Book Summary and Reviews of Loose Diamonds by Amy Ephron

Reader Reviews

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Janice H. (Savage, Minnesota)

Interesting and Entertaining
I was drawn to the book by its title - Loose Diamonds ... and other things I've lost (and found) along the way. I read this book as soon as I received it and enjoyed learning more about our author with every new story in her book. She has some weird yet interesting stores to tell including meeting Squeaky Frome of the Charles Manson cult, entertaining her neighbor, the Birdman as a young girl, and socializing with the rich lady down the street. I especially enjoyed her story, 'Staying" about whether to divorce or not.

I found her stories interesting, entertaining, and quite delightful and some of them down right hilarious. Any modern family with a stepdad or a stepmom and step siblings will relate to her down to earth stories of disaster waiting to happen.

I really enjoyed the book and I think you will too.

Sandra S. (Huntington Woods, Michigan)

Learning To Look Forward To Changes In Life!
Amy Ephron's most recent book is a collection of short memoirs from her life's journey, up to this present moment. The title caught my eye, and from the first page to the last, I enjoyed every experience she related. The first essay was titled Loose Diamonds, it was about a remembrance she had of loosing her "valuable" jewelry to a robbery in her apartment and what she learned from that experience. The first memoir also set the tone for the rest of her book. Her writing is wonderfully descriptive, frequently humorous, and she doesn't miss a beat when it comes to describing the different people that encompass her life. She discusses what she believes to be a true life changing moment for her. As Amy Ephron's life journey continues to challenge her, she never gives up her optimistic outlook. I would recommend "Loose Diamond" to anyone who enjoys reading essays, as well as, memoirs.

Janet P. (Spokane, WA)

Things I've also lost and found along the way
Amy Ephron's new book of 18 essays brought chuckles and tears to me, a woman who had lived through similar times. I'm a mother of four, wisely divorced, happily remarried, a daughter of a mother who would never dream of putting a milk bottle on the table, and a somewhat ADD adult who loves to laugh at the absurdities of life. Amy Ephron fits my style perfectly. I've wobbled back and forth between a 4 and a 5 on this rating, basically because I think that someone who wants to read a writer who gets right to the point and who writes equally for males and females, might not like this book. But, what the heck...I loved it! Each essay was a story in and of itself, so it was perfect summer reading. I could read one while waiting outside the bank for my place in line and read another just before nodding off to sleep. In the end, I want to be friends with Amy Ephron, so doesn't that mean her book was a success?

Patricia W. (Richmond, VA)

Loose Diamonds by Amy Ephron
This small book of essays chronicles life experiences, has wonderful insights and exhibits the wit that we associate with the Ephron name. Amy Ephron's writing style is very down to earth and oh so readable as she tells stories about herself, her family, their experiences and the lessons that she has learned. This was a book that was a pleasure to read and one that I will no doubt return to on a rainy just because I can.

Laura H

a glimpse of la and new york
This book seems spare and yet the observations in it stay with you. The use of language is also spare and yet evocative. I lived in Los Angeles in the late '70s and it captured the time for me in a way, like snapshots, like real-time. The voice of each of the pieces is also evocative of the time they're written in. I couldn't stop reading it. The one on one parody of "Why I Quit Being Psychic", the weird piece about the Manson family and the Spahn Ranch, a place I'd never go have dared to go to. And yet it brought back memories for me, some of which I'd had, some of which are imagined.
In a way, the sub-text is almost as important as the writing which was so simple as to be deceptive. And reminded me of bygone times.

Chet W. (Madison, WI)

Loose Diamonds by Amy Ephron
Interesting and yet somewhat compelling at times, Loose Diamonds gives the reader a glimpse into the past and present of a woman that relishes the idea of always having the good life and a good laugh along the way; even when some of life's events warrants tears, Amy found a way to laugh about it, and make the best of the situation. Losing, finding and embracing memories of her remarkable life. She celebrates the values of memories; she takes us from the ballroom to the boardroom, shopping the racks at Saks (in which is one of her life long passions). The book is humorous, Amy assures us through her book that life is a game of cards sometime we're dealt the aces other times the duces and every so often we're dealt a joker. An enjoyable journey.

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