Reviews
Customers find this memoir impressive in its depth and emotion, with a compelling blend of insightful storytelling and compassionate exploration of the human experience. The book is beautifully written, offering an intimate glimpse into the author’s life, and customers appreciate its sincere vulnerability, humor, and power. They value how it delves into the complexities of human connection and relationships.
– Amazon Bookselling Website
The Haunting Truth—Life Is Messy
Lonnie from Indiana
I recently finished reading, “What a Tale My Thoughts Will Tell, Words Not to Be Forgotten” by John G Edwards. This book is not for the faint of heart. It reveals, as John has so aptly expressed, the happiness, sorrow, pain, and regret of its author. John takes he’s readers back to a time of innocence. It was a time when parents focused upon their presumed roles while children accumulated life experiences—the foundations upon which they would build their futures. The reader is transported into each timely segment through thoughtfully selected musical lyrics. Those of us living in the same time frame understand the impact of those songs. Through those lyrics, we relive our own youth, our own personal impressions.
John, however, openly reveals his impressions. He does so in an uncomfortable way—yet, not so uncomfortable that the reader is repelled by the nakedness of our own vulnerabilities, our own hidden weaknesses.
It is not a book I could have written; it is not for the faint of heart. John’s words, his memoir, slap us into the reality that life is messy. Whether or not the reader has had similar experiences, they cannot help empathize with the expressions of pain and regret. They cannot help but ask themselves, “why?” They cannot help but feel a sense of responsibility to those with whom they come into contact each and every day.
John pulls back the curtain. As we observe the actors on stage, each assuming their respective roles, each sharing their memorized lines, each following their directed blocking, John takes us behind the proscenium, where chaos thrives—and it is painful.
“What a Tale My Thoughts Will Tell” is a letter to its readers. It is a letter of warning. I believe it to be an unfinished letter and I await John’s next work. I will take the liberty of offering its title: “On Second Thought … A Memoir of Happiness, Sorrow, Pain, Regret, and Redemption.”
I Recommend This Book And Look Forward To Reading
S.j.main from Ontario
‘What a Tale My Thoughts Will Tell’ is a memoir about John Edwards having to self-reflect as he writes about his life, marriage, and kids. He navigates all his troubles, humanizing all the impacts life events have put him through. After school and finding love, he discusses his children, building a family and all the emotional connections he makes. As the marriage falls apart, he finds it very hard to deal with all it entails. You see him fighting and trying to savour whatever he can just to keep afloat, but while doing so, he understands that there is hope and meaning to his solitude. I appreciated that.
The memoir is written well. The honesty and self-reflection segments take you to the core and source of all-natural human feelings. I cherished this, as you rarely see this in memoirs. I recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
A Definite Must Read!
Nancy from Texas
What to say? This memoir moved me emotionally. Therefore, I will do my best to be concise. John Edwards eloquently details a personal saga in an open letter format to his estranged children that paints a vivid picture of his life experiences. The read was riveting and compelling, so much so that I was absorbed by it and could envision his life story becoming a film on the big screen.
John Edwards explores how his joyous and traumatic encounters eventually led him to a path of self-discovery—beautifully written utilizing musical songs/lyrics, historical events, and humor, providing a timeline and emotional expression to his narration. This unusual literary technique is very personal and powerful.
You feel John’s internal happiness as he falls in love with “The Love of His Life” and his pain as he fights to save his nuclear family’s unity. Through reflection and contemplation, John Edwards is guided to one of life’s most important meanings. The ending of his life story is passionate and heart-rendering. However, I feel there is still another story to be told in the future. I want to hear more from this author.
Absolute Page Turner
Lovin2dance84ia from California
Edwards’ story is both uplifting and heart breaking. You are taken back to a simpler time through mentions of historical events and the use of popular music of the times. Edwards’ almost photographic recollection of his life really draw the reader in as if you are experiencing these life events along side him. You truly feel joy with him and the sadness of coming of age heart breaks and disappointments as well.
What a Tale My Thoughts Will Tell deeply resonated with me and my young marriage to my husband. It showed me a look from another perspective and that if love is truly present in a marriage it’s never worth ceasing the fight to continue. Love and family is a choice that is often not easy. This book is an ordinary story about an ordinary man’s journey through life but there is ‘beauty in ordinary things’.
Amazing Read, Buy It..
Marc1957 from California
I’m not a man of many words so I will make this brief. I had the opportunity to read this book and when I got stared I couldn’t put it down. I was amazed at John’s ability to recall all of the events in his life so vividly. I was so impressed that I spent an entire evening reading the book. You can’t help but to reflect on your own journey going through life as you read along. It is a story of the reality of most that start out with honorable intentions then end up with life-long disappointment. Jhon seems like an amazing human being, I can’t wait for part two of his story. Buy the book, I highly recommend!!!
I can’t be categorized!
Anonymous from Sacramento, Ca
What A Tale My Thoughts Would Tell-Our Story Too
Edwards’ book is a tale for all of us. His life is not extraordinary and what is extraordinary is that he wrote of it. Edwards’ story is the story of many of us and he bares his soul and the angst of growing up as a youth in a typically 50s 60s, and 70s suburbia culture in America. His story could have been Mayberry RFD or The Wonder Years and as I read the story, I relived my youth and adulthood with a fondness and kinship I’ve not experienced before.
You Won’t Want To Put This Book Down.
Ams55 from California
John has written this book to his children. It will take them, as well as the reader on his life’s journey through his childhood, adolescence and adulthood. He shares in such detail and heartfelt emotion his highs and lows, his accomplishments, loves and loses. Throughout, he includes lyrics from songs that will resinate the moment. I highly recommend this book and look forward to John’s continued writings.
The Cycle Of Life, Love, And Loss
Filipina Girl, Sacramento, California
It is well pass midnight. I couldn’t put this book down. It struck a chord and resonated with my emotions. It was very relatable. Nothing is better than a vulnerable, emotional, funny, and heart-wrenching dose of truth-telling about a love that once shined with radiance. “What a Tale My Thoughts Will Tell – Words Not to Be Forgotten by John Edwards is a captivating and soul-stirring read. I can’t wait to read it again!
Rating
Bookside Press
The US Review of Books, Mihir Shah
There comes an inflection point in life where one decision will literally shape the outcome of all subsequent occurrences. In Edwards’ memoir, readers are privy to a genuine and authentic reflection of his life experiences that encompass the highest highs and lowest lows. While the purpose of a memoir is to be an open book, being as candid and vulnerable as Edwards often is about his personal life—versus highlighting only the great parts—is a difficult and commendable undertaking.
The catalyst in the author’s life is a bombshell revelation from his wife that she would like a divorce. The image he paints of complete normalcy, with a Seinfeld episode going on in the background as this calamitous event is unfolding, is appropriately ironic. Nevertheless, Edwards attempts to truly examine what went wrong from a behavioral and psychological standpoint. What prompts an individual to take the actions he or she takes, especially of such magnitude and with the knowledge that the decision will likely be a destructive one for those in her orbit?
As the author transports readers back to his formative years, his three-year-old self packed tightly with his other three siblings in a darkened ten-by-ten bedroom in Oakland, California, weighs heavily on him. On the other hand, his love for baseball and his first crush, Nancy Peterson, go hand in hand and provide a refreshingly positive take on the author’s upbringing. The imagery of the young sweethearts dancing to “Our Day Will Come” epitomizes the universal innocence of young love and living in the moment while the inevitability of separation lies in wait.
In the same vein as love, Edwards recalls being introduced in class to one of his favorite books, The Underground Railroad, and experiencing an immediate kindling of his innate empathetic nature toward humanity. Moreover, his recollection of the outpouring of emotions on November 22nd, 1963, following the assassination of President Kennedy is incredibly surreal. Conjure the image of being an elementary student on your typical recess break, hoping for a brief respite from academia and instead watching as chaos unfolds. Being able to see a key moment in US history from the vantage point of an individual who grew up in it is incredibly intriguing.
From ten-speed bikes and roller skating to partaking in CYO basketball and envisioning himself as Willie Mays in the batter’s box in Little League, Edwards demonstrates that he has had a range of experiences and has belonged to numerous communities. In fact, at their core his associations both in his youth and present day are tied closely to that sense of community and instill positivity and confidence in those he comes into contact with. Interestingly, Edwards is an everyman, a model citizen whose passions (like football and the 49ers) are relatable, while his concerns, such as acne, are even more so. For instance, his fears at the time of being drafted into the Vietnam War are palpable, a concern that most American male teenagers likely had during that era of growing up.
More than anything else, however, the book circles back from his earlier years to the cycle of love and loss as it pertains to his ex-wife, Robbin. The author is introspective and, at times, appears to be speaking directly to Robbin through his readers. Themes of quality time and happiness take center stage, highlighting a fruitful courtship but a tangential change once a baby arrives. On all accounts, Edwards’ book is one that will strike a chord with all readers. In some way, shape, or form, everyone will be able to resonate with Edwards’ effort to be an open book.
Jeyran Main
Editor-in-chief, Review Tales Book Magazine
After school and finding love, he discusses his children, building a family and all the emotional connections he makes. As the marriage falls apart, he finds it very hard to deal with all it entails. You see him fighting and trying to savour whatever he can just to keep afloat, but while doing so, he understands that there is hope and meaning to his solitude. I appreciated that.
The memoir is written well. The honesty and self-reflection segments take you to the core and source of all-natural human feelings. I cherished this, as you rarely see this in memoirs. I recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
EDITORIAL PROOFREADER
John Edwards invites us into his mind and heart. He answers many questions while facing his mortality and the struggle between the subject of his memoir and self. But, as life would have it, many palpable doubts remain unanswered. Reading his story, I was instantly swept into his world as he opened his personal storytelling letter to his once-nuclear family describing his most traumatic life experience.
As I continued reading, I couldn’t help but become captivated by his beautiful writing and sentimental orchestration to weave musical songs and lyrics throughout his memoir to revive memories, sometimes so intensely you feel the emotional pain and hurt within John’s heart. His narration is very personal and powerful and evokes emotional responses. I broke away from my reading, racing to YouTube to visualize the song and lyrics to understand and feel his joy and heartbreak.
It moved me sentimentally, awakening my memories and bringing forth a wide range of emotions. His life story touched my heart. It is a must-read.”
Chelsea
September 26, 2023
John Edwards invites us into his mind and heart. He answers many questions while facing his mortality and the struggle between the subject of his memoir and self. But, as life would have it, many palpable doubts remain unanswered. Reading his story, I was instantly swept into his world as he opened his personal storytelling letter to his once-nuclear family, describing his most traumatic life experience. As I continued reading, I couldn’t help but become captivated by his beautiful writing and sentimental orchestration to weave musical songs and lyrics throughout his memoir to revive memories, sometimes so intensely you feel the emotional pain and hurt within John’s heart. His narration is very personal and powerful and evokes emotional responses. I broke away from my reading, racing to YouTube to visualize the song and lyrics to understand and feel his joy and heartbreak. It moved me sentimentally, awakening my memories and bringing forth a wide range of emotions.
