Monday, March 28, 2016

Miriam's Song - A Mother & Wife Singing Amidst Tradegy

Miriam's Song is one of the most emotional books that I have read in a long while. Miriam Peretz shares her story beginning with her parents and their background and ending with the impact that she has made in the world by staying strong.


Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover shows the sun on the horizon. It is not clear if the sun is rising or setting, but Miriam's life is kind of like that as well. At times of celebration, there was hardship, but there was also lots of consolation in times of hardship.


Some Details I Liked:

I like that the book spans many years. It is nice to read how Miriam and her husband met and started out. The details of how the boys who grew into IDF soldiers, had fond childhood memories of what is now Sinai, helps the reader understand the historical and political connections.

I also very much appreciated reading the siblings' writings. Miriam's children definitely echo her song of focusing on the future and making the world a better place.

Who This Book is For:

It is hard to say who this book is for. It is a powerful non-fiction work with many lessons. The writing style is smooth, even though it was translated from Hebrew. 

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

This book may not be a good read for a mother with children serving in the army or even a sibling of a soldier. On the other hand, anyone in that position knows the reality of the situation, so maybe this would be a source of strength for them. 

Miriam's Song does discuss some parts of a lifestyle that is not strictly ultra-religious, such as Miriam wearing pants or not covering her hair.


In Conclusion:  

I think this book takes guts to read, but it takes so much more than a regular person to have this story and to share it with us. There is much to be learned from every person, but especially those who enter the public eye due to tragic circumstances.

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

The Gift of Stuttering, A Personal Journey


When looking for an inspiration, it is not always easy to find a book that has the balance of being easy to read and full of solid motivation. Moe Mernick has an organized path for dealing with difficulty in his book, The Gift of Stuttering.



Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:


The book looks like a clean, straight-forward memoir, which it is. The title is very fitting as that is the approach of Mernick's confrontation to his challenges, starting with stuttering, but continuing onto many aspects of adulthood, including religion, career opportunities and parenthood. 

Some Details I Liked:

I like that the book is written in a way that is easy to relate to. There are even a few pages written by Melanie, the author's wife, which add perspective and another voice to the book. I also appreciated the comprehensive list of resources and recommendations in regards to stuttering as well as handling life.

Who This Book is For:

This book is great for PWS (People Who Stutter), but it is actually an amazing book for any living person. Because everyone has territory that needs to be conquered in order to enhance their quality of life.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

The Gift of Stuttering is not for people who want to be stuck. After reading it, I had the confidence to overcome some obstacles that had been in my way for months! So if that is an effect that you can't handle, take caution and stay away. ;-)

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

While I very much enjoyed hearing the voice of a young man, I think this book would have had a greater impact if there was an epilogue with how he dealt with more mature challenges later in life. BeH, maybe this is something that can be added in the next edition.

In Conclusion:  

I very much enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it. It contains Jewish concepts, but the only Hebrew is on the cover, so it is fitting to be shared across the spectrum of English readers.


Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Chapter Two, A Second Marriage Novel

Chapter Two is one of those books that I reread a short time after I finished it because the story line is that great. The smooth writing style is consistent with the previous novel, Unexpected Gifts. Both books have realistic scenarios that solve themselves in a slightly fairytale way.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover of this book is phenomenal. It shows two tea cups on a table. There are quite a few conversations in the book that happen over hot drinks, each one is a significant event that leads up to the climax.

Some Details I Liked:

I enjoyed that there are characters of all ages. The main character is a divorcee mother with two children, one teen and one elementary school age. She interacts with her mother, good older friend and ex-husband. Oh and her "Chapter Two", who has his own set of children and colleagues. 

Azriela is excellent at having the various personalities interact according to their life experience, which makes this novel very relatable.

Who This Book is For:

I think Chapter Two is great for anybody looking for a nice, light, but not fluffy fictional read. It can be read in multiple sittings or in just one long afternoon.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

Being that the book focuses on taking life seriously, in terms of custody, therapy, re-marriage and dying, I would not recommend this book to a very sheltered child. 

Keep in mind though that none of it is gory at all and there is a lot of comic relief mixed into the seriousness of the therapy discussion.


What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

This is definitely one of those books that can have a sequel, in the sense that you want to follow-up with the characters and check in with them to see what happens few years later.

In Conclusion:  

Just as I suspected, Chapter Two is another well-written, modern day novel by Azriela Jaffe. And I will probably be re-reading it again soon.

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.