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Loading... From my Mother: a novel (edition 2011)by Margreet Dietz (Author)
Work InformationFrom my Mother: a novel by Margreet Dietz
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As experienced marathoner Nadia embarks on her biggest challenge yet, a 100-kilometre ultrarun, her thoughts turn to her maternal grandmother, who immigrated to the Netherlands in the early 1950s as a young widow, escaping Czechoslovakia in the aftermath of a Communist coup d'etat. As Nadia struggles with unexpected obstacles in the longest race of her life, the parallels with her grandmother become clearer. However, Nadia also realizes that Oma, now 94, has been tested far more than her granddaughter likely ever will. No library descriptions found. |
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Nadia is an experienced marathoner who is going after her most challenging goal yet - completing a 100-kilometre ultrarun; but as she begins putting the pavement behind her, she discovers that the past - her maternal grandmother's specifically - is the reason her family is free to pursue what they love. Grandmother, Oma, was a widow in 1950's Czechoslovakia after a communist takeover. She managed to escape to the Netherlands, but her journey was long and difficult. Now ninety-four, and living in a senior apartment, Oma's past has made her fearful and paranoid of the future. Although Oma and Nadia's lives are similar in certain ways, Nadia knows that she will never have to suffer as much as Oma did earning her family their freedom.
Review:
I was quite taken back by how much this book actually moved me. It is a very touching and genuine story of love and survival from one generation to the next. I wasn't too crazy about the running aspect, but I quickly got over it, because the story-lines, (ultrarun and grandma Oma), meshed and flowed so well. I may not be a fan of running, but I felt like the two topics crossed-over and worked nicely together. The technical runner's language didn't distract from the stories of the two women, but made it stronger. Margreet Dietz is talented with words, and her experience with ultrarunning makes this a must-read for runners/athletes of all levels. It is a very motivational book, full of emotion - a marathon of words - that take the reader through the highs and lows of a family's past and present.
Rating: Bounty's Out (3.5/5)
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ( )