A keen, incisive vision into the
hidden world of children as well as intimate knowledge of the secret spaces
that exist between the everyday events of life. A work with a brilliant sense
of story…Magical, and so refreshing for me to read. I absolutely loved it and I
hope it goes on to do marvellous things. Yours is a luminous talent.
~JoAnne Soper-Cook, Author and
Judge, 2010 David Adams Richards Prize
Loved your book; read it in one sitting…each [story] is told either
by a child, or it’s about a child. And it’s interesting because I think
depending on the age of the person reading it, you relate to different ones.
But especially to feminists, growing up with it, wrestling with our beliefs,
and whether it worked out or not… a lot of women that you see in this book are
trapped. We were trapped by what we were brought up to believe. And then we’re
trapped by the marriages we find ourselves in, and the children we have… But on
the other hand, each story ends with a certain resolve. There’s that sense of
okay this is my situation But. And that’s what the meaning of children is. And
yet, it’s about hope. It’s about the future…
A collection of 14 short stories which covers the range of
experience from the point of view of children, mums, and also aging parents as
well. It’s all there in this lovely little book, short stories about life in a
family that might just resemble yours. I wanted to congratulate you on the
publication of this book and I hope it goes far far afield for you. A wonderful
gift for mother’s day, perhaps more long lived than the usual cut flowers.
 |
| Anne Lagacé Dowson |
This isn’t the invented childhood
of imagination and wonderment…[here] children both corrupt and redeem: each
other, family relationships and the female body.
Akerman holds up our greatest
fears, not to dwell on them, but to marvel at our commitment to life,
especially to passing it on to others.
~Anne Chudobiak, The Montreal
Gazette
Haunting and powerfully emotive,
drawing on the subtleties of childhood, youth and parenthood that undermine us
in strange and unexpected ways. Your writing is polished and mature, something
I am always in awe of and why I got into publishing to begin with.
~Meghan Macdonald,
Transatlantic Literary Agency
Counter-intuitive to the title,
for me these stories resonate with the sad truth of being a grownup. Life is
that damn hard and just-under-the-surface tension saturates our existence. But
the kids, they know what's going on. They may not understand all the details
but they know the score. Akerman nails that sorrow, highlights it with
unexpected humour, credits our resilience and almost never skips a beat.
~Chris Benjamin, Author of Drive-by Saviours, on Goodreads (4
stars)
Akerman engages with dichotomies.
Childhood is that safe, magical, carefree time and place — but it’s also risky,
threatening, ominous and dangerous — full of impenetrable mystery around things
seen and experienced, but beyond understanding. And if it’s not too much of a
simplification or stating the obvious, life and the world are not gentle on
children simply for being children…If, as Dostoevsky once remarked, and as is
quoted on the collection’s frontispiece, “The soul is healed by being with
children,” it is the tragedy of adulthood that we become so isolated from
childhood — and what children offer us. Artfully, evocatively, Beverly
Akerman’s The Meaning of Children reminds us of that.
Beverly’s background as a scientist, MSc and twenty years as a
molecular researcher, inevitably spills into the stories…characters, the
settings and her style. Intelligent, objective, open-minded but not clinical,
her prose is refreshing and unprejudiced. Her characters are frank and genuine ...With
The Meaning of Children, we get a beautifully written exposé on the
meaning of life.
Just finished “Like Jeremy Irons.”
That was a tough one. Saying I loved it feels contrary to the agony I'm feeling
right now. (Perhaps I shouldn't have settled into it with a glass of wine?)
Awesome writing - even if my uterus is cramping!
~Lisa Dalrymple, Winner of The
Writers Union of Canada’s
2011 Writing for Children Competition
Your book is filled with insight
and wisdom and gorgeous moving stories...You are dazzling. (I had read “Pie”
long ago. It is just as moving the second time).
~Hal Ackerman (no relation),
UCLA Screenwriting Area Co-Chair and author of Stein Stoned and Stein Stung
All I seem to read these days are
parenting books. But I think I might be learning more about being a parent from
Beverly Akerman's The Meaning of Children than from anywhere else. I can't put
it down.
~Jenn Hardy, Writer, Editor and
Blogger at mamanaturale.ca
I adore your knack for leaving
questions hanging in the reader's mind…and then there are those thought
provoking zingers tucked neatly inside the last thought, description or action
of your narrators. I haven't enjoyed short stories like this since Margaret
Atwood, Barbara Gowdy and Alice Munro.
~Rusti Lehay, Writer and Editor
Beverly Akerman is what Alice
Munro was supposed to be.
~Mike Rose (received by my
publisher, via email)
A life-altering read is so rare
for me, and I imagine for many writers, with a critical eye often hard to keep
closed while hoping to get caught up and swept away while reading fiction for
pleasure...Her stories are as diverse as her changing career path and yet
string together a theme as connected as a genetic chain…Children weave their
way through every tale…always sparking the reader to question where in all
these stories sits their own story.
~Michelle Greysen, Writer,
Editor, and Blogger
I really enjoyed
this book. If you like short story collections a la Alice Munro style, I think
you will too.
~Julie
Harrison, Writer, Editor, and Blogger
[You show us how] our childhood
experiences affect us forever. And what we bury comes to the surface from time
to time….The story about the woman who couldn't touch anything without it dying
was sad and funny - loved the boys next door - and I liked PIE - as you have
now given me a simple recipe that I can remember for pie crust -I am a baker.
And the poor woman who had entered probably menopause and her marriage had
broken without her noticing it. She was just so angry and exhausted. So many
women I feel are and hide it.
~Carlene Orefici, via Facebook
I enjoyed The Meaning of
Children so much that I wished there were twice as many stories! If I had
to pick one, “Pour Un Instant” was my favourite. I was sad to come to the end
of the book.
~Lisa De Nikolits, Author of The Hungry Mirror, on Amazon.ca
A great read. I loved this book. The stories are touching without
being overly maudlin. It's a true literary feat while remaining a fairly light,
pleasurable read.
~Alison Palkhivala, Writer and
Editor, on Amazon.ca
Excellent book. Very well written. I
felt like I wanted to read an entire book for each chapter rather than a short
story. Very engaging. Worth reading.
~Suzanne
Boles, Writer and Editor, on Goodreads (5 stars)
This morning I wrote to a friend
in Victoria.
I told her: ‘I finished Beverly Akerman's book and really liked it. The theme
throughout is children: being a child, being pregnant, abortion, losing a
child, being a father, giving a child for adoption. Touchy stuff but she has
such kindness, such compassion and infuses hope and love in the saddest
situation. She offers unique and surprising insights, it's never sappy or
cliché. All this within the short story frame, quite a feat in my opinion. If
you can't find her book, I'll send you my copy.’ Thank you for writing such an
amazing book and for promoting yourself at the gym. It was a bold and creative
move. I would have not known about your writing otherwise.
~Diane Des Roches, budding
writer
From the CBC-Scotiabank Giller Prize Readers’ Choice Contest:
Johanna from Kelowna: "As a social worker in child
protection I really appreciated the focus and the insights into the lives of
children demonstrated in the work The Meaning of Children by Beverly Akerman.
Our children are our future and deserve more attention, love and nurturing. Beverly's book is a method
to that purpose; she touched my heart to its core."
Kathe from Montreal: "I have been savouring the
stories one by one. I don't want this book to end. She writes so simply but
powerfully, and her characters stay with you."
B Maurene from Montreal: "If the reality of Akerman's
skilful weaving of tales that can be all too true of the way parents, families,
and cultures place their hopes and dreams on children hits home to contemporary
child bearers, she could be building a better world. Few who embark on the
journey of parenting ever realize how great the responsibilities are or how to
meet the individual needs of children, particularly those with difficulties. A
should read for college and university students, and a must read, among the
hundreds of pregnancy and child rearing how-to manuals, for parents attending pre-natal
classes."
Marla of Thunder Bay: "Beverly Akerman is an
extraordinary writer and I believe she deserves it."
Suzan of Ottawa: "It was an absolute joy to read.
I laughed out loud at some stories and wept shamelessly at others, all the
while savouring every skilfully handpicked word. One cannot read The Meaning of
Children and not be moved in some way by the stories therein. It is a beautiful
quilt, made of exquisitely crafted pieces which when taken as a whole is so
much more than a sum of its parts."
Eva from Maple Ridge: "The
Meaning of Children should win because it is important for the reader to view
situation from the child's perspective."
Lynn from Belle
River: "Beverly
Akerman would be a good candidate. Enlightening and refreshing."
Paula from Cornwall: "In her book The Meaning of
Children, Beverly Akerman gives us a snap shot of the reality of childhood in
diverse family situations. As and educator, I understand too clearly that the
reality that childhood is not always a "Norman Rockwell" moment, but
rather is a reflection of the very complex perception of an individual child,
whether pleasant or challenging, the question remains, is the individual child
free to be themselves or are they encouraged to put on a mask to face their personal
circumstances?"
Rusti of Stony Plain: "This
collection of short stories was stunning, captivating, wrenching and hopeful. I
wanted more when I finished the book."
Ken from Saskatoon: "The
author's insight into the minds of children and the lives touched by those
around them allow the reader to truly appreciate how impressionable these young
minds are, and how the events in our lives can effect how children perceive,
and register them. It also reminds me of how important my son is to me, as when
I face conflict or stress in my life, all of the problems disappear instantly
when I see him smile at me."
Kayla from Timmins: "This author should make it to
this year's Scotiabank Giller Prize because she writes books on life's reality
which is a subject that may teach kids like adults about some of life's
matters."
Rocio from Mississauga: "I think Beverly Akerman,
with The Meaning of Children, should be considered, because throughout her book
she shows how children can change our world, with their hearts, dreams and
tenderness. They do not even know how much this world changes for the best just
because they are part of it, and that is really touching and marvellous."
Pauline from Montreal: "Beverly Akerman's The Meaning
of Children takes an eyes-wide-open look at real families. No sentimentality
here yet there's a ring of truth to the often quirky situations people find
themselves in that made me smile with recognition. A wry smile at times, but
Akerman writes pitch-perfect prose. This is Canadian story-telling at its
best."
Felicia from Boisseavain: "The
book touches on a lot of the biggest parental 'what ifs.' Kidnapping. Hate
crime. Death by drowning. Suicide. Even so, it would make a good gift for a new
mother. Akerman holds up our greatest fears, not to dwell on them, but to
marvel at our commitment to life, especially to passing it on to others. Says
one character, looking back, 'Life had been perfect ' but I'd been too busy to
notice."
Valerie from Toronto: "As an early childhood educator
I feel it really conveys the voices of children and parents in our
society."
Frances from Port Coquitlam:
"An in depth look at the inner turmoil of a child’s life and/or those who
care for them and how life experiences can have such an impact on our stories
and journeys through life. An interesting study on this subject."
Kimberly from Shawnigan Lake:
"I believe Beverly Akerman's, The Meaning of Children has amazing insight
with its many stories. I loved them all. Life is what happens in the meantime.
Great read and would highly recommend."
Mona from ND Ile Perrot: "I'd
like to suggest Beverly Akerman. Her book, The Meaning of Children is written
with a refreshing sincerity. Loved it!"
Carrie from Spruce Grove: "I
think that it takes a special kind of skill to coordinate short stories into a
piece that is well written and thought provoking- without losing one's initial
objectives."
Crystal from Nanaimo:
"The Meaning of Children is my submission as it is told through the voices
of children. What can be better than to hear 14 different stories of growing up
and dealing with important issues? Each child tells their stories so vividly
and honestly, you feel sorry for them, as if you know them. This book is
extremely well written and gripping."
Catherine from Whitby: "Well written, captivating
perspectives on life's stages."
Rajini from Canada: "I think that Beverly
Akerman should make the long list. Akerman's The Meaning of Children is a dark,
thought-provoking read that is certainly worthy of the 2011 Giller Prize."
From editors and
contest judges on individual stories:
“Emotional and tightly written.”
~David Bright, Gemini
Magazine
“Solid and very funny. Great stuff!”
~Karl Jirgens,
Editor, Rampike
“Oh, it's lovely. I like it when my body responds to
writing; right now there's an ache in my throat.”
~Susan Rendell, EarLit
Shorts
“The judges liked…the resistance to the happy ending, and
the idea that there is often something or someone waiting for the small
mistake.”
~The Writers’ Union
of Canada,
2007 Short Prose Competition Jury
“I love the mystery and the fear in this story--the ending
works so well.”
~Colleen Donfield, The
Sun
“I
entered all the changes in “Six Pixels [of Separation]” and just read (again)
the whole thing out loud...What a fantastic essay! I love it more with each
reading!”
~Sylvia Legris, Editor, Grain Magazine
Comments from readers of the award
winning, “Pie,” part of The Meaning Of
Children (at Fictionaut):
Your voice is so distinctive, and the story leaves me aching. Wonderfully
meaningful writing.
A superb voice.
Got a lump in my throat from this one. Who knew one can write about pie to
this effect? I like the way you compare men to pies "holding them close is
the making of men, not the ruining" and then in the next paragraph say
"but you can only compare a boy and a pie so far" when talking about
mending there are always scars. I also like the way the mother tries to mask
her scars and her grief, but can't. And it’s the not making pies anymore that’s
the most telling.
This is so well set up, and at the end you
get that "oh, no" feeling. The ending hurts; I agree with Beate.
Wonderfully written; deft and powerful ending.
This is a marvelous piece. Great work, Beverly. Made me think of Patty Griffin's
song "Making Pies".
I made pies your way for 20 years, wonderful - crisco, ummm - no more - we
worry too much about cholesterol. But we are still alive, so phooey! A great
piece.
Nice story. I'm craving some pie now. Can't wait to get back to the US and
smother my face in all that fatty deliciousness.
Nicely done to perfection. Smells good too.
Love the voice of this story. I'd listen to
all kinds from this narrator. Front porch stuff. Let's get this on tape stuff.
The live forever stuff.
What everyone else said. Times three. Just
beautiful.
Holy-boly, Bev. Yeah, I cried when where
this was going broke through the crust. "But you can only compare a boy
and a pie so far." What a blood-pie of a story. Hit the heart. Great work.
This is a magnificent story. Touched an benchmark of elemental sadness on
the human scale, but ever so lightly, ever so lightly...
Such a strong voice I can hear her in my
mind. Literary fiction at its best!
Fav
Like Water for Pie. This is wonderful, and
yes such an alive and honest voice. Well done!
Love the deceptive simplicity of the voice,
love the way the emotion crept up on me and then overtook me. Love.
Congratulations on your top contender finish in the Glass Woman Prize,
Beverly! I love this story so very much. I adore the voice and style of the
narrator, and the way she works through the story, through the heartache, until
we share it too. And the pie! Love it.
So deftly balanced, the literal and the foreboding..."one thing I know,
holding them close is the making of men, not the ruining." And then very
near the end: The tart bleeding into the sweet. Oh, my I'd like another piece
of pie...Big lump in the throat fav!
Amazing story. It deserves every honor.
