Birdbaths and Paper Cranes [Paperback]

Sharon Randall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 27, 2002

Syndicated columnist Randall's writing style is intensely personal and unmistakably authentic, as if she were writing a letter to a trusted friend. She shares stories of how her blind brother once tried to drive a car; her sister lost a wig on a bumper car ride; her husband coached basketball while battling cancer; and her oldest child grew up to be "not a real doctor, but play one on TV." In Randall's hands, even stories about ordinary things-from a broken birdbath to a rusty porch swing to a thousand paper cranes—all shine with extraordinary meaning and grace. Laughing or crying, readers will surely see in her stories some of their own, and may look at life in a new way.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Randall obviously loves to tell stories and has great respect for the English language. She draws the reader in with her insight and with her ability to bring a common ground to every narrative. When you read this book, you will, no doubt, join Randall''s legions of ''close friends''." —Monterey County Herald



"A joyful tribute to the human spirit, told by a master storyteller with a flair for the one-liner." —Toledo Blade

From the Inside Flap

Stories that inspire, bring tears, bring joy. Stories about the ordinary things that touch our lives. This is the gift that master storyteller Sharon Randall shares with us in Birdbaths and Paper Cranes, a new collection of her most memorable essays.

Randall's writing sytle is unmistakably authentic, and her love of the craft is obvious. Among the many poignant topics she tells us about are her sightless brother's first attempt at driving a car and her husband's courageous battle with a deadly disease. In Randall's hands, even a simple story about a birdbath has meaning. You will laugh and cry, sympathize and empathize. And when you are finished with Birdbaths and Paper Cranes, you will look at life in a different way - a better way.

And you will be grateful for it. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Plume (August 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452283698
• ISBN-13: 978-0452283695
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written memoirs!, January 28, 2004

By 

Busy Mom (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Birdbaths and Paper Cranes (Paperback)

This book is a guarantee to make you reminisce and cry and laugh along with Sharon Randall as she writes of her life. It is beautifully written, short and direct ~~ always having her short stories end with a rememberable last line that leaves you thinking more.

I found this languishing on my bookshelf after borrowing it from my mom last year. I needed something "lighter" to read after my spree of historical fiction. I thought this one was rather a slim volume and I can surprise my mom by returning it this weekend. But it was a surprise to me! For such a small volume, this woman writes with a punch ~~ a punch to the soul. She shouts, cajoles and whispers to your memories and soul with grace and humor. Just like a mom and wife, daughter and sister and granddaughter. I only wish I had a bigger box of kleenexes nearby. I also couldn't put the book down after reading the foreword by her son.

Now that I know why my local newspaper carry her column, I will be reading her work again and again. She speaks to the mother and wife inside of me. She makes me sit and remember who I was long before I have gotten to this part of my journey. She talks as if you're sitting next to her with a cup of tea and you both are just gabbing away ~~ only her stories serve to remind you that life is short and it is even more precious than we all realize. This is a book that should be shared, not hoarded in dusty libraries or in the back of the bookcase. This is a book that everyone should give to their loved ones ~~ male or female. It speaks to all of us.

I just love writers like Sharon Randall ~~ they really speak and it is up to us to really listen ~~ with our ears and our hearts.

1-28-04

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Birdbaths and Paper Cranes, November 28, 2001

By 

Elizabeth Jones Roberts student (SJSU,San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birdbaths and Paper Cranes (Hardcover)

Originally written as a weekly column for the Monterey County Herald (CA) newspaper, journalist/writer, Sharon Randall's debut novel is a collection of personal essays telling a family tale from beginning to end, and back to a new beginning.

Ms. Randall is the invisible storyteller here---re-emphasizing the roots of her oral tradition itself by telling a story about a story with her strong sense of place, her depth of characterization, and above all, she does it with a keen and rich sense of humor. We meet her blind brother Joe who got drunk once and tried to drive a car; her husband Coach Randall, the beloved high school chemistry teacher and basketball coach who loved life even in the face of death; son Josh who wanted to be a real doctor, but instead, is playing one on the television series Ed; and, we experience her first "official" date in 30 years.

Born into a family of storytellers, Ms. Randall draws on her humble folkloric roots from the mountains of North Carolina to pass on tales and trickster stories. From her Grandma's tall tales that could summon wolves to the door, to her own mother's life that was a story in itself, to her stepfather's loneliness and her own father's suicide, the theme of stories and storytelling is woven throughout the book. Her language is intuitive. She has a story to tell that means something and because of this she is able to connect the reader emotionally to the story. Two thumbs up!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable collection of stories., December 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Birdbaths and Paper Cranes (Hardcover)

Birdbaths and Paper Cranes is a wonderful collection of stories from a woman who has obviously lived a very colorful life. The stories are edited together brilliantly create a seamless appearance despite the fact that many columns took place over the course of months and years. This is an excellent book to share amongst family.