I actually chose this book to read based on the reviews that are already on Amazon. This is a pleasant and enjoyable read even if its not your normal genre or style, which for me it isn’t. At first I was worried that I wouldn’t enjoy it because I don’t even know where Tuscany is and I have never been out of the United States so I was unsure if I could follow along. I am pleased to say that none of that mattered because this author very skillfully painted such wonderful images with her writing style and descriptive efforts; I fee like I have visited Italy and walked up and down that alley many times now and without the expensive airfare!
I can’t help but use many of the same words already used to describe this book, creative, humorous, engaging, thought provoking, all very much true of this beautiful creation. I truly felt like I was watching these wonderful characters and laughing with them, Laura has a great sense of humour! I was sad to reach the end only because I could not continue to be part of their lives any longer. I hope Ms. Graham intends a sequel to this book as it would certainly be well received and readers could reunite with the beloved cast of this story. It was like taking a vacation to Italy but not seeing the tourist side of things and instead experiencing the reality of every day life there which is by far much more interesting!
I had the opportunity to interview Laura Graham a couple of days ago and learned that this book is actually a memoire and these characters and adventures are part of her own personal history. It was very exciting to learn more about her after reading the book and seeing how truly amazing she is in person! The way she portrayed her main character, Lorri and allowed us to follow her as she put heartbreak, financial loss and the resulting language difference from the move to Italy behind her was inspiring and truly demonstrated courage on her part. Through the tale she weaves in her exceptional prose, we watch her grow and become stronger and happier while she adapts and adjusts and makes new friends, ultimately becoming a completely different person for all of the experiences. Thank you for sharing this personal journey with all of us!
5 stars out of 5
Reviewed by Debra L Hartmann, Published Author, Professional Editor and Daily Blogger
Link to Laura’s Amazon sales page: http://www.amazon.com/Down-Tuscan-Alley-Laura-Graham/dp/1463698526/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361985348&sr=1-1&keywords=down+a+tuscan+alley
About the Author on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Laura-Graham/e/B007A0CQ6O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Laura’s website: http://www.lauragraham.co.uk/
My favorite because it has pictures of Tuscany, this is Laura’s blog site: http://www.lauragraham.co.uk/blog/ and here is a link to that interview I mentioned: Author Interview – Laura Graham
Drop a line to mrsdlhartmann@gmail.com to get your book on the review list and be sure to ask about the Author Interviews on my Radio Talk Show with NO Radio…you have to read an Author Interview on my blog to understand!
Rock Crazy is a science fiction story set in 2065 about a woman called Katie McGowan who suffers from bipolar disorder (rapid cycling). She relies heavily on her medication to survive but recently even that was failing to stop her wild mood swings and blackouts. The only cure involves the implantation of a microchip in her brain to regulate her moods but she has no desire to become, as she construes it, a robotic puppet for the rest of her life. She therefore stubbornly refuses this medical option, especially since the operation can only be performed on the moon.
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