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Recommend this book:
A Century of Secrets
Teresa Syms
2020 Honorable Mention
592 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Biography
Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite
A Century of Secrets by Teresa Syms is a gripping story of a family, covering its history over a century and the main players that have given it the visage it has. Readers are introduced to a character who has been through a lot of pain because of the lies, abuses, dark secrets, and intrigue played out in her family over the period of a century. The story explores the conflicts, the deceptions, and the protagonist’s struggle to redefine herself and reconquer her inner freedom. Here is a story that many readers will relate to, the story of a family with its own struggle to function normally.
The reader will be surprised at the honesty of the narrator whose voice comes across powerfully. Teresa is a character that readers will love to know better because she carries in her a pain that many people bear in silence. But how she overcomes depression, finds her voice, and stands up for herself is a lesson that will speak volumes to readers. Just after describing a horrible scene in which the protagonist gets violated by a medical doctor, the narrator notes that: “Teresa’s life was a tortured hell without her love. She became moody and very depressed.” The writing is beautiful, featuring powerful and vivid descriptions that allow the reader to clearly imagine the scenes, the characters, and the action. It is well paced and Teresa Syms has succeeded in getting the reader interested in following the characters. A Century of Secrets is a story that powerfully documents what repression and abuse in the family setting can lead to; it’s a courageous story that explores freedom and the determination to create a life of meaning. Highly entertaining!
A Century of Secrets by Teresa Syms is a gripping story of a family, covering its history over a century and the main players that have given it the visage it has. Readers are introduced to a character who has been through a lot of pain because of the lies, abuses, dark secrets, and intrigue played out in her family over the period of a century. The story explores the conflicts, the deceptions, and the protagonist’s struggle to redefine herself and reconquer her inner freedom. Here is a story that many readers will relate to, the story of a family with its own struggle to function normally.
The reader will be surprised at the honesty of the narrator whose voice comes across powerfully. Teresa is a character that readers will love to know better because she carries in her a pain that many people bear in silence. But how she overcomes depression, finds her voice, and stands up for herself is a lesson that will speak volumes to readers. Just after describing a horrible scene in which the protagonist gets violated by a medical doctor, the narrator notes that: “Teresa’s life was a tortured hell without her love. She became moody and very depressed.” The writing is beautiful, featuring powerful and vivid descriptions that allow the reader to clearly imagine the scenes, the characters, and the action. It is well paced and Teresa Syms has succeeded in getting the reader interested in following the characters. A Century of Secrets is a story that powerfully documents what repression and abuse in the family setting can lead to; it’s a courageous story that explores freedom and the determination to create a life of meaning. Highly entertaining!
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/shepreneur&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51d1vBZ-hQL._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description="Do you want to know how to take control of your narrative and start living the life of your dreams by investing your money and your mindset in smart ways?" This is the question that Kristin Cripps, the writer of an excellent and inspiring book, Shepreneur, asks her readers to encourage them to think about their lives, and how to experience the ela...){kind=link}
Shepreneur
Business Lessons for the Determined Female Entrepreneur (I Can. I Will. Watch Me!)
Kristin Cripps
2020 Bronze Medal
174 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Biography
Reviewed by Tanja Jurkovic for Readers' Favorite
"Do you want to know how to take control of your narrative and start living the life of your dreams by investing your money and your mindset in smart ways?" This is the question that Kristin Cripps, the writer of an excellent and inspiring book, Shepreneur, asks her readers to encourage them to think about their lives, and how to experience the elation and the excitement that comes with revealing and eventually using one's true potential to live life to the fullest.
Kristin Cripps, the author of Shepreneur, is a former bartender and massage therapist, who turned her life around and became a millionaire in a fairly short time, and the experiences that she shares are an intriguing read. Shepreneur is not just a book that offers advice about how to change your mindset and your life, in other words, how to help oneself to unlock one's own potential. It is also an inspiring guide through life, full of the author's personal experiences. She talks about everything without censorship and shares what lessons she learned from her past adventures and occurrences, whether good or bad. There is always something positive to look forward to while looking ahead.
Shepreneur is imbued with positivity, excitement about life itself, a certain lust for life, and humor! Lots of it! I loved the enthusiasm throughout the book! This book has a huge potential to inspire readers to think about where they are in life and whether they want to be there, as well as what and how to change in order to lead a fulfilling life, at the same time not needing to worry about the financial side of it. This book is an excellent and fun guide through the bumps on the road of life, and the adventures that await ahead.
"Do you want to know how to take control of your narrative and start living the life of your dreams by investing your money and your mindset in smart ways?" This is the question that Kristin Cripps, the writer of an excellent and inspiring book, Shepreneur, asks her readers to encourage them to think about their lives, and how to experience the elation and the excitement that comes with revealing and eventually using one's true potential to live life to the fullest.
Kristin Cripps, the author of Shepreneur, is a former bartender and massage therapist, who turned her life around and became a millionaire in a fairly short time, and the experiences that she shares are an intriguing read. Shepreneur is not just a book that offers advice about how to change your mindset and your life, in other words, how to help oneself to unlock one's own potential. It is also an inspiring guide through life, full of the author's personal experiences. She talks about everything without censorship and shares what lessons she learned from her past adventures and occurrences, whether good or bad. There is always something positive to look forward to while looking ahead.
Shepreneur is imbued with positivity, excitement about life itself, a certain lust for life, and humor! Lots of it! I loved the enthusiasm throughout the book! This book has a huge potential to inspire readers to think about where they are in life and whether they want to be there, as well as what and how to change in order to lead a fulfilling life, at the same time not needing to worry about the financial side of it. This book is an excellent and fun guide through the bumps on the road of life, and the adventures that await ahead.
Recommend this book:
Daddy's Curse 3
The Birth of A Monster (True stories of child slavery survivors)
Luke. G. Dahl
2020 Silver Medal
158 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Biography
Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
If you’ve read the first two books in this series by Luke. G. Dahl, you will remember the pedophile Bat Erdene, a wealthy child and drug trafficker whom you met, and most likely loathed in Daddy’s Curse 2. Well, now, in the final book of the series, Daddy’s Curse 3, you will learn how and why Bat Erdene became the monster he was. Will you come away liking him more? Probably not. But you will have a better understanding of how much a father’s authority and actions affect a young boy’s future thinking and behaviour.
Born into wealth and social status, Erdene was an arrogant, but highly intelligent youngster with a strong sense of entitlement, who loved his mother and revered but feared his father. Bat’s father angered easily and was so horribly abusive to his wife that he ended up strangling her during one of his many rages. Bat, in turn, killed his father. As he grew into adulthood, he was fueled by his father’s mantra that if he wanted to succeed in life, he had to make people submit to and obey his will, and severely punish those who disobeyed. As much as he didn’t want to be like his father, Bat Erdene became a monster.
Those who have read the first two books will recognize some of the people whom we meet again in Daddy’s Curse 3. It’s not necessary to have read those books, but curious readers will be tempted to find out what they’ve missed by not reading them. Do it. Grab copies of both books. While the content is disturbing, often stomach-turning, the style of writing is simple and easy to read. All three books are short, but provocative and unforgettable. Book club members unafraid of discussing the ugly realities faced by too many victims of sexual and other abuse, along with man’s never-ending inhumanity to others, will find plenty of material in this series by Luke. G. Dahl. Highly recommended.
If you’ve read the first two books in this series by Luke. G. Dahl, you will remember the pedophile Bat Erdene, a wealthy child and drug trafficker whom you met, and most likely loathed in Daddy’s Curse 2. Well, now, in the final book of the series, Daddy’s Curse 3, you will learn how and why Bat Erdene became the monster he was. Will you come away liking him more? Probably not. But you will have a better understanding of how much a father’s authority and actions affect a young boy’s future thinking and behaviour.
Born into wealth and social status, Erdene was an arrogant, but highly intelligent youngster with a strong sense of entitlement, who loved his mother and revered but feared his father. Bat’s father angered easily and was so horribly abusive to his wife that he ended up strangling her during one of his many rages. Bat, in turn, killed his father. As he grew into adulthood, he was fueled by his father’s mantra that if he wanted to succeed in life, he had to make people submit to and obey his will, and severely punish those who disobeyed. As much as he didn’t want to be like his father, Bat Erdene became a monster.
Those who have read the first two books will recognize some of the people whom we meet again in Daddy’s Curse 3. It’s not necessary to have read those books, but curious readers will be tempted to find out what they’ve missed by not reading them. Do it. Grab copies of both books. While the content is disturbing, often stomach-turning, the style of writing is simple and easy to read. All three books are short, but provocative and unforgettable. Book club members unafraid of discussing the ugly realities faced by too many victims of sexual and other abuse, along with man’s never-ending inhumanity to others, will find plenty of material in this series by Luke. G. Dahl. Highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Living Among the Dead
My Grandmother's Holocaust Survival Story of Love and Strength
Adena Bernstein Astrowsky
2020 Gold Medal
182 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Biography
Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite
Living Among the Dead: My Grandmother’s Holocaust Survival Story of Love and Strength is written by Adena Bernstein Astrowsky. Mania Lichtenstein, affectionately known as Bubbie, was a Polish Holocaust survivor. Mania/Bubbie was a young Polish Jew when WW2 began. She and her family were sent to labor camps where they endured horrific treatment and living conditions. No-one in her family survived, but Bubbie was a prisoner for three years; hungry, malnourished, sickly and traumatized by the nightmare she was living. She eventually managed to escape with other Jews. The group survived in the woods until the war ended, and Mania married one of the prisoners. They emigrated to the United States to start a new life, refusing to live in Eastern Europe, a reminder of the horror they had endured.
Adena Bernstein Astrowsky often wondered why she had never met her maternal relatives. Bubbie was reluctant to talk about her past, but with encouragement, she spoke of the Holocaust that changed her life forever. Adena began to understand why her father often took her and not his older daughters with him whenever they visited family and specific places of interest. Adena became even closer to her grandmother because of the heartbreaking and unforgettable memories shared, both verbally and in her journals. She continues Bubbie’s ancestral traditions and customs, and this memoir is a dedication to Mania "Bubbie" Lichtenstein. It includes excerpts of Bubbie’s writing and poetry, photos, and other historical information about the Holocaust. I found Living Among the Dead: My Grandmother’s Holocaust Survival Story of Love and Strength very emotional and poignant. The imagery was so clear and expressive and I admired Bubbie for her strength and spirit. Every Holocaust survivor has a story to share. I was glad to be given the opportunity to learn about Mania “Bubbie” Lichtenstein and other Jews who perished in WW2.
Living Among the Dead: My Grandmother’s Holocaust Survival Story of Love and Strength is written by Adena Bernstein Astrowsky. Mania Lichtenstein, affectionately known as Bubbie, was a Polish Holocaust survivor. Mania/Bubbie was a young Polish Jew when WW2 began. She and her family were sent to labor camps where they endured horrific treatment and living conditions. No-one in her family survived, but Bubbie was a prisoner for three years; hungry, malnourished, sickly and traumatized by the nightmare she was living. She eventually managed to escape with other Jews. The group survived in the woods until the war ended, and Mania married one of the prisoners. They emigrated to the United States to start a new life, refusing to live in Eastern Europe, a reminder of the horror they had endured.
Adena Bernstein Astrowsky often wondered why she had never met her maternal relatives. Bubbie was reluctant to talk about her past, but with encouragement, she spoke of the Holocaust that changed her life forever. Adena began to understand why her father often took her and not his older daughters with him whenever they visited family and specific places of interest. Adena became even closer to her grandmother because of the heartbreaking and unforgettable memories shared, both verbally and in her journals. She continues Bubbie’s ancestral traditions and customs, and this memoir is a dedication to Mania "Bubbie" Lichtenstein. It includes excerpts of Bubbie’s writing and poetry, photos, and other historical information about the Holocaust. I found Living Among the Dead: My Grandmother’s Holocaust Survival Story of Love and Strength very emotional and poignant. The imagery was so clear and expressive and I admired Bubbie for her strength and spirit. Every Holocaust survivor has a story to share. I was glad to be given the opportunity to learn about Mania “Bubbie” Lichtenstein and other Jews who perished in WW2.
Recommend this book:
Diary of the Dragon's Daughter
Painting as a Window into Chinese History
BiLan Liao
2019 Finalist
254 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Biography
Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite
Diary of the Dragon's Daughter: Painting as a Window into Chinese History by BiLan Liao is her autobiography from growing up in China during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution to resettling in the US. She is an extraordinary artist, with achievements in painting, photography, fashion design, and sculpture. When she settled in the US, she created paintings of her life in China. Those paintings and others of her life in the US form the heart of this book. Her paintings and narrative cover three time periods: her life in China from 1954 to 1976 and from 1977 to 1999; and her life in the US from 1999 to 2018. Two major art collections depict her life in China, “Painting as a Window into Chinese History” (over forty-four paintings) and "Coming into Tibet" (twelve paintings). She has also included paintings from her teaching years in Indiana and Kentucky. Her collection “Return” won praise and comparison of her art style to those of Chagall, Matisse, and Picasso.
I was deeply moved by BiLan Liao's autobiography. I became immersed in her narrative because of her multifaceted paintings. I liked her inclusion of windows in her compositions as a way of looking into the past. I found the captions illuminating because I would otherwise have overlooked significant details in the paintings. Each painting became a story in itself, of individual lives and of the devastating impact of the Cultural Revolution on China as a whole. Many of the paintings depict her family's struggles to survive poverty, hunger, and fear through love, kindness, courage and an adventurous spirit. Paintings like “Voices of Freedom” and “I Wanted to Be a Nun” capture unforgettable turning points. A remarkable and compelling story of life, art, and the courage to never give up on dreams.
Diary of the Dragon's Daughter: Painting as a Window into Chinese History by BiLan Liao is her autobiography from growing up in China during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution to resettling in the US. She is an extraordinary artist, with achievements in painting, photography, fashion design, and sculpture. When she settled in the US, she created paintings of her life in China. Those paintings and others of her life in the US form the heart of this book. Her paintings and narrative cover three time periods: her life in China from 1954 to 1976 and from 1977 to 1999; and her life in the US from 1999 to 2018. Two major art collections depict her life in China, “Painting as a Window into Chinese History” (over forty-four paintings) and "Coming into Tibet" (twelve paintings). She has also included paintings from her teaching years in Indiana and Kentucky. Her collection “Return” won praise and comparison of her art style to those of Chagall, Matisse, and Picasso.
I was deeply moved by BiLan Liao's autobiography. I became immersed in her narrative because of her multifaceted paintings. I liked her inclusion of windows in her compositions as a way of looking into the past. I found the captions illuminating because I would otherwise have overlooked significant details in the paintings. Each painting became a story in itself, of individual lives and of the devastating impact of the Cultural Revolution on China as a whole. Many of the paintings depict her family's struggles to survive poverty, hunger, and fear through love, kindness, courage and an adventurous spirit. Paintings like “Voices of Freedom” and “I Wanted to Be a Nun” capture unforgettable turning points. A remarkable and compelling story of life, art, and the courage to never give up on dreams.
Recommend this book:
Reflections In the Key of Life
Tad Sisler and Steve Madaio
2019 Honorable Mention
214 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Biography
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Reflections In the Key of Life is an autobiographical work focused on and penned by trumpeter Steve Madaio, along with the assistance of Tad Sisler. Recording his life as a musician through the turbulent social changes of the 1960s, through pivotal events such as Woodstock and his work with plenty of famous faces, this unique portrait gives us insight into the figures who work alongside those stars on whom we so often shine the spotlight. Here, Steve Madaio’s influence on popular music is unveiled and appreciated in the context of the shifting sands of the music industry, teaching important lessons about talent, hard work, opportunity and life in general.
I really enjoyed getting to know Steve Madaio through this intimate portrait of his life and work. Focusing heavily on the music, it’s easy to see how passionate a musician Steve was throughout his varied and exciting career. There is plenty of appeal in this work for aficionados - for example, the tales of how he worked with John Lennon and the Rolling Stones - giving us a special insight into the music industry and exciting artists that we know from afar. Steve’s experience is really brought to life, however, by his insightful reflections on the big and small moments that shaped him throughout his career, and it’s here that we find the real golden nuggets of empathy, wisdom, and inspiration in the work. Overall, Reflections In the Key of Life is an accomplished work by Steve Madaio and Tad Sisler which music fans are sure to love.
Reflections In the Key of Life is an autobiographical work focused on and penned by trumpeter Steve Madaio, along with the assistance of Tad Sisler. Recording his life as a musician through the turbulent social changes of the 1960s, through pivotal events such as Woodstock and his work with plenty of famous faces, this unique portrait gives us insight into the figures who work alongside those stars on whom we so often shine the spotlight. Here, Steve Madaio’s influence on popular music is unveiled and appreciated in the context of the shifting sands of the music industry, teaching important lessons about talent, hard work, opportunity and life in general.
I really enjoyed getting to know Steve Madaio through this intimate portrait of his life and work. Focusing heavily on the music, it’s easy to see how passionate a musician Steve was throughout his varied and exciting career. There is plenty of appeal in this work for aficionados - for example, the tales of how he worked with John Lennon and the Rolling Stones - giving us a special insight into the music industry and exciting artists that we know from afar. Steve’s experience is really brought to life, however, by his insightful reflections on the big and small moments that shaped him throughout his career, and it’s here that we find the real golden nuggets of empathy, wisdom, and inspiration in the work. Overall, Reflections In the Key of Life is an accomplished work by Steve Madaio and Tad Sisler which music fans are sure to love.
Recommend this book:
Shadow Kid
Based on Real Life Events
Jennifer Vaughn
2019 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - Biography
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
Shadow Kid: Based on Real Life Events by Jennifer Vaughn is a biography that follows the life of eight-year-old Gavin Scott as he grows up in very painful circumstances, finding himself pulled away from a familiar and happy environment in New York and to a challenging life in New Hampshire. He will learn to live with bullies and to outsmart them. The narrative weaves on, taking the protagonist through painful experiences, getting punished for a crime he never committed, earning respect in the cockpit, becoming part of biker gangs and knowing depression from close quarters, to Hollywood and starting a family. But when he believes to have found the one thing that can give him fulfillment, his past begins to haunt him.
Shadow Kid: Based on Real Life Events is beautifully written and the opening captures the stream of consciousness of observant thoughts that are at the heart of this story. “Sure, secrets on their own merit won't kill you and they're powerless to bother anyone else either, so long as they stay where you left them: In their own room inside their own house. It's only when the other occupants you’ve allowed in have rummaged through the rooms and kicked over the furniture, that our darkest secrets find a sliver of light, and the pain—that atrocious rot that ate away at your core—is released again.” The character development is deft, the plot ingeniously imagined, and the conflict real. I was mostly interested in the internal conflict and the author allows readers to experience it by putting them into the mind of the protagonist. This is a story that features grit, adventure, and the struggle to make sense of life against the odds. Jennifer Vaughn infuses the writing with realism and humanity, crafting characters that belong here.
Shadow Kid: Based on Real Life Events by Jennifer Vaughn is a biography that follows the life of eight-year-old Gavin Scott as he grows up in very painful circumstances, finding himself pulled away from a familiar and happy environment in New York and to a challenging life in New Hampshire. He will learn to live with bullies and to outsmart them. The narrative weaves on, taking the protagonist through painful experiences, getting punished for a crime he never committed, earning respect in the cockpit, becoming part of biker gangs and knowing depression from close quarters, to Hollywood and starting a family. But when he believes to have found the one thing that can give him fulfillment, his past begins to haunt him.
Shadow Kid: Based on Real Life Events is beautifully written and the opening captures the stream of consciousness of observant thoughts that are at the heart of this story. “Sure, secrets on their own merit won't kill you and they're powerless to bother anyone else either, so long as they stay where you left them: In their own room inside their own house. It's only when the other occupants you’ve allowed in have rummaged through the rooms and kicked over the furniture, that our darkest secrets find a sliver of light, and the pain—that atrocious rot that ate away at your core—is released again.” The character development is deft, the plot ingeniously imagined, and the conflict real. I was mostly interested in the internal conflict and the author allows readers to experience it by putting them into the mind of the protagonist. This is a story that features grit, adventure, and the struggle to make sense of life against the odds. Jennifer Vaughn infuses the writing with realism and humanity, crafting characters that belong here.
Recommend this book:
Shackled
A Journey From Political Imprisonment To Freedom
Adam Siddiq
2018 Honorable Mention
308 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Biography
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Shackled: A Journey From Political Imprisonment to Freedom by Adam Siddiq is the true story of Khaled Siddiq, a heartbreaking story of injustice and betrayal and a sinister plan to eliminate an entire family. Khaled is just six when his entire family and extended family are betrayed, his father exiled and his uncles executed. His family used to be favored by the King of Afghanistan, but now everything has changed with the new regime. This family of men who stood by the king ends up in a dungeon in one of the forgotten corners of Kabul. Follow this gritty tale of hardship, of painful loss, and hope. Young Khaled makes the best use of his time and studies, learning five different languages and philosophy. When this family is finally released, life will never be the way it once was and it is difficult to walk any street without feeling as though they were being followed. And can Khaled be reunited with his father?
This story of grit and a young man’s struggle to survive against impossible odds is beautifully told. I have read a few books from authors from Afghanistan — including The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini — and there is always this surprising blend of insight and humanity that emerges from the ashes, and Shackled handles this aspect of the story beautifully. The narrative is smooth and the setting comes out clearly, with copious references to the culture and the traditional language of the protagonist. Readers will understand what key moments and places are called in the protagonist’s language. This masterful handling of setting gives authenticity to the story and reinforces the realism in the narrative. Shackled: A Journey From Political Imprisonment to Freedom is deeply moving, infused with deep values of humanity, a tale of hope and resilience. It is an incredible journey to freedom.
Shackled: A Journey From Political Imprisonment to Freedom by Adam Siddiq is the true story of Khaled Siddiq, a heartbreaking story of injustice and betrayal and a sinister plan to eliminate an entire family. Khaled is just six when his entire family and extended family are betrayed, his father exiled and his uncles executed. His family used to be favored by the King of Afghanistan, but now everything has changed with the new regime. This family of men who stood by the king ends up in a dungeon in one of the forgotten corners of Kabul. Follow this gritty tale of hardship, of painful loss, and hope. Young Khaled makes the best use of his time and studies, learning five different languages and philosophy. When this family is finally released, life will never be the way it once was and it is difficult to walk any street without feeling as though they were being followed. And can Khaled be reunited with his father?
This story of grit and a young man’s struggle to survive against impossible odds is beautifully told. I have read a few books from authors from Afghanistan — including The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini — and there is always this surprising blend of insight and humanity that emerges from the ashes, and Shackled handles this aspect of the story beautifully. The narrative is smooth and the setting comes out clearly, with copious references to the culture and the traditional language of the protagonist. Readers will understand what key moments and places are called in the protagonist’s language. This masterful handling of setting gives authenticity to the story and reinforces the realism in the narrative. Shackled: A Journey From Political Imprisonment to Freedom is deeply moving, infused with deep values of humanity, a tale of hope and resilience. It is an incredible journey to freedom.
Recommend this book:
Goodbye to Italia
A timid girl. A young soldier. A love story.
Marisa Parker
2018 Bronze Medal
257 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Biography
Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
Goodbye to Italia by Marisa Parker is an enchanting story that takes the reader on a journey back in time and into the lives of her parents. The cover of this biography is beautiful and hints at the rich history inside the pages. I loved the fact that the author took time to talk to her parents, memorize their words, and made their love story eternal. She takes readers on a journey along with the two main characters as they come of age in two very different, yet very dangerous places that are plagued by the effects of WWII.
This is the story of Mariolina Martore and Eugenio Piergiovanni. When our story begins, Mariolina is 6 years old and Eugenio is 17 years old. While Mariolina is living with her mother and grandmother in war ravaged Torino, Italy among disease, hunger and the devastation of the war, Eugenio is fighting as a teenage soldier. He is captured and taken to a prisoner of war camp where he spends 6 years, barely surviving by living through the dry humor he creates in his diaries. Years go by and Mariolina and Eugenio meet at a more peaceful time, yet neither of them is the same. We are taken through a beautiful journey of self-discovery, love, acceptance and courage as we read about how these two find each other, their love and themselves.
Sweet, endearing, heartwarming, emotional and simply lovely, this book is too interesting to put down. The double POV makes the story interesting and ensures that the reader keeps on reading. Eugenio’s years in the POW camp and Mariolina’s journey from an innocent 6-year-old to a bold and confident young woman speaks to the reader. I simply don’t have enough words to explain the feeling this story evoked in me. So good and simply beautiful!
Goodbye to Italia by Marisa Parker is an enchanting story that takes the reader on a journey back in time and into the lives of her parents. The cover of this biography is beautiful and hints at the rich history inside the pages. I loved the fact that the author took time to talk to her parents, memorize their words, and made their love story eternal. She takes readers on a journey along with the two main characters as they come of age in two very different, yet very dangerous places that are plagued by the effects of WWII.
This is the story of Mariolina Martore and Eugenio Piergiovanni. When our story begins, Mariolina is 6 years old and Eugenio is 17 years old. While Mariolina is living with her mother and grandmother in war ravaged Torino, Italy among disease, hunger and the devastation of the war, Eugenio is fighting as a teenage soldier. He is captured and taken to a prisoner of war camp where he spends 6 years, barely surviving by living through the dry humor he creates in his diaries. Years go by and Mariolina and Eugenio meet at a more peaceful time, yet neither of them is the same. We are taken through a beautiful journey of self-discovery, love, acceptance and courage as we read about how these two find each other, their love and themselves.
Sweet, endearing, heartwarming, emotional and simply lovely, this book is too interesting to put down. The double POV makes the story interesting and ensures that the reader keeps on reading. Eugenio’s years in the POW camp and Mariolina’s journey from an innocent 6-year-old to a bold and confident young woman speaks to the reader. I simply don’t have enough words to explain the feeling this story evoked in me. So good and simply beautiful!
Recommend this book:
Alternatives to a Frozen Mouse
Book One
AJ Mouse
2018 Gold Medal
274 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Biography
Reviewed by Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite
Alternatives to a Frozen Mouse: Book One by AJ Mouse is a memoir written by someone with DID or Disassociate Identity Disorder, or what used to known as Multiple Personality Disorder or Split Personality, and is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Since the book is written by a woman who suffers from DID, obviously the book is written from multiple perspectives and is literally written in the voice of two of the many personalities existing in one body. The book starts off simply with an introduction by Jade and Anne and, between the two of them, they introduce us to the several other personalities, including someone they call the Mouse, who is still a small, frightened, shy young girl dealing with the trauma of early life abuse. The book details what it is like to live with this disorder or mental illness, what day to day life is like, how the personalities interact and co-exist with each other, and how someone with this disorder manages to deal with the external world.
Alternatives to a Frozen Mouse is a fascinating read. I have read a few books on Disassociate Identity Disorder before, but since the disorder is fairly rare and little understood, I welcomed the opportunity to read a memoir about this. AJ Mouse writes in a genuine, heartfelt manner that cannot fail to evoke sympathy as well as respect. The story of abuse in the past, which is what triggers this disorder and allows the personality to “split,” is tragic and difficult to read about. I hope a book like this goes a long way towards making people understand that those who suffer from this disorder are not dangerous or crazy or bad, but instead are just human beings with a mental illness who deserve compassion and acceptance. The writing style is very engaging and also humorous at times, and so the book is certainly not heavy all the time. This book is a must-read for everyone!
Alternatives to a Frozen Mouse: Book One by AJ Mouse is a memoir written by someone with DID or Disassociate Identity Disorder, or what used to known as Multiple Personality Disorder or Split Personality, and is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Since the book is written by a woman who suffers from DID, obviously the book is written from multiple perspectives and is literally written in the voice of two of the many personalities existing in one body. The book starts off simply with an introduction by Jade and Anne and, between the two of them, they introduce us to the several other personalities, including someone they call the Mouse, who is still a small, frightened, shy young girl dealing with the trauma of early life abuse. The book details what it is like to live with this disorder or mental illness, what day to day life is like, how the personalities interact and co-exist with each other, and how someone with this disorder manages to deal with the external world.
Alternatives to a Frozen Mouse is a fascinating read. I have read a few books on Disassociate Identity Disorder before, but since the disorder is fairly rare and little understood, I welcomed the opportunity to read a memoir about this. AJ Mouse writes in a genuine, heartfelt manner that cannot fail to evoke sympathy as well as respect. The story of abuse in the past, which is what triggers this disorder and allows the personality to “split,” is tragic and difficult to read about. I hope a book like this goes a long way towards making people understand that those who suffer from this disorder are not dangerous or crazy or bad, but instead are just human beings with a mental illness who deserve compassion and acceptance. The writing style is very engaging and also humorous at times, and so the book is certainly not heavy all the time. This book is a must-read for everyone!
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