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BERTHA-SIZE YOUR LIFE by Jane Carroll

BERTHA-SIZE YOUR LIFE

by Jane Carroll ; illustrated by Cindy Collins

Pub Date: Feb. 15th, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-9905878-9-7
Publisher: Master Koda Select Publishing

A zany collection of linked short stories that offers advice, humor, and a contagious zest for the good life.

Carroll, a life coach, created the emblematic character Bertha—an in-charge, colorfully attired, redheaded woman whose mission is to live to the fullest—after becoming an empty nester and reaching a crossroads in her own life. These stories’ unnamed narrator lives in the same neighborhood as Bertha, and one day, after a chance encounter, she impulsively invites her new friend to move into her home as her roommate. Thus begins a series of wild adventures that involve a nagging acquaintance called Rita, an adversarial cat, a discouraging, sluggish relative named Bruce, and others. Over the course of the book, the narrator learns that Bertha’s motto is “I choose”—how to react, how to love, how to view herself, and how to move on. The narrator absorbs Bertha’s quips and learns how to apply them to her own life, and so, too, will readers. Amusing and delightful stories such as “Monkey Grass,” “Mouse Ears,” and “Pink Flamingos” keep readers on their toes as Bertha shares everyday affirmations while tackling new activities; at one point, she sings a song to her begonia whose only lyric is “I’ll begonia before you get home.” The book is apparently a self-help guide disguised as a work of fiction, and although it’s aimed at adults, it’s written in the appealing style of such childhood favorites as the Junie B. Jones or Judy Moody series. It may not be the ideal choice for readers searching for professional guidance, but it works well for those wanting lighthearted, comical reminders not to take life too seriously. Bertha is a magnetic character who inspires joy, laughs, and confidence. Some stories feel repetitive and overlong, but readers will move through them quickly and find themselves asking at the end, “What do I choose to create?” Collins’ occasional full-color ink-and-watercolor illustrations of Bertha reflect the story’s events.

A fun-loving, witty book of life lessons.