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Therapy for the Soul
I Stood Among the Ruins and Cried shares your story of growing up in Germany post-WWII with a dysfunctional family brought on by the hardships of living in a war-torn country. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Writing my childhood memoir was never on my agenda. I was working on a historical novel and needed a new home for my young German protagonist after the collapse of the Third Reich and the fascist regime in northern Italy. That new home became Bremerhaven, a port in northern Germany where I grew up. Walking down post-WWII memory lane triggered an overwhelming number of recollections, some sad some funny, all of which left me in a melancholic state. There was only one way to ease my mind: turn those recollections into a book. Writing the book was therapy for the soul and the book has now become a little history of me as a child, for my family and generations to come, and for all those who wish to know what it was like for a child to grow up surrounded by ruins.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The importance of books. Books were my saviour. I was an early reader. Fortunately, reading was encouraged in my family. After many unhappy moments, I sought refuge in the stories I read. Books became my trusted friends, my escape from reality, another learning route, a source to satisfy my curious mind. To this day, I cannot imagine a life without a good book.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
My mother. She deserved a kinder husband, a more loving father to their children. It was painful to write about my middle brother’s life, his death and her devastation, and about her nervous breakdown.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
The importance of peace. I want to illuminate the devastating effect of war on a nation’s soul and all individuals, where nobody is spared, and where especially the children, the most innocent, pay a high price.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Author’s Note:
I was not raised in a family of men and women who once were Nazi collaborators or members of the underground resistance who later wrote sensational books, or left their mark in the field of science that might have earned them a Nobel Prize. My family was ordinary and bourgeois, shaped by alcohol, adultery, and lies, its members, male and female, further twisted and damaged through the horrors of both World Wars. I Stood Among The Ruins and Cried are bittersweet, occasionally amusing childhood recollections, a kaleidoscope of events as seen and experienced through my innocent eyes in post-WWII Germany in a US military occupied zone: life in cramped quarters with a violent father; early years at school; about my brothers, childhood friends and neighbours; my first love and other observations and experiences and much hurt and pain and a strong desire to grow up fast and escape the unhappy environment in which I lived.
I STOOD AMONG THE RUINS AND CRIED
Ingrid McCarthy’s memoir, I Stood Among the Ruins and Cried, presents an evocative portrayal of her childhood in Germany during a tumultuous period. Her narrative brings to life the blend of simplicity and resilience that marked her formative years amidst the backdrop of war. The memoir is enriched with vivid recollections of cherished moments shared with family and friends, highlighting the strength of human connections in overcoming adversity. McCarthy’s reflections on the joy found in simple pleasures, despite the hardships, emphasize the warmth and kindness within her family circle.
McCarthy skillfully crafts a narrative that balances the gravity of her experiences with a touch of humor. She confronts the difficult realities of growing up in a family grappling with the aftermath of war, including her father’s struggle with alcoholism. Her candid storytelling imparts insights into themes of love, compassion, and friendship while also illuminating the constrained roles of women during that era. The memoir is not just a journey through McCarthy’s personal experiences; it offers a broader perspective on German culture and character. Her mother’s resilience and Ingrid’s own quest for emotional connection paint a vivid picture of the human spirit’s endurance.
I Stood Among the Ruins and Cried is a testament to the power of personal storytelling in understanding historical contexts. It is a valuable addition to the genre of autobiographies and memoirs, offering readers a deeply personal yet universally relatable narrative. The book is engaging and insightful, making it recommended for those interested in personal histories set against the backdrop of significant historical events.
Pages: 231 | ASIN : B09G5KJZNZ
The Journey of Self-Discovery
Memento: Embracing The Darkness shares with readers the challenging, heartbreaking, and low moments as well as the high points and success in your personal life and career. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book holds significant personal importance for me, as its creation served as a means to attain closure. It was a deliberate effort to break free from the tendency of using past challenges as barriers or excuses during life’s adversities. Writing this book marked a crucial step in the journey of self-discovery, compelling me to humble myself once more and embrace the entirety of my being—both the peaks and valleys. It became an essential process of encapsulating my experiences and acknowledging that true appreciation of greatness requires an understanding and absorption of the moments of nothingness.
You touch on many topics, from family, economics, gang violence, mental health, and your work as an artist. What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I think all those subjects are equally important, and they’ve all shaped my diverse outlook on life. However, the main goal of this book is to highlight the idea that your starting point in life doesn’t dictate your success. Success is subjective and depends on how you see it.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story; you did not hide the dark and challenging points. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Writing about my family was the most challenging part of this process. I’ve held back my thoughts and feelings for as long as I can remember, wanting to shield my family from any pain. However, it became clear that it was necessary to prioritize my own healing and share my experiences.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
My hope is for readers to thoroughly engage with the book, immersing themselves in the emotional roller coaster I’ve depicted across all the chapters. Life is inevitably filled with ups and downs, but it’s the spaces between those downturns that carry significance. In those moments, there lies the chance to redefine your baseline. The key is to seize those opportunities and make the most of them.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
resilient
Katherine Turner’s resilient memoir is a powerful and candid account of her journey through a childhood marked by abuse, neglect, mental illness, addiction, and poverty. Turner’s story begins with her parents’ struggles with addiction and her father’s frequent absence from her life due to work. Tragically, her childhood was plagued with sexual abuse and emotional trauma, and she did not receive the love and care that she needed. Following her parents’ separation and her mother’s rehab, Turner and her sister were placed in foster care, and at a young age, Turner had to become a parent to her little sister while navigating her own trauma. Though her new home provided a stable and caring environment, Turner continued to struggle with the traumas of her past, loneliness, and difficult choices. In her efforts to cope, she turned to self-harm and addiction, ultimately realizing she was following in her biological parents’ footsteps.
resilient is a profoundly moving and candid memoir that captivated me from beginning to end. Turner’s vivid descriptions and raw vulnerability took me through a range of emotions as I followed her story of struggle and shame. Turner’s storytelling is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, highlighting the immense strength required to overcome one’s past and build a better future. This book is not an easy read, but it is important. Turner’s experiences shed light on the need to listen to abuse victims and provide support during difficult times. Her honesty and bravery in sharing her story are commendable, and her resolve is genuinely inspiring. resilient offers an unflinching look at the effects of abuse, neglect, and addiction on a person’s life and touches on themes of trauma, healing, growth, and resilience.
The memoir, resilient, is a touching and inspirational story about survival and overcoming the obstacles that life hands you. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a poignant and thought-provoking read that showcases the strength of the human spirit in overcoming adversity.
Pages: 525 | ASIN : B09BBPKFFZ
Nobody’s Daughter
In Nobody’s Daughter, author Rica Ramos shares a deeply personal memoir that recounts a difficult childhood marked by an unsupportive mother and the lasting impact of those experiences. Ramos navigates the intersections of past and present, illuminating the constant presence of a mother who consistently failed to provide the care and protection her children needed. The narrative delves into the author’s experiences with abuse, exploring her feelings of resentment towards not only her abusive stepfather but also her mother for neglecting to shield her children from harm.
Ramos tackles a range of sensitive subjects. However, the memoir’s primary focus extends beyond the traumatic experiences that occupy a substantial portion of the narrative. The ultimate goal becomes evident in the concluding chapters, as the author applies the healing she has undergone through therapy to nurture the newest generation of her family—her grandchild. By reflecting on her mother’s actions and consciously choosing to treat her grandchild with gentleness and love, Ramos offers solace to her inner child.
While the book contains moderately detailed accounts of sexual abuse, making it unsuitable for readers who may find such topics distressing, it is an invaluable resource for those who have experienced similar emotional detachment from a parent. The author’s journey toward healing provides a cathartic and potentially helpful perspective for individuals grappling with comparable childhood traumas.
Nobody’s Daughter is a compelling memoir that I would recommend to many who have overcome abuse or who know someone who has suffered from abuse. It is also an insightful look at the mother and daughter relationship and shows readers that their own self-worth matters over the cultural stigma of honoring their mother. Through Rica’s story, other women will find validation and strength to stand up for themselves and know their voice matters.
Pages: 187 | ASIN : B0B8H4T8MQ
NO ONE walks alone!
Not a Blueprint: It’s the Shoeprints That Matters is a very personal story for you. How hard was it to put this story out in the world for people to read?
Firstly, you must know that I grew up in a house full of secrets. Whatever went on in the family, we were taught to keep it in the home. So, as an adult and a single parent, I was compelled to live a secretive and private life. I made a practice to rarely reveal what was happening in our lives. Even back then, those that knew of me had very little knowledge about me.
Secondly, for many decades, my journey with toxic relationships was deep seated, raw, and buried inside me. What you have to realize, I kept it all in a diary. Never realizing I was exactly telling a story about our life that would one day become an opened book to others. Unknowingly, this writing was a healing medium that many may have called writing therapy.
Initially, during the editing phases, all I could do was cry, cry, and cry while trying to relive those painful and hurtful events. There was an instance, I recall when the editor and I had bumped heads; since I could not break through those raw emotions to express my thoughts clearly and precisely. It was extremely bad that the publisher had to intervene. After the conversation with her, she had me to take four days off to recover from that ordeal.
Finally, once we’d gotten back to the writing, I still couldn’t break through those unsettling emotions. It was then I came up with a conclusion to take the portion out. Therefore, I wrote in its chapter titled, Finding Peace and Comfort.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Truly, there were many challenging moments. The pain was just overly great and hurtful, I wanted to scream in an octave range; to the top of my lungs. But, I’ll share with you these crucial ones . . .
The challenges surfaced when writing about the guilt and steps taken into being someone’s mistress. Knowingly, the pain I had ‘cause another with the interference I’d made in their lives. And how horribly I’d abused myself by giving up my self-worth; self-dignity; and all those other self-dimensions one possesses. Through it all, I’ve come to realize we can be our worst abuser.
The most sharpening and piercing piece was writing the horrible news about my child. Being that parent and having to watch one so young go through a grown folk’s disease ─ can be the most devastating experience ever endured. It even breaks my heart (now) to write it here. You know, life can be so unfair? Yes, then again, whoever said life was fair?
You have to remember, I was reared in a Christian environment. So, once I let go of my religious and spiritual beliefs, there I was holding on to that poison of unforgiveness. It took decades to find my way through the darkness that kept me in a fixed space with an inability to move forward.
Finally, those years of experiencing losses took its toll traumatically, and overpowered me mentally. I had become a basket case. Surprisingly, I didn’t see that until it was on paper! To become housed living inside a world of trauma was not only terrorizing, but horrifying. Perhaps, that may be difficult for one to understand what it’s like − unless he or she has walked that journey.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Unfortunately, that’s a tough question, I can’t clearly say there is one thing but many . . .
It’s story speaks about the good, the bad, and the ugly stuff life throws at us. Not only that, it was raw and canned. Thinking about relationships, there’s no way to prevent an engagement with them. Every integral piece is a vital part of living, period.
Ultimately, it’s message will reveal the importance that life brings many challenges; with each there are lessons learned along the way. And with each relationship, one can learn to recognize whether it has a toxic or non-toxic impact. Flipping through those pages, it illuminates the beauty of love, compassion, courage, determination, and strength.
As an end result, I can only hope readers reach an enlightening height from the lessons learned while walking on the journey. And realize that the engagement of toxicity affects everyone in one form or another. But, know when walking, NO ONE walks alone!
What is a common misconception you feel people have about toxic relationships?
In many cases, it could be that some feel they’re making the wrong choices or poor decisions when it comes to unhealthy relationships. However, they fail to realize you don’t chose a toxic person, they chose you.
In another instance, some are failing to realize the dangerous effects their interactions play out. But first they must understand what is a toxic relationship? “A toxic relationship occurs when two or more people interact in a way that is detrimental to their life.” Or, “Anything that is poisonous and capable of causing sickness or death.” In either case, all one has to do is think about how deadly COVID-19 has impacted our lives, daily. With that in mind, it’s evidence that a toxic relationship becomes nothing to play.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Website
Not a Blueprint; It’s the Shoeprints That Matter
Relationships play a significant role in human experiences throughout life’s journey. Nina Norstrom, in her memoir Not a Blueprint: It’s the Shoeprints That Matters refers to the toxic relationships she lives, endures, and learns through as a daughter, mate, mother, and working woman. The reader is taken on the author’s journey as they follow the shoeprints she leaves along her life path and those left behind by many others in her life. By going along with these shoeprints, the by-products of her life, readers learn about her battle against toxic relationships in various forms.
There are seventeen chapters in the memoir, which begin with an account of the author’s life. In the first nine chapters of the book, the author describes her experiences and struggles with domestic violence, both as a child witness it and in her own personal relationships. Throughout the remaining chapters, the author vividly recalls, her experiences while dealing with the toxic relationship with cancer that invades the life of her angel, her daughter.
In addition to expressing the author’s diverse emotions, the book pays homage to Nina Norstrom’s daughter, who tragically succumbed to a diseased toxic relationship in her life. My experience as a reader was emotional, and I commend the author for being open about her feelings while letting the readers inside the usually restricted area of a person’s psyche. The poems written for the departed soul of her daughter are beautifully expressed, seeping out the multitude of emotions of a parent. Moreover, the other feelings expressed in the book, whether it’s grief, anger, or resentment towards certain people, fate, or God, are raw and genuine.
This inspirational non-fiction story recounts Nina Norstrom’s journey of grief, guilt, and anger at God, to the path of finding peace with the will of God. Apart from providing solid shoes with which one can walk the hard paths of life, God also accompanies His children as they leave their shoeprints along the life journey. In the end, four appendices provide support resources, centers, and reading materials for those who are caught up in toxic relationships and would like support.
Not a Blueprint: It’s the Shoeprints That Matter is a deeply personal memoir that is recommended for those who want motivation from a genuine account of a battle with toxicity and self-reflection in the aftermath of trauma.
Pages: 179 | ASIN : B016X198SO
LITERARY TITAN 