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Category: Memoirs

Blog Tour & Giveaway: In My Father’s Country by Saima Wahab

[ 25 ] May 14, 2012

Please join Saima Wahab, author of In My Father’s Country, as she tours the blogosphere with TLC Book Tours.

Don’t forget to enter to win a copy below!

Reviewed by Vera Pereskokova 

Saima Wahab was just a child when her father was taken away in broad daylight – likely sold out to the Soviets by his neighbors – never to return again. Although Saima and her two siblings had an amazing father figure in their Baba (grandfather), they grew up among flying bullets and mortar shells, in constant danger.

When Saima was fifteen, two uncles from Portland, Oregon sponsored her, her brother and sister, and three other cousins to come to the United States. Saima’s father, and later her grandfather, always told her that she was destined for something greater than the typical life of an Afghani woman, and she saw the move to the U.S. as a step towards that destiny.

In 2004, with a bachelor’s degree under her belt, Saima decided to return to Afghanistan as an interpreter, and to try and fulfill the destiny her father had in mind for her. He knew the risks but openly spoke out against the Soviet invasion and Saima thought that if she could help her people in some way, she could also understand his devotion to the country.

At the time of her arrival, Saima was the only college-educated female Pashto interpreter. She was also one of the very few females, American or Afghani, allowed into meetings with high ranking officials on both sides. Many interpreters claimed to know Pashto, but really spoke Farsi, only contributing to the misunderstandings between the U.S. soldiers and the Pashtun, who make up 40% of the population.

As a native of Afghanistan, Saima had the unique opportunity to bridge the gaps between the proud Pashtun and the soldiers who were often bewildered by their new surroundings. For example, few Americans on the ground knew of Pashtunwali, a way of life that extends to how Afghans treat their guests, their women and each other. Saima believed that winning the hearts of Afghans was just as important as military power, and worked tirelessly to improve the relations between the two groups.

Even as an interpreter, Saima was always risking her life and I applaud her courage, and her willingness to share her experiences in In My Father’s Country. I think she started her journey hoping to learn more about her own roots but the resulting book will bring a greater understanding of Afghanistan to many readers.

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Review and giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Crown. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Lessons in Letting Go by Corinne Grant

[ 2 ] May 6, 2012

Reviewed by Nina Longfield

Corinne Grant, Australian comedian and television presenter, offers a candid account about the year she decided to clean up. Lessons in Letting Go is a memoir on letting go of the things (tangible and intangible) that were holding her down. As she combs through her belongings, Grant comes to realize that each thing, be it an item, a box or a pile, seems to have an emotional leash leading back to herself. The book progresses through the clutter with stories reflecting back to Grant’s childhood in rural Australia, her estranged relationships, and her internal emotional battles. Lessons in Letting Go is not so much a book about cleaning house as much as it is a metaphorical release of emotional baggage.

Corinne Grant’s writing is readable, entertaining, often funny, and sometime poignant. Although I never got the sense that her house was on par with hoarder houses that sometimes pop up on the evening news, Grant did convey a deep sense of frustration and anxiety regarding the clutter in her life. Her connections as to why she kept things are profound and personal.

Lessons in Letting Go is not necessarily a self-help book, as the book-stores seem to shelve it as, but there is a lot of useful information within these pages regarding the things we acquire and the things that sometimes take over our existence. It was was a surprisingly pleasant read. I enjoyed Corinne Grant’s honest inspection of her cluttered life.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Nina Longfield is a writer living in Oregon’s fertile wine country. When she is not reading or writing in her spare time, Nina enjoys hiking in the hills surrounding her cabin.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Allen & Unwin. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: A Wedding in Haiti by Julia Alvarez

[ 2 ] April 29, 2012

Reviewed by Krista Castner

I’ve been meaning to learn more about Haiti, especially after the devastating earthquake that struck that country on January 12, 2010. When I saw Julia Alvarez’s new book A Wedding in Haiti I thought that it would be a good way to get more insights into the two countries. The book recounts Alvarez’s recent personal experiences in the Dominican Republic and in Haiti before and after the 2010 earthquake.

A Wedding in Haiti was really informative. The many little black and white photos sprinkled throughout the book really helped personalize the people and places that were being discussed on the pages. Through the book I learned more about the desperate poverty in Haiti, some Haitian history, and about the strength of the human spirit to transcend what sometimes seem to be insurmountable obstacles.

As the story opens Alvarez relates how she and her husband Bill befriended a seventeen year-old migrant worker named Piti. Piti had crossed into the Dominican Republic illegally to work on a coffee farm. As their unlikely friendship grew into an almost foster parent role on the part of Alvarez, she promised Piti that one day she would come to Haiti to attend his wedding. That day came sooner than expected in 2009. True to their word Alvarez and her husband Bill returned from Vermont to the Dominican Republic, and along with a rag-tag group of fellow travelers who joined the trip, drove over the border into Haiti in Bill’s new pick-up truck.

The first half of the book is about the journey they took to reach Piti’s small family enclave in a remote part of Haiti in time to attend the wedding; and the return trip from that wedding. The second half of the book describes returning to that same enclave a year later. This second trip took place months after the January 12, 2010 earthquake. This time on the way back the traveling party detoured through Port-au-Prince before returning to the Dominican Republic.

Alvarez also shares what it feels like to visit her parents in the Dominican Republic and witness their further decline into Alzheimer’s dementia. Alvarez writes with honesty and insight even when it comes to disagreements that she has with her husband and how frustrated he sometimes makes her feel. I recommend this book if you want to learn more about Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Alvarez writes with a clear eye and compassion in her heart.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Krista lives just outside the urban sprawl of Portland, Oregon. Lamentably, her work as a technical writer and business analyst often interferes with her reading which is a true passion.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Algonquin Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: MWF Seeks BFF by Rachel Bertsche

[ 2 ] April 28, 2012

Reviewed by Ann Liu

If Carrie Bradshaw, from Sex and the City, and Mr. Big left New York with her three girlfriends behind, what would she do without them? MWF Seeking BFF is a true story of Rachel Bertsche, a writer herself, who moves to Chicago with her husband, on the search for new friends.

MWF Seeking BFF, or Married White Female Seeking Best Friend Forever, is Rachel’s personal memoir of her yearlong search for a best friend. She dissects the friendship element and shares a lot of research toward understanding the psychological makeup of friends. According to Robin Dunbar, an anthropologist, the size of the brain determines the number of relationships we can maintain. The human brain can maintain 150 relationships. After calculating her social network of friends, families, and acquaintances, Rachel came up short 20 people. She decided to fill the 20 spots with a yearlong project to find a best friend that rivaled her best friends back home.

I found the story quite enjoyable, as Rachel describes the weekly dates and the friends she meets along the way.

Rachel writes in a captivating way, sharing some very humorous stories. The same way that dating is set up, she went on a friend date after friend date, with most dates fizzling out. 365 people is a lot of people to meet and toward the middle of the story, it was difficult to keep track of whom she has gone out with; all the people she met became a blur.

I ponder if the feelings of connections were mutual since the book was written from one perspective. If it had not been for the research and professional people she consulted with, the story would not have survived.

Dating is difficult enough but finding and bonding with friends is harder in this day and age with social networking and the internet. Without a friendship manual available, meeting friends after college becomes a difficult task. I can relate to a lot of what she experienced and commend her for going outside of the norm to find friends. I recommend this book to every female looking to connect with others and yearning to find that best friend.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Ann Liu loves to read women’s fiction, chick-lit, romance, and self help books. She lives in sunny Southern California, where she can enjoy her time reading outdoors.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Ballantine Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: God’s Hotel by Victoria Sweet

[ 2 ] April 25, 2012

Reviewed by Alyssa Katanic

God’s Hotel, by Victoria Sweet is a thought provoking read for anyone interested in healthcare, whether as a medical doctor, nurse, patient or through holistic medicine. In her account of her over 20 years at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco, Dr. Sweet seems to cover all of the bases.

While working at the hospital, Dr. Sweet was also studying the pre-modern medicine of a 12th century nun named Hildegard. Hildegard’s medicine was closer to what we may consider holistic or eastern medicine, and is what Dr. Sweet deems as “slow medicine.” It is neat to see how these studies influenced Dr. Sweet’s own practice of medicine and care for her patients at Laguna Honda (a hospital that provided long term care for those who could not afford healthcare).

Despite the fact that the personal, “slow medicine” techniques that wove their way into Dr. Sweet’s practice saved many patients from unneeded medicines, thus saving the state money, the HMO system that worked its way in to the hospital did not have time for it. God’s Hotel not only shows the developing of a doctor’s character over a 20 year span, but also the HMO take over of the hospital where she practiced, and how inefficient their efficiency plans often are.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Alyssa is a wife and stay at home, homeschooling mother of five, with two boxers, two cats, a soft shelled turtle named after Bob the Builder, and 7 frogs (admittedly a homeschooling project gone froggy). In all her spare time, she loves to read and believes that there is no such thing as having too many books!

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Riverhead. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Following Atticus by Tom Ryan

[ 7 ] April 21, 2012

Reviewed by Krista Castner

The arresting picture of a sturdy black and white miniature schnauzer on the cover of this book was what first drew me in. The dog, Atticus M. Finch, looked so much like Lucille Doll, my beloved miniature schnauzer who passed away three years ago, that I just had to read the book, regardless of what it was about. If it featured a miniature schnauzer it had to be good. Well, I admit, those aren’t usually the best standards by which to rate a book but lucky for me, my theory proved to be correct. Following Atticus by Tom Ryan is just a gem of a book that’s hard to pigeonhole into a single genre.

On one level it’s a story about how Tom changed his life from being a self-described “middle-aged, overweight newspaper editor” in the small Vermont town of Newburyport to an active person more interested in the outdoors than backroom politics. It’s also about how the bond with a cherished animal can affect great change in someone’s life. With Atticus’ steady companionship Tom steps out of his routine and starts to do amazing things like attempting to climb all 48 of New Hampshire’s White Mountains that are over 4,000 feet tall. Surprisingly, Atticus and Tom are able to accomplish that together over the course of one summer.

After his friend Vicky dies of cancer, he decides to try to climb all 48 peaks during winter as a fund raiser in her memory. Wait, not just 48 peaks during one winter. If once around is good, twice is better. So Tom and Atticus take a leave of absence from his newspaper, The Undertoad, and set out to climb all 48 peaks twice over the course of one winter. That’s 96 peaks in 90 days.

Following Atticus contains many descriptions about these hikes, but it is only part of the story. The book is an adventure story and also a captivatingly described journey of self-discovery. After their winter feat, Atticus faces some physical challenges of his own. His bond with Tom grows even stronger as they fight his battles together. Don’t worry, Atticus doesn’t die. But between Tom’s descriptions of a bleak childhood, his attempts to forge some sort or relationship with his distant father; and Atticus’ struggles to retain his sight there were multiple times I was brought to tears.

Ultimately it’s a story of quiet triumph and living your authentic life. Like I said, if a book features a miniature schnauzer, it’s got to be great.

You can also follow the continuing saga of Tom and Atticus on The Adventure of Tom and Atticus blog which Tom Ryan updates regularly.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Krista lives just outside the urban sprawl of Portland, Oregon. Lamentably, her work as a technical writer and business analyst often interferes with her reading which is a true passion.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by William Morrow. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

[ 3 ] April 16, 2012

Reviewed by Marcus Hammond

Jenny Lawson is anxious, slightly dysfunctional, and, at times, tactless. She, however, is well aware of these characteristics. Her memoir, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, begins with a discussion of how stories are often exaggerated upon retelling, and that resounds in the reader’s mind as Lawson’s life is laid out in all its hilarity.

Lawson’s memoir moves from her childhood in rural Texas and continues to delve into her life as a wife, mother, and Internet blogger. Her stories include how she dealt with the chaos of everything from having a father with a wild animal obsession to events that showcase her own personal eccentricities.

One focus of the memoir deals with the relationship Lawson forms with her husband, Victor, and accentuates the concept that marriage is indelibly difficult but worth the trouble. A good example of Lawson’s narrative hilarity describes her anxiety with public situations. She describes a specific evening with Victor at a Halloween party for his company. After arriving at the party, Lawson begins to worry that she will embarrass her husband by telling an inappropriately strange story to cover up her anxiety. She dives right into a story that is exactly what she fears. She proclaims to the group, “One time I got stabbed in the face by a serial killer.” Fortunately, her cat had simply scratched her in her sleep. It is that kind of exaggerated dysfunction that makes Lawson hilarious.

Lawson’s narrative is very active and imaginative. She addresses the reader, and, occasionally, her editor as she pokes fun at her own exaggerations. The downside, however, is that some of her stories ramble to a point that halts the natural flow of her humor. Though funny, and at times touching the breaks in narrative flow and her graphic, crass, and conversational style will limit who enjoys it. Due to these characteristics, many people won’t connect to Lawson’s overall lesson, which is to be comfortable with oneself and one’s past.

Overall, I found Let’s Pretend This Never Happened entertaining. Lawson’s active narrative style captured my attention even when the stories led into feminine perspectives on topics like childbirth and female physiology. She portrays many everyday situations (e.g. group conversations, home maintenance) in such a ridiculous manner that it’s hard not to stop and think “yea, I’ve been there.” Her stories might be exaggerated, but I think she connects to the fact that sometimes we are all a little ridiculous.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

After obtaining a Masters in Liberal Arts and Literature Marcus has dedicated most of his time to teaching English Composition for a community college in the Midwest. In his down time, he spends time avidly reading an eclectic selection of books and doing freelance writing whenever he gets the chance. He lives in Kansas with his wife.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: The Secret Life of a Fool by Andrew Palau

[ 2 ] April 7, 2012

Reviewed by Alyssa Katanic

The Secret Life of a Fool by Andrew Palau is a mix between a memoir and Christian living teaching. It may also be referred to as his testimony, or the story of what God has done in his life to bring him closer to the Lord and to help him to reach out towards others.

The experiences that Palau shares are not too different from what many face: being introduced to drugs and alcohol in high school, partying through much of college, and battling through his expectations for himself and disappointments in so many of his past and present decisions while climbing the corporate ladder.

The great difference between Andrew Palau and the rest of us who have gone through such experiences is the fact that not only was he raised in a strong Christian home, but he is also the son of the worldwide known evangelist, Luis Palau (which is what actually brought me to pick up this book).

While I was not overly impressed with Andrew Palau’s style, I did enjoy the heart behind The Secret Life of a Fool. He clearly showed that his rebellion was more for the sake of entertaining and living for himself, and not the result of having grown up as the son of an evangelist. He spoke well of his parents’ unconditional love and patience with him, yet I would have liked to “see” a bit more of how that worked itself out. I definitely prefer a writing style that evokes feelings rather than one that simply tells me about them, but it is a good story and an encouragement in what God can do with our lives despite us.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 


Alyssa is a wife and stay at home, homeschooling mother of five, with two boxers, two cats, a soft shelled turtle named after Bob the Builder, and 7 frogs (admittedly a homeschooling project gone froggy). In all her spare time, she loves to read and believes that there is no such thing as having too many books!

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by PR by the Book. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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