Overview

Reviews from readers: ""I could not put this book down. At times painfully tragic, with moments of laugh-out-loud humor."" Cynthia ""If you grew up in a small town in the 60s or 70s, this bittersweet memoir is your story, too. Written in a non-linear essay format, we get beautifully told stories of awareness, resilience, survival, and success. Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, this is a brave and honest book."" Abby ""While the author's childhood was nothing like my own, I found myself drawn into her world of childhood discovery as though I'd fallen into a movie and conjoined with her as the protagonist. Riedman's writing is beautifully paced as she takes the reader on an immersive experience. The essay format makes it easy to read in bite-sized pieces. Diamonds In the Dirt belongs in the canon of books that challenge us to a broader perspective about humanity at large and the perceived travails of our own lives."" K.H. Author Laurie Riedman discovered who she was by digging into her unique and painful past and examining her most broken pieces. Diamonds in the Dirt: Stories From a Junkyard Girl offers a glimpse of what it was like to grow up living in a junkyard in rural Connecticut. In this memoir, Laurie Riedman shares how love can grow among discarded car parts, a rusted-out bus, and a crazy cast of real and imagined characters. The stories tell of a unique childhood filled with happiness and trauma. Laurie bravely attempts to connect the dots, some painfully clear and others frustratingly fuzzy, of her fractured memory. The collection is arranged by theme rather than chronologically and features four parts: Life as a Junkyard Girl; I am Junk; The Power of Pretend; and Diamonds in the Dirt. ""I chose to tell my story as a collection of short stories and in a non-linear fashion because this allowed me to bridge those gaps and more clearly share the arc of where I've been and where I am. Time jumps even within a single story because that is how I could tie the gaps together and see the themes emerge,"" said the author, Laurie Riedman. By sharing and owning the painful truth of her life, the author hopes to inspire others to mine the gifts in their lives and own their own stories.

Full Product Details

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Table of Contents

Reviews

Writer's Digest Reviewer: ""I was so impressed with this writing, particularly the depth and honesty of the stories that tackled numerous intense topics. Love and abuse, traumas shared and confronted, it was a heart-wrenching read all the way through for happy and sad emotions. Readers of memoirs, who appreciate well-told stories of overcoming massive trials and struggles, will appreciate the perspective and bravery Riedman exhibits in telling her story here. "" Customers say This memoir is an amazing story of resilience and an uplifting tale of healing childhood trauma. It's well-written and honest, with the author handling raw and tender scenarios with authenticity. Customers praise its readability, humor, and narrative power -- one said it is a memoir with sweeping novelistic power. Abby 5.0 out of 5 stars hard truths told with humor and light ""If you grew up in a small town in the 60s or 70s, this bittersweet memoir is your story, too. Written in a non-linear essay format, we get beautifully told stories of awareness, resilience, survival, and success. Sometimes heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud funny, this is a brave and honest book. Diane Osgood 5.0 out of 5 stars ""Inspiring and gut-wrenching - a great read for anyone wanting an insight into a fascinating life that sheds light on anyone's upbringing. Memories, sweet, memories hot with upheaval. All there. And the arch of triumph shows how we all can rise, and rise. Recommended!"" Nancy E. McCarthy 5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Written Memoir ""This book drew me in immediately. Her childhood experiences (and up through adulthood) are alternately uplifting, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking. She handled some raw and tender scenarios with honesty and great sensitivity. This was a great read and a brave story to share."" Jodi Kaufman 5.0 out of 5 stars Bold Story Telling ""Diamonds in the Dirt is this decade's The Glass Castle. This fast, entertaining read reveals a remarkable story of love, hope, and forgiveness. You won't be able to put it down."" TT 5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating from the First Page! ""Don't let a little dirt scare you! This captivating book is so well-written that you will be transported with her through her thoughts, trials, and truths as she grows up in a junkyard. I found Laurie's poignant memoir intriguing and long-lasting in my mind days after reading the last page.""

Author Information

Laurie Riedman is a personal and relationship coach, writer, and storyteller. After thirty-five years running her own PR and marketing firm, she transitioned her consulting to coaching, founding b.u. coaching to support those-like her-who seek to embrace their truths and be their best selves in all aspects of their personal and professional lives. Writing and publishing essays on her blog, More Than Words, and her memoir, Diamonds in the Dirt: Stories From a Junkyard Girl, are part of her healing journey. She has also published essays in Bluff and Vine. Her writing is included in four anthologies-two she co-edited with Susan Walter, Badass Sisterhood and Badass Sisterhood Roots & Wings, and Soul Shine.Laurie lives, writes, and coaches from her home along Canandaigua Lake in the Finger Lakes of New York. Married to her life partner Rich for over thirty-eight years, they have founded three successful companies and raised three amazing daughters: Elizabeth, Beck, and Hannah.

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