Groundbreaking Press
Break
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 At Groundbreaking
Press we are extremely proud of the things that reader's are saying
about the books we've published. The major credit, of course, goes to the
author. However, we take pride in producing books of high quality, and
believe that the look and feel, that we provide, plays a significant role
in the compliments these books have received. Below are
some of what readers have shared, we've organized the comments by book.
Here is a directory of the featured books:
As Best We Could
by Jean Marie McLain
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“[As Best We Could] is one of the
best books I have ever read in my life.” |
| LvR,
Austin, TX |
"I really cannot speak enough about
it, I loved it and frequently was moved by it. It was one of those
rare books that you don't want to end...you know, the kind of story
that when you see you are halfway through, your thought is, "darn,
just 250 pages more." My hat is off to Jean Marie, a gifted author." |
"I've been enjoying reading your book and could kick myself for not
doing so before this. It's terrific." |
"When you told me about your book of
the correspondence between a farm girl and her friend fighting for the
Union in the Civil War, I was wondering how you would handle such a
difficult topic; made even more difficult by the restraints of the
times, the required prudishness of the women, etc. You handled it
splendidly! The actions at home and at the battlefront come very much
alive. You (the reader) see them rolling before your eyes and much of
it becomes unforgettable. I laughed and cried reading it- mostly
cried- because there are so many sad and moving elements in the story.
[Reading it] was a joy, in fact, a magnet that kept me attached to
your writing for hours on end." |
"The introduction of your characters is brilliant. It is very
interesting, delightful, clever, happy and sad, and moves along
quickly. It is an excellent job. I continue to praise you for your
innovative writing, using olden day activities, such as the sap
boiling, syrup making, and sugaring off. I was wondering how I was
going to come down to an ending, but you have done that well too!!" |
"I am so amazed at your ability to make these characters come alive
on the page- they all have such distinct personalities. Your book is
wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am quite amazed at all the
research it must have required on your part. I learned much about the
Civil War I did not know. The romance between Jamie and Mary was
delightful." |
"I've been reading the book, and last night I got in bed to read
before going to sleep. I must say your book is a page-turner, and I
stayed up much longer that I should have! I realized that it has just
the right mix of romance, fact, and good storytelling! There is a lot
of intrigue and you keep wanting to see what will happen next. What a
wonderful book!" |
"I just this minute finished reading your wonderful book and had to
drop you a line with my praise for it! All of your characters are so
alive and the letters format an excellent way to tell their story.
Your pacing, your attention to detail, your organization, and your
clear writing all contribute to the excellence of the book. Needless
to say, I was on tenderhooks at a couple of points in the book! I will
certainly recommend it to many readers I know!" |
"It's the kind of book a man would buy for his lady to help her
understand why this Civil War stuff is interesting. And a good solid
story in its own right. As a reader, one comes to care for the
characters and want things to work out for them." |
| "We have
not met but I feel a bond since reading your wonderful As Best We
Could. I read it in a day and a half. In the last two years I have
become fascinated by the Civil War and have read about ten books so
far. Your book truly brought everything that I have read so far to
LIFE. I started reading your book and became engrossed as though I
were experiencing the same feelings as your Jamie and Mary. You have a
gift and it needs to be shared." |
"I just wanted to tell you I am really enjoying your book!" |
"Your level of scholarship about the war is amazing- but you make
it very real and readable. And the farm work too. Your characters are
beautifully drawn and very interesting. It made me cry a couple of
times![A friend] reported
to me this morning she has read more than 100 pages and LOVES your
book. She says you are a great writer, that she can hear the voices in
her mind. She wishes she didn't have to do other things so she could
just sit and read!" |
"What an amazing work from a talented
writer!" |
"Well, I finished reading your book last night. I could not put it
down and stayed up until 1 a.m. this morning to finish it. I loved it.
I was moved to tears on a number of occasions. The descriptions of
some of the battles were awesome. It was frustrating to me that I had
to put your book down from time to time. (Hate it when I have to go to
work.) I always know that when I can't get a book out of my mind for a
while, it is a keeper." |
"I've been asked to read other peoples' writings before, and always
before I've had to seek and search to find something constructive to
say, looking for that delicate turn of phrase that can encourage but
still give advice. This is not at all the case with As Best We Could.
I have been enjoying it thoroughly. The characters are charming. The
details are vivid. I laughed at Dusty's antics and cried at the lists
of those missing. I've held my breath to see how one correspondent was
going to react to the other's letter. I've been annoyed with Cicely
and Grandmother, and very angry with Father for selling off the lambs
without even asking. It is so human. It is so real. You have done an
astonishing and wonderful job." |
Survival
by Magda Herzberger
"It is extremely courageous of you to
record your experiences of one of history's darkest periods and I'm sure
that anyone who reads your book will not fail to be moved. Your book
will certainly have a place in our library."
Melinda Anderson, Research
Assistant
Holocaust Exhibition and Crimes Against Humanity
Imperial War Museum, London
"I am so blessed to have read your
book. Your beautiful style of writing is so eloquent. I felt as
thought you were setting next to me telling me your story. I was so
moved by your courage, self discipline, and faith. ... I have taken my
life for grated, and your example of how to really survive the worst
of times is a gift to me. I am keeping your book in full view, on my
coffee table, as a constant reminder of all I was blessed to learn
from reading your book."
Marti
"Thank you very much for the copy of your book
'Survival' which I received by post recently. I began to look through it
when it arrived thinking that I would read it in depth at a later time but
I found myself unable to put it down. It is extremely courageous of you to
record your experiences of one of history's darkest periods and I'm sure
that anyone who reads your book will not fail to be moved. Your book will
certainly have a place in our library."
Melinda Anderson
Research Assistant
Holocaust Exhibition and Crimes Against Humanity Imperial War Museum,
London
"I gave your book to be read by a
borrower who is also a Holocaust survivor. This person has read all the
Holocaust survivor books in the Library. Today she came in to tell me
how much your story affected her. ... She was overcome with emotion as
she spoke to me. She said you were very accurate with your descriptions
of Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen. In her opinion it is one of the best
books she has read on the Holocaust. She moved me to tears as she spoke
about some of her experiences. Although I have known her for a number
of years this was the first time she spoke to me about them."
Leonie Fleiszig,
Director- Makor Jewish Community Library,
Caulfield South Aust
"Your book Survival was mentioned in the article.
I ordered it through the local bookstore and have just finished it. I'm
sure others have told you it was a hard book to read and also to put down.
It must also have been a very difficult book to write. Your faith in God
and desire to live were so strong. It has be an inspiration to many."
Marge
"I have also been reading your book every
chance I get. While I am less than 100 pages from the end, I cannot
read too much at a time, yet I cannot seem to put it down. Your writing
is so natural and so fluid. Your life experience during the Holocaust
was riveting, depressing, horrific, hard to bear. I look forward to your
poetic verses."
Sari
"I just wanted to write you a short note
in letting you know I have purchased your book. Not only have I
purchased it, I started reading it yesterday. My gosh Magda, you have
quite the story to tell! Your story is remarkably brave. There are
parts in your book that are bringing me to tears. It's almost as if
your book is a movie and I can see the surroundings that you describe
inside my head. BRAVO!! BRAVO!!
It's a wonderful,
enlightening book! I am hoping (if it hasn't been done already) that a
college history class picks up your book for a required reading. It's
important for students to understand what happened through the eyes of
someone who lived it"
Teresa
"My name is Lynda Jodrie, and I had
the pleasure of meeting you at "Fiesta's" restaurant in Edwards back in
July. At that time I purchased your book "Survival". I just finished the
book and I wanted you to know that I am so glad that you were a
survivor of the Holocaust. I cried so many times while reading your
book and I had to put it down several times because it hurt so much to
read about the atrocities you and the millions of others had to bear. I
hope that your life since then has been filled with more happiness than
sadness and that God will look down upon you and your family with love
and kindness."
Lynda
"I was mesmerized by your story. It was
so tragic and yet so inspring. It is amazing what the human spirit, one
that is strong, can endure. And you are obviously very strong. Your
family gave you a great gift in your upbringing. Saddens me,
however, the awful things human being can do to each other. This is just
a brief note to let you know how impressed I was and that you have also
impressed my friend Linda a great deal. Thank you for sharing your story
with the world. It certainly needs to be told."
"God bless you. I just finished reading SURVIVAL.
Thank you for having the incredible strength to survive and keeping the
truth about this horrible time in history alive. Thank you for doing your
part to keep it alive with your writings and lectures. This recent book is
so well written, important and informative."
Daniel
"I have just finished reading your book - what a
remarkable chronicle of will and faith and triumph over unimaginable
adversity! ... Your survival very much reflects the survival of the Jewish
people - an unshakable faith and an unquenchable desire for justice and
knowledge. ... You have done our people proud - the impact of your story
on our children and grandchildren will ensure our survival - if an 18 year
old girl brought up in comparative luxury can survive the deprivations of
the Holocaust and tell her story in such a compelling and passionate
manner, future generations have an excellent example to follow in times of
adversity and deprivation, a critical factor in ensuring our survival."
Joe
"I finished reading
Survival last night…it is a
wonderful book! I basically read it in two sitting because it’s so
compelling to keep learning your story. As a Jewish woman, I’ve learned
about the atrocities of the Holocaust my entire life, ... . However, it
never ceases to shock, sadden, and enrage me when I hear a story like
yours. It is inexplicable to me how that was allowed to occur in our
modern, so-called civilized world. What you lived through is truly
miraculous and inspiring. What you witnessed is unbelievably tragic, and
it is a credit to you that you were able to move on with your life and
have so many positive experiences afterwards."
Shani
The Spiritual Side of
Sarah by Patricia Paris
"My wife also read the book, and, surprisingly, liked it a lot.
She's a tough critic, and a pentecostal minister to boot." |
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E. Alan Long, Carroll County
Newspapers, Berryville, Arkansas |
"I did enjoy the books. Sarah is a part
of so many individual personalities that we all know- even our own
at times. I became absorbed with her antics and yet wanting to
better understand and accept her tribulations while hoping she can
finally learn from her mistakes. ... A small Southern town with the
complexity of personalities living there, each with his/her own
problem-solving and the judgmental traits so often found is told in
an absorbing manner. I feel like I have known Sarah for many years,
and yet her characterization is fresh and exciting. I want to
respond, 'Tell me more'" |
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J. Huge Vernon, Houston, TX |
"Just finished The Spiritual Side of Sarah today and it was GREAT! I
could hardly put it down once I started reading it. My husband Jeff
is an ordained minister and raised in the Pentecostal Church. He and
I talked and laughed a lot about Sarah and he says Patricia Paris
got it all down right which must have required enormous research.
Jeff says he knew a lot of "Sarahs" in his day, those who thought
they were spiritually helping people with their lies. We also
discussed the recounting of the Tent Revival Evangelist and how Ms.
Paris got that right on the money too. I really got into Sarah but a
few times I wanted to slap her silly because she never seemed to
learn. This book is begging for a sequel!" |
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J. Ramey, The Christian Arsenal,
Loveland,OH |
"Hats off to Patricia Paris for the
delightful The Spiritual Side of Sarah. As with her first book, I
was again appreciative of the attention given to nostalgic detail
and the author's blending of the true characters of a given era with
fictional ones. Many a Tennessean will identify with shopping at
country music promoter/grocery chain operator Cas Walker's. Sarah
and her self-serving escapades had me laughing aloud, especially
those with the tent preacher." |
"This preacher's wife gives The
Spiritual Side of Sarah an A+ although I won't be giving this book
to my young granddaughter to read for a few years. Sarah deserves a
sequel; maybe we can make a saint outta her yet!." |
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"The Spiritual Side of Sarah sure kept
my attention. That Sarah is one ornery little lady. Couldn't help
but love her though. I have no doubt that anyone who picks up this
book will love it" |
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"Early on Patricia Paris moves easily
between characters developing them thru internal dialog. We see
right away Sarah saying and doing what she needs to get what she
wants. I notice unique interesting descriptions that typify good
writing. Very nice. Sarah's character is the primary one we see and
I find her disturbingly familiar. She's a hypocrite but so am I and
so are you. So are we all.
"But she is more than that. Hopefully
when we repent we know why and what for and come to the real Lord to
have a relationship with Him.
"The story Patricia Paris has given
us is not that one but it is one well worth reading. This story
reinforces my own experience that the Holy Spirit resides in
buildings of flesh rather than brick and mortar."
Click here to read the entire review. (Acrobat
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