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review 2016-02-26 04:56
The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland - Jim DeFede

Words are failing me.  Everything I come up with seems inadequate to describe the events of this book and it occurs to me that if I'm finding words inadequate after experiencing this third-hand, I'd have had a nervous breakdown trying to thank anyone who was as kind and generous to me as the people of Gander were to all those stranded passengers.

 

I don't think I've ever in my life said to anyone "you have to read this!!" but I'll say it now - everyone should read this.  Given the constant stream of evidence we get every single day of the dark things humanity rains down upon this earth, this book gives us a powerful glimpse into the pure unadulterated goodness humanity is capable of.

 

Every single page of this book was filled with examples of extraordinary kindnesses; things the people of Gander and the surrounding towns did that they didn't have to do; things that went above and beyond making sure those that were stranded were comfortable and had the necessities.  Newfoundland is an economically repressed island trying to survive the death of the fishing industry, but they didn't hesitate to throw birthday parties for the kids, or set up a kosher kitchen (requiring all new pots and pans, mind you) for the Orthodox Jews stranded there.  They gave away everything they had if it was needed, including camping equipment for those that didn't want to sleep inside the shelters.

 

I could go on and on but instead you should just read this book, or hell, if there's another book out there about Gander on 9/11, read that one instead, but either way, these people need to be the shining example of the standard all people should set for themselves, every day. 

 

Prepare for a teary read, but in a good way.  There are a couple of moments of profound sadness, but 99% of this book is all about goodness.  Profound, tear-inducing goodness.

 

I didn't go the whole 5-star hog because the author is a journalist by trade and while he does a stunning job–truly–the overall narrative read like a really long newspaper article and that's just not my preferred style.  Additionally there were too many missing words and editing errors to completely ignore.  So subjectively, 4.5 stars, but objectively, 4.75.

 

P.S.  I just bought this book in hardcover to keep on my shelves.  If you'd be interested in receiving my paperback copy (very good condition) and don't mind waiting until my hardcopy arrives before I send it, then first person to say so in the comments will get it - no matter where you live.

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text 2014-10-24 05:04
A GENEROUS HEAPING OF KINDNESS!!!

Ya know what?! There ARE great, thoughtful, kind, and generous souls STILL residing in this world, a world where we are too busy to show a small courtesy to a stranger. A simple hello. A little smile. How hard could it be, right?! One never knows when the simple gesture of a smile or one tiny act of kindness will lift the spirit of a stranger, another soul so desperately needing that smile, that comfort. You just never know. 

 

Here's what got me thinking: Tonight, me, my husband, daughter and son-in-law went to Tokyo Live for dinner. We were the last to be seated at the large Hibachi table. A young father and mother sat across from us with their 4 1/2 month old baby boy. The dad was celebrating his bday. ADORABLE BABY, btw!! ((and so quiet)) Then, sitting to our right was a man, his wife, and I am presuming, their 21-year old daughter. Perfect strangers all of us!! But we had an AMAZING time!! After a wonderful dining experience, I asked for the check. The waitress shook her head NO and pointed to the gentlemen in the red shirt, the man to my right. HE HAD PICKED UP EVERYONE'S BILL and PAID FOR ALL OF IT!!! About $500.00 worth of food and spirits!! No questions!! No airs!! He didn't even want his generosity acknowledged. He just wanted to enjoy his evening out and to celebrate with the ENTIRE table!! Of course, we thanked him profusely!! His generosity did not stop at us either. Our waitress was also gifted and happy!! She expressed her surprise and appreciation. She said she had NEVER witnessed any such thing before. I know I haven't. Because people just don't do this kind of thing anymore. It's rare. We barely look up from our laptops and cell phones to say hello to our own families, much less a stranger. I'm not saying that I expect perfefct strangers to spend a fortune on one another. That's NOT my point. My point is this: One small act of kindness and a bit of generosity goes a long way. That man has no idea how happy he made everyone at our table. How unselfish! How thoughtful! How wonderful!! We were all perfect strangers!! Just absolutely made my day. And the only way I can think to repay this kindness is to PAY IT FORWARD. I probably won't be picking up a $500.00 tab but somehow, someway...I'm going to pass that kindness on. We all should. Every one of us!! Who knows?! Maybe kindness is catching and with everything going on in our world, perhaps it's something worth spreading.

 

So, here's to you awesome guy at Tokyo Live!! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!! You have no idea the good cheer you spread tonite. Well played!! Your kindness and generosity meant the world to us!! And you brought a table of strangers together. A great time was had by all!! 

 

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text 2014-02-22 23:30
Fishy Reviews

Hey everyone,

 

So it came to my attention that there were some fishy reviews for my book. I didn't pay much attention to them when they were all posted a couple of weeks back on the same day, though I did notice they were oddly vague and sounded a little robotic. I shrugged it off though, happy for any positive reviews.

Lately though, they became a bit of a problem, so I flagged the reviews and contacted Goodreads about them, sending them links to every single review and profile that I thought looked strange. I also asked if Goodreads would be able to cross-reference IP Addresses with mine because they did look like sock-puppet accounts. I have never and will never make sock-puppet accounts, but in case anybody thought that I had, I wanted to make sure I could prove that I hadn't.

 

Here's the reply e-mail I got from Goodreads just before:

 

 

For a closer look:

 

 

Being a writer I will overlook the misuse of "you're" but I wanted to show you guys the full print screen too so you can see it's unedited and whatever. You just never know what someone or some site is going to accuse you of next.

 

So if anybody had any doubts about my credibility, I hope this helps restore some faith in me. I won't stand for spammers, even when it concerns my own book. Thanks for reading. Feel free to reblog, it feels good to clear my name :)

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text 2014-02-22 22:10
[reblogged] Fishy Reviews

Hey everyone,

 

So it came to my attention that there were some fishy reviews for my book. I didn't pay much attention to them when they were all posted a couple of weeks back on the same day, though I did notice they were oddly vague and sounded a little robotic. I shrugged it off though, happy for any positive reviews.

Lately though, they became a bit of a problem, so I flagged the reviews and contacted Goodreads about them, sending them links to every single review and profile that I thought looked strange. I also asked if Goodreads would be able to cross-reference IP Addresses with mine because they did look like sock-puppet accounts. I have never and will never make sock-puppet accounts, but in case anybody thought that I had, I wanted to make sure I could prove that I hadn't.

 

Here's the reply e-mail I got from Goodreads just before:

 

 

For a closer look:

 

 

Being a writer I will overlook the misuse of "you're" but I wanted to show you guys the full print screen too so you can see it's unedited and whatever. You just never know what someone or some site is going to accuse you of next.

 

So if anybody had any doubts about my credibility, I hope this helps restore some faith in me. I won't stand for spammers, even when it concerns my own book. Thanks for reading. Feel free to reblog, it feels good to clear my name :)

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review 2014-01-27 21:34
Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell

Life is so hard. There's just so much of it. There's complicated relationships, credit cards, gas stations, public restrooms, mortgages, clothes that don't fit, cats that cry all night, hateful bosses, insurance (Is it a scam? It feels like a scam), torrential rain, house spiders (that a wild animal has the audacity to simply move into my home astounds me), chest infections, water inexplicably dripping through the ceiling, smashed mugs, missing library cards, neighbours who talk to their hands, the ocean, unaffordable dental surgery, university interviews - the list is endless. It's easy to feel overwhelmed. Because on top of all these niggling worries, dreads, fears and confusions we've got this necessity foisted upon us to appear as if we've got out shit together. I want to tell you all a little secret - it's okay. It's all okay.

 

It's okay if you have a solid career, you own your own home and have substantial savings by the age of 25. But, it's also okay if you still want to spend everyday in your owl pyjamas, if you are working a minimum wage job because you have yet to choose a career, if you want to eat pizza and ice cream and watch every Harry Potter movie all over again. It's okay if you don't go to wine parties and you don't own a pair of high heels. It's okay if you put comfort first and fashion last. It's okay if you don't feel like going any further than the living room today. And it's also okay if you feel like roaming around. Not doing anything. It's all okay.

 

I hate how much time people seem to spend on comparing themselves to others. "I should have a promotion by now!" they cry. "I should be in a solid, steady relationship!" or "I should have "cultured" interests!"

 

I would ask right back attcha: Why?!!

 

Why do you have to be hitting a certain "milestone" (who came up with these fucking milestones anyway?!! Damn them!! Damn them all to hell!!) at a certain age? Why do you have to have a husband or a house or a career by the time you're 30? Who came up with this idea that we all have to follow some uniform life plan?

 

I say screw your fucking life plan. Screw that sucker up and toss it right in the trash alongside "You must have a baby because you have a womb" and "Why haven't you learned to drive?! You're 24 years old!!" and "Oh. You still haven't made it to university yet huh?"

 

Everyone is unique. Everyone has their own perspective on life, their own expectations, their own dreams. No-one should ever be made to feel like they're a failure because they refuse to adhere to the tradition of school-job-husband-kids step-by-step guide for a successful life that would get your grandmother to stop rolling her eyes and sighing if you'd only just stick to the plan.

 

I digress and I rant. What I'm trying to say is how much I adore Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell for letting us know "Hey, it's okay to be different" in a gentle, beautifully ordinary and relatable way.

 

Cath, our adorable heroine sets off to college with her twin sister full to bursting with social anxiety, dread and discomfort. She has no confidence in new situations, worries constantly and seems to have no plans beyond taking it one wobbly day at a time. But she does have her fan fiction. Cath is border-line obsessed with fictional character, Simon Snow and his magical adventures in a world of mages, wands, spells and friendship. She finds enormous comfort and peace in getting lost in her epically popular writing as her merry band of loyal internet followers cheer her on. However, real life looms large over Cath and as her sister Wren throws herself headlong into the fray, Cath struggles to come to terms with growing up and branching out.

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