REVIEW OF NOVEL "THE SIGN FOR DROWNING"

The Sign for Drowning by Rachel Stolzman

Rachel Stolzman's debut novel is beautifully written and taps into everyone's need to connect with someone outside themselves; healing past wounds in the process.

The Sign for Drowning is about Anna, a woman who has grown up haunted by her younger sister's death.  Keeping the world at bay, she delves into the world of sign language at first as an imaginary way to communicate with her sister, and later it will bring into her life Adrea.  Adrea is one of the deaf students at the school for deaf children where Anna works,and quickly Anna discovers that for the first time since her sister's death somone has access to her heart. 

What follows is Anna's journey into her past where she faces the devestating memories of her sisters death.  With Adrea's complete innocence and need for a mother, Anna may find the balm to finally soothe her wounded spirit.  If only she could find the courage to let the young girl in.

This book really touched my heart, and just LOOK at the COVER!  Georgous, right?  Stolzman's knowledge of American Sign Language and the culture of the deaf community resounds as a very sturdy backdrop for this story.  It renewed my interest in learning ASL, and the descriptions of the signs in the book are very easy to visualize. The book takes you through Anna's life in a gentle way and allowing you to experience her healing through the unconditional love of a little girl.  It also touched me on the adoption front as well.  Our youngest daughter is adopted, and there were several sections where I was nodding my head in agreement to some of the feelings Anna shared towards her daughter in respect to her being adopted.  FANTASTIC! 

I highly recommend this book!

You can read more about Rachel and her work, and to request a possible phone conference with the author for your reading group!  Click here.

And don't forget to watch for her interview in the coming days, and for our giveaway of a signed copy of her book! 

Stay tuned for my upcoming interview with Rachel and a giveaway of a SIGNED copy of her book! 


RATING:  4/5

SIGNED "OUTLANDER" GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, guys, I am practically HYPERVENTILATING OVER HERE!! 

Today I went to see Diana Gabaldon speak and read a couple of excerpts from "Echo in the Bone" AND THEN I was able to get a couple of books signed.  One for me, and ONE:

For the lucky winner of my awesome fantastic SIGNED BY AUTHOR "OUTLANDER" BOOK  GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!

You are only allowed to bring two books to sign, and I really really wanted to give her book away on here so more people can be turned on to her awesomeness... SO...

I am opening the contest to the US and Canada as I have purchased the book myself and will also cover the shipping.

 To enter:

• 
  
  submit a comment with your EMAIL address. (1)
  
• become a follower, or let me know you already are a follower and you get (3) more entries.
  
• Post this in your sidebar and you get (3) more entries!
  
• Twitter or post about this in the body of your blog and get another (3)
  

That is  total of 10 chances to win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 The contest ends on November 12th and the winner will be announced on November 13th, PLUS I will email the winner as well.  The winner will then have 7 days to respond with their mailing address.  If by Nov 29th I have not heard from the winner I will do another random draw. 

GOOD LUCK, HOSERS!  (for those of you that do not know what a Hoser is, I direct you to one of my FAVOURITE websites on the planet for die hard Gabaldon fans "The Ladies of Lallybroch" which was started by a Canadian hoser and now has hundreds of members and we check in and talk books!