengthen, or at least comprehend, the complexity that makes up our own stories. Through the words of other mothers and daughters, this anthology will both inspire and encourage all of us to look deeper into our emotions as we make that poignant, sometimes difficult, journey.
Recommend this book:
First Date Stories
Women’s Romantic and Ridiculous Midlife Adventures
Jodi Klein
2022 Gold Medal
185 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
First Date Stories: Women’s Romantic and Ridiculous Midlife Adventures by Jodi Klein is a non-fiction collection of experiences aimed at cementing solidarity and reinforcing sisterhood from within the ranks of the post-forty dating scene. All told, there are nearly a dozen moments that Klein puts forward. These stories are told in vignettes, with each delving into a full first date and all it entails. Pre-date jitters, premonitions, and early expectations roll over into the slices of reality that are both good and bad, providing an unvarnished look into the meeting. The experience is then followed by “The Rest of the Story”, which provides what occurred after the date ended. Finally, Klein plucks what can be learned from the featured story's heart and through the beauty of hindsight is able to provide “Dating Takeaway Tips” to encourage a better next time.
A dear, dear friend of mine in the over-fifty dating scene once told me that in this specific age bracket, the dating pool definitely has pee in it. First Date Stories gives the caliber of experiences that one hopes for when selecting a book written for a niche category of readers, but Jodi Klein pushes beyond this with moments that are written with pitch-perfect wit, even when the tales take a turn into the realm of drama that reads like fiction. My favorite is The Real Jim, where Ellen goes on a date with a man who feels the demands of his daily life inhibit his true nature...and once permission is given for him to let loose, he gets way too loose. There are others, such as The Day Trip and The Cringe, both of which delve into dating someone whom you've crossed paths with before, and the divergence of how those concluded so differently. I absolutely loved this book and wholly appreciate the contributions that Klein weaves into a fantastic anthology. Really well done.
First Date Stories: Women’s Romantic and Ridiculous Midlife Adventures by Jodi Klein is a non-fiction collection of experiences aimed at cementing solidarity and reinforcing sisterhood from within the ranks of the post-forty dating scene. All told, there are nearly a dozen moments that Klein puts forward. These stories are told in vignettes, with each delving into a full first date and all it entails. Pre-date jitters, premonitions, and early expectations roll over into the slices of reality that are both good and bad, providing an unvarnished look into the meeting. The experience is then followed by “The Rest of the Story”, which provides what occurred after the date ended. Finally, Klein plucks what can be learned from the featured story's heart and through the beauty of hindsight is able to provide “Dating Takeaway Tips” to encourage a better next time.
A dear, dear friend of mine in the over-fifty dating scene once told me that in this specific age bracket, the dating pool definitely has pee in it. First Date Stories gives the caliber of experiences that one hopes for when selecting a book written for a niche category of readers, but Jodi Klein pushes beyond this with moments that are written with pitch-perfect wit, even when the tales take a turn into the realm of drama that reads like fiction. My favorite is The Real Jim, where Ellen goes on a date with a man who feels the demands of his daily life inhibit his true nature...and once permission is given for him to let loose, he gets way too loose. There are others, such as The Day Trip and The Cringe, both of which delve into dating someone whom you've crossed paths with before, and the divergence of how those concluded so differently. I absolutely loved this book and wholly appreciate the contributions that Klein weaves into a fantastic anthology. Really well done.
Recommend this book:
Animal Prints on My Soul
Divas That Care Collection
Candace Gish
2022 Honorable Mention
155 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
“Animals have the amazing ability to be exactly what we need them to be.” Many of us have had the pleasure of experiencing this special bond that can exist between an animal and ourselves. I know I have. We might think that we’re saving the animal, perhaps a dog rescued from a shelter or off the streets. But, more often than not, it’s the animal saving us. If you’ve had the fortune of having a pet (or larger animal like a horse) in your life, you’ve probably felt that loving pull that makes you hug the animal, causing such soothing results, relaxing the soul, so to speak. There are countless stories we can share of these special bonds, stories where a pet has helped its human heal, overcome grief and loss, or just be that much-needed best friend to love and cherish.
Candace Gish’s book, Animal Prints on My Soul, is one of the Divas That Care Collection, stories about real-life bonds between humans and their special animal best friend forever. These stories will make you laugh, cry, perhaps even just ponder and reflect on the powers that bind two souls. The author has collected stories from other authors and organized them into a soulful, healing collection. The book is divided into sections, each ending with interactive guides, beginning with a collection of stories about healing, followed by a collection of stories titled Connection, stories that will just warm the heart as it discusses the many aspects of BFFs. The final section includes stories about love and loss, dealing with the heart, and the heartaches that often follow. This is a touching, compassionate collection, one that will warm the hearts of animal lovers everywhere.
“Animals have the amazing ability to be exactly what we need them to be.” Many of us have had the pleasure of experiencing this special bond that can exist between an animal and ourselves. I know I have. We might think that we’re saving the animal, perhaps a dog rescued from a shelter or off the streets. But, more often than not, it’s the animal saving us. If you’ve had the fortune of having a pet (or larger animal like a horse) in your life, you’ve probably felt that loving pull that makes you hug the animal, causing such soothing results, relaxing the soul, so to speak. There are countless stories we can share of these special bonds, stories where a pet has helped its human heal, overcome grief and loss, or just be that much-needed best friend to love and cherish.
Candace Gish’s book, Animal Prints on My Soul, is one of the Divas That Care Collection, stories about real-life bonds between humans and their special animal best friend forever. These stories will make you laugh, cry, perhaps even just ponder and reflect on the powers that bind two souls. The author has collected stories from other authors and organized them into a soulful, healing collection. The book is divided into sections, each ending with interactive guides, beginning with a collection of stories about healing, followed by a collection of stories titled Connection, stories that will just warm the heart as it discusses the many aspects of BFFs. The final section includes stories about love and loss, dealing with the heart, and the heartaches that often follow. This is a touching, compassionate collection, one that will warm the hearts of animal lovers everywhere.
Recommend this book:
The FIFO Wives' Tales
The good, the bad and the really ugly
Yasmin Walter
2022 Finalist
294 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The FIFO Wives' Tales is a work of non-fiction in the memoir and anthology subgenres. It is suitable for mature readers as it contains true stories featuring distressing content such as assault, harassment, and suicide to name a few, and was compiled by Yasmin Walter from the voices and experiences of many others. As the title suggests, the work focuses on the life stories of women in families where FIFO workers fly out to remote locations for weeks at a time, leaving their families behind. What results is a fascinating cross-section of human culture that shows how some bonds can be strengthened by these absences whilst others fall short and the divide causes irreparable damage.
As this is a subsection of working life to which I have never given much thought, I immediately found the stories within this non-fiction collection to be interesting and engaging, giving an accessible and easily imagined insight into what it’s like to live the FIFO lifestyle. Many of the future, current, and ex-wives in these stories have multiple burdens to bear because of the nature of this high-risk and high-reward life, and the variety of coping mechanisms can be as shocking as they are uplifting. Yasmin Walter does a superb job in compiling the many voices and curating a narrative that flows from rough to smooth but keeps the common themes of perseverance and survival at the forefront. I would recommend The FIFO Wives' Tales whether you know about this lifestyle or not, as it is an education in solidarity, compassion, and making the best of what you’ve got.
The FIFO Wives' Tales is a work of non-fiction in the memoir and anthology subgenres. It is suitable for mature readers as it contains true stories featuring distressing content such as assault, harassment, and suicide to name a few, and was compiled by Yasmin Walter from the voices and experiences of many others. As the title suggests, the work focuses on the life stories of women in families where FIFO workers fly out to remote locations for weeks at a time, leaving their families behind. What results is a fascinating cross-section of human culture that shows how some bonds can be strengthened by these absences whilst others fall short and the divide causes irreparable damage.
As this is a subsection of working life to which I have never given much thought, I immediately found the stories within this non-fiction collection to be interesting and engaging, giving an accessible and easily imagined insight into what it’s like to live the FIFO lifestyle. Many of the future, current, and ex-wives in these stories have multiple burdens to bear because of the nature of this high-risk and high-reward life, and the variety of coping mechanisms can be as shocking as they are uplifting. Yasmin Walter does a superb job in compiling the many voices and curating a narrative that flows from rough to smooth but keeps the common themes of perseverance and survival at the forefront. I would recommend The FIFO Wives' Tales whether you know about this lifestyle or not, as it is an education in solidarity, compassion, and making the best of what you’ve got.
Recommend this book:
I Love You More Than Coffee
Essays on Parenthood
Melissa Face
2021 Gold Medal
112 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Anthology
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
A mother depicts the joys and trials she experienced in the first few years of motherhood in the poignant memoir I Love You More Than Coffee by Melissa Face. When Melissa and her husband saw the two pink lines on the pregnancy test stick, they were ecstatic. After running through the gamut of nausea and swollen ankles, Melissa and her husband's highly anticipated baby son came into the world. However, the beautiful fantasy she had created while waiting for his appearance didn't become a reality. Instead, their new life was utterly unlike anything she had anticipated, and she was too tired to change it. With the soiled diapers, the dirty bottles, and the smelly burp rags overtaking their home, compounded by the lack of sleep, Melissa's well-organized life takes a back seat. Their exquisite new baby, who she loves most dearly, is draining the life out of her. How does she cope? And most importantly, will she ever regain the momentum her life once held?
Nostalgic and endearing, I Love You More Than Coffee by Melissa Face is a delightful memoir of a woman's journey into motherhood. Well written, it is an enjoyable narrative that begins with her first pregnancy and travels through her second baby's addition to the family. Filled with charming and lovable baby quips and mishaps combined with her motherly common sense responses, it is a heart-warming story depicting the deep love of a mother. A beautiful tribute to motherhood, it realistically captures some of the not so easy moments that produce our most precious memories. Full of wisdom, charming anecdotes, and sensible ideas, it would make the perfect accompaniment to the newly pregnant mother's Bible, Heidi Murkoff's What to Expect When You're Expecting. New and not so new mothers will find this satirical introduction to motherhood enjoyable and delightfully entertaining.
A mother depicts the joys and trials she experienced in the first few years of motherhood in the poignant memoir I Love You More Than Coffee by Melissa Face. When Melissa and her husband saw the two pink lines on the pregnancy test stick, they were ecstatic. After running through the gamut of nausea and swollen ankles, Melissa and her husband's highly anticipated baby son came into the world. However, the beautiful fantasy she had created while waiting for his appearance didn't become a reality. Instead, their new life was utterly unlike anything she had anticipated, and she was too tired to change it. With the soiled diapers, the dirty bottles, and the smelly burp rags overtaking their home, compounded by the lack of sleep, Melissa's well-organized life takes a back seat. Their exquisite new baby, who she loves most dearly, is draining the life out of her. How does she cope? And most importantly, will she ever regain the momentum her life once held?
Nostalgic and endearing, I Love You More Than Coffee by Melissa Face is a delightful memoir of a woman's journey into motherhood. Well written, it is an enjoyable narrative that begins with her first pregnancy and travels through her second baby's addition to the family. Filled with charming and lovable baby quips and mishaps combined with her motherly common sense responses, it is a heart-warming story depicting the deep love of a mother. A beautiful tribute to motherhood, it realistically captures some of the not so easy moments that produce our most precious memories. Full of wisdom, charming anecdotes, and sensible ideas, it would make the perfect accompaniment to the newly pregnant mother's Bible, Heidi Murkoff's What to Expect When You're Expecting. New and not so new mothers will find this satirical introduction to motherhood enjoyable and delightfully entertaining.
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