Readers' comments - Heléna's Legacy
Here's what some readers have commented (contact Jo-Anne by clicking here to give your feedback!):
I just wanted to tell you how much I loved reading 'Helena’s Legacy’. It was a wonderful story – I just loved it and the messages I received from it. It arrived at a perfect time, I was home on sick leave so it only took me just over a day to read it. I will now pass this on to a friend who is not a Christian but is a keen reader and am sure she will be blessed as I was. Wendy, SA
I have read your book, Helena's Legacy - I read it in a day but it was great! It really got me in...I didn't want to stop reading it because I was so involved in the lives of the people. It was encouraging too... Alison, Turkey
Thank you for your latest book which I have just finished reading. Another great book. You managed to cover so many “issues” in a tactful and meaningful way. Most of the time the tissues were not far away, not because it was a sad book, but you are able to write in such a moving way. I look forward to your next book. Eric, Qld
Just wanted to let you know that I finished Helena’s Legacy this afternoon. It was a beautiful book and I really enjoyed it. ... Just this week I’ve put Mum’s house (our old family home) on the market and it has been very distressing, and reading the final couple of chapters of the book was very comforting. It made me think about the legacies that Mum and Dad have left me too, and how we impact lives even after we die. Kerry, NSW
I've just finished reading Helena's Legacy and found it very helpful. I enjoyed it very much. I found it helpful in the way you put in little prayers for the people and found the prayers helpful as I pray for others. Keep up the good work. You are doing so well. May God bless your books for his glory. Ruby, NSW
I just wanted to share with you how much ‘Helena’s Legacy’ has meant to me. I am about two-thirds through and have been touched, inspired and challenged by the strong theme of forgiveness so far. ... Thank you for taking your gift of writing seriously. It has been a blessing to me. Sue, NSW
I just wanted to tell you how much I loved reading 'Helena’s Legacy’. It was a wonderful story – I just loved it and the messages I received from it. It arrived at a perfect time, I was home on sick leave so it only took me just over a day to read it. I will now pass this on to a friend who is not a Christian but is a keen reader and am sure she will be blessed as I was. Wendy, SA
I have read your book, Helena's Legacy - I read it in a day but it was great! It really got me in...I didn't want to stop reading it because I was so involved in the lives of the people. It was encouraging too... Alison, Turkey
Thank you for your latest book which I have just finished reading. Another great book. You managed to cover so many “issues” in a tactful and meaningful way. Most of the time the tissues were not far away, not because it was a sad book, but you are able to write in such a moving way. I look forward to your next book. Eric, Qld
Just wanted to let you know that I finished Helena’s Legacy this afternoon. It was a beautiful book and I really enjoyed it. ... Just this week I’ve put Mum’s house (our old family home) on the market and it has been very distressing, and reading the final couple of chapters of the book was very comforting. It made me think about the legacies that Mum and Dad have left me too, and how we impact lives even after we die. Kerry, NSW
I've just finished reading Helena's Legacy and found it very helpful. I enjoyed it very much. I found it helpful in the way you put in little prayers for the people and found the prayers helpful as I pray for others. Keep up the good work. You are doing so well. May God bless your books for his glory. Ruby, NSW
I just wanted to share with you how much ‘Helena’s Legacy’ has meant to me. I am about two-thirds through and have been touched, inspired and challenged by the strong theme of forgiveness so far. ... Thank you for taking your gift of writing seriously. It has been a blessing to me. Sue, NSW
Reviews - Heléna's Legacy
There is a lot to like about this novel. The main character Susan Curtis is a determined young woman who does not allow adverse circumstances to defeat her. A child, Peter James, born to her after her parents have disowned her and her fiancée had walked out, wanting nothing more to do with her and nothing to do with the child, does not stop Susan from pursuing her dreams. With determination and hard work Susan continues her studies to become a doctor.
In the course of her career and her work in the oncology department, Susan meets Helena, a former concert pianist who was forced to flee her homeland and who has experienced great loss in her life. However Helena still has her son Petr and mother and son have a close, loving relationship. Susan finds this moving from purely a professional level and soon becomes more involved in their lives. But they have something she does not. They have a faith in God that sustains them despite hard circumstances of life. Through Helena and Petr, Susan is drawn into a community of caring people who help in part to make up for the parents who have abandoned her.
The characters are so real and lifelike that I almost felt they were friends. They quickly involved me in their joys and struggles. This is one of those books that is impossible to read without become emotionally involved with the characters. I read the book through in one sitting. During the process I laughed, worried and cried with them.
I liked the way Jo-Anne Berthelsen brought out difference in cultures, in social classes in Australia and outlooks on life and marriage. If you’re looking for an
uplifting, involving read about people in Australia life, then I recommend Helena’s Legacy.
Dale Harcombe for Good Reading magazine
www.daleharcombe.com
www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale
Susan Curtis is at University and for all of her life has experienced the advantages of a life underpinned by money, prestige and position. On the other
hand she is all–too–familiar with having to live up to her parent’s expectations and demands.
When Susan becomes pregnant she learns first–hand the hypocrisy of her Christian parents and she is rejected and abandoned by both parents and
fiancé.
Like many of Jo–Anne Berthelsen’s books, Helena’s Legacy is a believable novel. Life in the medical world of study has been well researched and
documented. The pain of Susan’s rejection is an almost ‘felt’ emotion and the prejudice of family and others towards the newcomers to our land and the trials
that many face is a challenge to readers.
Helena’s Legacy is a book for our time. It confronts the issue of abortion, hypocrisy and also the role the local church plays in helping young women
trapped by circumstances. Helena’s Legacy deserves a place on every woman’s ‘must read’ list.
DS Omega Writers/CALEB Award
In the course of her career and her work in the oncology department, Susan meets Helena, a former concert pianist who was forced to flee her homeland and who has experienced great loss in her life. However Helena still has her son Petr and mother and son have a close, loving relationship. Susan finds this moving from purely a professional level and soon becomes more involved in their lives. But they have something she does not. They have a faith in God that sustains them despite hard circumstances of life. Through Helena and Petr, Susan is drawn into a community of caring people who help in part to make up for the parents who have abandoned her.
The characters are so real and lifelike that I almost felt they were friends. They quickly involved me in their joys and struggles. This is one of those books that is impossible to read without become emotionally involved with the characters. I read the book through in one sitting. During the process I laughed, worried and cried with them.
I liked the way Jo-Anne Berthelsen brought out difference in cultures, in social classes in Australia and outlooks on life and marriage. If you’re looking for an
uplifting, involving read about people in Australia life, then I recommend Helena’s Legacy.
Dale Harcombe for Good Reading magazine
www.daleharcombe.com
www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale
Susan Curtis is at University and for all of her life has experienced the advantages of a life underpinned by money, prestige and position. On the other
hand she is all–too–familiar with having to live up to her parent’s expectations and demands.
When Susan becomes pregnant she learns first–hand the hypocrisy of her Christian parents and she is rejected and abandoned by both parents and
fiancé.
Like many of Jo–Anne Berthelsen’s books, Helena’s Legacy is a believable novel. Life in the medical world of study has been well researched and
documented. The pain of Susan’s rejection is an almost ‘felt’ emotion and the prejudice of family and others towards the newcomers to our land and the trials
that many face is a challenge to readers.
Helena’s Legacy is a book for our time. It confronts the issue of abortion, hypocrisy and also the role the local church plays in helping young women
trapped by circumstances. Helena’s Legacy deserves a place on every woman’s ‘must read’ list.
DS Omega Writers/CALEB Award