Nov 5-16, 2007

Marlo Thomas knows that the right words at the right time can make all the difference, whether it’s a thought that sets you on a new path or a sentiment that brings much-needed comfort.

Thomas’s second volume of The Right Words at the Right Time follows on the heels of her bestselling first volume. Though the first book recorded the right words for celebrities, this second volume brings you the turning points of average citizens. Publisher’s Weekly describes the book as “genuine, home-cooked comfort food”:

“That Girl” Thomas follows up her bestselling inspirational volume, which collected stories from luminaries describing times when well-chosen words impacted their lives, with this collection of personal essays from more than 90 “ordinary Americans,”, selected from thousands of submissions to a national contest. From the experience of a naval officer who comes to a major career decision in a Burger King to a woman’s epiphany at a Zen Buddhist Monastery in Japan, these simple, touching stories highlight the moments when the right phrases or comments made a life-changing difference.

Where to find more juicy goodness:

Â	Marlo Thomas on the Today Show

Here’s what MotherTalk reviewers are saying:

Laura Williams’ Musings was glad to discover that the book was a series of short stories rather than an advice book of sorts. She writes, “Some of the stories in the book stuck out more to me than others and one in particular had me shaking my head right along with it. The short story about Guinea Pigs, Pancakes, and Why I Hate Nike by Ame Stargensky, had me laughing as well as thinking ‘Yep, I’m doing it too… everyday, with 7 children’.”

Stirrup Queens couldn’t stop reading. “The stories are pretty addictive. They’re brief–maybe three pages–but you end up popping them into your eyes (perhaps not the best imagery) like Doritos. The writing itself is simple–but you realize how much words can make or break a moment in time.”

The Not Quite Crunchy Parent actually found a message for herself in the book. “The one that stuck with me is oddly enough one that I’ll remember when I hit the proverbial blogging wall: ‘Shut up and Work.’ I like a book that’s direct!”

Our Seven Qtpies recommends Right Words as a great gift. “The very first story had me crying. I am a bit patriotic, and maybe a little sentimental, and the story just hit right in my heart.”

Mamma Loves found a connection between the book and blogging while reading the book’s introduction. “I had been seriously questioning blogging, the time I spend doing it, the purpose of it all, but in reading these words I recognized exactly what I loved about the blogging community–so many interesting souls offering up their words to others. I know that many of those words had resonated strongly with me and I only hope one or two of mine may have had the same affect.”

Family Living; Hatfield Style could relate to the stories. “I enjoyed it. I related to the authors of these stories because they were everyday citizens, like you and like me, as opposed to the celebrities featured in the first book. I felt like I had more in common with these people even if it was just the fact that the paparazzi doesn’t care about my every last move.”

Reading Writing Living felt like she was listening in on an interesting conversation. “Once I started reading the personal stories, I felt as if I were sitting in someone’s living room, someone whose living room I might not ever visit, people I wouldn’t normally run across, know, or be friends with. I can’t resist when people tell their personal stories. I am the kind of person who doesn’t mind when someone starts talking to me on an airplane (I generally don’t initiate conversations, but I don’t avoid them, either).”

Letters to My Daughters was particularly moved by the story “Zen and the Art of Trying.” “The author spent just a day and a half in a Buddhist monastery in Japan. In the midst of the hard work of chores, she exclaims that she isn’t doing a good job. ‘There is no good. And there is no bad. All that matters is how much you try,’ the resident nun told her. I don’t know about you, but I could hear these words a hundred times a day.”

MysticSpiral Studio News spoke about wishing she knew the rights words to say at certain times and adds, “if you are a person who loves to read heart warming stories, or you’re looking for a gift for someone who is going through a rough time, this might be a nice book to tuck into a basket with some great tea, a cosy blanket, and a soothing cd.”

After the Bubbly marveled at how she devoured the stories. “I started reading, satisfied with my cleverness, but I didn’t count on the engaging and somewhat addictive quality of the personal anecdotes shared so generously. More than even the words spoken to various ordinary people all over the country, what impressed me was how the entire course of a life can be altered in a single moment. I couldn’t stop turning pages. And each story goes so quickly you’re ready for another.

Reverend Mother commented on the fact that this second book of stories were hardly common even though they weren’t written by celebrities like the first book in the series. “I hesitate to call the people in this latest book ordinary; many are quite extraordinary, including folks who have persevered in some very trying circumstances. There are plenty of stories about people fighting breast cancer or facing garden-variety life decisions, but I was particularly touched by the stories of people overcoming serious addictions and individuals who were or are in prison; their experience is so different from mine, yet very articulately described. Some stories are happily-ever-after; others have more indeterminate endings. I found myself drawn to the latter. In those cases the right words didn’t so much provide the key to all mysteries so much as provide manna for another day.”

The Life and Times of This New Mommy thought the book provided a dose of heart-warming. “A nice feature is that the Table of Contents organizes the essays by topic, making it easier to find the sort of encouragement you seek.”

Life as Lou compared it to Canfield’s series. “This book reminded me a lot of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books- it has the same blend of warm fuzzy moments and determined hopefulness.”

Zen Sarcasm split her time between reading and sniffling, much to the chagrin of her husband. “After getting several more headshakes, I started pushing the book under his nose to read a few of the vignettes. And I don’t know exactly which one got to him –made him grow silent, made him think, made him protest– but soon thereafter he stopped picking on my blubbering and would squeeze my hand whenever I’d let out a treacly little whine.”

Jenn’s Journal found the right words inside the book. “Then I got to a story about a young man dying of cancer. He tells his brother: Everyone wants to be on the mountaintop all the time. It’s a beautiful sight when you get there. But nothing grows on the highest peaks. The growth is in the valleys. I’m just growing. And that spoke to me. The real beauty is in the every day. That you can grow in the dark times. I don’t know if that set something off or if I’m hormonal, but I got a little misty eyed at the rest of stories in the book.”

So a Blonde Walks Into a Review was changed by the book. “You’ll find yourself looking for opportunities to reach out to those around you with a compliment, sympathy, encouragement, advice, etc. As a mother, those opportunities can be found in my everyday life, as well. My children and my husband are the first people that my words touch, and I want to make sure it is always in a positive sense.”

Actual Untouched Photo left it out for others to enjoy too. “This would be a great book for…the coffee-table . . . each story is a quick read, a little morsel of inspiration.”

Toddler Planet mused on the power of our words. “It’s an interesting look at the effect that we can (intentionally or unintentionally) have on people through our words, surely an appealing thought for any blogger.”

Baggage and Bug also couldn’t stop reading the inspirational stories. “There are 101 stories from all people of all walks of life, so it was easy to find stories that touched me in some way. I found myself saying, ‘Just one more..Just one more story’ until I realized I had read the whole book.”

Zen Mother told a fantastic story about the right words that came for her at the right time. You need to go over and read the entire story, but as a teaser: “She just looked at me like I had grown a second head and than said “Girl (as she always called me) if you want him…go get him.” That was a light bulb moment for me…realizing that duh..it was my choice! I made a decision right then and there and that guy fishing has been my best friend now for 14 years and my husband for nearly ten years.”

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 at 2:11 pm and is filed under Books. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.