Sunday, January 13, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: PERIL: FROM JACKBOOTS TO JACK BENNY by PEARL GOODMAN

PERIL:  FROM JACKBOOTS TO JACK BENNY

by 

PEARL GOODMAN

  • Paperback: 300 pages
  • Publisher: Bridgeross Communications (September 24, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0987824465
  • ISBN-13: 978-0987824462
 About the book . . . 


The daughter of Holocaust survivors, Pearl Goodman grew up in Toronto in the 1960s. In this exceptionally original memoir, written with wry humor and a sharp satirical eye, she juxtaposes popular culture with the jarring transitions and contradictions in her and her parents' lives. Striving to make sense of her emerging identity, she invokes TV shows, ads, movies, and distinctive details of the material and ideological landscape, while interweaving them with her parents' harrowing wartime experiences of concentration and refugee camps, and the drama and uncertainty of their postwar emigration first to Israel, and then to Canada.

About the author . . . 

Pearl Goodman was born, raised, and resides in Toronto, Canada. After graduating from the University of Toronto, she taught high school English and Dramatic Arts. Then she chose to train as a psychotherapist and has now been in private practice for the past ten years. Words and the human condition have always been her passions. Peril is her first published work. 

Reader Review . . . 

Pearl Goodman was raised by her Holocaust survivor parents in Toronto in the 1960s.  Her childhood was different from that of most children of the 60s, as her parents based their parenting philosophy on their life experiences.  This background set her apart from her Canadian neighbors and schoolmates on many occasions.

The author weaves a tale of her unusual childhood by interspersing stories of her parents Pre-WWII European lives and their concentration camp memories with her stories of coming-of-age in 1960s Canada.  While at times this makes for an uneven narrative, her story is so engrossing that the reader will forgive.  Only one real complaint:  the ending seemed very abrupt, leaving me shocked and wanting to know more.  Perhaps she will write a sequel...

Recommended for mature teens and adults.

4 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”       

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2013 A-Z Reading Challenge

 


Do you love to read?  You know I do!  Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book is hosting a reading challenge for 2013.This challenge will run from January 1st, 2012 until December 31st, 2013.

You can join anytime. It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to read one book starting with every letter of the alphabet. 


So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z Reading Challenge.


A -  Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.


OR


B - Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A – The Azalea Assault B- Blue Monday C – Crops and Robbers D – A Deadly Grind etc.



Books can be read in any order and all formats – print – e-book – audio – are acceptable for this challenge!
Ready to join?? 
Sign up at Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book and grab the button.  


Non-bloggers you can join too! Just keep track any way you wish and enter a link below if available or sign up in the comment section. You can even set up a special shelf on Goodreads to help you keep track!


Need some help finding titles to match the alphabet –
Jandy’s Reading Room has a wonderful list to get you started.

Here is my list:  
A        AN ANGEL BY HER SIDE - RUTH REID - 4 stars
B       
C       
D       
E       
F        

G       
H       
I        ICONIC SPIRITS:  AN INTOXICATING HISTORY - MARK SPIVAK
J       
K       
L       
M       
N        NEVER LET YOU GO - ERIN HEALY
O       
P        PERIL:  FROM JACKBOOTS TO JACK BENNY - PEARL GOODMAN - 4 STARS
Q        QUEEN OF THE AIR:  A TRUE STORY OF LOVE AND TRAGEDY AT THE CIRCUS - DEAN JENSEN
R       
S       
T        THE POSTMISTRESS-SARAH BLAKE
U        UNCONQUERED:  THE SAGA OF COUSINS JERRY LEE LEWIS, JIMMY SWAGGART, AND MICKY GILLEY - J.D. DAVIS
V        VANISHED-IRENE HANNON - 5 STARS
W       
X       
Y       
Z       

I will be updating my list and will keep it posted on here.  Check back to see what I've read, and comment and let me know when you join the challenge.  Here's to a year of good reading!


 

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