Books

ADELINE IN A GYMNASTICS JAM

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Five-Star Review by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite

Adeline in a Gymnastics Jam is a short story by Martha Louise that follows a young talented gymnast as she adapts to a new environment in the pursuit of her dreams. Tired of her old routine and eager to learn new moves and rise up levels, Adeline joins a new gymnasium full of hope and determination. But her spirits dampen when she finds out that her new teammates aren’t nearly as welcoming as she had previously assumed. She immediately makes an impact and impresses her coaches with her hard work and talent. However, some girls in her team start teasing Adeline, calling her names and refusing to acknowledge her. But she takes everything in her stride and continues to persevere. Adeline soon learns that it is often unhappy people who lash out against others.

A moving story that teaches the values of resilience, empathy, and compassion, Adeline in a Gymnastics Jam is full of heart, charm, and warmth. Author Martha Louise draws inspiration from her own experiences with her daughters to create an engaging tale for children that contains some vital lessons for life. Adeline is a kind- hearted, curious, and tenacious child who must overcome the rude behavior of her peers to pursue her dreams. Along the way, she learns to appreciate the merits of forgiveness, understanding, and empathy. She is an immensely likable character who is easy to root for. The illustrations by Carol Watson add another wonderful touch to the tale. Adeline in a Gymnastics Jam is a thoroughly absorbing read for preteens.

Adeline in a Gymnastics Jam available for purchase here.

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MARRIED TO MERLOT: A MEMOIR WITH A MESSAGE OF HOPE

Please see book club questions below and invite me to your book club gathering! Spoiler warning–please read Married to Merlot before you view the questions.

Five Star Review by Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite

Married to Merlot: A Memoir With a Message of Hope by Martha Louise is a heartrending memoir that chronicles the author’s personal life, marred with grief and tragedy, a husband suffering from post-war stress, depression, and alcoholism. The author speaks about her life with her husband Mike, an alcoholic, and how she learned to rely on God to achieve serenity and a quiet stillness in her heart. The memoir speaks about how many of the soldiers that return home after war – from Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan find it difficult to adjust to society and life after being in traumatic situations in countries outside their own. It is a memoir of pain, self discovery, belief, and healing that will give hope and courage to readers in dealing with the adversities in life.

I liked the way the author combines poetry and prose when it comes to speaking about her sadness, anger, empathy, happiness, and love. The book is honest, bold, and straightforward and the author takes readers into her personal space unapologetically, giving insights about a marriage that was destroyed by alcoholism and PTSD. Her grief, pain, and dealing with addiction will resonate with many readers and this memoir will give them hope and courage. The author’s struggle in dealing with life and her personal challenges are tragic and her strength to pursue and achieve happiness and peace in her life is encouraging to many. The memoir will motivate many readers to deal with the challenges in their lives and rediscover joy and happiness.

Married to Merlot available for purchase here.

BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS

1. What did you like best about this book?
2. Martha Louise included embarrassing elements in her writing.  Why did she include these?  Would her admissions be helpful to others?  How?
3. What were Martha’s greatest weaknesses?  Did she turn these around and find her strengths?  How?  What were her strengths? Can strengths also be weaknesses, and, if so, how could they impact a person’s choices?
4. After analyzing her marriage, Martha’s desperation became more evident. Was that because she was accustomed to being in control and the lack of it only added to her despair?  Describe evidences of her desperation.  Did you ever think she too would become embittered and not be able to free herself? Why or why not?
5. Do you think the author wanted her husband back or was her loss of control feeding her thoughts and actions?
6. Describe codependency and provide examples of it in the story.
7. Discuss the mystical events that occurred in her story.   Were they coincidental encounters?  Have you had similar experiences?
8. The author made it clear she did not want to repeat the relationship pattern she experienced with her husband with a subsequent partner. She did feel herself slipping into a similar pattern with Jack.  She recognized it, however, and terminated the relationship. Do you believe that experience helped her resolve the repetition of those relationship patterns? Could she have broken those patterns without experiencing them this way? 
9. Discuss the symbolism of the honor guard service for Mike.  How did the service and the rituals in that service contribute to the further healing of this family?
10. Martha describes a picture of her and her three daughters surrounding her first grandchild and makes the statement: “Somehow, when I look at the five of us in that picture, I feel we have come full circle; the ends of the circle have reconnected.” (page 271) What do you think she meant?
11. What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this book? What ideas was she trying to convey? Who did she really write her memoir for?
12. Why do you think the author chose to tell this story?