Genre: Women’s Fiction
YA/New Adult/Adult: Adult
Release date: 9/12/2012
Social Media links:
Goodreads
Links to find/buy book:
Amazon
Goodreads
Book Description:
Elizabeth Shulman, a twenty-seven-year-old Russian Jewish immigrant, would like nothing better than not to die a corporate accountant working at a Fortune 100 company. She wants to walk away from the corporate rat-race, but...she’s still holding onto the painful memories from her poor past—from the days her family came to America with nothing so that their children could have a free life.
But soon one day’s event turns Elizabeth’s world upside down and inside out. With her bubble burst, Elizabeth decides to take the first step, quit her job. However, her bullying boss from HELL offers her a promotion and a big raise. But there’s a hitch. She must also agree to do pro bono work to bolster the company’s image. Her pro bono assignment: tutor unprivileged kids in a Southwest Chicago elementary school. And there, in school, her life begins to change when she gets a peek at a different type of world from her own.
Heart’s Storm is a bitter-sweet romantic comedy about love and career, family and friends, immigration and hardships, betrayal and forgiveness, and the promise of the American dream.
Review: Honestly, I have really mixed feelings about this book. There was some parts I really liked, and some parts I did not. I am not a big details person, and I feel like sometimes the story got lost in them. I like to know just enough detail to get an idea. I mean there are people out there who love a lot of details. It is definitely interesting to see America from an immigrants point of view. I loved the secondary characters for the most part. Alex is was probably one of my favorite character, he was sweet and very interesting. Her family definitely got on my nerves. The whole time I was rooting for her not to put up with their crap. The main character and I had a love/hate relationship for the most part. I didn't start getting into it until the 25 percent mark. Then the plot at times it was fast paced, and exciting. Other times it was really slow. Julia was very insecure, and very emotionally driven. She was definitely sheltered, even as an adult she was shocked by things that should be pretty common knowledge. At times she really had me rolling my eyes. Overall, at the end of the day I liked the story. She did grow, and learns that she doesn't have to be this scared and timid women. It really is a story of self exploration, and discovery. I suggest it to you if you like a story about a women who is on the verge of self discovery, with some romance added in.
Quotes I found interesting, and my reactions to them. (since I didn't do goodreads updates for this one):
- "There's a saying in the English language. Live your passion. Do what you love and the money will follow."-- I heard this from one of my favorite ever college teachers. I love this quote.
- "He shook his head. "You make it sound as if it's that easy, Elizabeth. Money is like a narcotic. The more you get, the more you want. It is remarkable how fast you can accomodate yourself to luxuries that this country has to offer; then something else quickly moves in. Greed. And you want even more. It won't be easy to walk away, just remember that."-- Very, very true.
- "Oh My Gosh, it's so loud here! It's like a madhouse, filled with drumming noise -- shouting and noisy conversations."-- Welcome to teaching children! Glad you could join us! :)
- "One teacher to twenty kids? I'm sorry, but this is beyond ridiculous. Isn't it obvious that they need more?! Don't they monitor these kids to see how fast they excel? If a child can't read well by the third grade what can he or she do later on in life? Oh my God, this grade and they can't read well!!"-- Welcome to the public education system.
- "I'm so selfish, all I do is worry about my own problems, about my own life being a mess, what about them? These kids could be killed any day. I can help them, but how?"-- I'm glad someone said it.
- "Why do I constantly overanalyze everything? Why not just have some fun"-- Please for the love of God just have fun. I'm sick of everything being overanalyzed.
- "I laughed out loud at that too. "Did I want to become an accountant all of my life? Of course, I did. Dreamt of it since I was five. When all the other girls in my sandbox wanted to become models and actresses, I glowed with tingling sensation for numbers!""-- There's that witty humor I love to hear. :)
I will definitely check out anything else that she puts out.
Rating:
out of 5
out of 5About the Author:
Julia was born in Minsk, Belarus. At the age of eleven, she immigrated with her family to the United States. She currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband and their daughter, Arielle.
She graduated from DePaul University in 2002 with a B.A. in Accounting and Finance. She also has an MBA from DePaul University in Entrepreneurship.
She studied Creative Writing with Jerry Cleaver at the Writer's Loft, and with Susan Breen at NYC Pitch and Shop, among many others. Additionally, Julia was one of the staff writers for the Chicago Holocaust Project, "Evidence of Holocaust: Never Forget."
Master Schedule Linky: http://atomrbookblogtours.com/2012/11/19/tour-hearts-storm-by-julia-sherman/
hearts storm looks like a great read. i haven't read any of julia's work as yet and would love to win a copy of the book
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