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Norma Jean's Sun: True Story Paperback – December 15, 2009

by Kris Courtney (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 91 ratings
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Norma Jean's Sun, Memoir ( Based on a True Story )


"A Wonderful commentary on the very things that make us all human" "Brave honesty of confession, makes the book unique" "Touching story, full of hope" The story is not only convincingly true, but will rivet the reader with its genuine and unassuming pathos. It is this kind of brave honesty of confession and growing philosophy that makes the book unique.

Miraculous tale of how a boy, born into unimaginable physical and emotional pain and destined to be a misfit, finds his way in a world of “others.” Few could survive so many torturous years of surgical intervention and a ensuing lifelong struggle with drugs and alcohol addiction and come out ahead. This moving tale reveals not only the struggle and heartrending elements of generational lives “gone wrong,” but also the love and growth of a human being overcoming the odds and determined to find a way to live life to the fullest. Based on a true story, the author’s unapologetic prose prompts enduring ethical questions and makes a gripping, personal read. Norma Jean's Sun is painfully reflective yet ultimately hopeful, a story told through the eyes of a boy who believes he has been mistakenly born into the world and a man who conquers physical and emotional injustice--and thrives. The reader will be challenged to answer the difficult questions of right and wrong as they may apply to his or her own life. It is clear that it is the hope of this author that the reader's conclusions will lead to a more fulfilled view of the "parallel beauty that lives just beneath the surface for us all."
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  1. Print length
    290 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    December 15, 2009
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.66 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0578020599
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0578020594
  7. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

From the Publisher

Norma Jean

Norma Jean's Sun ~ Memories (ca. 1972)

The Eyes are a window to the Soul...

Generational History results in double indemnity when Norma gives birth to a child with profound disabilitating birth defects and will follow a forbidden love on an incredible journey at the risk of losing her Only Son! A Powerful Leading Lady of Grace, Dignity & Inspiration travels to a translucent ending that will touch your core!

Never in our silent moments of illusion do we sense the dark parallel that lives beside us. Nor do we suspect the carrier.

Norma Jean

Norma Jean

San Diego (ca. 1969)

Mom

Like a Candle in the Wind

Trails End

This Too Shall Pass

Time

Editorial Reviews

Review

Insights that will touch your core!

All of us have our challenges in life but I was in awe not only by his conquest but also the depths to which he sunk and survived.

"AMAZING MEMOIR"

 "Touching story, full of hope" - Publishers Weekly, PW Select: Fall 2011

From the Author

Sound travels far inside a home at night for every child who hears the whispers and tears through the upstairs banister. Just as this ripple in one family's history grew to a wave of fear, so did the stature of the individuals who had witnessed it. The future carries the scars from the harm done before. One hopes that the past will allow us to shape and control the next step, to avoid the dangers, the foolish errors and mistakes that echo the last generation, and the one before that. But instead, the path, though inviting with its colors of gold and silver and the sounds of laughter and joy, is also shrouded in mystery, obscured in grays. Never in our silent moments of illusion do we sense the dark parallel that lives beside us. Nor do we suspect the carrier.
(Excerpt, Chapter 1)

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kris Courtney; First Edition (December 15, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 290 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0578020599
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0578020594
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.66 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 91 ratings

About the author

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Kris Courtney

Kris Courtney

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FLORIDA RETIREMENT IS MURDER

Snowbirds do more than just Flock

"Delicious confection of conviviality and murder."

Dive into the whimsical world of "Florida Retirement Is Murder," where retirement isn't just about rest and relaxation but an unexpected adventure into the heart of Central Florida's most colorfully quirky snowbird community.

Award-Winning Bestselling International Author Kris Courtney brings to life the antics and hilarious actions of Snowbirds set inside a Florida Gated Retirement Community. Well-presented unguarded comments by the feisty retirees are amusing and moving. Stewart realizes that friends and community, which he's always avoided, are now a welcome part of his life.

“Stewart Johnson had worked hard his entire life to reach retirement. However, his Golden Years would prove to be more of a challenge than he anticipated after his wife passed away. Seeking to find peace of mind and warmth in Florida, Stewart became surrounded by a tribe of Snowbird residents who took him on a journey of laughter and sleuthing inside a gossip riddled community filled with the humorous dysfunction of overgrown children.”

The setting is in Central Florida and the dramatic genre of "Cozy Fictional Satire Comedy Mystery Novel" appeals to both young and old. With the more-alike-than-different family ancestry, we all share some of the very same quirks and ability to laugh at ourselves. It is that level of vulnerable exposure inside the mind of senior citizens that we can all relate to with humor.

This book will cause the reader to laugh out-loud and relate back to their own memories or current life history, not to mention an entertaining ‘Book Club’ experience. This colorful story will fit perfectly on every shelf and screen.

Oh, Wake Up, Earl! ©

Learn More: www . CozyComedyMystery . com

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
91 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the memoir engaging, captivating, and refreshing. They describe the story as poignant, heart-rending, and emotional. Readers praise the art direction as beautiful, sophisticated, and amazing. They also appreciate the poetic use of language and conversational tone.

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ReadabilityHeartfelt storyArt directionNarrative styleHonesty
16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, captivating, and inspirational. They describe it as a well-written story of the tapestry of lives within a family. Readers also mention it's refreshing and an easy read.

"...I went to the library and checked out NORMA JEAN'S SUN. I found the book to be fascinating...." Read more

"The author has a very interesting story to tell as he recounts his family life beginning with his grandparents and on through his own adult life...." Read more

"It was a refreshing book that was wrote in that era. Brutal honest hurts, for the most of us...." Read more

"...The memoir was riveting and I finished the book in one sitting. I recommend this book to anyone who has obstacles to overcome or fears to face." Read more

11 customers mention "Heartfelt story"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the story poignant, inspiring, and spirit-touching. They describe it as an emotional read, riveting, and a story of strength and sheer will power. Readers also mention the book has an interesting premise and provides a great commentary on the times.

"Raw.....honest....riveting..... Kris has overwhelmingly allured and captured the reader's soul with his full throttle, everything goes approach in..." Read more

"...If you want a real, emotional read, this is the one to choose...." Read more

"...Finally, there was the miracle of survival, talent and joy, which left me as a reader almost overwhelmed by the power of God, as I understand Him...." Read more

"...I enjoyed this poignant memoir and recommend it to others who want to share the experience of one man's raw and honest journey to self-discovery and..." Read more

4 customers mention "Art direction"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the art direction of the book beautiful and sophisticated. They also say the story creates a smart and wonderful portrait of tangled lives.

"...As a man, the author has become a successful artist, creating beautiful works of art through his paintbrush...." Read more

"This is a heart-felt and honest look at one individual's own life, a life of extreme physical difficulty and family strife followed by internal pain..." Read more

"...He has not only become a wonderful writer but an amazing artist. May Norma Jean's sun continue to shine brightly for Mr. Courtney." Read more

"...It is an intimate and daring story creating a smart and sophisticated portrait of tangled lives...." Read more

4 customers mention "Narrative style"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the narrative style poetic, lyrical, and excellently written. They also say the author uses a relaxed, conversational tone.

"...He uses a relaxed, conversational tone and you can feel his passion coming through his written word...." Read more

"...the vivid descriptions he paints for his readers and in his often poetic use of language...." Read more

"Kris Courtney has written a fascinating and lyrical memoir. I definitely recommend this book." Read more

"Excellently written but that is all! I kept reading hoping this was going somewhere besides drinking, drugs, and self-pity...." Read more

3 customers mention "Honesty"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the memoir extremely frank and open. They say it's an honest account of what many families go through.

"...It’s an honest account of what so many families go through and how broken people can become...." Read more

"I enjoyed this kindle book very much. An extremely frank and open memoir - great commentary on the times in our society that those of us over the..." Read more

"Couldn't put it down. Painfully honest. Thank You Kris for writing it. It was a blessing to me and I'm sure it will be for others." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Jenny Fuller
5.0 out of 5 stars NORMA JEAN'S SUN : BY KRIS COURTNEY
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2013
Verified Purchase
This review is for" Norma Jean's Sun, Memoir by Kris Courtney
This year I had the honor and privilege of meeting Kris Courtney. At the time I was unaware that he was an author. I only knew him to be a visual artist. After finding out about the book he had written, I wanted to see if he could do both, paint and write. I went to the library and checked out NORMA JEAN'S SUN. I found the book to be fascinating. You really get the feeling of his longing to be 'normal'.
Everyone makes choices in life that effect others, but some people make selfish choices that effect generations. That is the case in Kris's family. His grandparents were cousins and loved each other so they married against everything they knew and others knew. Children and grandchildren after that union were all haunted by the possibility that future children would have physical defects and the possibilities came true. Kris was the most effected.
This is a story of heartache, pain and desperation. Years of surgeries and healing has brought Kris to where he is today. God has been good to him and I am sure has a plan for Kris. Most times the people that have suffered through events and tragedies in their lives are the ones that God uses to help others.
I found a friend and I also found that he can write and paint.
My only negative comment I guess is that I had a hard time following the characters at first but once into the book that problem went away. The book covers many years and some of it is sketchy but the most important parts are there.
I highly recommend this read. You will be touched and maybe change your attitude on some issues.
One of the lessons I took away from this book is to be very careful about the choices you make. Selfishness is not a good thing for you or for those around you. I now own this book.
3 people found this helpful
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Madame Leota
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting premise, needs more detail
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
The author has a very interesting story to tell as he recounts his family life beginning with his grandparents and on through his own adult life. However, I think he focuses a bit too much outwardly. Based on the first maybe 50% of the book, it seems that the author is intrigued with his family history for one small reason: his grandparents were also cousins. It was/is taboo and caused some friction within the family and in their small town. The author spends a good deal of time detailing their love story, as if in an effort to convince the reader that they're not bad people - they were just in love and happened to be related. I don't think it was really necessary to justify it that much to an outside audience (because, let's face it, cousins marrying each other isn't really that big of a deal in this modern world). The need to justify that to the reader, I believe, has to do with the fact that some of the family members had health conditions (both minor and major) that they believed were "caused" by being part of an incestuous bloodline. There was a lot of resentment and guilt all around. It's really too bad that no one ever had a better understanding of genetics. The afflictions, at least as outlined in this book, are NOT "caused" by their lineage and I think any geneticist could have told them that.

Unfortunately, the family did not have that level of information which set the tone for a lot of secret resentments and hurt feelings even before the author is born. And when he is born, with significant malformations of his limbs, it seems to send the family into another shame spiral. He is, by all accounts, handled to the best of their abilities. He has numerous surgeries and corrective braces, etc. but beyond the medical care what he needed was some compassion instead of a need to be insular and hide. He and his mother move across the country many times each time severing friendships and interactions with the community - which are important to a child's development, especially one who is shy. Ultimately, this leaves a young man who lacks confidence and ends up getting himself in all manner of trouble for many, many years before finally settling down and writing this book.

I think the story was good and the author clearly has a passion for his topic. I would have liked to see more from his perspective, rather than through the smudgy lens of the family history. He has a unique view of the world - someone born into a family of 'secrets' and shame, someone who has overcome physical challenges, someone who has persevered through adversity, someone who has had problems with drugs and alcohol, and someone who has overcome all of those things. THAT is the story that I would like to see developed, from his own first-hand view. Maybe a future book?
4 people found this helpful
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A. L. PUTMAN
3.0 out of 5 stars a life of ups and downs
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2014
Verified Purchase
If this is a true story I can not imagine the pain that Kris went through with all his operations and the pain associated. I really had a hard time keeping up with the story because of the ups and downs in his life. I have no idea what I would do if I had been born different from other children but I imagine I would also have a hard time finding my place in the world.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievably heart-rending truth.......
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
Raw.....honest....riveting..... Kris has overwhelmingly allured and captured the reader's soul with his full throttle, everything goes approach in the declaration of his birth and existence on this planet. In all honesty, at points in my read of this work, I literally had to lay it down because the intensity of the emotion stirred such a compassionate response within me that I wept, not cried.......WEPT!

When I write a review, I do not divulge actual story content. Therefore, I will simply state, if your entire being doesn't become totally engaged while reading this book, you seriously need to embark on a journey of discovery to uncover the truth of your OWN existence. Many times, it's the response realized within self that determines the quality of the work. Unbelievably spirit touching! SSaunders, Tennessee
2 people found this helpful
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Robin
5.0 out of 5 stars Leaves you wanting to know more....Movie Please!!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2014
Verified Purchase
It was a refreshing book that was wrote in that era. Brutal honest hurts, for the most of us. The pain from our families/heritage can last a life time. The Author seemed to openly discuss his challenges, ups/downs, the good/bad and the ugly. His take away is that he can be fully functionally and successful with the right mind set....Independently or in the Comapny of good people. I think he had been hard on himself and seems a bit bitten. My wish is that he can learn to love himself and others passionately. Self centerness is a lonely place/walk. I hope to read a sequel. There must be much more to tell. Better yet, a movie would be keep us all hanging on for more. One other thought, most people do not have the courage to be open and honest..,..Kudos to the writer.
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Top reviews from other countries

WANNABE WRITER
5.0 out of 5 stars Norma Jeans Sun
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2013
Verified Purchase
Like the previous contributor to the book I also read this in one sitting, it has a mixture of emotions and hope.
A very beautifully written and engrossing book which is full of spirit. Well done Kris.
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