Book Synopsis from the back cover of the book
What do Bertha, Grandma Minnie Mae, Rita and Lizzie, lime green spandex capris, a purple tube top, open-toed high-heeled sandals, red hair, black cat-eye glasses, the cat, and pink flamingos have in common?
Bertha-Size Your Life! the first work by author, Jane Carroll introduces her readers to all of the above plus so much more. She chronicles the man life-adventures of Bertha and her friends.
Bertha-Size Your Life! is a fast read, a must read, that leaves the reader feeling uplifted and positive. There is an introspective infusion incorporated into each chapter that leaves you with the realization that Bertha’s life experiences parallel our own much of the time. Each chapter is a joyous encounter in the pursuit of life.
Blips
Who would you get if you crossed Lucy and Oprah? Why Bertha, of course! A zany redhead, who is always up to something and drags her sidekick along with her while she’s dispensing down-home wisdom and perky advice for finding balance and joy in one’s life. Throw in a conniving nemesis, an antagonistic cat, lime green spandex and high-heels and you’ve got Bertha-Size Your Life, a book that’s sure to tickle your funny bone and leave you wearing your thinking cap as you read and reread each vignette.
Bertha-Size Your Life reads like a series of humorous short stories but it is so much more. Bertha, a zany redhead, is always up to something and drags her sidekick along with her while she’s dispensing down-home wisdom and perky advice for finding balance and joy in one’s life. Throw in a conniving nemesis, an antagonistic cat, lime green spandex and high-heels and you’ve got a book that’s sure to tickle your funny bone and leave you wearing your thinking cap as you read and reread each vignette.
Order a copy for yourself, your Mama, your sister, your friend, your daughter, and even that cranky old lady down the street. They’ll thank you for it and that cranky old lady…well…she just may not be so cranky after all.
(I often say…Bertha-Size Your Life! is where ah ha meets ha ha…)
Book Reviews
Just who is this Bertha? She’s you, me, and every other woman you’ve known who needs to “listen” to her own voice and make the world be quiet.
Her mantra? Be as nice to yourself as you are to others.
In my opinion, a great place to start would be by reading, Bertha-size Your Life!
If I used one word to describe this book it would be, F-U-N. But then again, there’s another; “revelations.” And yet another; “perspective.” My list goes on and on. I enjoyed this read so much that I finished in two days.
Jane Carroll opens her story with the “Empty Nest” blues as her last child leaves via the altar, but she quickly turns the theme around into a wonderful adventure of enlightenment, encouragement, and self-love… She shows us how to really live.
As the story begins, she’s jogging in the park and meets a woman named Bertha. After friendly exchanges, the two decide the role of room-mates fits them well. As soon as Bertha moves in, life changes and might I say, all for the better. It truly gives new meaning to the phrase, “When the student is ready…” Bertha’s lifestyle is all about taking time to smell the roses, literally on some days. She offers how life is meant to be embraced, cherish…and how drifting is not an option. There’s no room for “woe is me” in this book.
Each day (and Chapter) begins with a new adventure, and a flashy new wardrobe, I might add, by the simple question being asked, “Bertha, what are you doing?” I quickly learned that once these lines were read, Bertha would emerge; sometimes climbing on her soapbox and delivering “aha” moments, and other times using life-altering analogies coated with wisdom that couldn’t be denied, no matter how far one’s head is buried in the sand.
This book gives the reader much more than chuckles. In the end, you fully understand. It’s like Bertha says, nothing is more important than feeling good about me, and it’s okay to ask for help when you need it. Bertha helps you to connect with your inner child AND spirit, once again. She teaches us that letting go of some impossible situations, or people, is okay, and that fitting everyone into your life is not mandatory. Even complete acceptance of some situations can be a form of letting go. Another lesson; it’s okay to distance yourself from concerns to gain a better perspective, even if this involves taking a day off work, wearing a silly hat and hitting the beach. Entitlement; it’s a good thing.
