Tag Archives: book-reviews

Good People, Weeek Thirty-Eight in the No Longer New Abnormal

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During the pandemic I started listening to Glennon Doyle’s podcast.  I truly enjoy her honest and funny stories that entertain and invite us to challenge ourselves and grow.  I don’t have a direct quote, but she said at one point that when she started her podcast she spoke to each individual, understanding their importance, even when others were telling her she had to grow her audience.  I come back to that again and again as others in the publishing industry and related fields, give a hundred different ways to grow an audience.  These suggestions and tips require time, sometimes soft selling, and more often than not, money.  What is not mentioned is that bigger may be good for sales of my book, but it is not always better for me.  Helm

For example, I had a most wonderful experience this week.  My local Barnes & Noble was kind enough to host a reading of my book In the Time of Coronavirus, Reflecting on the Past to Create a Joyful Future.  It’s a smaller branch with limited space for a reading.  I posted on social media, but did not do a blitz campaign.   Larry, my husband, also, thoughtfully posted on Facebook.  I was hesitant to post more given the limited space.  Many people could not make it but were so caring to send well-wishes.  I came to the event, a bit nervous since I’m not a public speaker and tend to fumble when reading.  As it turned out each and every person who attended the intimate event was special to me.  It meant so much that they personally were there.  The questions were thoughtful, the response was supportive.  It was deeply gratifying to see and enjoy their company at something that meant a lot to me.  

An experience like that is rare.  I remember my dear friend, no longer with us, Michael DePrisco, who hosted an amazing 21st birthday party for me.  He went above and beyond to invite friends from my past and present.  He found a baker to create a special cake so I could enjoy it despite whatever crazy diet I was on for the moment. He hosted it at one of my favorite Philadelphia restaurants. The party was so special.  But I was stuck on friends who didn’t come.  It was hard to for me appreciate who was there.  I am so grateful that in the over forty years since then I could learn that what is in front of us is more important than what ideas we made up in our heads.  I’m sad that because I was stuck on those absent I was not as good a friend to Michael as he deserved.  

Each person who came to the book reading took time out of busy schedules.  They bought books, they gave their undivided attention when they could have been anywhere else.  I am so grateful for that level of kindness and generosity.  My book may never become a best seller.  Or, it may despite my lack of “building a platform.” But doing this reading and hearing responses has been an ongoing gift orfrecognizing the specialness in those I know and love.  

Self-Help Tips:

  • Close or cover one eye and notice what you see and what that perspective is.  Now switch eyes.  Notice the differences. What changes when you switch eyes?  Now look through both eyes.  See if you can recognize an expanded view.  
  • Take a moment following an interaction or a get-together.  What are you feeling?  What do you notice about yourself?  Sometimes we are not able to see who nourishes us, or what situations are best for us.  An interaction may be challenging, but we can feel empowered following the exchange. Conversely, we can think someone is “nice” but afterwards we are critical of ourselves or feel bad about ourselves in some way, indicating that person may not be as good for us as we had thought.  
  • By simply putting our forks or spoons down while tasting and chewing our food, we automatically slow down and create greater conscious dining.  
  • Pick up a signed copy of In the Time of Coronavirus at the Upper Eastside at Third Ave and 87th St.  Or, purchase it online for more than two hundred self-care tips and more. 

An Anniversary, Week Twenty-Seven in the No Longer New Abnormal

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It’s something of an irony that my and my husband’s 27th wedding anniversary is on the 27th week of this year.  I like coincidences like that.  When the stars align, I feel good all over.  Twenty-Seven years is probably the longest commitment to anything I’ve done in my life.  I like variety, so in the past I could do something for a while and then I’d move on.  I took a very different tactic for our marriage.  While Larry is someone who likes routines and enjoys what he knows, I like to try new things, preferring to being adventurous rather than staying in place.  Though we were a bit older than our contemporaries when we got married, I was 38 to Larry’s 45, we had a lot to learn about relationships, particularly long-term relationships.  

Since our respective backgrounds varied a bit, we each brought a bit of balance.  I learned to enjoy the here and now more, while Larry learned to enjoy exploring.  I expanded my love of rock & roll, bluegrass and country music.  And Larry learned to enjoy solo performers and some Broadway & off-Broadway musicals.  I learned to appreciate food on the road, while Larry eats more salads now.  The list goes on, but you get the point.  There’s give and take.  

And, because life isn’t fair, we’ve had our share of hardships.  We’ve weathered storms we weren’t sure we’d get through.  And, we’ve experienced unexpected joy, which has encouraged us to keep going.  So here we are in the 27th week of 2024, celebrating 27 years of marriage, and all that goes with it.  I’m proud of our stick-to-itedness.  It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been rewarding.  And for that I am eternally grateful.  

Self-Care Tips:

  • When we are spending time with someone who is very different than us, be curious.  See if their interests can help us to grow in any way.  
  • Celebrate pride.  Or, as an ally of LGBTQ+, show  support for all those who haven’t always had a chance to live openly proud.  
  • Hum.  Humming can be a mood lifter.  

It’s Hard Being Hard on Myself, Week Twenty in the No Longer New Abnormal

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In thinking about what to write this week I wondered if I should write about Mother’s Day.  But I decided that rather than writing more on the day that brings up so much for so many, I’ll limit my input by briefly folding it into the self-care tips, Then there have been amazing pictures online of the rare Aurelia Borealis.  Though I didn’t witness it myself, those who captured the colorful wonder have posted images that defy words.  What I’ve settled on is to say that when I reread my book a couple of months ago, In the Time of Coronavirus, for the last look before submitting it for publication, I became very uset.  I thought, “Who do I think I am?’ and “what could I have been thinking?” and, “This is bad. I’m so embarrassed!”  I have a long history of berating myself.  At that moment I questioned my writing, and my hubris for thinking I could put a book out into the world.  

I very down on myself.  But I had gotten so far and I decided to give the final go-ahead, knowing I’d have to with all my feelings.  It had been a dream of mine to be an author, and it was okay if this was my first, if flawed, book.  I had learned a lot and I still have a lot to learn, so this would be a dream come true, even if there were things that upset me.  

Once it was in pre-publication, the publishing date is June 4th, a few early reviews came in.  They were very positive.  The reviewers didn’t know me, nor did they have any incentive to write nice things about the book.  Once I read a couple, I realized how hard I had been on myself, and, in turn, the book.  Maybe I was simply wrong.  Or I had unreasonable expectations.  Not a rare trait.  Just ask my family.  I am grateful that others have been able to appreciate what I couldn’t.  Though I know it’s probable that there will be mixed reviews, depending on the reader, it’s nice to know it will find its audience, and that is just fine.  

Here are a few quotes from the reviews:  

From Kirkus:

 “Zinn writes in an unadorned style that feels both accessible and intimate. She discusses her subjects with gentle authority while making no claims to having all the answers.”

And:

“A pandemic remembrance that succeeds as both memoir and self-help guide.”

From the Book Commentary:  

“In her poignant collection of reflections and self-care strategies, In the Time of Coronavirus, Janet Zinn examines the tumultuous landscape of the pandemic with grace and wisdom.”

And:

“This book might be about coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, but its wisdom is timeless, a message to accompany and inspire readers through any difficult moment.” 

From The Feathered Quill:  

“With its intimacy centering on Zinn’s experiences and its universality deftly depicted to reach the hearts and minds of others, her book is sure to fulfill the purpose she envisioned.”

And: 

“ Janet Zinn’s self-help manual, In the Time of Coronavirus, offers an empathic, week-by-week view of the effects of coronavirus restrictions that will be read and appreciated by anyone seeking to solve a large variety of life’s problems.”

Though I was harsh with no clear perspective, I am open to the fact that my opinion in that dark place was purely subjective.  I’m hopeful that other readers will find In the Time of Coronavirus useful and supportive when life’s difficulties emerge.  In the end, my first book served its author when I was being too tough on myself.  

Self-Care Tips:

  • Do what you can to reparent yourself.  If your mother or caregiver was kind and accepting, you can replicate that care towards yourself.  If your primary caregiver or parent was not someone who matched your needs, then find a way to be compassionate towards yourself for what you didn’t receive but can now give to yourself.  
  • Another way to reparent yourself is to notice when you are being critical of yourself and ask “what can I do to be more accepting of what I’m going through?” And, “can I give myself something that might support me through this?”
  • Gift yourself a future copy of  In the Time of Coronavirus.   You can go to https://janetzinn.com or go to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, request it from your local library, or from an independent bookstore or book seller.