Friday Fun~ Book Review of Letters to Zerky

As you all know I have a tough time reading since my stroke. It's not that I can't read, but I'm much slower at it when it's on pages rather than electronic or audio formats. Along comes Bill Raney with a request. Would I review his book on my blog? It was only available in hardbound, but he would send me a copy. I thought sure, why not.

I had heard great things about this book so I waited in anxious anticipation for it to arrive. I had a few health stumbling blocks with my husband and myself, but I finally got to read every word. It was well worth the minutes I could grab during the months I read it. I closed it begrudgingly each and every time when my attention was needed elsewhere.

Of course I'm talking about Letters to Zerky: A Father's Legacy to a Lost Son...and a Road Trip Around the World by Bill Raney.

Genre Nonfiction/memoir/autobiographical
ISBN 978-0-9821384-0-3

This is one book I probably wouldn't have grabbed off the shelves in the bookstore, but I would have been mistaken in so many ways! The halfway draw for me personally was he was traipsing around the world as I was during the same time, although under different circumstances.

The Blurb
Both a memoir and a memorial, these collected letters and diary entries recount one family’s adventurous journey in 1967 attempting to drive around the world in a VW bus. Not intended as a book at the time of the writing, the intimate and poignant story details the family’s travels through Europe, the Middle East, and into Asia, challenging preconceptions about different cultures and illuminating how one-year-old Zerky had a magical effect on everyone they met along the way. The book features maps and pictures of the trek yet is more than just a travelogue; Zerky and his mother died shortly after the trip and this narrative serves as tribute to their lives.

Available HERE

This book is a powerful and wonderful journey of a family road tripping through Europe,the Middle East, and Asia. It's heart wrenching sad considering you know up front that Bill looses his son and his wife, but still you read on and experience the adventure with them on their journey.

Many of us dream of backpacking across Europe, but here's somebody who actually did it with wife, infant son, and a dachshund named Tarzan in tow in a VW Bus for thirteen months. Written in the free spirit, hippie style, the descriptions are so vivid the reader can place themselves there every step of the way.

I could see myself in Greece, Germany, India, Thailand, France, Iran and assorted other places with him. I was reminded on my own first impressions of those countries. In fact, we were in India at the same time and my memories came flooding back through his words.

Included are breathtaking photographs of the countries they visited with the family in the forefront. This is more than a travel diary. It's a legacy of love and remembrance, of joy and grief, and life at its best and worse. If I gave stars, it would rate a seven on a five star rating system. I'll give it a strong must read.

Now, Bill travels in a new VW bus to advertise his book. Life does come full circle.

Bill Raney's contact info
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Website

When I was researching this blog, (yes, I actually research my blog topics) I stumbled across this on youtube...enjoy.

Thursday Turmoil ~ The Love of Books

Well, I did it to myself again. <sigh> I've book hauled. As much as I try to resist the urge, I can't. Yes I said those two ugly words again...I can't. I'm not going to follow it up with a my usual qualifier of "right now."

Between Smashwords promotion of "Read an e-book" week and all the yummy selections that are offered for free on Amazon, I've amassed 53 new titles to the horde of books on my kindle and computer. Three are audio books. I won't lack for things to read any time soon. For the old me consuming voraciously, two books a week was no problem. The new me, post stroke this amount of book hauling could take years to read them all!

It all started simple enough, an author friend posted on the Compuserve Book & Writers Forum that two of her books were free on Smashwords. Having read parts of her excellent writing style in bits and pieces while she was writing both books didn't hurt my rushing over to grab the books. Of course, I'm speaking of Marte Brengle's "Closed Circuits" and Dutchman's Puzzle."

I love to read and daily and forever thankful that I still am able to with only minor difficulties since my stroke. It just takes me longer to read with understanding. It can now take me almost two weeks to read a full length novel via kindle or computer. Even though I can attach them onto my treadmill or air cycle, I can't focus on two things at once...my brain short circuits. I can no longer walk and chew gum at the same time either, literally. So my multitasking days are over for the time being. (Notice I did use the qualifier here) But I can listen to a book while I do these things.

So will I continue adding to my mountain of reads, probably. I got a hardbound book in the mail last week from a publisher to review, "Letters to Zerky: A Father's Legacy to a Son...and a Road Trip Around the World" by Bill Raney and Joanne Walker Raney. This is on my next read pile. The review will appear here the Friday after I finish reading it.

And to think, a short year ago audio books and e-books were on my least favorite list. What a difference a year and a stroke makes.