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.

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.

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.

Dreams Delayed - A Modern Fairy Tale

Dreams Delayed is a modern day novel that zooms in on the deep emotions of a bride who has to deal with a tragic event. The story goes from dreamy to nightmare and back to a happily ever after.

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

The cover of Dreams Delayed is simple, but elegant. It has a slice of a bride's wedding picture, which fades into the white cover that also features an engagement ring on top of a wedding ring. This gives the feeling of having a clean, white slate. The two rings are significant because an engagement does not always guarantee a wedding.

Some Details I Liked:

Ariella Schiller is quite talented in expressing each of the character's feelings. There are quite a few poems that I felt like copying onto a paper for my fridge. 

Who This Book is For:

This book is great for high schoolers and beyond. As much as the main character is a female and quite feminine, there are also male characters that are portrayed well.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

I would not recommend this book to anyone that is engaged or has single children learning in Israel. While the hashkafa in the book is detailed and strong, we are living in a hard time for Israel. It is hard to read fictional encounters that are so close to the morbid reality. 

In Conclusion:  

If you enjoy getting lost in someone else's dream and then reading through their hardships, in order to celebrate with them in the end, this is the perfect book for you.

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.

Story Solutions - Picture Books

This new series of children's books is written and beautifully illustrated by Esti Hess. Titled "Story Solutions", each book has a unique storyline to help children deal with issues, like disappointment or ridicule.

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

Each cover has a clear title and big, but simple picture portraying the main character of the story. I like how each book is a different color. It is also nice that some books are from a boy's perspective, while other books have a girl.

Some Details I Liked:

I liked how the books speak about emotions directly and help children understand what is happening in their life. I love how every other page is a picture depicting the scene described on the page next to it, making it easy for the child to follow along.

Who This Book is For:

My nearly 3 yr old daughter loves these books and I think they are appropriate for new readers as well. My daughter looks at the pictures all the time, but specifically for bedtime she likes to hear the stories over and over again.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

Some of the books do have a more creative side, like talking animals or other objects. This is not a negative thing at all, but it is important to know that the stories may include interactions that can only happen in the wonderful world of fiction.

In Conclusion:  

These are great books to have in the house so that children are equipped with solutions to scenarios, possibly even before the problem exists.

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.

A Fragile Thread

Are you one of those Friday night novel lovers looking for a good realistic, but juicy story? A Fragile Thread is about multiple members of a family which are all slightly hanging, but end up tied together in a beautiful tapestry. This includes some shalom bayis trouble, financial pressure, shidduchim, high school, special needs and fertility issues spread throughout the various characters.

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

The cover is excellent. It has a house with a canvas of thin threads over it. The idea is that things are strained until the very last strand and are not quite staying together.

Some Details I Liked:

I loved the characters and the issues. It is always fun to be able to relate to characters, but in this book I could almost hear the characters speaking. There is one scene in a supermarket and it is described so well that I totally visualized it as I was reading.

Who This Book is For:

This book is great for someone looking for a modern day novel which mentions email scams and the “ayin hara lady” as details in the subplots. 

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

A few words of caution. This book definitely goes into detail about struggles between spouses. It also speaks about making the right life decisions with daas Torah’s approval. I personally thought both were great and written in very good taste, but I understand that not everyone would.

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

I felt a little sad for the parents and would have enjoyed reading more from their perspectives.

In Conclusion:  

A Fragile Thread is a splendid Yael Mermelstein novel and it was a pleasure to review it. 

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.

Blood Brothers, a Cuban Adventure

Tired of the typical US novel? Blood Brothers is set in Cuba of the 1980's. It is the first of Esther Rapaport's Foreign Destinations series. 

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

I like when the cover accurately reflects the story within it. This cover does that very well. Obviously not every detail is there, but you can get a sense of the settling from the old buildings and vintage cars. There are also hints to the plot with the tube of blood, the cigar and the horses.

Some Details I Liked:

This is a smooth, realistic read with a little bit of a happily ever after, but still leaves you a little sad that life was so hard for so many not so long ago or far away.

Who This Book is For:

Although the main characters are boys, I think this book can be enjoyed by all. It has a lot of adventure, but also has plenty of emotion.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

It's not called blood brothers for nothing. There are a few sort of gory parts, where injuries are described. Also it's a bit scary when referring to the Cuban Authorities.

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

I was a little disappointed with the ending. I won't spoil it here, but I will say that there are many ways to be a great person and sometimes being in a unique position can be greater than doing the norm.

In Conclusion:  

It was interesting to learn about Cuba and what families there and their relatives abroad went through. Very creative and well done.

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.