The Change Artist by Carla Rieger is a thought-provoking journey into the effects of war on a family.
My book review rating: 5 stars – this book is heart-warming and thought-provoking and one I will definitely read again
The Change Artist tells the story of Fran Freeman, a woman who has spent her whole life trying to please her father, and finds herself on a journey to the other side of the world, in search of a sister she never knew she had and the answers she needs to understand her father’s past and clear his name in a legal case.
From modern day Vancouver, Rieger takes us on a journey back to the 1930s in Vienna, into Germany in wartime and then across the Sahara Desert as Fran uncovers the secrets of her father’s past. This is a beautiful novel of love and family, of war and tragedy and people struggling for survival. It’s heartbreaking but inspiring and reminds us all that life is what we make it, and that our stories live on through our loved ones.
Last year I read a few books about the Holocaust but this one looks at the atrocity from a whole new angle; in writing The Change Artist, Carla Rieger delivers a beautiful story woven by a compelling storyteller which will teach you things you may not have known about our history, make you think about the way you lead your life, and remind you that life and family are precious and should not be taken for granted. You should add it to your bookshelf today.
Inspired by a true story, The Change Artist is an Indie Excellence Award finalist as well as a USA Book Awards finalist. It is a compelling suspense novel with a persuasive message of forgiveness and growth for the human condition. A young "change challenged" accountant, named Fran, is set to inherit millions. Her world falls apart, however, upon her father's death when she discovers that he changed his identity twice in his life. From Vancouver to Vienna of today and through the Sahara desert and carnival entertainers of the past, we take the journey along with Fran as discovers a sister that she never knew existed, uncovers her father's two hidden lives, and frantically searches for the truth -- and herself. The Change Artist blends Rieger's powerful recipe for mastering self change with compelling storytelling. If you've ever searched for more meaning in life, this book will seize your interest from the first chapter. Be prepared for a very personal and thought-provoking voyage into what it means to be a Change Artist.
ISBN13: 9780968827284
Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
Notes:
Fascinating journey, rollercoaster ride of a read
Review Date: January 22, 2009
Reviewer: Lorraine Mcgregor, Vancouver, Canada
Well written, impeccably researched. It keeps you reading all the way through. Carla has written a book about people you probably know - your parents, your grandparents who had to do many things they have never talked about in order to survive WW II and Hitler's rampage across the contintent. If you have family that was affected by this war and you want to understand how they became who they are, this book is for you. Many people had to become change artists to survive. It is a testament to creativity, to finding your own power and reuniting some of the lost souls of the past so they can rest in peace today.
Stays with you
Review Date: February 3, 2009
Reviewer: Kathleen A. Lynn,
The Change Artist brings you in slowly,then grabs you and you cannot put the book down. When you finish the book the process has just begun because you keep thinking about it and how it relates to your life. It's wonderful.
loved this book
Review Date: February 9, 2009
Reviewer: Sarah Fisk, Berkeley, CA
This book is not only an completely engrossing read, it nicely describes something I wholeheartedly believe in: living your life as a work of art. I was drawn into the story easily, and as it unfolded, I found myself really enjoying the way the main character developed. Her awakening to her self made this story much more than your average adventure. Knowing that this book is a fictionalized version of real events in the author's life makes it all the more potent. As much as I liked reading it, I can't wait to see the movie!
- Sarah Fisk, PhD
Hi - I'm Clare Swindlehurst; welcome to my little corner of the Internet!
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