November 24th, 2009 | 
Author: 
Title: Make-Ahead Meals For Busy Moms
Author: Jane Doiron
ISBN: 978-1-4327-2086-5
Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.
List Price: $17.95
Make-Ahead Meals For Busy Moms is a short, but concise cookbook of several recipes that can be prepared in advance. These make-ahead meals are truly a blessing and time saver for busy mothers. As a new mother myself, I found it very helpful as I made some of these meals. I work part-time, so preparing meals in advance and freeing up some time is definitely a tremendous help.
The recipes cover everything…appetizers, breakfast and brunch, main dishes, sides dishes, desserts and even soups. Also included is a chapter of helpful tips as well as measurement equivalents. The recipes are truly delicious and very easy to follow. The ingredients are not extensive either. It is a pleasure to prepare these meals, and they taste oh so good!!
Jane Doiron, is an elementary school teacher and a mom of two boys herself. Her years of experience raising her boys and experimenting with different recipes and advanced meal prepping led her to write this helpful little cookbook to assist other busy mothers as well. My favorite was the Chicken Marsala with a Twist; and for dessert – Brown Cookies and Tiramisu.
Hope you enjoy Jane Doiron’s recipes as much as I have. Preparing make-ahead meals frees up my time on very busy days, and definitely has had an impact on my life. These recipes allow my day to run a little smoother. Anything that can simplify things in my busy life is worthwhile! Also, there will always be something in the house in case you get unexpected guests. Thanks Jane!
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Arms outstretched for balance, Mikial sank down into a crouch, glowering at the one new thing entering her morning routine. An assassin. The hairs along her forearms raised with a surge of bioelectric energy, beads of insulating sweat glistening her palms.
The Datha possessed broad shoulders and a firm jaw line. He regarded her with bright amber eyes similar to her own. His braids reminded her of spun straw. Standing there in a black dress uniform with his pressed side skirts, she considered him quite attractive save for the pistol he aimed up at her. His not immediately opening fire on her suggested there might be some maneuvering room available. Perhaps some Kinset pride to leverage, she considered, scowling at the sword badge over his right pocket. “I am a combat veteran…and the best you can do is shoot me like some rabid animal? Is that all the honor Kinset’s Datha can muster these days?”
His expression flaunted the usual brand of professional impassivity she had been receiving since her incarceration. To her relief, he flung the weapon toward the door. “Had my intentions been other than honorable, you would already be dead. Not that it matters. I placed within the top rank of my graduating class. The end result will be the same, but it will come with both honor and respect for your past service.”
Mikial leapt to the floor across from him, her lips drawing back. “And what is so worth my life? Your Holding’s Taqurl pride?”
Hatred oozed out from behind the edges of the Datha’s stone face. “No Servant will ever rule us!” He launched himself at her.
And you expect me to sidestep into some eloquent combat stance, don’t you? She obliged him, favoring her left foot only for the instant it took to see him adjust accordingly. Mikial switched balance and flung herself bodily into his face. The crude maneuver threw him on his back with her splayed across him. Twisting around, Mikial seized his head with drawn claws and discharged a fatal jolt of electricity through her palms. She rolled off his shuddering body and glared down at it. “I wasn’t in the top rank…I was First!”
A word from author K M Tolan:
Hi, folks!
My name is Kerry, aka “K M Tolan”, and I am a science fiction writer with Champagne Books. Since signing on with Champagne, I have written three SF books with my first, “Blade Dancer”, ending up an EPPIE 2009 Finalist. Not a bad way to get things started.
Raised on the likes of Heinlein and Asimov, I quickly fell in love with the idea of being swept off to alien worlds. I was taught the wonder of jaw-dropping characters by the likes of Andrea Norton and Zenna Henderson, and incredible world building thanks to Julian May and Frank Herbert. I had to get hands-on with this stuff!
I enjoy writing about the human condition – as of late from a non-human viewpoint. We can be the dastardly alien invaders, and yet have well-meaning characters. I’m not much for black-and-white when a wash of gray will do nicely. Life is like that, be it on Earth or some distant world with troubles of its own.
I am currently preparing for the December release of my third novel “Rogue Dancer”, which continues the story of my most favorite alien character – Mikial Haran from “Blade Dancer”. The human threat, as she sees us, is only one of her problems in a society where saviors are chosen but not always well received. Mikial is not your atypical hero either – she comes with friends and family like anyone else. That’s my kind of hero.
Kerry
Title: Shades of Luz
Author: John Gorman
ISBN: 978-0-9840984-7-7
Publisher: All Things That Matter Press
Shades of Luz is a whimsical love story with a touch of comedy. Gorman’s quirky little novel is certainly entertaining for those with a sense a humor. Packed with suprises, Gorman displays his skill as a writer with this refreshing, yet somewhat unusual coming of age story. I would say Gorman’s writing is compatible with Ben Winters and his quirky novels, Pride, Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters.
This story centers around Benny, a graduate school dropout. Without his graduate degree, times are tough. While he is selling stuffed animals on the street, he comes to meet Luz. Benny falls for Luz and falls hard. Luz, although periodically in and out of Benny’s life, attempts to persuade him to go back to school and finish his thesis. Then there is Mungo. Through a strange series of circumstances, these two become a big part of each other’s life, as Benny is forced to work for Mungo, who is an underworld bookie. We are then thrown into the bizarre world of thumb-wrestling, however, with Gorman’s descriptiveness, one would think it was an MMA competition. Nevertheless, through it all, Benny’s heart is set on Luz. Benny and Luz are subsequently reunited at his family’s house, as the two of them share a memorable holiday dinner that neither of them will soon forget.
Gorman manages to keep this story going. Although many of the themes in this novel are a bit peculiar, and at times, a little eccentric, he does a fine job in keeping the interest of the reader. The characters are certainly rich while Benny is on his quest to get his girl. For a quick humorous fiction fix, Shades of Luz delivers!
-written by Jennifer Ochs
NY Book Cafe had the pleasure to recently interview Mr. Gorman.
NY Book Cafe: Tell us a little bit about yourself, writing experience, other books available, etc.
John Gorman: Well, before my stories found their way into print I worked for a short time with the Queens Ledger. A weekly throwaway newspaper. I snapped the Eyesore of the Week, I did the roving photographer photos and covered community board meetings. Boy, did I meet some characters in those places. The biggest cheeseballs and oddballs hide out at these grassroots orgs. They hover by the back table and peck away at their free slices of Entenmann’s coffeecake and I’d ask them how they got involved in the Conservative Party, the Regular Democratic Party, the Working Families Union- that sort of thing. One time I accidentally misquoted somebody and they called up my editor and freaked out. it was a very minor thing, but they blew it way out of proportion. Then I light bulb went off. People actually read these things. It was my initiation. I always preferred writing fiction to writing news stories, but I must say I get a lot of my fodder for prose from newspapers.
I’ve been writing pretty seriously for the past ten years. Before that I was convinced I’d be a tennis pro, baseball player or an archaeologist. The past three years I’ve taken a particularly rigorous approach to revision. Writing is revision. I think I used to think you had to write it right the first time. Boy, was I delusional then. I’m a much slower reader and writer now. I think the attention I pay to my reading has helped a lot. There’s a great book by Francine Prose called Reading Like A Writer. It’s the bible.
NY Book Cafe: How has your experience been between traditional vs. self-publishing?
John Gorman: Some years back I had an agent and we were sending out what I consider to be my first real book, which was called “No Small Armoire” it was sent out to all the major houses: Harper, Kensington, Houghton Mifflin, Norton. I got very few form rejects. Actually, with that novel they praised it pretty much. They said I was a talented writer and the story was engaging, but they didn’t think it was marketable. Harper wanted me to change my ending. It’s kind of an interesting story because I used to teach Judith Reagan’s daughter tennis. Her daughter was really sweet. She always told me to give her mom my manuscript. But, what was I going to do give a eleven-year-old the book to put in her racquet bag. I told my story to Joanne Wang, an agent I met at a writing conference and she was hooked on the idea. She sent out the manuscript to Harper Collins, Reagan Books and when I got that initial sort of positive feedback I thought I was in the big-time. Nothing ever pans out that easy. Then after a while it got frustrating because the book was getting picked up and I got sidetracked by entering some screenplay competitions. I wanted to try a new medium instead revising No Small Armoire. When the impossible seemed to happen and I won the NY International Independent Film and Video Festival screenplay competition I was ecstatic. I thought wow this is my ticket. I told my agent. She was happy for me, but she was like what about the revision. I told her I was working on it, but that I wanted to send out my screenplay too and see if that could get bought by the studios. She told me I needed to focus my efforts. I told her I wanted to throw out a bigger net. It made sense. I won a competition so I figured that earned some credibility. She actually refused to take the screenplay. I said fine. I’ll only let you handle the novel but put me in touch with somebody who does film. Well, she never bothered to and after a while she lost interest in me. So I have to say I was a bit disheartened with publishing. That was in 2003.
Now my experience with indie publishing has been quite different, but I have to say I was rejected by even more publishers before All Things That Matter Press gave me the green light. Shades of Luz has been rejected by 46 publishers and that’s not including queries that have never been answered. An publishing is no-frills. The writer has to really hustle is he wants to sell, get reviews, readings and all of that. But, honestly I’ve heard the same story for pretty much any mid-list author. If you’re not Dan Brown, Stephen King, or Philip Roth you are your own publicity team. I’ve gotten a pretty good response so far from bloggers, reviewers, and even reading hosts. I think Phil and Debra Harris, my publishers, picked a great cover. Sounds corny, but it makes a difference. They let me stay involved from the whole process from brainstorming about covers, who I wanted to blurb my book. We edited the manuscript a bunch of times and they let me keep stuff the way I wanted more or less. One buddy of mine who is in publishing was worried that they might want to change my title, but that wasn’t an issue.
NY Book Cafe: What inspired the story of Shades of Luz?
John Gorman: Some years back I saw a kid set off the metal detector of the Barnes & Noble in my neighborhood. I thought to myself wouldn’t it be awesome if it was the ideas in his head he collected from reading that day set off the detector. That’s how my mind works. I see something I edit it to fit my needs and a story evolves. That was the impetus for the beginning but it wasn’t where Luz came in. Luz came in years later.
When I first had the idea for this novel, when it was only a germ in my mind and Benny was setting off the bookstore’s metal detector I referred to the story as “Book Thief”. It was only a story then. That was a couple of years before there was a Luz. Luz made it a novel. I had a failed attempt to write a story about Benny who was a childhood model/actor who met up with an old buddy (Phil) who was producing and Benny was hoping to get back into the business. Sounds more like a Reality T.V. right? Maybe it was. That didn’t go over so well. I went at it for a bit.
Actually, if you want to know where Luz came in it was not long after I thought of that nutty doll scene- the chapter known as “A Spoonful of Indiscretion”. It still wasn’t called “Shades of Luz” then, but as I kept playing around with her character the title just popped out. In its rawest form its “Shades of Light” – “Shades of Luz”. Luz happens to be her name, but both she and Benny evolve throughout the novel. Benny sees all her different selves so the title really has an element of counterpoint for the storyteller Benny.
NY Book Cafe: Any books to look forward to?
John Gorman: I have a short story collection that I think I am to near wrapping up. The tentative title for that is Disposable Heroes. The stories are placed all over the globe. One story is about a young mariachi who is in love with his aunt. Another is about a doorman who is who becomes chief of his village, and there’s one about a woman who leaves her husband and kid because she wants to be a painter and she shacks up in her single-mother sister’s tiny apartment and wrecks havoc on their life. I also have a new novel I’ve just begun. It’s about gluttony.
NY Book Cafe: Any advice for new writers?
John Gorman: I think it’s important to keep writing through all the rejections. Each story, each book, each poem informs the next one. Find journals to place your stories. I think it’s also important to dabble with flash fiction. There are many good journals like Word Riot, Flashquake, Quick Fiction, Flatmancrooked that take these micro stories.
NY Book Cafe: There has been some talk about Shades of Luz going to film. Who would you have in mind to play Benny?
John Gorman:
There has been some talk lately about Adam Lambert being a potential Benny when Shades of Luz goes film. For more info on this subject, visit http://www.adamofficial.com/middle-east/node/812599
Title: Tell Me Something True
Author: Leila Cobo
ISBN: 978-0-446-51936-6
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (a division of Hachette Book Group)
Address: 237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
List Price: $13.99 USA/16.99 Canada
Leila Cobo’s debut novel, Tell Me Something True, hooked me from the beginning, and kept my attention to the very end! This fast moving story is set in Cali, Colombia. Gabriella Richards, is a young woman and classical pianist who lives in Hollywood with her father. Gabriella had lost her mother at a very young age. She is visiting her grandmother in Colombia, as she does every year.
Several things transpire, leading Gabriella to find her mother’s old diary, which she discovers is written to and for her. As she reads through her mother’s diary entries she finds many lies have been told over the years to protect her mother’s secrets from being revealed.
As Gabriella deals with her mixed emotions and feeling of betrayal, she gets involved with the son of a known drug dealer who she had met at a party. As the two become more fond of each other, Gabriella is led on a journey of awakenings throughout her four week summer vacation in Columbia. Gabriella continues her quest to find the truth about her mother’s apparent secret life that she led without her prior to her fatal accident.
The story crescendo’s towards the culmination of events that leads Gabriella to learn the truth about her mother, and face some unpleasing things about the life of her lover. As all is revealed, Gabriella learns some difficult life lessons and discovers a few things about herself in the process.
Leila Cobo displays her remarkable writing skills through her characters. They are credible, and believable. She draws the reader into their world with amazing ease. Leila herself is a native of Cali, Colombia. She has degrees in journalism and piano performance and is a former concert pianist. She is well known and respected in her field. She is the executive director of Latin content and programming for Billboard. She also includes an author’s note with some anecdotal notes, giving the reader insight into the inspiration for her impressive debut novel.
- written by Jennifer Ochs
Thanks to the Hachette Book Group for providing this book for my review as part of a promotion for the Hispanic Heritage Month Giveaway Contest.
MR. LANGSHAW’S SQUARE PIANO: The Story of the First Pianos and How They Caused A Cultural Revolution
Title: Mr. Langshaw’s Square Piano
Author: Madeline Goold
ISBN: 9781933346212
Publisher: Blue Bridge (USA)
Address: 240 West 35th Street, N.Y, N.Y. 10001
List Price: $24.95
Mr. Langshaw’s Square Piano is an eloquent anecdotal story of how a formerly unrecognized and unnoticed organist in the 1700’s had his hand in shaping our modern culture and society by the distribution of what we now know as the piano.
The author, Madeline Goold had bought an antique piano. After finding a handwritten inscription on the piano, she began to investigate. Her investigation brought her on a long journey as she discovered the historical account of the piano. Hence, the background for this extraordinary story.
In Britian, John Broadwood (1732-1812) was the first to produce and distribute the square piano in large numbers. Broadwood was known for meticulous record keeping and his sales records and archives are still intact till today. John Langshaw (1763-1832) became acquainted with the square piano by Broadwood, and later formed a business relationship with him. Through an unusual chain of events, John Langshaw actually ended up training under Reverend Charles Wesley (brother of John Wesley, founder of the Methodists).
The interesting thing I discovered reading this wonderful story by Goold, was how Mr. Langshaw had such an impact on history, although he was seemingly forgotten. Through Langshaw’s business dealings with Broadwood, he had an instrumental impact on Northern England with the social changes that accompanied the piano. Even more interesting was to see how the piano was looked upon socially. I never realized the importance this instrument had in society. As Britian led the world in piano making, the piano was looked upon very prestigiously. It not only reflected the highest quality of furniture, but later became a commercial commodity. It was also considered a defining attribute of a lady. As the story progresses, we see how changes in musical taste reflected the social order, and how rapidly the square piano became a status symbol.
This is an intriguing story. It is also heartwarming to see the relationship between Langshaw’s father and Wesley’s father. Apparently Langshaw resided and trained with the Wesley’s for years, while the father’s communicated back and forth through handwritten letters. The love that both father’s displayed for their children, and the respect and love they had for each other as friends, truly transcends time. The story of Ms. Goold’s antique piano number 10651 a/k/a Mr. Langshaw’s Square Piano, will remain a part of history for those who are willing to take the journey. Goold does an exceptional job in relating the historical facts and the story of her antique piano interestingly makes for a remarkable read!
-written by Jennifer Ochs
Title: The Simply Raw Living Foods Detox Manual
Author: Natasha Kyssa
ISBN: 978-1-55152-250-0
Publisher: Arsenal Pulp Press
Address: Suite 200, 341 Water Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 1B8
List Price: $18.95 USA/19.95 Canada
The Simply Raw Living Foods Detox Manual is a short but extremely informative little book. Natasha Kyssa’s manual is made with the intention of enabling the reader to achieve optimal health through a diet of raw natural foods, living foods. She discusses the various chemicals and toxins that are within the human body, as well as in the foods we consume, particularly processed foods. She further discusses how these chemicals negatively affect the body over time, and why a change in our diet is necessary.
Kyssa provides a framework by expanding upon various components of her program in preparation for detoxification. Thereafter, a 28 day detox-program with several recipes to achieve optimal detoxification are discussed. The book is also compromised of week by week meal plans. Raw food recipes such as how to grow your own sprouts are also included.
Additionally, Kyssa dedicates a complete section on how to maintain your healthy lifestyle, once achieved. Guidelines, various recipes, how to supplement foods, food charts and nutrient essentials and values are also provided.
The Simply Raw Living Foods Detox Manual provides exceptional information and is comprised of interesting and particularly enlightening facts on the subject of cleansing, and detoxification, of not only the individual, but also of the home. Anyone looking for natural ways to improve their health and overall wellbeing will find this book to be an interesting read.
- written by Jennifer Ochs
Title: Redefining Beautiful
Author: Jenna Lucado
ISBN: 978-1-4003-1428-7
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Address: 565 Royal Parkway, Nashville, TN 37214
List Price: $12.99
Redefining Beautiful: What God Sees When God Sees You, is a powerful workbook for young adult females. Jenna Lucado, with the help of her dad, minister and author Max Lucado, discuss many issues that young females encounter as they begin their journey through adulthood.
There are many discussions about how we as women, view ourselves, and how we would react under certain circumstances. Using various scenarios, Jenna Lucado does a great job in having the reader answer questions about themselves, where you can truly have time with yourself and reflect on how you view yourself, and why you react the way you do.
Redefining Beautiful is a workbook that allows the reader to look inside themselves and explore their own spirituality, as well as their relationships with their parents. The many reflections that Jenna Lucado includes in this book allows the reader to take inventory of their life, and genuinely and honestly look at areas that can be improved, while discovering the wonderfulness of the perfect Dad we all have. From issues such as self-esteem, confidence, and what we truly value as beauty, this little workbook is great for any girl approaching adolescence.
- written by Jennifer Ochs
Title: The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Publishing For Profit
Author: C. Pinheiro (co-authored with Nick Russell)
ISBN: 978-0982266007
Publisher: Pineapple Publications
Address: 4023 De La Vina Way, Sacramento, CA 95823
List Price: $18.95
The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Publishing For Profit: Start A Home Based Publishing Company and Publish Your Non-Fiction Book With CreateSpace and Amazon, is a cost-effective, invaluable reference tool for any writer.
The author, C. Pinheiro is an accredited business accountant. She has authored over thirteen books, including this Step-By-Step Guide, which she self-published with her own publication company, Pineapple Publications.
For writers of every profession, this book is a short, but thorough and concise guide to the necessary steps of becoming self-published. Additionally, C. Pinheiro includes sections on how to promote your product and make use of affiliate programs such as Google AdWords, and Amazon’s affiliate program, where you can set up your own bookstore. Furthermore, the Step-By-Step Guide contains useful information on how to start-up and run your own publication company. Subjects from obtaining an ISBN number for your book, to getting a copy editor and designing cover art for your book is contained in this handy guide. There is also information on trademarks, and copyrights as well as discussions on the different forms of business structures to consider for your own company.
Traditional publishing remains very popular. However, this guide is very useful to someone who desires to publish their book, and has either limited resources, or has sent numerous query letters to no avail. It is very user friendly, and easy to understand. It is particularly helpful for individuals who have a non-fiction niche and desire to publish their work. Overall, this book is a thorough comprehensive guide packed with knowledge and helpful resources , which renders it a primary tool for anyone wishing to self-publish. The beautiful thing about this wonderful and extremely practical little guidebook, is that it allows the author power over their own work. If you truly want to publish your work, there are simple, relatively inexpensive steps you can take to accomplish your dream of publication, and C. Pinheiro does a great job outlining the steps it takes to get there.
-written by Jennifer Ochs
NY Book Cafe had the pleasure to interview the author of The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Publishing For Profit!, Ms. C. Pinheiro:
1) Tell us a little about yourself, when did you start writing, etc., aside from the step by step….any previous books published?
I started writing when I was a little kid—my brother actually found a 120-page book that I wrote in the 3rd grade. It was a little mystery novel about birds and the zoo. But I didn’t start writing professionally until 2006. And I didn’t make any money at it until 2007. But by 2008, I had quit my job to write full-time. I never looked back.
2) What motivated you to write the Step by Step Guide?
I kept watching the posting boards and writer’s forums—so many of them had questions about Print-On-Demand technology. It has been extremely profitable for me to publish using POD, so I wanted to share my knowledge. But I also try to caution writers about the subject matter that they choose. For immediate profitability, non-fiction is king. And I really want others to have the same luxuries I have—I have the equivalent of a very nice salary and I get to work from home. For any mother, that’s a real comfort. My son was sick last week. No problem; I just took two days off writing and took care of him. Doctor’s appointments are not a hassle. It’s wonderful!
3) What pitfalls did you encounter as a writer before self-publication or did you always self-publish?
Well, I can’t really say that I’m a “gifted” writer. My writing is rather dry and better suited to non-fiction. But I know how to get my point across. My biggest hurdle was getting over my own ego; I’m NEVER going to be the next Stephen King. I think a lot of writers suffer from this affliction—Patricia Fry (a wonderful author and also a friend of mine) talks about it extensively in her book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book—many authors are unwilling to take any criticism or face reality about their own work. Not everything is going to be a bestseller, but you have a better chance with non-fiction.
4) What are the benefits of self-publication vs. traditional publishing?
Self-publishing is the best way to go for technical or niche products. No traditional publisher is every going to publish my little study guides or bookkeeping books. The market is just too small. But there’s still plenty of buyers out there for me!
5) Any recommendations for new writers?
Just stick with it. Don’t give up—and never think that you can edit your work yourself. Trust me, you can’t. Always get a second pair of eyes to look it over. I just got a book in the mail today—an author sent it to me for review. Great cover, but I turned it over—giant, glaring typos on the back. Not good.
6) List websites you may have or other useful books published?
Well, my other books are all about taxation. But I have a dedicated website for “Step-By-Step”—there are tons of useful resources and a list of bloggers who review self-published books. www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net My publishing blog is The Publishing Maven at www.selfpublishingreview.blogspot.com
7) Any upcoming books to look forward to?
Well, yes! But currently none about publishing—tax season is about to start, and I have to start on my study guides and tax books for 2010! But I am thinking about putting together a book all about Book Review bloggers (seriously)—I think they are changing the publishing industry for the better; because they open up the sphere of influence—The New York Times Book Section is not where I go for my book reviews anymore—I go to my favorite bloggers. And I blog about publishing and do book reviews myself, so it’s an issue close to my heart. I’d love to write a book about that.
Title: The Sugarless Plum: A Ballerina’s Triumph Over Diabetes
Author: Zippora Karz
ISBN: 978-0373892037
Publisher: Harlequin
List Price: $22.95
From a young age, Zippora Karz desired to achieve her dream of becoming a ballerina. By the time Karz had reached the age of 20, she had attained professional status and had obtained work with the New York City Ballet.
The Sugarless Plum: A Ballerina’s Triumph Over Diabetes is a debut memoir written by Zippora Karz, a former soloist ballerina of the New York City Ballet, best known for the high praises she received as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. From 1983 through 1999 Karz performed with the New York City Ballet.
Karz simply and honestly tells of her struggle and anguish as a competitive athlete. As she worked her way within the ballet company’s echelon, she examines her fears, and anxieties, as well as her ambitions, both professionally and personally. All are set forth from a genuine self-reflection of her experiences. Thinking that her hard work and aspirations had merely resulted in exhaustion, she continued to overlook her symptoms. Karz goes on to find out that she has Type 2 Diabetes.
She speaks of her challenges to modify her diet, as well as maintain medication compliance. Karz battles to eradicate herself of the disease, knowing the life-threatening complications that can befall her. However, to her surprise, she goes on to find that she was erroneously diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and had in fact had Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes would mean that she would require daily insulin injections for life.
Her struggles, particularly for an athlete or dancer, certainly serve as an inspiration to never give up your dream. Karz’s memoir contains photos of her three generations of dancers, her grandmother, her mother, and herself. How she managed her medical condition as well as continued to press forward and pursue her career, is quite motivational. The back of the book contains a list of several resources Karz found helpful.
Karz’ memoir, although 268 pages, is a quick read. To the reader, her emotional vivaciousness in light her challenges, as well as her genuineness, contribute her credibility and makes for an enjoyable read.
-written by Jennifer Ochs
The aforementioned review was based upon an advanced review copy of the book provided by FSB Media Associates. Publication is set for November 1, 2009.
Congratulations: Germany’s Ms. Herta Muller who has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature. Ms. Muller’s works include The Land of Green Plums, Nadirs, The Passport: The Surreal Tale of Life in Romania Today, and Appointment. The German novelist is of Romanian descent. She is also a poet and essayist. Ms. Muller’s writing’s explore difficulties of living under a state of communism, in particular, under the Ceausescu regime in Romania. Time Magazine indicates that Ms. Muller “…is the 12th woman to win the prize in its 109-year history.” With only a few of her books translated into English, the announcement was a surprise to Muller as well as to the contenders in America. Apparently, however, Ms. Muller is held in high esteem and is a highly respected writer. She is considered “…one of Germany’s most decorated writers-.”
Muller’s experience living in Romania greatly affected her work. She fought for freedom of speech under the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu. In 1982 she published Niederungen, or in English Nadirs, which is a collection of stories that were greatly censored when first released in Romania. An uncensored version captured the attention of many in Germany, giving rise to her popularity in that nation. Since 1987, Muller has lived in Germany, where she is currently residing with her husband.
Herta Muller has authored over 20 publications, which include fiction as well as poetry. The Land of Green Plums explores a woman’s experience attending a Romanian university and is subsequently the victim of sexual abuse. Many of her writings center around living in a state of tyranny, and more specifically are written from woman’s experience living under a tyrannical state. The American response to Muller’s writings have been largely positive. We once again, congratulate Ms. Muller on her award!
