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4.0 out of 5 stars `Does anyone really live in Paradise for very long?', December 31, 2014
By Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (TOP 100 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME) This review is from: This Nearly Was Mine: A Novel (Kindle Edition) New York author Nancy Farkas studied psychology and linguistics and earned her Master of Social Work degree from New York University and her TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate from Westchester Community College. Now this beautiful young woman opens a new chapter in her life as an author; THIS NEARLY WAS MINE appears to be her debut novel, and if this book is followed by others in the same vein, then chick lit has a new champion - and chick lit rules at present! Nancy peppers her page with references to films and stars in a way that makes us feel we know her main character Annie form the moment we meet her (even the name of her novel reflects the famous song form `South Pacific'). `My story is a jumbled version of South Pacific, The Drifters, Swept Away, Shirley Valentine, and sadly, Against All Odds. So, how did a nice Jewish girl from Long Island end up with the history and the memories that I have?' The synopsis of the story follows (many details excerpted for reasons the reader will discover): `In the summer of 1980, Annie, fresh out of graduate school, escapes a doomed engagement by fleeing to the Costa del Sol in Spain. The young traveler is seduced by the striking landscape and the shimmering sea, but not as profoundly as she was by Francisco, a local musician with a complicated past and a troubled soul. Her adventures propel her into adulthood and a life teased with what might have been. Twenty-six years later, Annie's teenage daughter Marielle, curious about her mother's stories, searches for Francisco while on a backpacking trip through Spain. When Marielle's search is successful, Annie's thoughts return to her romantic past amidst the magnificent backdrop of the steamy Mediterranean coast. Francisco's unexpected reappearance ignites powerful feelings she didn't know were still simmering. Annie obsessively questions every decision she made that summer and wonders about a life that could have been hers had she stayed. She is torn between her love and devotion to her husband Matthew and the intercontinental pull to the life she has fantasized about for decades. Annie faces a conflict only she can resolve - return to the early and perpetuated love affair with Francisco or recognize the meaning of her marriage to Matthew, enlightened by her re-visited passion for a long ago dream.' The book reads rapidly, like a back porch chat with a dear friend who is recovering from dalliance with dreams. If at times the dialogue seems to move toward slang, then consider the fact that we are dealing with `now people', not caricatures painted for simple show. Nancy Farkas has style - and it seems she will succeed. Grady Harp, December 14
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"Full of Raw Emotion and Real Life Experiences...." 5/5 Stars
Reviewed by Holly Newhouse for Eternal Book Reviews To be honest, I don't usually read non-fiction memoirs or books that read like them. With that being said, this one caught my attention right away and kept it as I read the whole book in one sitting. I loved the references the Author uses pertaining to movies, especially having seen them all and loved them all myself. I also love Author Nancy Farkas's use of witty remarks on who should play each character in the movie version of the book. The first thing that came to mind was that I really could relate to the character Annie and to some of her experiences and especially, to her educational background. First being an author myself and then because I too went to school in the same field, not for social work but for Marriage and Family Therapy and Victim Traumatization. Another thing I noticed was that Annie is a brave and courageous woman who really is much stronger than she realizes or sees herself as being. This is seen throughout the story of the book which Annie herself narrates. It's a story full of raw emotion, joys and sorrows, heartbreak and triumph. There will not be one man or woman who will not be able to relate to this story in one form or another. As someone who is 20 years younger than Annie in the book, I could relate well to the story and to Annie's life experiences. Her story is extremely raw and real life over choices made in her younger years and the acceptance she finally comes to having made those choices. This author is extremely well written and writes in such a way that it captivates the reader and keeps them reading until the end and then leaves the reader wanting more of the story. By the time this reviewer finished reading the book, I was unaware that five hours had just flown by in what felt like mere minutes, so engaging is engrossing is this book. The story flows nicely and the scenes as well as the characters are easily visualized. The author is right in saying at the beginning of the story that there is plenty of room for character development and she develops the characters in such a way that is completely relate-able and endearing. The characters and story pull you right in to the point where you feel you are living through all of the experiences right along with all of them. Being the hopeless romantic that I am, there were parts I expected or hoped maybe would end differently than they did, but in the end, the conclusions were the right ones for Annie and her family and for her deep love for her husband. That in itself is a testament to true love in real life. People come and go out of our lives as they are meant to but life doesn't stop because of it. The author's account of Annie's life is as raw and as true as one can get when baring their soul for the whole world to read through her writing and we can all learn from it too. I would give it 20 stars if I could, a terrific read!  This Nearly Was Mine by Nancy Farkas relates the life of Annie, a social worker who goes to Spain in 1980 after a broken engagement. She meets Francisco, a handsome local musician, and the two have a brief relationship. Annie returns to the United States, marries Mathew and has children. She speaks fondly of Francisco and her time in Spain, and twenty-six years later, her daughter Marielle locates him. This stirs Annie’s feelings as she remembers her naivety, and a past filled with bittersweet memories. Annie is still insecure about her life and often feels unappreciated by Mathew. Her renewed friendship with an old flame opens emotional scars with some regrets. She compares her relationship with Mathew and Francisco as both men show their love and support in different ways. This Nearly Was Mine is an intense and nostalgic drama by Nancy Farkas. It is narrated by Annie who still displays a bit of naivety, but she retains a sense of humour, while struggling with her complex emotions. Nancy Farkas writes very nicely and with compassion. She approaches the story in a straightforward, unpretentious writing format. This is so evident from the first page and continued to the conclusion. Her characters are very interesting, and it appears that a few are based on the author’s own family and friends. There are several characters who have realistic issues which are amusing, sad and painful at times. This Nearly Was Mine is a novel that both men and women will appreciate reading. |
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