Posted on May 25, 2021 Leave a Comment
Ruth Rotkowitz was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1949 to Jewish Holocaust survivors who fled Vienna, Austria when Hitler came to power. This legacy has informed her research and her writing.
Ruth earned a B.A. and M.A. in English and has taught on both the college and high school levels, in New York and New Jersey. As a freelance writer, she has published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in anthologies and literary journals. She has also served as a staff writer and member of the editorial board of the (now defunct) Woman’s Newspaper of Princeton, where her feature articles garnered numerous awards.
She and her husband moved to Arizona in 2009, and Ruth became involved with the Phoenix Holocaust Association. In her volunteer work for this organization, she gives book talks in the Phoenix area, including for the adult education program at Arizona State University, on Holocaust-related books.
Her debut novel, ESCAPING THE WHALE, has been released April 11, 2020. Featuring a protagonist who must deal with her own painful family legacy along with the frightening news involving the Iran hostage crisis of 1979-1980, the novel follows her struggle to be “normal” and present as normal in her job and love life. At some point, she will have to realize that she cannot continue with her act.
Ruth believes the novel will appeal to lovers of literature, history, and psychology, as well as lovers of an old-fashioned growing-up story!
A child raised by Holocaust survivor parents absorbs their experiences. Plagued by fears, she struggles to achieve inner peace.
After my debut novel Escaping the Whale was published, I began conducting talks and discussions with various organizations and book clubs. During these talks, many readers expressed an interest in my protagonist’s childhood, as they were curious about how she became the kind of young woman she is in the book. Thus, the idea for a prequel that would answer these readers’ questions came to be.
I did research on the events and trends of the time period involved. While I personally remember most of them, I wanted to be sure I was accurate with the dates and facts, and that I was presenting them as they would appear to a sensitive child.
It is a prequel. Escaping the Whale finds the protagonist at the age of 28, working as a guidance counselor in a large urban high school and living in her own apartment. The Whale Surfaces begins when this same protagonist is 11 years old and ends when she graduates from college, gets her first job, and takes an apartment, at age 22. The six years between the 2 books are left to the reader’s imagination.
I enjoyed imagining how the main character, Marcia, began her mental battle with fears and delusions, and figuring out how she, as a child, would deal with her knowledge of her family’s Holocaust experiences. I felt it was important to show that despite growing up with loving parents and a safe home environment, a person can still suffer mental torment.
What was challenging was remaining consistent to her character. While all of us change as we get older, some aspects of our personalities persist. I tried to balance the parts of her that would remain and even flourish with the parts that would seem to have changed later on.
I am getting wonderful feedback! Readers are telling me that they see and understand how this character developed. They tell me they feel sympathetic toward her and care about her.
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There are so many stories that need to be told, so many characters that need to be studied and understood, so many themes and messages to absorb. Human nature and people’s inner struggles inspire me.
The message from both of my novels is the same. I want readers to have compassion for people who suffer and who struggle, both with personal experiences and with mental health problems. I hope readers will realize that mental issues cannot be ignored or wished away or escaped from – they have to be acknowledged and addressed in order to result in healing.
Lately, I have been trying to read novels that fall into the same category as mine – that is, novels that feature children of Holocaust survivors dealing with inherited trauma in the period after the war. The body of fiction dealing with this subject has only recently been growing. In that vein, I have recently read two excellent books – Lila by Rose Ross and My Mother’s Son by David Hirshberg. I am planning to read If Anyone Calls, Tell Them I Died by Emanuel Rosen, The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain, and Hope Valley by Haviva Ner-David.
I have also been reading books on female struggles taking place all over the world. The Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare, which takes place in Nigeria, was fabulous and inspiring.
I have begun two other novels, and I have to decide which one to tackle next! One deals with an installation artist who befriends and then becomes obsessed with a pair of charismatic but troubled actors. The other features a woman who lives in an old, historic, falling-apart castle she inherited that she feels obligated to keep. In other words, I am leaving the world of Marcia Gold, my protagonist through these last two novels. She is on her own now!
Link to the prequel: The Whale Surfaces: Prequel to Escaping The Whale
My website: https://www.ruthswhale.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/ruthrotkowitz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruth.rotkowitz.9
LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/in/ruth-rotkowitz-9269aala4/
Twitter: RotkowitzRuth
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/ruthrotkowitz/
Goodreads: https:www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomruthrotkowitz
I love hearing from readers with reactions to my writing. Please contact me through my website with any comments, questions, and yes, even criticisms. I am happy to discuss anything relating to my books.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Ruth Rotkowitz was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1949 to Jewish Holocaust survivors who fled Vienna, Austria when Hitler came to power. This legacy has informed her research and her writing. Her debut novel, Escaping the Whale is currently available on Amazon. Q: Can you sum up Escaping the Whale in 20 words or…
Interested in working with me on an interview? Complete the form on Contact Me. I’ll be in touch within 48 hours. I look forward to working with you!
David Biespiel is the author of twelve books. I am excited to have the opportunity to interview him regarding his twelfth, The Book of Exodus, ahead of its September release. Q: Can you sum up A Place of Exodus in 20 words or less? The book is a memoir that tells the story of the rise…
Michelle Cameron’s novel Beyond the Ghetto Gates received silver in the Independent Publisher Book Awards, in the category of historical fiction. Q: Can you sum up Beyond the Ghetto Gates in 20 words or less? The clash of Jewish-Catholic cultures when Napoleon emancipated the Jews from their repressive Italian ghettos, embodied in two embattled women.…
Sharon Hart-Green’s debut novel, Come Back for Me, was released in 2017. She is also the author of Not a Simple Story and Bridging the Divide. Q: Can you sum up Come Back For Me in 20 words or less? A gripping story of trauma, loss, and the redemptive power of love set in the…
Rayna Sue Harris has had stories published in Jewish Heritage, Coastlines, and Tales Below the Frost Line. Today, Ms Harris is sharing more details about her debut novel, Bronx Heart, Jeruslam Soul. Q: Can you sum up Bronx Heart, Jerusalem Soul in 20 words or less? Tyra Miller, burdened by the demands of her family,…
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Posted on May 25, 2021 Leave a Comment
Not as serious as Plato, but lighter than Socrates. Not as edgy as Clinton, but livelier than Nixon. Not as heavy as GWAR, but deeper than Culture Club. Nathan has been writing since he could hold a crayon. He has written 3 works of nonfiction; We Are 100 is his first work of fiction. He lives in Iowa (on purpose) with his wife, two kiddos, and their cat, named Turtle.
We Are 100 tinkers with your moral compass; it makes you question who the good and bad guys are.
I’m a stand-up comedian by trade, and I needed a way to get the thoughts out of my head that I couldn’t turn into jokes. Not that the book doesn’t contain humor, but at its core, it’s a thriller.
Google was a very good friend to me while writing. I Googled locations, FBI procedures, geography, train schedules, news events… I wanted to make sure the book read as realistically as possible, and did my best to achieve that goal.
Oh boy, this is mildly embarrassing… Yes, I do. The main villain, Josh, is kind of based on me. So… Josh would be my favorite character. Most writers turn themselves into the hero—the person who saves the day and gets the girl, so to speak. Not me. I based the bad guy on me. Maybe I’m odd; you’d have to ask my wife.
Lol, well, writing the story was actually very easy. I didn’t feel pressured, didn’t have a deadline… I wrote when I was on the road performing comedy. If I had downtime in a hotel room, I’d sit and write. If I was home, parenting, I wouldn’t write.
That said, the biggest challenge to me was dealing with Microsoft Word when trying to get the margins correct for publishing aspects. THAT was a pain in my tuckus. I’d fix something, Word would change it. I’d tweak something, Word wouldn’t accept it. That was by far more frustrating than the writing.
Thankfully, positive. Like anyone would be, I was nervous when I released it. I thought it was good, but what do I know? I’m too close and personal to the material. When Amazon reviewers started saying, “When’s the sequel coming out?” I was happy.
And then nervous again, because I hadn’t planned on writing a sequel. Oops.
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I’ve written since I could first hold a crayon, so while I don’t know exactly what inspires me, I know the burn to express myself has always been there. I have thoughts and ideas, and I try to get them out there in any way possible, including stand-up comedy, Tweeting, blogging, and long-form writing. If I didn’t get all my silly thoughts out there, I’d probably be Violet in Willy Wonka, expanding to the point where I explode.
Just that we never know anyone’s backstory. We live in an age of headlines and clicks; where we see a tweet and think we know everything. Life contains nuance, and subtlety. We would all be wise to step back and research any situation before passing judgment. All too often we glance at incidents and believe that’s enough. I’m not sure it is. I like digging deeper into stories, past the headlines. I want to understand people, and motivations.
I’m looking forward to Michael Lewis’ latest release, The Premonition.
I have a nonfiction idea bouncing around my noggin, but since I’m a stand-up comedian first and foremost, my next actual project is recording my seventh comedy album.
Absolutely! nathantimmel.com contains all things me. On Twitter, I’m @nathantimmel, and I spend more time in Facebook Jail than on Facebook, so I don’t really plug Zuckerberg’s moneymaker. Sorry, Zuck!
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Interested in working with me on an interview? Complete the form on Contact Me. I’ll be in touch within 48 hours. I look forward to working with you!
Sherry V. Ostroff is the author of two books, The Lucky One, is a memoir originally published in 2016, and Caledonia, a work of historical fiction was published last year. She is a winner of the Indie Diamond Book Award. Q: Can you sum up Caledonia in 20 words or less? Caledonia is the tale…
AJ Sidransky is joining my blog today to tell us about his newest novel, The Interpreter. We’re also getting insight into the third installment in his Forgiving series, Forgiving Stephen Redmond, set for release early next year. Q: Can you sum up the The Interpreter book series in 20 words or less? The Interpreter is…
Ashley Amber is a 26-year-old author who calls Boston home. Whether it was her first picture book that she entered in a Reading Rainbow contest at 9 years old, loads of fanfiction as a teenager, or her own novels, Ashley has always been writing. When she’s not writing, she’s making videos as an “Authortuber.” Ashley…
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Posted on May 11, 2021 Leave a Comment
Raised in Maine, Sean Valiente grew up loving all things geek. He now spends his days as a financial professional for a tech company, and his nights dreaming up fantasy worlds.
A magical adventure with a fun twist on the classic hero’s journey / chosen one. Magic, dragons, adventure and more!
It really came from a culmination of fun scenes and ideas I had in my head, and then the main character just screaming at me to tell his story. I’ve always had the itch to write, and this book is kind of an amalgamation of all my favorite things and tropes.
The main character Oliver Quartermaine is 16/17 years old in this book. Throughout the series we’ll watch him grow from teenager to adult and really watch him mature and change through sort of three different life periods: 16-20; 20-23; 23-26. The series will follow Oliver, but also a whole host of new main characters will pop up, and the story will sprawl over an entire contenent and over many years. It’s pretty epic and exciting.
I find villians the hardest to write simply because it’s hard for me to get into that mindset and really understand their motivation or why they do things. I’m generally a pretty happy go lucky guy and trying to say “this person is doing bad things” and give them the proper support can be tough since I don’t normally think that way nor do I crave the “indside the mind of a killer” and etc kinds of books / shows, so my experience is limited.
Definilty Po, this wide eyed and blissfully earnest character. He’s the kind of kid you coach in sports and you say “dang, he’s special” just because of how he acts and what he believes in.
Big feedback I got was about pacing, espeically the end. The book ends on a cliff hanger and also just sort of “ends”, in an effort to reflect life a little where there’s not neccissarily a falling action and resolution but rather in life sometimes things just suddently end.
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I really love writing as a creative outlet to just get lost in a world and be an active participant instead of bystander.
I think that being a teenager is crazy, for both good and bad reasons. It isn’t like the shows or books we read, it’s full of really high ups and really low downs, and often is contridictory. But that’s part of growing up and living life.
I”m currently doing a re-read of Lord of the Rings – the first time in about 10 years!
Book two of my series, currently in development, and hopefully out in late 2021
Https://www.facebook.com/seanpvaliente
Twitter: @stayathomesean
If you’re an aspiring writer, write the story you want to read, because you’ll end up reading it a billion times 🙂
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Interested in working with me on an interview? Complete the form on Contact Me. I’ll be in touch within 48 hours. I look forward to working with you!
Sherry V. Ostroff is the author of two books, The Lucky One, is a memoir originally published in 2016, and Caledonia, a work of historical fiction was published last year. She is a winner of the Indie Diamond Book Award. Q: Can you sum up Caledonia in 20 words or less? Caledonia is the tale…
AJ Sidransky is joining my blog today to tell us about his newest novel, The Interpreter. We’re also getting insight into the third installment in his Forgiving series, Forgiving Stephen Redmond, set for release early next year. Q: Can you sum up the The Interpreter book series in 20 words or less? The Interpreter is…
Ashley Amber is a 26-year-old author who calls Boston home. Whether it was her first picture book that she entered in a Reading Rainbow contest at 9 years old, loads of fanfiction as a teenager, or her own novels, Ashley has always been writing. When she’s not writing, she’s making videos as an “Authortuber.” Ashley…
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As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Posted on May 5, 2021 Leave a Comment
This is the second installment in Bazant’s travel memoirs. This is a prequel to her first book, Nine Years in Bangkok: Lessons Learned. In 1991, Bazant, along with her husband and two teenagers, took a “hardship” posting to Islamabad. The book chronicles her family’s five years in Pakistan, adjusting to a new culture as well as navigating the perils of flash floods, power cuts, and bombings.
I was hooked from the first page. Bazant is a gifted storyteller, engaging all of the senses in her vivid descriptions of sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. The writing is very conversational, giving the reader the feeling of sitting down over a cup of coffee and getting to know a new friend. Bazant provides wonderful insight into the history, culture, politics, and religion of modern Pakistan that broadens the reader’s understanding of the environment she and her family were living in.
I thoroughly enjoyed Bazant’s memoir and look forward to reading more from her.
Sharon Bazant is a retired Drama and English teacher living near Vancouver, Canada. She has donned a variety of professional and personal hats throughout her life including Thai massage therapist, U.N. research consultant, world traveler, and long-term expatriate. Some of her greatest adventures occurred during her time in Pakistan and Thailand.
Do you have a book in new of review? Would you like to be interviewed about your latest project? I’d like to work with you! Please visit my Contact Me page to complete the form with your details.
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By Michael Ward Thomas Tallant returns to England, from India, to find his country mired in turmoil. Conflict between King George I and Parlement is threating to boil over into civil war. But when a rival spice merchant is found brutally murdered, Thomas finds himself at the center of suspicion. While fighting to clear his…
By Jesse McKinnell Jake Anderson is a silverware designer turned vigilante, albeit a reluctant one, living on the fringes of a dying society. Fresh food has become scarce and, what is available, is under ration by the government. Jake finds himself infatuated with Sam. But he soon finds himself becoming less and less committed to…
By Bernice Lerner On April 15, 1945, British doctor, Brigadier H. L. Glyn Hughes arrived at Bergen-Belsen. While familiar with the horrors of war, nothing could prepare Brigadier Hughes for what he would see there. Among the sixty thousand living inmates, in the camp, was Rachel Genuth, a fifteen-year-old Jewess who arrived at the camp,…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Posted on May 4, 2021 Leave a Comment
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. To help you find the best gifts to give the book lover in your life, I’ve compiled a list of 18 great ideas to get you started. Some of these are favorite products of mine. Some are just fun ideas any mom would be happy to receive. Click the image or the title of each item to find them on Amazon.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission.
This handy bookmark fits on your book lover’s thumb to help hold their page open.
A cozy throw pillow is perfect for propping up when you need to read just one more chapter.
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All the supplies needed for organizing a bookworm’s personal library.
Cute and cozy! Who doesn’t love novelty socks, am I right?
Light and soft, this scarf makes the perfect bookish accessory.
A lovely pendant makes the perfect bookish Hanukkah gift.
Help your bookworm keep track of their reading goals, favorite titles, and notes.
Beautifully handcrafted, this novelty box is a great hideaway for your book lover’s trinkets or bookmarks.
Personalize it for your favorite reader.
Or for tea, this mug features 30 classics and changes colors from the heat of your favorite beverage.
Great for reading after dark!
This handy pillow is perfect for hands free reading.
Add a bookish glow to their desk or nightstand.
Republic of Tea is a favorite of mine. This sampler will keep the book lover on your list well stocked whenever they need a warm cup.
Now waterproof, a Kindle is perfect for reading pretty much anywhere.
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Kindle Unlimited offers free access to tons of great titles for your book lover to enjoy.
#ShamelessSelfPromotion – Every bookworm appreciates the gift of more books. Consider one of mine!
Posted on April 28, 2021 Leave a Comment
Today, I’m excited to share with you the books I’m looking forward to reading in March. These are the titles that will be appearing in my weekly book review posts throughout the month.
What books are on your list this month? I hope you’ll add your suggestions in the comments.
Are you an author, publicist, or publisher with a book in need of review? I’d like to work with you. To submit your book for review, please visit Contact Me and complete the form. I’ll review your request and respond within 48 hours. I’m also happy to work with authors on interviews. To set up an interview, please use the same form.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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Geckos & Guns: The Pakistan Years is the latest installment of Sharon Bazant’s riveting travel memoirs. Following on the heels of her 2019, Nine Years in Bangkok: Lessons Learned, this new title Geckos & Guns tells of the time before Bangkok. It is a prequel that follows the first impulses of the Bazant family to break out of the mold, to leave their comfortable Canada home. With two teens in tow, they took a “hardship” posting for the United Nations in Islamabad. The book opens with Sharon and the kids joining Wayne in January 1991 and chronicles their five year stay there. Bazant brings her gift for detail to the story and paints a beautiful backdrop with her words.
Where Nine Years in Bangkok is a tale of Bazant’s personal soul journey, the focus of Geckos & Guns is the Bazant family’s time in Pakistan—a time of adjusting to new and different surroundings, of embracing cultural differences, and of recognizing imminent danger. In the five years the Bazant family spent in Pakistan, they learned to love the temperate climate and the stark beauty of the countryside, the spicy curries and the exotic weddings, but they also learned to negotiate constant power cuts, flash floods, trips into opium country, bombings, a family emergency and more.
Bazant says, “I see each one of us clearly—our ‘selves’ of the past. I think about our experiences, some awe-inspiring, some traumatic, and the decisions we made that forged our future paths. We were younger more optimistic versions of ourselves. Did we make mistakes? Yes. Did we take some wrong turns? Yes. Did some of this form our future selves? Yes. The big question is: Would I do things differently if given the chance? I don’t know. We all did the best we could at the time.”
Judaism permeates lives in various ways, and yet, it connects us all the same. This is a collection of reflections on life, upon which our Jew-ish experiences have had some kind of impact, big or small, direct or tangential. Through gathering and sharing our stories, we hope to give you a glimpse into Jewish life through the eyes of college students living, learning, and being Jewish in 2021. A collection of short stories and poems by NYU and Hunter College students sharing their Jewish experience.
For auld lang syne, my dearFor auld lang syneWe’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yetFor days of auld lang syne As 2020 is quickly coming to a close (and not a moment too soon, am I right?!), I compiled a list of my top ten reads from the year. In no particular order, whether particularly…
With Hanukkah fast approaching, I’ve assembled a list of my most recommended books, with a Jewish voice, as a gift guide for the book lover in your life. This list contains a wide variety of genres, including mystery/thriller, romance, historical fiction, and non-fiction. Enjoy! This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made,…
People often ask me for recommendations when they’re looking for a book to read. So I have complied a list of my top ten recommended books. These are in no particular order. I’ve provided links to Amazon for your convenience (not affiliate links) along with what I find meaningful about each of them. A Cry…
“Summertime and the living is easy” Trying to figure out your summer reading list for time spent by the pool? I’ve put together a list of 10 of my favorite reads to help get you started. These are in no particular order and all come from my Ultimate Reading List. Need more suggestions? New subscribers…
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Posted on April 28, 2021 Leave a Comment
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly features.
Authors, are you interested in having your book reviewed? Interested in an interview about your work? Visit the Contact Me page and complete the form. Requests receive a response within 48 hours.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchases made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Set in the 1990s, in Northumberland and Northern Ireland, The Monarch, is a portrayal of life in a heavily industrial culture, forced to reinvent itself as its once beloved industries find themselves in decline. The story gives an intimate picture of the Compton family, who are at the heart of society in the region.
Jennings paints a vivid picture of the setting behind his novel, rich with detail. I enjoyed the stream of consciousness writing style. The story is interwoven with a number of very strong characters who each bring a piece of the unique culture of the North – East region. Jennings also does a remarkable job of incorporating the regional dialect and accent into the writing.
Jennings is a masterful storyteller and I look forward to reading more from him.
A sequel to her first book, Divine Renovations, in which she tells the story of being laid off from her job while caring for her husband in his final days with two teenaged children to raise, Janice gives us the rest of the story. This is the story of rebuilding and coming back from devastating life events. In this follow-up book, she talks about travel, using yoga to build her mental and physical strength, and starting two businesses. She also includes some humorous tales of dating again.
This is a wonderful example of human resiliency in the face of incredible challenges. Beetle provides a very real, and at times raw, account of reinventing herself. I found the writing engaging, like sitting down with a good friend and hearing her tell her story. Beetle truly holds nothing back and shows remarkable strength in letting the reader into her emotions, even the dark ones.
In the end, this story is heart-warming and full of hope.
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Thomas Tallant returns to England, from India, to find his country mired in turmoil. Conflict between King George I and Parlement is threating to boil over into civil war. But when a rival spice merchant is found brutally murdered, Thomas finds himself at the center of suspicion. While fighting to clear his name, he is captivated by Elizabeth Seymour, a brilliant scientist with a pencion for gambling. Her gift for logic proves valuable in uncovering the truth of what happened to Thomas’ competition. But only time will tell if they will succeed in saving Thomas’ reputation.
This is the first book in a series by indie author, Michael Ward, and I’m already intrigued. The story is well-paced and the characters are well-developed. Ward places the reader at the center of 1640s England with vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, and smells of the time. I enjoyed the way Ward engaged all of his reader’s senses through his writing. The interwoven layers of fraternities of merchents keep the reader guessing as to the identity of the true killer (no spoilers).
Ward has created a well-crafted historical mystery. I look forward to reading more from him.
Jake Anderson is a silverware designer turned vigilante, albeit a reluctant one, living on the fringes of a dying society. Fresh food has become scarce and, what is available, is under ration by the government. Jake finds himself infatuated with Sam. But he soon finds himself becoming less and less committed to the cause.
McKinnell crafts a face-paced, timely and engaging story. The protagonist, Jake, comes across as bland and average. Enter Sam, a pink-haired eccentric with mile-wide, inch deep ideas and Jake gets swept away. The dark humor and sarcasm come across brilliantly. Enjoy the escape of this dystopian world.
I would like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Tammy Bottner writes a biography from her grandmother, Melly Bottner’s point of view. As an eighteen-year-old newlywed and new mother, Melly finds the dangers she escaped from in Germany suddenly on her doorstep in Belgium. Bottner tells the story of the unimaginable choices her grandparents were forced to make in order to ensure their survival.
Bottner’s telling of her family’s deeply personal history makes for a compelling read. The book is meticulously researched as Bottner adds in historical context to the events of her family’s reality. She focuses not only on the atrocities faced by Jews in the Holocaust but the on-going impact for survivors and the next generation. The topic is presented in very accessible language making it approachable.
Bottner has created a well-crafted biography that is well worth the read.
On April 15, 1945, British doctor, Brigadier H. L. Glyn Hughes arrived at Bergen-Belsen. While familiar with the horrors of war, nothing could prepare Brigadier Hughes for what he would see there. Among the sixty thousand living inmates, in the camp, was Rachel Genuth, a fifteen-year-old Jewess who arrived at the camp, with her family just a month prior, after already spending time at Auschwitz, the Christianstadt labor camp, and having marched through the Sudetenland. The story opens with Brigadier Hughes’ testimony at the trial of the camp’s commendant, Josef Kramer before following Brigadier Hughes and Rachel’s journeys to through Europe.
Lerner crafts an engrossing read through the interweaving of two very different perspectives on the atrocities of the Holocaust: one of a liberator and the other of her young mother whose childhood was stolen away. While the two never directly meet, as is mentioned, Rachel, her sister, and thousands more, were saved by the actions of Hughes and his medical team. The careful attention to factual detail is evident in the writing and lends context to the narratives of the two subjects within the book. Lerner paints a very clear picture of the gruesome crimes committed and the horrific conditions within the camp.
Lerner’s work preserves two important individual histories. I would like to thank the author for a review copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
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So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
Posted on April 28, 2021 Leave a Comment
On April 15, 1945, British doctor, Brigadier H. L. Glyn Hughes arrived at Bergen-Belsen. While familiar with the horrors of war, nothing could prepare Brigadier Hughes for what he would see there. Among the sixty thousand living inmates, in the camp, was Rachel Genuth, a fifteen-year-old Jewess who arrived at the camp, with her family just a month prior, after already spending time at Auschwitz, the Christianstadt labor camp, and having marched through the Sudetenland. The story opens with Brigadier Hughes’ testimony at the trial of the camp’s commendant, Josef Kramer before following Brigadier Hughes and Rachel’s journeys to through Europe.
Lerner crafts an engrossing read through the interweaving of two very different perspectives on the atrocities of the Holocaust: one of a liberator and the other of her young mother whose childhood was stolen away. While the two never directly meet, as is mentioned, Rachel, her sister, and thousands more, were saved by the actions of Hughes and his medical team. The careful attention to factual detail is evident in the writing and lends context to the narratives of the two subjects within the book. Lerner paints a very clear picture of the gruesome crimes committed and the horrific conditions within the camp.
Lerner’s work preserves two important individual histories. I would like to thank the author for a review copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Bernice Lerner, Ed.D., is the author of “To Meet in Hell: Bergen-Belsen, the British Officer who Liberated it, and the Jewish Girl He Saved,” and other works on the Holocaust and virtue ethics. She is a senior scholar at Boston University’s Center for Character and Social Responsibility, and former dean of adult learning at Hebrew College. Please visit www.bernicelerner.com for links to her articles, interviews, webinars, and information about her book’s protagonists. And, to contact Bernice.
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By Janice Beetle A sequel to her first book, Divine Renovations, in which she tells the story of being laid off from her job while caring for her husband in his final days with two teenaged children to raise, Janice gives us the rest of the story. This is the story of rebuilding and coming…
By Michael Ward Thomas Tallant returns to England, from India, to find his country mired in turmoil. Conflict between King George I and Parlement is threating to boil over into civil war. But when a rival spice merchant is found brutally murdered, Thomas finds himself at the center of suspicion. While fighting to clear his…
By Jesse McKinnell Jake Anderson is a silverware designer turned vigilante, albeit a reluctant one, living on the fringes of a dying society. Fresh food has become scarce and, what is available, is under ration by the government. Jake finds himself infatuated with Sam. But he soon finds himself becoming less and less committed to…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Posted on April 27, 2021 Leave a Comment
From April 6, Soaring Penguin Press will be running a Kickstarter campaign for the publication of Urban Tails.
Beginning in 2006, Ilana Zeffren has chronicled her life as a weekly newspaper comic strip. Urban Tails brings these strips together in English for the first time, presenting a 200+ page collection which is down to earth, honest, and provides a gentle look into the lives of
Ilana, her girlfriend, and their two cats.
Addressing subjects as diverse as mental health and the proliferation of crocs (shoes), Zeffren brings a fresh perspective and humanity to her comics. The cats, Spaghetti and Rafi, serve as a Greek Chorus, providing a running commentary even as war zones and life-changing worries take center stage. Talking about what she hoped would be gained from publishing the collection in English, Zeffren said that she wanted to bring her stories to new, wider audiences and that:
My hopes for this collection in English is to introduce my work to a vast and diverse audience and to give a taste of daily life in Tel Aviv. I think cat lovers, comics readers, LGBTQ people, Gender studies academics and many more can find themselves in it.
As a company always looking for exciting, unique projects, from alternative voices, Urban Tails was a perfect fit for Soaring Penguin. Soaring Penguin co-Publisher John Anderson commented:
Urban Tails a glimpse of life in another country and another culture. But what I really like about Urban Tails is that it’s gently subversive. It has a family dynamic that just happens to be about two lesbians. And their cats. It doesn’t bring it up as a thing, it’s simply part of the fabric of the cloth.
The Kickstarter aims to raise £3000 to publish the collection. This money will go toward back costs and is an important part of Soaring Penguin’s plans to increase their creator wages.
The Urban Tails Kickstarter campaign can be found here.
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Ariel Kahn:
Brilliant, self-deprecating humour and wisdom from Israel’s answer to Alison Bechdel. Ilana Zeffren gives us an insider’s perspective to life as a lesbian cartoonist in Tel Aviv, using her deft visuals to invite us in to a world where passion, politics and the perils of domesticity are seamlessly interwoven. Covering fifteen years of work, this visual feast brings to life the story of a country and a culture through the voices of Zeffren, her partner, and their cats. The cats, Spaghetti and Tuna, act as Greek chorus, opening up the complex layers of life and love in the Middle East with wit and warmth.
Sarah Lightman:
I’m not much of a cat person, but I truly love Rafi and Spaghetti, the elegantly drawn, scene-stealing protagonists of Ilana Zeffren’s comics. Politically aware, preoccupied with tunafish, and unrepentantly self-centered, these celebrity felines lounge and commentate their way through contemporary cosmopolitan Tel Aviv life.
Website: https://www.soaringpenguinpress.com/
Twitter: @spenguin
Instagram: @soaringpenguinpress
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoaringPenguin.Press/
Posted on April 21, 2021 Leave a Comment
Tammy Bottner writes a biography from her grandmother, Melly Bottner’s point of view. As an eighteen-year-old newlywed and new mother, Melly finds the dangers she escaped from in Germany suddenly on her doorstep in Belgium. Bottner tells the story of the unimaginable choices her grandparents were forced to make in order to ensure their survival.
Bottner’s telling of her family’s deeply personal history makes for a compelling read. The book is meticulously researched as Bottner adds in historical context to the events of her family’s reality. She focuses not only on the atrocities faced by Jews in the Holocaust but the on-going impact for survivors and the next generation. The topic is presented in very accessible language making it approachable.
Bottner has created a well-crafted biography that is well worth the read.
I am a physician, writer, and mom. I am also the child and grandchild of Holocaust survivors. I have been fascinated for years about the legacy I carry. It is a heavy one. In my new book I explore the science of epigenetics, the idea that traumatic life events change one’s genes, and that these altered genes may be passed along to subsequent generations (such as myself).
In the book I recount the way my grandparents managed to save both themselves and their young children in the darkest days of European history. The book is an homage to my dad, a child survivor who was a ‘hidden child’, sequestered in a Belgian convent for 21/2 years when he was only a toddler.
Do you have a book in new of review? Would you like to be interviewed about your latest project? I’d like to work with you! Please visit my Contact Me page to complete the form with your details.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
By Janice Beetle A sequel to her first book, Divine Renovations, in which she tells the story of being laid off from her job while caring for her husband in his final days with two teenaged children to raise, Janice gives us the rest of the story. This is the story of rebuilding and coming…
By Michael Ward Thomas Tallant returns to England, from India, to find his country mired in turmoil. Conflict between King George I and Parlement is threating to boil over into civil war. But when a rival spice merchant is found brutally murdered, Thomas finds himself at the center of suspicion. While fighting to clear his…
By Jesse McKinnell Jake Anderson is a silverware designer turned vigilante, albeit a reluctant one, living on the fringes of a dying society. Fresh food has become scarce and, what is available, is under ration by the government. Jake finds himself infatuated with Sam. But he soon finds himself becoming less and less committed to…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Heidi Slowinski 