This Life Is In Your Hands by Melissa Coleman

Title: This Life Is In Your Hands
Author: Melissa Coleman
Pages: 352
Genre: Memoir
Release Date: April 10th, 2012
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Source: Copy provided by publisher for TLC Book Tours

I think most people have wondered what it would be like to untether themselves from their phones, stop wasting time for the daily commute or the multitude of other modern inventions and problems that can negatively affect quality of life. What if you knew exactly where your food came from and didn't have to worry every time you purchased meat or vegetables at the grocery store? For many the idea of homesteading is seen as living the "simple life," but author Melissa Coleman reveals that such a life is anything but in her memoir This Life Is In Your Hands.

"Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without," was the homesteading adage, and it served them well.

Eliot and Sue Coleman, two young adults yearning to reject the constraints put on them by their middle-class upbringing, decide to set out for coastal Maine in an attempt to forge their own path by living off the land. After purchasing 60 acres from Helen and Scott Nearing, authors of the homesteading bible Living the Good Life, the two work tirelessly to build a house, a profitable farm, and create a happy home life for Melissa and her two sisters. Eliot constantly strives to attain his five year goal of making his farm profitable while Sue tries to find a rhythm cooking, cleaning, and raising the children. However, success and achievement don't always come without a price. Soon the Coleman's become the new faces of the Back-To-The-Land movement and begin receiving media attention. This prestige starts inspiring more individuals to make the journey to Maine to apprentice with Eliot adding to his already strained relationships. Coleman reveals the trials and tribulations of rejecting modern conventions and working the land in her honest, engaging memoir This Life Is In Your Hands.

"The reality of this way of life is that you have got to keep at it even when you don't feel like it," Mama wrote in her journal to ease her mind while Papa was outside. "Otherwise you won't make it. It's no life for dabblers. You've got to dig it wholeheartedly, for if you don't, you just simply won't be happy nor successful at what you do."

One of the things that first drew me to this novel was the potential to learn a little more about the origins of the organic movement. I've become a lot more interested in where my food comes from and what I put into my body over the last few years. While a little dry at times, Coleman does a nice job of giving the basic background of the movement. At its heart, this story more about one family's joys, triumphs, pain, and heartbreak, so I wouldn't recommend this for readers who are looking for a more in depth look at the homesteading movement itself. While the beginning of the book lacked more emotion, I could tell that the writing was a cathartic experience for the author by the last third of the story.

Coleman's biggest strength is her writing. The readability was high with flowing prose and evocative descriptions. Symbols such as hands and water play a prominent part throughout and help add a slight literary tone to the writing. I also enjoyed the inclusion of details of the outside world at different points in time. Throwing in current events, music, politics, etc helped to set many of the scenes and give a reference for the year.

For much of the book I felt like I was reading a novel. Once she began writing from memory instead of telling her parents story the narrative soared. I think a key to successfully reading memoirs is being able to appreciate someone's life without necessarily judging every detail. The author didn't seem to judge her parents' actions or motivations, although I do wish she had revealed some of her personal feelings on growing up in such an environment and the possible effects such a life had on her once she became an adult and started her own family.

This Life Is In Your Hands serves as both a memoir but also a warning. You can't focus entirely on one aspect of life and continually neglect other areas. While I did enjoy the book, I felt that the story was more a biography of Sue and Eliot Coleman rather than a memoir. So much of the narrative highlights their journey and the consequences of their decisions. While not a favorite, Coleman's work is an engrossing, informative, solid read and.definitely a good choice if you're looking for a non-fiction read or have a particular interest in the movement.


Interested in learning more about Melissa Coleman? Check out her website and Facebook page!

Thanks again to TLC Book Tours for having me on the tour. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Be sure to check out the next few stops on the tour to see what others are saying!

Tuesday, April 24th: she reads and reads

Wednesday, April 25th: Book Club Classics!

                                              Thursday, April 26th: Veronica MD

                                              Friday, April 27th: BookNAround

TLC Book Tours: The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

Title: The Shoemaker's Wife
Author: Adriana Trigiani
Pages: 480
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: April 3rd, 2012
Publisher: Harper
Source: Copy provided by publisher for TLC Book Tours.

The Shoemaker's Wife is the first book I've read by Adriana Trigiani. I must admit that I had always (unfairly) dismissed her work as nothing but chick lit romance, but the opportunity to read this one came up, so I decided to give it a shot. When this monster tome arrived in my mailbox, I was a little taken aback. Investing time into a nearly 500 page novel from an author I have never read is a little daunting. However, once through the first 50 pages I knew I had made the right choice in accepting it for review.

Now, normally I like to provide my own summary of a book in my reviews. However, after multiple attempts I realized that I just wasn't going to be able to condense this vast story into a paragraph or two that would do such a beautiful tale justice. So in this case I'm going to use part of the copy provided by the publisher.

From HarperCollins:

The majestic and haunting beauty of the Italian Alps is the setting of the first meeting of Enza, a practical beauty, and Ciro, a strapping mountain boy, who meet as teenagers, despite growing up in villages just a few miles apart. At the turn of the last century, when Ciro catches the local priest in a scandal, he is banished from his village and sent to hide in America as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Little Italy. Without explanation, he leaves a bereft Enza behind. Soon, Enza's family faces disaster and she, too, is forced to go to America with her father to secure their future. 

Unbeknownst to one another, they both build fledgling lives in America, Ciro masters shoemaking and Enza takes a factory job in Hoboken until fate intervenes and reunites them. But it is too late: Ciro has volunteered to serve in World War I and Enza, determined to forge a life without him, begins her impressive career as a seamstress at the Metropolitan Opera House that will sweep her into the glamorous salons of Manhattan and into the life of the international singing sensation, Enrico Caruso.

From the stately mansions of Carnegie Hill, to the cobblestone streets of Little Italy, over the perilous cliffs of northern Italy, to the white-capped lakes of northern Minnesota, these star-crossed lovers meet and separate, until, finally, the power of their love changes both of their lives forever.

My Thoughts:

The Shoemaker's Wife was a wonderful read from beginning to end. At first I was afraid that the length of the book would be its downfall, but Trigiani masterfully keeps the story from dragging. I found myself easily consuming huge chunks at a time after being so drawn into Ciro and Enza's worlds. The writing was beautiful and polished, and Trigiani seems quite comfortable in her ability to tell such a grand story. There was a nice balance between description and action that kept the flow of the story easy to read. The last 50 pages felt a little rushed, but I think that's just because I wanted the story to continue on. I've read very few novels of this length that are able to achieve this feat.

The aspect of The Shoemaker's Wife that I enjoyed most was that there were two separate story lines, but both were equally developed. I can't say I preferred one character's story more than the other. This is not just a love story between two fated individuals. This is a story of two immigrants trying to make their own way and discover who they are as adults. Many authors don't allow their characters to reach the selfactualization that these two were able to achieve. Trigiani made a smart decision in allowing both Ciro and Enza the opportunity to figure out their own lives and grow as people before coming together as a couple, and this is why the story succeeded in being more than just a typical romance. 

Another aspect that Trigiani excels in is creation of setting. The lush descriptions really yank you into the story and firmly set you into another place and time, but not in a way that becomes obtrusive or boring. The story strongly showcases different cities and aspects of daily life without glossing over anything or going too in depth. I never found myself skimming long paragraphs of details in order to "get to the good stuff." 

On top of the excellent plot, I actually cared about these people, from the main characters to all the secondary characters that come and go along the way. Each had a distinct personality and thoughtful characterization, and I found myself becoming sympathetic to their individual plights. From Italy to Manhattan to Minnesota, the reader is able to see Enza and Ciro grow from children to adults and watches as the two continually find themselves weaving into part of each other's lives.

Overall, The Shoemaker's Wife was so much more than I expected. This is both a heartwarming and heartbreaking story of family, friendship, epic love and the ups and downs of life as an immigrant. More than those things, this is a novel that illustrates the strength of the human spirit. Enza and Ciro are inspirational in their fight against adversity. They never completely give up while trying their best to work hard and achieve their place in life. This story reminded me that America is, at its core, a country of immigrants who struggled to make a better life for themselves and their families. I can't say enough good things about this sweeping tale. Don't be put off by the length as this is an engrossing and easy read. I definitely recommend reading it if you get the chance!





About Adriana Trigiani

Adriana Trigiani is an award-winning playwright, television writer, and documentary filmmaker. The author of the Big Stone Gap series; Very Valentine; Lucia, Lucia, The Queen of the Big Time, and Rococo, she has also written the bestselling memoir Don’t Sing at the Table as well as the young adult novels Viola in Reel Life and Viola in the Spotlight. Her books have been published in thirty-six countries, and she has written and will direct the big-screen version of her first novel, Big Stone Gap. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.


Check out Adriana's website, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter!

Thanks again to TLC Book Tours for having me on the tour. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Be sure to check out the next few stops on the tour to see what others are saying!

Tuesday, April 10th: Book Dilettante

Wednesday, April 11th: Bibliosue

                                             Thursday, April 12th: West Metro Mommy

                                             Monday, April 16th: "That's Swell!"

                                             Tuesday, April 17th: Confessions of an Avid Reader