Reviews of Happiness A Matter of the Mind: Vantage Point of an OctogenarianKirkus Discoveries[Review is available here]Reviews of My Life On Two ContinentsKirkus DiscoveriesA chronicle of a German woman’s harsh experiences in World War II Europe and her heartening immigration to America. It’s the minor details, bits of anecdotes and fragments of biography that suggest the rich life of Schmidt, who catalogues here her experiences growing up in Germany during WWII and her later move to the U.S. She voices her frustration at her family, who, through a bureaucratic loophole, denied her an education for many years, and her observations reveal the caprice of wartime rule, the benefits of Hitler’s early reforms of Germany and the author’s eventual disillusionment with the German people. Schmidt explores her attempts to navigate her feelings about her physical appeal, boys, sexuality, and dating—there’s a subtle sensual tone that runs through the narrative, providing a thoughtful contrast to the unsettling discussion of war deprivations and a frightening POW experience. Despite the hardships, Schmidt managed a much coveted trip to the U.S. What began as a research junket for a doctorate thesis led to a quick marriage and permanent location, and the author recalls the memorable encounters during her first years in the States—a Louis Armstrong concert in New Orleans, a voyage on a steamship up the Mississippi. Family life followed, with four children and their myriad adventures. Schmidt then addresses her trips back to Germany as an adult and her later European travels—appropriate topics for sparking introspection. Milton PalmerI separate this book into two parts. Part one is a facinating picture of Germany before and during World War II as seen through the eyes of a middle class German teenager. It shows how daily life was effected but still went on during the rise and fall of the Nazis and Germany. The second part of the book which describes the author's life in the United states was less interesting to me, but will be a valuable record for her family and friends. The book is written in a general upbeat style with a lot of dry humor. Shawn DubinI tend to read autobiographies of famous people, but this is a regular person who had unique experiences. I read it between autobios of Joan Collins and Dolly Parton, and the contrast was a great mix. Sometimes you have to realize you're reading star stuff to sell their stardom, and here was an interesting, valuable life of someone like me, except so different. I haven't read anything to date by someone who spent WWII in Germany and who wasn't Jewish. From everything she wrote, the author sounds like an unbiased, factual historian. I really enjoyed this book. Phyllis KreiderI first read this book because the author is my aunt. However, I soon realized that this is a great read about and by a talented storyteller who has led a fascinating life in fascinating times. To see how she dealt with each hardship with energy and determination and celebrated each success and happiness is a lesson for us all. You will not only enjoy reading this book -- it will inspire you! EndorsementsIn My Life on Two Continents, Mathilde Schmidt, a born historian and lover of words, uses family correspondence, her personal journals, and her remarkable memory to chronicle a long, full, and fascinating life. We are enriched by the words of this wise elder. Judith Spencer, Author of Suffer the Child
Readers of this book [My Life on Two Continents] will discover that Mathilde Schmidt is a rare combination of cultural traits. Many—her determination, thoroughness, and indomitability—we can credit to her German background and training. But there are many others, such as a hunger for knowledge, an inquiring mind, a love of drama and literature, we like to claim as part of her Americanization.
But let’s not be over hasty in ascribing this or that trait to one or another culture. Mathilde is Mathilde. In the course of adapting to widely changing circumstances during her life on two continents, she has in effect created her own unique self, an interesting companion always open to new experiences, such as writing this book.
Mathilde A. Schmidt is a keen observer of humanity—of acquaintances, family, friends, and even herself. This remarkable woman, though, is not content to sit on the sidelines of life. Instead, she embraces her world like the seasoned explorer setting forth on a fresh venture, greeting each day with equal parts enthusiasm, expectation, and curiosity.
My Life on Two continents captures Mrs. Schmidt’s love of life and interest in mankind and transports the reader on the author’s journey from war-torn Germany to post-war America. Mrs. Schmidt’s life voyage—from a child of a Bremen senator, through her youth during World War II and later as a wife, mother, educator, and historian in California—makes for a wholly satisfying, sometimes poignant, and always engrossing read.
Editor's Note on My Life On Two ContinentsiUniverse - Publisher/EditorStructure and OrganizationThe book starts off well. The first chapter is strong. It is evident that the author has a good command of her prose and knows how to tell a story. The organization is almost completely chronological, with the exception of the author’s education after she arrives in the US, the timeline takes a jog, backtracking to cover that material.The Table of Contents reflects the exact chapter titles. The material is presented in an attractive, consistent, and professional manner. The chapter titles are descriptive. The last chapter brings the timeline up to 2003 and has a summative close. Overall—the structure sufficiently informs and holds a reader’s attention. ContentThe subject is appropriate for the target audience (family, friends). It is timely and unique. And it solves a problem (setting down family history). The text is informative and engaging. The language level is appropriate. The writing is very polished. The genre is appropriate for the content. The genre reflects the author’s strengths as a writer.Overall CommentsThe content is original and informative. The material has sufficient narrative and emotional power to engage the target audience. The writing style is clear and smoothly wrought. The author has the appropriate credentials in the subject area.A fine piece of family/personal history. The writing is of high quality. As a family document, this is a real accomplishment. This really isn’t a commercial work, although in some places it does succeed on that level. Wider sales may not be something the author is concerned about. The focus of this book and presumably the intended audience is family. The author recounts that history very clearly, but doesn’t always bring the reader up to speed emotionally. In other words, she rightfully assumes an emotional connection because of the intended audience, which already knows and cares about the story. To change this would require an extensive rewrite, and it may not be what the author is really after. Again, as a family record, this is excellent work and it will no doubt be highly valued in years to come. Editorial Reviews of The Lake DwellersA-1 Editing Service, LLDOverall, Mathilde, the story is engaging, interesting, dynamic, and entertaining. The compilation concept is unique and hooks the reader immediately. The mini-story concept is certainly effective and holds reader interest. A good book should contain the following elements: plot, character development, atmosphere, overarching theme, and emotional passion. The plot is engaging and creative; it contains a sufficient amount of surprises and interaction to maintain reader interest. The characters, though many, are interesting people that readers can quickly relate to and exemplify fascinating backgrounds. The atmosphere is vividly depicted in some parts, and the scenery comes to life. Some parts are stronger than others, and I attempted to add visuals where needed to enhance the feel. The theme is strong and evident throughout, as the focus is on the Lake Dwellers and their tales. You stick to your theme masterfully. The emotional power is evident in the personal reflections and convictions of each new narrator. Again, this connects and inspires a personal response from the reader. Overall, the book is solid and different. I can’t stress “unique” enough! It’s refreshing for a change! I enjoyed your language and approach, and the simple way you express yourself, Mathilde! It’s a work to be proud of.Editor from Dorrance Publishing CompanyYou have taken a leaf from One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, providing the reader with an interesting range of stories—and have replaced a sole teller of tales, Scheherazade, with an equally interesting range of storytellers. It is a disparate group of people, living in proximity to each other, who form the Springlake Storytelling Circle in The Lake Dwellers.The Circle begins with Lotti’s family buying an A-frame mountain cabin in which to “get away from it all,” despite the reservation of her grandparents: “Every other weekend the family spends at the cabin, working together and enjoying life. Up to the time Grandma passed away, we picked up the grand-parents to come with us to the mountains and even help us …. We invite relatives and friends, and we children grow up much freer than we would if we had only our house in Oakland. Friends and relatives have followed our lead and have bought their own cabins and eventually it helps them to lead healthier lives. Now these meetings of our storytelling group are putting the last touch of beauty to our home away from home.” Members of the Circle take turns meeting at each other’s residences in the mountain lake vicinity. Whoever draws the black-dotted ticket at the end of a get-together becomes the narrator the next time the group gathers. Numerous tales are heard at the Storytelling Circle, which persists over many years. A story by an eighty-five-year-old reveals what she likes and dislikes about herself. One is about the power of a painting by Raphael. Another is about restoring an Austrian castle. A poet paints a word picture of a frog concert. A young boy spins one about a Loch Ness Monster-type inhabitant. A young mother gives an account of an unusual birthing procedure. A woman no longer young describes being cheated out of her sixteenth birthday party when Nazis rounded up all the Jews in her town. On and on the stories go, as one season turns into another season and one year turns into another year. The Lake area becomes more developed and a beautiful library is built. Lotti and the other children of “The Lake Dwellers” grow up, and some have children of their own and sometimes pass down the earlier stories to them. Members of the Storytelling Circle travel and change careers—or even religions. They marry (including a quadruple wedding), or even divorce, or pass away, but the stories go on. Like Scheherazade, the spirit is kept alive by the stories. The Lake Dwellers is an evocative work that puts a reader in touch with the circle of life. It might be selected by someone who wants or needs a reminder that the good life is not necessarily about “entertainment” at malls and on flat screen TVs and “relationships” made on the Internet. |