Blog Archives
To Paddle My Feet
![To Paddle My Feet by [Rita Sandford]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41JgsuaVGEL.jpg)
To Paddle My Feet by Rita Sandford is a heartfelt autobiography, portraying the author’s emotional yet highly inspiring journey towards achieving her dreams. The attack of Poliovirus snatched away Rita’s normal life– she lost her mother, became disabled, and was sent to the hospital to recover. Life in the hospital was harder than one could imagine– the harsh treatments meted out to the patients had a deep impact on the life of young Rita. Even though her feet barely had any power to move, she was expected to walk with the help of some assistance, which became all the more painful for her.
At home, her life underwent a major change, as her father had remarried. She struggled to fit in with a family that was emotionally unavailable for her. When she lost her brother, she had none to console her tender heart. After her boarding school ended, her new-found zeal led her to find an independent life. She began living alone and went on to travel the world in her wheelchair– Australia, Africa, South America, and many other places.
Author Rita Sandford’s story is a powerful commentary on how people with physical disabilities were treated in the 1950s. They were ousted out of society, with little compassion shown towards them.
This autobiographical account can be read as a coming-of-age story, of a girl who learns to cope with her impairment, and how she goes on to live the life she had dreamt of, despite all odds. The linear plotline is simple to follow. The author uses simple and lucid language that kept me interested, if not hooked.
Besides her battle with the world, the book also depicts her struggle to overcome the inner demons. Her indomitable spirit allowed her to break away from the memories of a disturbed childhood, accept herself as she truly is, and pushed her to not lose sight of her dreams and aspirations.
The author has a powerful voice all throughout the story that vividly illustrates her life before the reader’s eyes, but I think that more gripping storytelling would have allowed the plot to achieve greater heights, as it deserves.
To Paddle My Feet is a heartfelt memoir that is ultimately uplifting and encouraging. This is a fantastic book to read in these especially difficult times as it will provide some comfort and with a profound journey that delivers a sincere message.
Pages: 309 | ASIN: B085TLFL4B
Dead Mom Disease
![Dead Mom Disease by [Lucy Layne]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pVeJFmadL.jpg)
Dead Mom Disease, by Lucy Layne, is a memoir of a teenager who talks about a rather uncomfortable topic for most people – Death, especially the death of a mother. In this book, she narrates her experience witnessing her mother die, of living without a mother after her death, of how grief makes people uncomfortable so they offer you advice to be happy when you don’t want to be happy, and the never-ending process of grieving. She tells us about the gut-wrenching moment of losing a loved one and of life, all through her own thought-provoking words. It also talks about the all-encompassing maternal love and how the balance of life can never be restored after the death of a mother.
Lucy Layne writes honestly and unapologetically about a topic that makes people leave the table when it is brought up. The death of a loved one is a dark topic and people are afraid of the dark. It takes courage to introspect on one’s dark feelings and then write about them with openness and humility.
The author was very realistic in narrating a painful death experience. She moves through the book while capturing the lasting process of grief very aptly. She takes you through the various emotions of anger, denial, depression, deep sadness, and finally acceptance and how these emotions are a necessary part of experiencing the death of a loved one. The book provides a glimpse into a terrifying reality but also reassures you that even after such an abysmal moment in life, you will still survive.
Another critical aspect of the book is how important it is to let the bereaved grieve. Grief is unavoidable in such a circumstance and to take that moment of sadness away from the bereaved can be very damaging on both a mental and physical level. While society fixates on being happy, a person with a great loss must go through grief slowly to provide a channel for emotions to flow out. This is important to get back into the routine of life.
Lucy Layne’s narration feels personal, like you are not alone in this grief. This book makes you cry and laugh as well. It’s not a depressing tale, but rather an uplifting and insightful one. It gives you honest details of what the death of a loved one feels like and brings you solace through shared human experiences of tragedy, joy, tenderness, fear, and love.
Pages: 146 | ASIN: B07KVHMYDN
I Want to Fix That
Victim 2 Victor shares your true story of your struggle with abuse and trauma and finding your way towards a life of empowerment. Why was this an important book for you to write?
As a woman once stuck in the vicious cycle of abuse myself, I know what it means to survive. Suffering through such difficulty takes a real, harmful, heavy toll on you, and many times it’s hard to figure out how to just be, after you’ve made it out. I want to fix that.
By making my story public, and offering a guide through pain, abuse, and healing, I am hoping that I can be a light to others who are experiencing the same. Through the benefits of self-help methods, determination and mindful healing, women and children everywhere will be able to overcome the hurt and devastation they have experienced so that they too can write their own stories of victory.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from you book?
My hope is to reach out to those who are stuck and looking for a way out and to understand that healing is available.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?
I wished that I had been guided to speak out and to not suffer alone. By not speaking about my problems had made me suppressed and not able to communicate effectively as I was growing up. By not being able to express my feelings led to depression in my later life. My life began to unfold and change for the better when I started seeing my therapist as I was then able to communicate about everything that had happened to me.
Do you have plans to write other books?
I do indeed. I want to explore further about the importance of self-worth and self-love. I also want to write further on the development of relationships for a person who has experienced abuse and trauma and the effects these experiences have on them.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Facing the pain hurts, but hiding from it throughout adulthood is worse. Being a victim, it takes a great amount of strength and healing to break the pattern.
This inspiring and brutally honest memoir details the struggle for survival, and the search for healing and happiness.
Raised in abuse and navigating through consequences, a young, broken soul finds the strength to embark on a journey to reclaim her self-worth.
What kind of childhood is possible with sexual assault?
Is there a way to escape from hurt?
How do you shed the victim identity?
This gripping book details the life of a first-generation girl who went through hell. Born in England in 1980 with mixed Asian Indian ancestry, she narrates her story of hardship and resistance.
Dealing with deep traumas from sexual assault endured since the age of three, and the challenges of being a woman, this girl managed not to break.
Her inspiring journey is a life-long struggle to find self-worth on the ruins of self-esteem.
♥ Brutally honest, shocking and riveting – this personal story is an example of a beautiful transformation from living in pain and the journey to happiness.
The author opens her heart and reveals her darkest secrets into these pages, lighting the way so that another damaged soul will find the way to healing.
We do not get to dictate all of life’s events, but we can decide how to deal with them. Sometimes your life takes a bad turn, then sweeps you off your feet. Other times, you may need a reminder to reevaluate it. Through moments of conflict, uncertainty and strength, this book is highly motivational, educational and healing for all.
Not only written as a memoir, this book also consists of three helpful parts. It functions as a valuable guide as well as a do-it-yourself toolkit with many self-help techniques for sufferers of abuse and trauma.
Get this book now and take the first step towards healing, resilience and a new outlook on life.
Nadeem’s Journey
Nadeem’s Journey, by Sherine Anniruth, is a heart-wrenching account of a mother’s agony. This poignant journal vividly captures the real-life experience of the author’s family, as 25-year-old Nadeem is diagnosed with cancer. The excruciating pain and the fear of losing her bright, young son engulf Sherine, but she keeps fighting till the very last moment. Nadeem, holds on to willpower and puts his best foot forward to combat the deadly ailment. But the desperate attempt to reverse the wheel of fate amounts to nothing as the boy’s pessimistic end leaves us grappling with the questions of fate and man’s role in the broader scheme of things.
The greater part of the story is set in Perth, Australia, although we get a glimpse of the author’s life with Nadeem in South Africa. Nadeem’s sheer courage, intelligence, and talent allow him to blend into the new environment in Perth. The warmth with which the author describes her dear son and his achievements, testify to the love they shared, and how deep an impact his demise has left on her. Since this is a story taken from life, the characters are as real as one can imagine. The bonding among Nadeem and his brother and sister has been depicted beautifully. The people close to Nadeem, be it Sherine herself, her partner, her sister, or Nadeem’s friends, have supported him with all their might during the trying times. They are bound by human limitations, but their love and care for Nadeem have been reflected through every little anecdote that has been recollected in this work.
Besides capturing Nadeem’s battle with cancer, the story also illustrates a simultaneous battle his mother had been fighting– the battle of snatching her child from the clutches of death. Their resilience and fighter spirit are sure to inspire those going through a similar crisis in life. The simple, lucid, and direct tone hammer home to the readers the gravity of the situation. The author’s honest account brings us to tears, as the pain of losing a child is inexplicably harrowing. Despite being aware of a not so uplifting end to the extraordinary journey, a lingering sense of hope in Anniruth’s tone of writing keeps us hooked in the desire for a romantic miracle.
Pages: 160 | ASIN: B07RRW3GWN
Wonderful People
Everything Under the Sun shares your reflections on life, family, and your career as a family physician. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I noticed that in my personal life as well as with my fellow physicians that the practice of medicine was frequently becoming overwhelming and stressful. I became disconnected from the joy of being a family doctor and the deep meaningful therapeutic relationships that I had cultivated with so many wonderful people over the years. By writing this book I felt a rejuvenation in my attitude and a reminder to myself and my medical colleagues that our daily work is incredibly rewarding and impactful to our communities.
Is there anything that you see differently in your life now that you’ve written this book?
As I enter the middle phase of my medical career, I have realized that every person including myself has their own unique life story, replete with joyful and sorrowful moments. No one’s life is ever perfect, free of difficulties. Looking back on my life and career, I embrace what has worked out, while learning and growing from the situations where things didn’t go so well.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from your book?
I hope that the reader appreciates that my journey of success and failures, interesting medical situations, coupled with my vulnerability and humble beginnings is relatable. Also, that my patients have taught me so much through the years and I am grateful to them for their support and life lessons.
Do you have other writing projects in the works?
I am considering writing a science fiction novel that explores the promise and dangers of genetic editing and engineering. Also, I have numerous other case stories from my medical practice that could comprise an additional book project.
Author Links: Website | Twitter
Honing A Champion
![Honing A Champion: My Pandemic Journey From White Belt To Achieving Black Belt by [Haon Campbell, Monty Campbell]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41DY+VpBFYL.jpg)
Honing a Champion is an inspirational biography about a young boy who sets out to achieve a dream and the journey is punctuated by many life lessons. We follow Haon and his aspirations to learn, Tang Soo Do, becoming a black belt along the way and learning so much more in the process.
Honing a Champion is a compelling autobiography that explores what it like to be so young and so driven. Rather than viewing Haon’s experience, this book allows us to sit next to Haon himself as he eagerly tells us every step of his awe-inspiring journey. While I appreciated the exceptional journey, towards a goal so few achieve so young, what I really enjoyed was the powerful life lessons Haon learned along the way. These lessons can inspire anyone to improve themselves, in many ways, through determination and hard work. Haon’s writing is exceptional in it’s ability to deliver these stirring lessons in a way that makes you feel as if you were right along side him as he learned them. This motivational autobiography is filled with great quotes that, if effort is given, can push you to achieve your aspirations in life.
I enjoyed this book, but there were a couple of experiences that were repeated, along with a few grammatical issues. Otherwise, this is still a powerful book with great lessons to be learned through a stirring journey through martial arts. Haon Campbell does an exceptional job of sharing his life lessons with the world in a book that I highly recommend.
Pages: 54 | ASIN: B08GSNXMCH
Literary Titan Book Awards December 2020
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and imagination of these talented authors.
Gold Award Winners
Silver Award Winners
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information and see all award winners.
The Path Taken
![The Path Taken - A Father and Sons Journey to Santiago de Compostella by [Hector M. Rodriguez]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31MY2B1P0+L.jpg)
The Path Taken: A Father and Sons Journey to Santiago de Compostella by H. M. Rodriguez is an awe-inspiring story that is filled with wisdom, enlightenment, and history. Rodriguez recounts his time trekking the Camino Frances with his son Simon as they immerse themselves in the spiritually enriched offerings of the journey.
Inspiring is the first word that comes to mind after reading this memoir! Rodriguez’s interpretation of the world around him is heartwarming, even when he discusses upsetting subjects. His accounts of the stories’ he heard while on the trek were my favorite parts.
There were times where I did not agree with some of Rodriguez’s sentiments, but I understood the source from which they came. I think that is an important lesson to be learned from this book. We must try to understand others even when we disagree with them.
Despite the religious undertones, there is something for everyone to take away. You will feel wiser and more thoughtful after reading the book. Although Rodriguez has a simplistic writing style, he makes you think long and hard about life and how you live it. There was more than one occasion where I put the book down to reflect for a few minutes on my own life.
It is hard to critique someone’s personal story, so this is why I’m telling you how the book affected me and less about how I think of the story itself. The Path Taken: A Father and Sons Journey to Santiago de Compostella is a short but thought-provoking travel memoir that I enjoyed reading.
Pages: 77 | ASIN: B08L8B7J4T
LITERARY TITAN 