Miriam the Medium

by Rochelle Jewel Shapiro

In the tradition of Susan Isaacs comes a charming debut novel featuring a lovable phone psychic, whose talents will either save her family from financial ruin -- or ruin her family altogether.What do you do when your husband's business is failing, your daughter is ashamed of you, and your faith in your own talents hits rock bottom? Miriam is a modern-day Long Island housewife, who just happens to be a professional phone psychic. But while she can heal broken hearts, mend relationships, and help others find new careers, her own life is in shambles.

It starts with the family business. Her husband, Rory, is working every spare minute to keep his business, Mirror Pharmacy, afloat, but no matter what cost-saving measures he takes, a profit seems farther and farther away. Using her gift, Miriam tries to channel to the heart of the problem, but Rory's patience with her "readings" has worn as thin as his cash flow. Then there is Miriam's teenage daughter, Cara, who cannot stand to be in the same room with her, much less listen to any psychically generated advice. Now involved with a particularly bad-news boyfriend, she's too in love to take Miriam's warnings seriously. Miriam struggles to maintain a positive outlook -- things are bad, but they can always be worse, goes her mantra. So when a persistent agent proclaims her talents remarkable and marketable, Miriam decides to take action. But will going public ruin her family's already questionable standing in their prim Long Island community? And will her trusted spirits -- her dear departed Dad and Russian grandmother, Bubbie -- remain faithful if she "sells out"? Miriam struggles to sort through her escalating troubles and trust herabilities in times of crisis, even as her visions are becoming too cloudy to interpret.

In a quirky tale full of humor and heartache, Rochelle Shapiro captures the universal desire to find one's true self, no matter the opinions of others. Smart and sassy, "Miriam the Medium" is the debut of a talented and imaginative author -- one who is able to conjure with words and spirit.

Genres: Fiction

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