Review: Signs of Life

Book Review
Avatar of Fran LewisBy Fran Lewis
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A Heartfelt True Story: One Young Woman’s Courage – Survival is difficult after a loss. Losing a husband, sister, parent or any family member leaves lasting scars on those left behind.

Twenty-four-year-old mother to be Natalie Taylor heard the words no young person should ever hear: Your husband of 18 months was in a fatal accident. How do you deal with that and still go on? Natalie Taylor is about to find out as she comes to terms with the death of her husband Josh. Josh was killed crave boarding without a helmet. Death came almost instantly and her whole life came crashing down.

woman-1930But, with the support of her sister, Moo, her best friends and family Natalie slowly creates a new future for herself and her unborn child. But, can she deal with a new child and learn to love him? Never giving up on herself Natalie is about to turn herself around, deal with her grief and as one wise doctor so aptly states: Works on her brain in order to move ahead. Going back to school would change things for her but there is so much more to her life and her journey that still needs to be revealed.

Comparing her definitions of family connections and loyalties to that of the Corleone Family in the Godfather, you learn early on how much Natalie cherishes those who stood by her and not in a small way. But, getting counseling and help to try and reconcile and deal with her feelings in order to restore her life, she finds a support group for single mothers.

Returning to teaching, rewarding with her students supportive, unique and understanding, still being teens and exhibiting the normal behaviors of high school students, showed a side of them that most would prefer to stay hidden. Fixing up her soon to be newborn child’s room was not as therapeutic as she thought it might be. It was more of a help to her mother-in-law and at times she rounds her visits and that of others an intrusion on her time to grief, vent and cry.

As time passes Natalie begins to openly reflect on her life, her feelings for her friends and family and compares many situations with characters on television and in the movies. As she watches some of the talk shows and hears the discussion about the lives of these people her anger and frustration comes through including her bitterness for what her life has turned into. The author seems to resent anyone that is happy and cannot deal with the joys of others since losing Josh.

I do understand how she feels since losing my mom, sister, and mother-in-law within the last 7 months. Dealing with three deaths is difficult, getting the anger and hostility out is vital but walking around like that and feeling remorse all day and anger is not what anyone needs to do in order to cope with life as it is. So, where does this take her and what will she do to create a new life for herself and now, her young son, Kai.

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Told in a monthly diary or journal the author recounts the events from the moment she heard the news about Josh, through the birth of her son and the present where she has made some remarkable changes and strides in her life. Joining the grief support group, rekindling the light in her teaching, connecting and relating the many authors that wrote not only the classics but my favorite, Robert Frost and his special poem which inspired her to realize that she has many places to go before she dies, Natalie’s words are heard, her voice is loud and clear and her determination as she takes the reader through that hardest first year of losing someone you truly love and too soon, inspires everyone that has known or experienced any loss to change their life, do something to restart the energy along with her Fairy Godmother who helps guide her through this journey this is one book everyone should read.

The excitement she shares as she trains and completes her first Triathlon is contagious as you cheer her own hoping she will succeed. What does finally happen to Natalie and what does she learn from her many experiences, her friends, family, counselors and the many support groups she joins you need to read for yourself.

Told with emotions that run the gamut from anger, sorrow, happiness, joy and elation, Signs Of Life is an inspirational book that helped the author starts the healing process of losing Josh and those who read it understand that the world does not have to be so dark and gray and that the Colors are Read Again. To Natalie: They will only get brighter for you as time goes on.

Thank you, Amazon Vine for sending me this book to read and review.

Author Natalie Taylor
Fran Lewis: Reviewer

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Avatar of Fran Lewis
Fran Lewis

Born in the South Bronx, I grew up with people from many ethnic backgrounds. I learned to play and work with children in my school that came from other countries and different places.
I was always over weight as a child and got picked on a lot by the other children in my class and even my teachers. I found it hard to do many of the sporting activities that my sister and cousins could do. I learned at an early age that kids can be mean and I promised myself that I would never retaliate or do mean things to other kids in return.

When I decided to write my short stories I realized that I had a lot to say about my youth and in both of my books I tell about a ten year old girl named Bertha who learns to deal with real life issues kids face today at home and in school.

As an educator I the New York City Public Schools for over 36 years, I realized just how unique and precious our children are. I was the reading and writing staff developer in my school and the dean. I loved the children and had the respect of my fellow teachers and parents. Teaching children to read was really very rewarding and introducing them to writing and creating their own stories was exciting for the students. I love reading different kinds of books in many different genres. I have started reviewing books of new authors and those that are more established. I love giving them great reviews and saying wonderful things about their writing. I have three Masters Degrees and PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently I am a member of Who’s Who is America’s Teachers and Who’s Who of America’s Executives from Cambridge. In addition, she is the author of three children’s books and a fourth that has just been published on Alzheimer's Disease in order to honor her mom and help create more awareness for a Cure. The title of my new Alzheimer’s book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey; Ruth’s story. My second Alzheimer’s Book is called Sharp As A Tack or Scrambled Eggs Which Describes Your Brain. This book should be out in June 2010. I was the musical director for shows in her school and ran the School’s newspaper. I write reviews for authors upon request and for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com and on ijustfinished.com under the name Gabina.

Other accomplishments:
Book reviewer
Radio show talk host: book discussion with Fran Lewis and authors all over the US and the world- how cool is that I get authors that even request a review.
Would love to become an interviewer.
Caregiver and expert on Medicaid and medicare Author of five books and writing number six
The sixth book is based on a true story but will be written as a fictional memoir.
Worked in the same school for 36 years as the reading and writing staff developer I was the dean of discipline and assisted the Principal and AP when needed I was the test coordinator for the school and instructed teachers in testing procedures –administrated the tests and oversaw the reading, math and other tests to make sure that everything ran smoothly.

I am an expert in the ELA or any test prep for reading and writing
I can take an author’s book and even if it is not five stars write a five star review for them by looking for the soul of the book and for something positive. I am a member of Who’s Who of America’s executives, teachers and professionals and belong the Cambridge’s Connect and Pen with Sword
I would like to take my three children’s book plus the fourth one and put them together in one book. I played the piano as a kid and the violin.
I was in the Bronx Borough Orchestra. I played the piano in Carnegie Hall –that was scary. I do consulting for some of the teachers in my school when they need help with lesson plans. I love writing for Robins Falls Magazine.

I love writing reviews in my own style. I even find time to help my nieces and nephews with their homework over the phone.
Email: riffyone@optonline.net

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