BookTrib’s Bites: Four Reads That Will Capture Your Heart

(NewsUSA) - The Forgotten Man: A Journey Through the Ashes by Stanley S. Seidner

A powerful epic that chronicles the adventurous life of David Wdowinski, a tragic and brilliant psychiatrist, Holocaust survivor, and Revisionist leader during the epoch of the Warsaw Ghetto Rebellion. The author uses 50 years of painstaking research to weave a gripping tale from unpublished documents — including family letters, diaries, and previously unknown evidence — creating a spellbinding narrative that takes readers from the times of murderous pogroms and nationalist anti-Semitism through the Holocaust.

Vividly evoking Wdowinski and his turbulent times, this is a riveting historical psychological portrait of a man many considered to be a paragon of strength and virtue. Arguably the controversial apotheosis of heroic leadership in the Warsaw Ghetto, Wdowinski gave critical testimony at the Eichmann trial and helped to establish a Jewish State. Devastating and unflinching, the book masterly reveals a story of devastating loss and its consequences upon personal identity. Purchase at https://amzn.to/40K97te.

Progress Not Perfection by Alison Ashby

In the manner of Mary Karr’s Lit, this is a raw and mesmerizing addiction memoir from a new and upcoming author which explores her unique story of alcohol addiction and the drastic impact it had on her life and career.

Alison Ashby was not always an alcoholic. An ambitious, strait-laced child and academic young adult, Ashby became a dedicated teacher and social worker. A talented writer and insightful cultural observer, Ashby describes how she hid a terrible and destructive secret from her family, husband, and co-workers.

With gripping passages, Ashby’s story is a cautionary tale filled with unforgettable description of severe Alcohol Use Disorder and subsequent brushes with disaster. But the center of the book is her journey from an alcoholic teetering on the edge of mortality to proud woman in recovery.

With breathtaking honesty and injections of humor, Ashby delivers a riveting message of hope, courage, and resilience. Purchase at https://amzn.to/40yhMyK.

The Art of Bending Time: A Forbidden Return by Quinn Jamison

Lavinia is lost without the world she left behind. The only way forward is to find herself again. Almost nothing seems to help until she meets a friend at a library she often visits for solace. Except there seems to be something strange about the place; Lavinia is hearing whispers from the other side again, and not only the voice she wishes to hear.

The more she discovers, the stranger the secrets that unfold. Her newfound hope spurs on a dangerous and forbidden endeavor. With support along the way, Lavinia strives to never give up on the man she refuses to call a ghost. In the face of many obstacles, time itself is most troubling. She fights to keep him, but will she actually succeed? Despite the formidable ramifications of time, Lavinia's true destiny awaits her. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3VonLEC.

The Three O’Clock Calls by Tom Smith

Bright, persistent ringing ripped Tom from sleep. He rolled over, fumbled for the reading light beside his bed, and reached for his phone. As he answered the call, he saw the time: 3:00 a.m. Nothing good comes from a three o’clock call.

“This book is a beacon of hope for anyone navigating grief or hardship,” writes one Amazon reviewer. “The author’s story of enduring unimaginable tragedy yet finding strength through faith is both inspiring and deeply moving. His openness and resilience remind us that no matter how dark life may seem, hope is always within reach. This heartfelt journey reassures readers that they are never alone in their struggles.”

Says another reviewer, “The author wrote about tragic events that were heartbreaking but then told a beautiful story about his faith and the strength of his family. During the most heartbreaking moments, he found peace and comfort.” Purchase at https://bit.ly/4gmz1J4.