Book Review - The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

Book Review by Crystal Casavant (Crystal Otto)

“The Hour I First Believed” by Wally Lamb

When you connect with a literary character, that person becomes part of you and when the book has aged and the pages have yellowed, that character remains…and you are changed because of the exchange, the relationship of sorts that you had with that book and the character. Caelum Quirk is more than a character in a fiction novel. Caelum is my friend and brother. His triumphs and trials were described in such a way that I felt we were on a journey together.

Some people question bits and pieces of their past. Caelum Quirk questions everything anyone has ever told him. His birth certificate had been falsified. If the first document about your life is a lie, what else could have been altered? Where do you turn when you want answers and yet are afraid to find them? Caelum returns to the house he was raised in and the town he had left behind. He had hoped to piece together a few bits and pieces. Never could anyone expect to learn what he learned about his ancestors and friends. He found his heritage and created a legacy. The Hour I First Believed is a story of forgiveness and strength. The story is expertly told and will be appreciated for generations.

Lamb writes with a comfortable balance between details, imagery, and emotion. The characters come alive as you envision the cold conversation between a husband and wife who no longer appreciate one another. Rage, concern, jealousy, and love are woven together like a warm sweater. The main character, Caelum Quirk, had not believed in a higher power and without realizing it, there was more that he didn’t believe in. He didn’t believe in himself or those he claimed to love and trust. The system failed him, family failed him, and it wasn’t until he was in the depths of despair that he found what he was looking for.

Until I read The Hour I First Believed, I hadn’t thought much about life after a school shooting. I couldn’t imagine what a family would do if they lost everything in the aftermath of a hurricane. I’ve had friends who have overcome death, divorce, and work problems, but none of their situations is anything like Caelum Quirk’s experience. Lamb takes his reader to a place they might otherwise avoid. Subjects like adultery, homosexuality, slavery, betrayal, abuse, imprisonment, and the justice system are all part of Caelum’s story.

This is a story that you will visit in your mind when you are faced with a difficult situation or decision. You finish the book with a new awareness of the cruel world and a new appreciation for the beauty that blossoms regardless of the cruel surroundings. This is a book about struggle. More importantly, it is a book about triumph, love, forgiveness, and understanding. Lamb has outdone himself and The Hour I First Believed is a must read novel!

Relax Consulting -Proud Supporter of Liysa Callsen's New Book "Tell 'Em"

We are proud to support Liysa Callsen and her project as she launches a new book titled Tell 'Em

Our very own Crystal Casavant-Otto has had an opportunity read and review the book (see below)


http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/902432461/tell-em-new-book-by-liysa-callsen

Crystal writes: Below is my book review of Tell 'Em by Liysa Callsen - enjoy! If you can help fund the project, there is a link at the top and bottom of the article - donations of any amount are accepted and I know Liysa will appreciate them!

Tell'em by Liysa Callsen is a soulful sharing of one woman's journey in finding herself and her purpose. Callsen pours her soul out to her readers, sharing both triumphs and tribulations. Tell'em is entertaining at times, but at others you just want to grab Liysa and hug her because the imagery is so strong. You feel the pain of the child who is being teased, the child who wants so badly to belong and has no one to turn to because her instinct is to protect the family she loves. She is victim and hero and it's her turn to tell her story!

Tell'em brings to light a world most of us have not had the pleasure to experience - the Deaf world. Callsen entertains, educates, and engages readers by drawing them into a lifetime of situations. From a fight on the playground to secondary education choices, weddings and family vacations. Callsen paints a picture of a life different from most, but yet so similar that the reader feels as if they have just had coffee with a dear friend.

As Liysa goes from child to wife and mother, readers are introduced to those who helped mold her character. The characters are described in such a way that readers can immediately envision them. The loving father who is set in his ways, the younger brother who is independent and self-absorbed, the loving mother who wants a better life for her daughter, and the main character - Callsen herself, a young woman trying to find her way in the world while balancing cautiously between two cultures.

As the story unfolds the writing style and narrative voice becomes stronger and more self-assured. Liysa isn't just sharing her journey in Tell'em, she is bringing readers along on that journey of self-discovery. Readers will find themselves cheering her on as reader and author are forever changed. Less judgmental, more accepting of others, and more likely to share what's on their mind.

Callsen may be a new author, but she brings a lifetime of experience to her tale. She allows the reader to understand the dynamics of growing up in a home with deaf parents. The story is very educational and answers many questions that you may not have felt comfortable asking. She explains things so eloquently and patiently. She writes like she speaks - with her whole self - openly, honestly, and bravely as she shares her story and her soul with the world.

Are you looking for Crystal's style of Executive partnering? Do you have a book you need edited or reviewed? She would be happy to partner with you as she did with today's author.

To learn more or to back this project, go to: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/902432461/tell-em-new-book-by-liysa-callsen

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7273427

May your paths be abundantly filled with lemons, sugar, sunshine and stories to tell! ~Crystal

Two Paws Up for Waiting for Your Cat to Bark by Bryan & Jeffrey Eisenberg

Two Paws Up for Waiting for Your Cat to Bark by Bryan & Jeffrey Eisenberg

I purchased Waiting for Your Cat to Bark by Bryan and Jeffrey Eisenberg. This particular read was recommended by a successful business associate, and I really liked the catchy title. I am generally a dog person, but I have owned cats. If your cat is barking, it likely has a hairball and you can imagine what happens next. I can’t say I’ve ever been waiting for my cat to bark but I love marketing ideas and I was told how business savvy the Eisenberg brothers were. I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy the book. Now I know this book will be on my bookshelf twenty years from now. This is a great read and I’d give it two paws up (in keeping with the cat and dog theme).

Waiting for Your Cat to Bark helps readers prepare for the today’s tech savvy consumers who want to be engaged and are not looking to be sold on products and services. The Eisenberg brothers explain the power of Persuasion Architecture ™ and the importance of setting goals, measuring results, and changing course as needed to reach your target audience. Today’s customers don’t make purchases or decisions the way they did twenty years ago. If we are using the same marketing strategies we were in the past, our businesses will fail.

The Small Business Association announced in 2011 there were 27+ Million Small Businesses in the United States, between 60% and 80% of all new jobs in the United States are attributed to Small Business, and from the point of startup, only 44% will survive four years. As business owners, if we aren’t following some sort of business model, we will be searching for another line of work. When our businesses fail, it also affects our self-esteem and our personal relationships. We cannot afford to get so involved in the day to day operations of our business that we neglect our marketing plan.

Waiting for Your Cat to Bark explains the four dimensions of sales complexity and goes into great detail about the human operating system. Marketing isn’t just about developing a product and selling it. Today’s customer is in control and successful businesses understand they need to provide value in addition to their core product and service. To provide someone with value, you must understand what motivates them and you need to position yourself in such a way that you are partnering with them to achieve a common goal. Today’s customers will buy, but they do not want to be sold. If customer satisfaction is truly a thing of the past and customer loyalty is the key, we should all want dogs instead of trying to convert our cats into ‘man’s best friend’. If we want our dogs to be loyal, we need to treat them right, spend time with them, and understand what brings them the most joy. As a customer, wouldn’t we all love that kind of attention and appreciation? As a business owner, don’t we look at that kind of loyalty of priceless?

Waiting for Your Cat to Bark is the business book you’ll want on your book shelf years from now. The cover will become tattered because you will reference it time and time again. Two paws up for a priceless marketing guide. Some might say if you have a marketing model or you are starting a new business you need this book. I would go so far as to say boldly: If you have a product or service to sell, you cannot afford to wait another day to get your copy of Waiting for Your Cat to Bark. Regardless of your niche or level of experience, there is something to learn from the Bryan and Jeffrey Eisenberg.

For more information or to interact with Bryan and Jeff, check out there website: http://www.bryaneisenberg.com/

Crystal's Literary Diet

Crystal is often asked what she is reading (probably because she asks others the same question). She wanted to share some literary suggestions with the Relax Consulting blog followers and as you can see below, Crystal feels strongly that a literary diet should include some meat and potatoes/educational reading, some dessert/a fun read or a romance novel, and some snacks/periodicals to even things out. Some of the books below are being read for the first time and some for the tenth time. If you have any feedback on any of them, please leave a comment below to help other reader in their choosing of a literary diet.

What's on your literary diet menu for the next few weeks?

Bossy Pants by Tina Fey is a fun read with a little bit of business and a lot of laughter. (find Crystal's full review of this one on Ezine: http://ezinearticles.com/?This-Boss-Loves-BossyPants!&id=6921339)

Waiting for Your Cat to Bark by Brian and Jeff Eisenberg is definitely a business and marketing book, a good value with lots of insight

Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss is the kind of book that can change your life - stop putting off until tomorrow what you could be enjoying today. A complete review of this one should be up on Ezine in a few days, subscribe to Crystal's ezine feed to read it first: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Crystal_J_Casavant)

The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball is a fun read - not part of Crystal's business book diet, but more like the banana cream pie after the meal. A great book to grab when relaxing with a cup of coffee.

Customer Satisfaction is Worthless by Jeffrey H. Gitomer is a fabulous read for customers and customer service providers alike. Who wants to be satisfied when you can instead have your expectations exceeded?

Success Magazine - where you can learn, laugh, and find valuable business tools. As part of the literary diet, this is the mid-afternoon snack of carrots and celery needed to get you through the day.