Hi everyone!
Today I’m reviewing A Place Called Grace by Alison Rand! Let me know what you thin
Thank you to Katz Creative Books and Media for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
In her self-help book disguised as a memoir of separation and loss, New York actress and social worker Alison Rand shares her life of tragedies–and how she learned to overcome. Her story will help you conquer your own difficulties, no matter how overwhelming they may seem.
Find out how Alison overcame the pain from:
Her parent’s divorce that left her alone with her mother at age six while her siblings moved with her father. Her brother’s lifelong illness that eventually took his life. An agonizing divorce. A difficult decision to start all over in Italy. Contracting chronic, debilitating nerve pain. Breaking her back in an accident that forced her to move back to New York. The death of her mother. The death of her beloved dog. From dealing with anxiety, deep fear, and intense pain, Alison learns how to find a center of peace and solidity.
But first, there’s her story…
Alison has an outwardly good life; a toned body, plenty of dates, a comfortable daily regimen. Still, she feels stagnant, empty, and as blocked as the river view from her Upper West Side apartment. Now divorced and in her mid-thirties, she has never gotten past the early childhood trauma of being ripped away from her brother and sister when her parents separated. Since then, nothing sticks. No one stays. She craves a sense of permanence–a place to call home.
In desperation, Alison makes a bold, foolhardy move–she relocates to bureaucracy-riddled Rome. She barely speaks the language, knows no one except the elusive Casanova who gave her one vacation night of pleasure, and she has no acting work waiting.
In a series of tragic-comic encounters, she tries to settle into an exotic culture, looks for amore in all the wrong places, and begins to break into the acting world.
After a terrifying accident, Alison’s hopes for an Italian fantasy life come crashing down. Back in New York, the personal tragedies and career obstacles pile up until salvation arrives from an unexpected source.
Come learn how Alison overcame overwhelming difficulty and found a safe and peaceful grounding. Find out who her unexpected source of salvation was. Learn how to conquer your own difficulties and find the peace you’ve been longing for.
Goodreads * Amazon
Review:
A Place Called Grace is a memoir, which is not something I typically grab for, but thought it sounded worth a read. It was an interesting look at family trauma, separation, connection, love and belonging.
Alison Rand opens herself up to us and allows us to see the painful details of her past. But it isn’t all doom and gloom, with some funny accounts of adventures and relationships. I enjoyed the breakup of pain and disappointment with some lighthearted humor.
This memoir drew me in and kept me interested all the way through. Alison Rand’s story is beautiful and definitely one I recommend reading.
Rating:
4/5☆
Alison was born and raised in Manhattan where she currently lives. She is a licensed Master of Social Work, and while not working in the field at the moment, continues to take continuing education classes to keep up.
She has been an actress, mostly in commercials, and an advertising copywriter.
Alison is an avid dog person and plans for her dog to become a therapy animal to those in need.
In
her spare time, she continues to take Italian classes in hope of
becoming more proficient. She is also an exercise enthusiast, especially
hiking and skiing.
This is her first book.
Let me know what you think!
Jessica Belmont 