Collecting Book

Memoir, Athens, New Life! What More Can Be Asked of a Book!

A Room in Athens: A Memoir

by Frances Karlen Santamaria

Tatra Press LLC
ISBN- 978-0-9898352-9-9
Softcover; 174 pgs; $15.00

Review by Karen Chutsky originally for IndependentPublisher.com

They say artists hover a bit outside of life; too obsessed with observing, contemplating and recording their impressions of it to be one hundred percent involved in it.

Such is the pensive writing style of Frances Karlen Santamaria, best described through the words of her adoring son: “...she dashed off written watercolor like impressions of people fresh and literary…some sympathetically rendered others verge on harsh caricature.”

And what better subject to render into vivid pictures than her first foreign sojourn at the age of 27, during the midst of the mad dash of the early 60’s in America to soak in the “Zorba the Greek” experience of Greece and other exotic European ports of call, “where your consciousness is stretched each second with total attention.”

Foreign travel has always been a rite of intellectual passage for the class of thinking Americans to which Frances and her husband belonged.

The synopsis: In 1964, off Frances went with Arno, the Holiday magazine writer and aspiring novelist at her side -- and soon to emerge son inside her for part of the ride -- a child who would become for the last three months of her adventure a gurgling focus more intriguing than that of the life around her in their last and longest stop, Athens, Greece.

What I find wonderful about diaries and memoirs are the raw emotions and images of life that so often become the dulled and manipulated stuff of fiction, written by those trying to capture the sparks of lives lived by someone else. Frances’ writing offers up her experience like a plate of steak tartar.

Though the book is billed as a comparison of the realities of Greek life versus the idyll of Greece – “eh” -- the main storyline bubbling through her memoir is purely the journey of a woman on the cusp of becoming a mother, as she quips; “the one major event of our grown lives for which we do not have our hair done,” choosing to have her baby at a natural childbirth clinic in Greece; thought of as a rather dubious thing to do at the time, while coming to grips with marrying a man “with a built-in mistress”: a writing career. She describes it succinctly thus; “he seems about to write something…but whatever it is hasn’t emerged …and he lives around an unseen but felt iceberg lodged in his mind.” Her husband seemed to place a higher value on his own freedom to experience the night life of Greek tavernas with other young sponges dissecting the novelty of Greek life -- while his wife was sequestered to “a room in Athens.”

To quote one of those famous Greek philosophers she admired so, “Without strife, there can be no greatness.” And in the end, France’s wonderfully potent writing speaks its greatness in this memoir clearest to women, through the unique episode of life she and a handful of Greek woman experienced in their journey into motherhood.

Most notable are her vivid sketches of places and peoples, palpable as if one muddled through the grand tour of Europe -- though sadly, her diary of the months spent touring England, Italy, Spain, and Yugoslavia, pre-birth are reduced to a few paragraphs. They would have blasted open the tunnel of the book into a grander adventure. Hopefully, they will someday be compiled and edited into what would be a very worthwhile book.

Some vibrant excerpts:

“At twilight, the sky above Athens turns orange and the light in the streets takes on a purple tones of the bare mountains that semicircle the town. Men sat drinking in cafes where women never went. The city had awakened from its long afternoon nap and Athenians were out in their numbers, going back to work, shopping, strolling. Soldiers―with custom-made uniforms hugging their bodies-- passed by in the twos and threes of soldiers everywhere, there were many of the righteous priests in their black robes, their hair braided in a knot in the back like a matador’s. They had , without exception, the air of smug landowners…”

“Boys in white aprons ran by, swinging tripodic, long handled trays of coffee and ouzo--messengers of the Greek carry-out. Occasionally, a cart rumbled by with a handsome young man standing up driving the horse, so like a charioteer I had to smile.”

The greatest compliment I can pay her is that many of her fecund commentaries on life were just as poignant and literary as those penned by the great philosophers of Greek antiquity she so admired.

And though the reality of her Greek cultural adventure felt far short of her fantasy, as she realized “Ancient Greece is a state of the spirit only to which plane fare can’t take you,” the birth of her firstborn son did not disappoint.

A Room in Athens or the more befitting title from its first publication, Joshua, First Born, exposes just the tip of the iceberg lodged in the mind of the very talented writer, Frances Karlen Santamaria

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Alessandra Domina: "Hooray for Waking the Bones!"

WAKING THE BONES, by Elizabeth Kirschner, a memoir

www.elizabethkirschner.com

ISBN: 978-1-939739-60-5

Publisher: The Piscataqua Press, Portsmouth, NY

Rated: Five Stars

“Hooray for Waking the Bones”

Reviewed by Alessandra Domina, originally for Amazon

"Waking the Bones" is one of those memoirs one dreams about reading -- a gutsy, shameless, prose poem of the highest lyrical order that leaves one in awe of the process and the talent put out by the author. Kirschner unavoidably raises herself above the masses by layering a kaleidoscope of childhood memories underneath and on top of her present adult self, digging down so deep in some chapters that one is relieved that the subsequent chapter brings her back up into the light. Thank goodness Kirschner is, first, a poet. Then thank goodness she decided to share her survival story. The two have brought us a brilliant expose filled with terror and love on the same page.

"Waking the Bones" is intense with familiar images of everything that ever happened to everybody, or almost did. It is a biography of man and woman, mother and father, daughter and siblings. It is universal in scope even though it is a singular voice. It is ever a chameleon, changing mode, tone and color despite it's diminutive size. It should be required reading for all psychiatrists, counselors, and those afflicted with even the slightest mental illness.

"Waking the Bones" puts salve on wounds just by existing as a literary accomplishment. A very important book for Kirschner, but equally important for readers everywhere. It's a reality show of the highest order. Read it and be changed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Kirschner’s memoir, WAKING THE BONES, is the winner of the North Street Book Prize for best work of nonfiction by an Independent author. (Learn more about that prize at http://winningwriters.com). Kirschner has published six previous volumes of poetry, including, Surrender to Light, 2009, Cherry Grove Editions and Do My Life as a Doll, 2008, Autumn House Press. My Life as a Doll was nominated for the Lenore Marshall Prize and named Kirschner as the Literary Arts Fellow in state of Maine in 2010. She has also published over two dozen essays with The Coal Hill Review and is widely published in other literary magazines, both nationally and internationally.

Kirschner has been writing and teaching across four decades. Most recently, she taught in Fairfield University’s low-residency Program in Creative Writing. Extensive teaching experience includes Boston College, Boston University and Carnegie-Mellon University. Residency stays include The MacDowell Colony, Yaddo and Gullkistan, Iceland.

Kirschner has collaborated with many classical composers, including Carson Cooman

and Thomas Oboe Lee, resulting in various CDs. She set her own poetry to Robert Schumann’s love song cycle, retitled it The Dichterliebe in Four Seasons. She lives in a cottage named Sea Cabin on the water in Kittery Point, ME, with her old dog, Larka. Kirschner is available for readings, signings, is a dynamic public speaker and loves to lead Memoir Writing Workshops for all populations.

Mentoring & Tutoring to Support the Writer in All of Us

www.writewithkirschner.com

Interview: Author Student of Gullah and Geechee Cultures

Hi! I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary! I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.

So, today welcome Stephen Doster.

Stephen Doster was born in England and grew up on St. Simons Island, Georgia. He is a student of history and has extensively researched the Gullah and Geechee cultures of South Carolina and Georgia. He received a degree in Marketing from the University of Georgia and has recently received his Master of Liberal Arts and Science degree with a certificate in history. Doster has appeared at BookExpo, the Southern Festival of Books, the Amelia Island Book Festival, The Southern Kentucky Book Fest and has spoken at colleges, historical societies, and library associations in Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He has been interviewed on public radio and television in Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia. Currently, he is an assistant editor for a peer-review journal at Vanderbilt University. His other works include: Voices from St. Simons, Lord Baltimore, Georgia Witness, Jesus Tree, Shadow Child, Rose Bush and Her Finest Hour.

1 What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? All of the above. I’ve written several novels, a couple of oral histories, a book of short stories, and a WWII memoir. I try to write something new and different each time. Probably not the best approach to building an audience, but I sleep well at night.

2 What made you want to be a writer? Living in the South, and especially on the Georgia Coast surrounded by Gullah/Geechee communities. I grew up listening to gifted storytellers. However, I’m not a great raconteur in the oral tradition, so I gravitated to telling stories via the printed word.

3 Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? Cervantes. He knocked down a lot of walls for future writers. Don Quixote remains a thoroughly modern novel after 400 years.

4 What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? I start with the seed of an idea and go from there without outlining, at least not on paper. It’s like taking a journey and constantly asking, “What happens next?” and then answering that question. When the journey’s done, the book is finished. When I need to work out a plot idea, I take a long walk. Something about being in motion gets the creative juices flowing.

5 Do you write every day? How much? How long? I have adopted the Ringo Starr approach to writing. He doesn’t practice on the drums. He just lays down a rhythm when it’s time to play. I write a lot in the course of my regular (full time) job. So, when it’s time to write a book on my time, I’m primed.

6 Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why? Most of my inspiration and ideas come from reading (especially historical books). I think this is true for most writers. Otherwise, it’s like asking a musician to create a song without having heard other musical works or asking a painter to create something without having seen other paintings. Without reading, you’re recreating the wheel, and probably not doing a good job of it, regardless of the genre you’re in. Another benefit is that reading provides the research required to be historically accurate or to inspire new ideas for a work in progress. Nothing dislodges a reader from the story—or embarrasses a writer—like inaccuracies, historical or otherwise.

7 What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? Write what interests you and trust that it will resonate with others (to paraphrase Emerson). If you have a family to support, write whatever pays the bills. You might have to do the latter to support the former.

8 Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? If you can afford it, hire a good PR person. With the right machine behind you, you can sell a lot more books.

9 Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? Leave each conference having learned at least one thing or having made at least one connection that will benefit your writing career. It might be an inspired talk or simply meeting another writer who is now a new friend for life.

10 Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? You can find me at www.sdoster.com Goodreads Amazon Author Central All books can be found on all the online sites: Amazon Fish Pond BAM B&N IndieBound Shelfari Powell’s Books Wheeler’s Books IDreamBooks COPIA Book Depository and more.

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Jeanie Loiacono http://www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/stephen-doster/

MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENT

Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency

A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.
“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.

Tracey Quintin Admires Memoirists "Incredible LIfe Story"

Title: 6200 Carbon Canyon Road

Author: Terri Lenee Peake

Genre: Biographies & Memoirs, Memoirs

ISBN-10: 1628680970

ISBN-13: 978-1628680973

Reviewer's Rating: 5 star

Where people can purchase the book: http://www.amazon.com/Terri-Lenee-Peake/e/B00IC9B2NU/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1448388737&sr=1-1

Reviewed by Tracey Quintin originally for Goodreads

Terri Lenee Peake wrote this story in hopes to save others seeking the life she wished for.

Very candidly Terri writes of the turbulent life she grew up in and hoped to escape only to find the turbulent life follow her in other ways as she aged.

Terri went through so very much growing up, not having great parental influence to help guide her, leaving her susceptible to prey.

She is totally open as she recalls her life, lifestyle, opinions and choices.

I felt for Terri in reading this. She persevered! Even though her life plan didn't go as she had hoped, she survived through so much. She never said a word in her story of feeling like she wanted pity, rather it is what it is attitude. She's got such strength and sweetness that I was able to see in reading this.

I'm really trying not to give away anything that happens in this story so you'll have to read it to find out! I very highly recommend. Kudos Terri for sharing your incredible life story with us readers!

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Terri Lenee Peake connections:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teresa.peake.33?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tlpeake

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7837257.Terri_Lenee_Peake

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Terri-Lenee-Peake/e/B00IC9B2NU/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1448388737&sr=1-1

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Tracey Quintin connections:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LOVEBOOKSWITHROMANCE/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReadingIsOurPas

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/19886187-tracey-quintin