Miriam the Medium

by Rochelle Jewel Shapiro

In the face of her husband's failing business and her daughter's estrangement, modern Long Island housewife Miriam considers going public with her psychic abilities in order to heal the family's financial woes, but finds her situation and abilities to be beyond her control

Genres: Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 4, 2004

Reviews

[Xine Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am admittingly biased towards my review, after studying under Rochelle at UCLAextension. I found her debut novel to be an easy, enjoyable read with charming insight into the life of a phone psychic. The relationships in the novel felt both real and easy to root for. Both the pain of a mother to find common ground with her daughter and the struggle of a daughter to find her passions in her own way, rang true. I recommend Miriam the Medium to anyone who is looking for a simple, yet riveting story of a family who breaks the mold.

[Lisa Fischbach · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an okay read if you don't think about it too much. The writing isn't great, the characterization is rather phoney and a bit irritating. All in all though if you like books about psychics, it was a fun enough read. It's not going to appear on any best of lists though, at least none of mine..

[GoldenjoyBazyll · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Things are bad, but they can always be worse" is Miriam's mantra. Miriam is a real live phone psychic whose life is in a shambles. She has spent most of her life trying to appear "normal" but what is normal for her isn't the same as everyone else. This is a charming story of a woman trying to find and accept herself and embracing a gift that sometimes is a burden.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was darker than I expected it to be after reading the description. It is far more character focused than plot driven, and many of the people in the book are a pleasure to read about - chiefly Miriam herself, her Bubbe, and the eccentric cast of characters who contact her for readings.

[Louise Silk · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the kind of story that gives psychics a bad name. The characters, trying too be cute, came off as false and unbelievable. Neither the plot nor the writing could not hold my attention The whole thing was frivolous and not worth the time.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miriam is a charming character with a larger-than-life Bubbie; a funny, entertaining book

[Jen]

This book so well done and so interesting--the main author grapples between her real life as a surburban mom and her gift of being able to communicate with people who have passed on.

[Cws]

F Sha

[Liz La V · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun read

[Samantha D'Aloisio-Schmunk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful! Heartbreaking & heartwarming. I loved Miriam so much that I wished I could call her myself!

[Mellodie]

Very good, fast-paced and interesting characters.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Miriam; the daughter, granddaughter, wife, mother, and the medium. She has the gift and so does the author. I liked this book so much that I ordered the sequel.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, light read. A good book to read on vacation.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. It was about a psychic with real life problems that were easy to relate to.

[Jesse C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely perfect vacation read