“Hard To Place”
Italian Tribune: Date March 19, 2009
Review
As a rule this newspaper reviews books by Italian authors or about travel to Italy. We have introduced you to some vivid Italian novels and life experiences. This week I will make an exception to my Italian rule… and this will also mark the writing of my first book review. I am usually writing for the “foodies” and Italian travelers…
Recently I was invited to a cocktail party-book signing for a friend. I was elated for her. Because we had an author in our midst, two other friends hosted the party in her honor. I happily RSVPed and off I went to see my golf buddy and share her joy. After much air kissing and hugs we all settled in with our wine as our friend read excerpts in her soft expressive voice from her newly published book. It was impressive and I had her autograph it to me, and as she penned her name I couldn’t help but feel her accomplishment and her pride in what she had done.
Soon after, I left, met friends for dinner, went home and began to read the book,
Hard to Place by Marion Goldstein. The cover of the book had the smiling faces of her two adorable adopted sons, Kurt and Eddie. This poignant book cover was designed by a mutual friend, Ron Travisano, and it exuded his talents through the expressive eyes of these two helpless children in 1971.
I couldn’t put the book down once I started it. To read a story with the depth and heart of this one and to know the actual people who are sharing the last 30 years of their lives with you is quite an experience.
The book begins in the late 1960’s and details the life of a suburban housewife with three young children (two boys and a girl), and one on the way. It will begin to center on her unborn son that she will name John. It then unfolds into a drama of life, death, depression, alcoholism, illness, accomplishment and business, but most of all about the experience of loving people and adoption.
The reader will travel through one strong and courageous lady’s life as she details the adoption of two “hard to place” brothers and their pre-adoption horror story. You will read with much interest how they melded into this very special family and the three biological children’s acceptance of it. These three children were exceptional in every way, as they loved and supported their new brothers and their parents.
I never felt this was only a story about adoption, although it certainly makes you open your mind and heart to the beauty of it. But rather a story of one woman’s quest to give her two adopted sons as well as her own biological children, a home of love and care and education as she herself grows in her role as mother and wife. Through it all, she receives her BA degree, a Master’s degree, holds her marriage together, and cares for her daughter with Juvenile Diabetes, while always attending to the emotional needs of her precious Kurt and Eddie. Through this she discovers faith, religion and poetry along the way. Then, 25 years later, that day she waited for came – Kurt and Eddie wanted to find their biological parents. The emotion of that journey will keep your attention to the end.
Follow this amazing story narrated by this amazing lady of faith and courage – I did until 5:45am when I finished it the same night I started it. It’s a must read…. Brava Marion!
Reviewed by M.A. Fortunato. Italian Tribune, March 19th, 2009
April 2009
Hard to Place is not only an adoption story, but also a memoir of a family that reads like a novel. Although the circumstances leading this family to adoption are not typical, after the loss of their fourth child at birth (a biological child), the feelings and experiences will touch anyone who has adopted a child.
As a parent of both a biologic and an adopted child I found myself relating to many of the emotions described in the book. Hard to Place traces the adoption process as well as details the story of the Goldstein family, and their five children. We see strength of the family bond as it deals with Juvenile Diabetes, alcoholism and of course every adoptive parents concern, search and reunion.
The mystery of the two adopted boys beginning is both suspenseful and heartbreaking.
The love and support that they are given by their adoptive parents and siblings is so strong it leaves you with an understanding of what "family" really means.
I highly recommend Hard to Place. It is a beautifully and sensitively written story of family.
Carol Mintzer
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