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Papa's Letters: Love via First-Class Male
"What a powerful story! Thank you for not thinking it robbery to share. Isn't love an amazing thing? "Papa" wrote very well. He was brilliant in his observations. I never knew any of my grandparents and I "envy" ever so slightly, those persons blessed to have that richness as part of their family quilt. God bless. Continue to share your grandparents with the rest of us." ---Annette Smith, Author of Etched ............................................................................................. "I was blown away! Your detailed descriptions of your loved ones, accompanied by those magnificent letters from 1914, left me speechless. There is nothing more inspirational and soul stirring than reading a story about true love based in reality. Thanks for sharing." ---Rebecca McFadden, Author of Surfing to Find the One ............................................................................................. "You've given us such a lovely gift. I was touched on so many levels The determination and devotion of your grandfather and the abiding love between your grandparents that is revealed in excerpts from his letters The glimpses of the challenges faced by a West Indian immigrant determined to make it in America The parallels between your son and his great-grandfather The reminder you have given us to maintain the precious human connection through letter writing in this age of technology" Barbara Gardner, Instructor, Boricua College ............................................................................................. "Your grandfather is awesome! His writings are poetry from the heart. Several times, I just stopped reading and said, "Oh my God, this man is bad!" "My head is full, my heart is overflowing, my pen is ready, paper is convenient and ink is All I have to do is write." Shoot...pure, passionate, prayerful poetry!" William A. Jones III, Community Leader
150 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 5, 2014
It is unusual in this age of cell phones, email, and text messaging to find anything written by hand anymore. For most people penmanship, spelling, and letter writing have fallen to the way side. Almost every facet of our lives is inundated with computers and technology. And that is why it refreshing when a book like this comes around and gives us a look into a bygone time.
Papa’s Letters: Love via First Class Male is one of those books that I love to read because I can picture almost every scene in my mind. It made me think of my own Grandfather and Grandmother and their entire 60 years of marriage. Oh how I would have loved to have their love letters to read. The author gives us the pleasure to step back in time to an era where communication was rarely done over the phone and writing to one another was the norm. The letters are poetic at times but written from the heart of a man that is truly and deeply in love with a woman. That is something that is almost a rarity in this modern era. This book was an enjoyable read from beginning to end the pictures were and added bonus that made the book just that much more enjoyable. This book is a true love story everyone should enjoy reading.
It is rare for me to find a book I just can't put down and this was one of them.
Papa’s Letters: Love via First Class Male is one of those books that I love to read because I can picture almost every scene in my mind. It made me think of my own Grandfather and Grandmother and their entire 60 years of marriage. Oh how I would have loved to have their love letters to read. The author gives us the pleasure to step back in time to an era where communication was rarely done over the phone and writing to one another was the norm. The letters are poetic at times but written from the heart of a man that is truly and deeply in love with a woman. That is something that is almost a rarity in this modern era. This book was an enjoyable read from beginning to end the pictures were and added bonus that made the book just that much more enjoyable. This book is a true love story everyone should enjoy reading.
It is rare for me to find a book I just can't put down and this was one of them.
December 25, 2013
What an awesome & inspiring love story...!
And it's ever more enjoyable knowing that it's a true story from a bygone era.
What can I say...they just don't built romances like that any more!
Someone should patent this and teach it in all the schools! The world would be a much happier place if everyone knew how to do 'it' right!
Thank you for sharing this with us!
And it's ever more enjoyable knowing that it's a true story from a bygone era.
What can I say...they just don't built romances like that any more!
Someone should patent this and teach it in all the schools! The world would be a much happier place if everyone knew how to do 'it' right!
Thank you for sharing this with us!
September 3, 2016
Ms. Lovell hooked me at the very start with this gem:
In my heart I still have the Biblical belief that God means marriage to be a lifelong engagement like the one my parents demonstrated.
This was a statement that really resonated with me, and I had a feeling that I would love the rest of the story. I was right.
Papa's Letters is a classic old-fashioned (in the BEST possible sense of the phrase), wildly romantic tale of how the author's grandparents met through letters and fell in love. It's interesting, because the manner in which they met has parallels to a modern-day romance—almost akin to meeting a handsome stranger online, etc., but I doubt that a modern-day Romeo would ask a woman on OkCupid to marry him before meeting in person.
This was where "Papa" and Avril differed. They took a shot, and it worked brilliantly! I think modern daters have a lot to learn from the relationships of couples like the Hurds.
I also enjoyed looking at the pictures—very beautiful, well-dressed family!—and reading about the respective time periods and areas in which the members of the family lived. Ms. Lovell obviously has a deep connection to her family's heritage, which is very compelling. I liked the patois phrases and other nice touches.
"Our destiny will work itself out." "You are in enthroned in my heart." Sigh...such a lovely book that harkens back to a kinder, gentler time.
In my heart I still have the Biblical belief that God means marriage to be a lifelong engagement like the one my parents demonstrated.
This was a statement that really resonated with me, and I had a feeling that I would love the rest of the story. I was right.
Papa's Letters is a classic old-fashioned (in the BEST possible sense of the phrase), wildly romantic tale of how the author's grandparents met through letters and fell in love. It's interesting, because the manner in which they met has parallels to a modern-day romance—almost akin to meeting a handsome stranger online, etc., but I doubt that a modern-day Romeo would ask a woman on OkCupid to marry him before meeting in person.
This was where "Papa" and Avril differed. They took a shot, and it worked brilliantly! I think modern daters have a lot to learn from the relationships of couples like the Hurds.
I also enjoyed looking at the pictures—very beautiful, well-dressed family!—and reading about the respective time periods and areas in which the members of the family lived. Ms. Lovell obviously has a deep connection to her family's heritage, which is very compelling. I liked the patois phrases and other nice touches.
"Our destiny will work itself out." "You are in enthroned in my heart." Sigh...such a lovely book that harkens back to a kinder, gentler time.
April 10, 2014
Papa's Letters is such a lovely book. It is amazing to see the rich history and family heritage that was saved in the form of love letters. Author Judith Lovell Has put this wonderful story of her families beginnings together. Starting with letters between pen pal's.
Lovell has done a tremendous amount of research to fill in the blanks that the letters couldn't tell, or because of the unfortunate lost letters. But she was able to find her heritage on a level that many of us can only dream of having.
The love that Papa(David Hurd) and Avril Cato were able to build through letters in the early 1900's is inspiring. The Jamaican Immigrants never even met in person until the day before their wedding!
The letters give us insight into the courting process that has changed so much. The relationship builds, and he even prepares his love for the culture shock of moving to a new country... all with words on paper, truly amazing!
This book is worth the read, and will warm your heart. It is very rare that we get a glimpse into the building of a large, loving, healthy family. If only we could all inspire our future generations the way Papa did, the world would be a much better place.
Lovell has done a tremendous amount of research to fill in the blanks that the letters couldn't tell, or because of the unfortunate lost letters. But she was able to find her heritage on a level that many of us can only dream of having.
The love that Papa(David Hurd) and Avril Cato were able to build through letters in the early 1900's is inspiring. The Jamaican Immigrants never even met in person until the day before their wedding!
The letters give us insight into the courting process that has changed so much. The relationship builds, and he even prepares his love for the culture shock of moving to a new country... all with words on paper, truly amazing!
This book is worth the read, and will warm your heart. It is very rare that we get a glimpse into the building of a large, loving, healthy family. If only we could all inspire our future generations the way Papa did, the world would be a much better place.
February 9, 2014
I am a sucker for true love stories and this was no exception! Definitely had me shedding a few (OK, a lot of) real tears. I wish I could find
some amazing love letters written by my grandparents. What an amazing gift to leave behind to future generations!
The photos added a great touch and the whole book was put together exceptionally well.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a true romance, rich in heritage.
some amazing love letters written by my grandparents. What an amazing gift to leave behind to future generations!
The photos added a great touch and the whole book was put together exceptionally well.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a true romance, rich in heritage.
November 3, 2015
Well written book about a Jamaican immigrant who wrote love letters to his pen pal, and eventual wife. The history behind how the letters became a topic of this novel is presented in the introduction and shows how special family notes/diaries/letters can be for future generations. The letters provide an insight to the poetry and love of a dear man for his special lady.
December 3, 2015
A fascinating time capsule of a Jamaican immigrant in 1914 America finding love through the exchange of letters. Only having copies of his letters offers a narrow perspective of the courtship, however allows for your imagination to fill I'm the gaps. A little heavy on the religious background but ultimately an engaging and heartwarming story.
September 15, 2015
I just loved this book. It is about a man from New York who wrote to a lady in Jamaica and they got to know each just by letter writing. It was an age when writing was the only choice. Some of the love letters were still here and this relative wrote their beautiful love story.
November 3, 2015
A beautiful idea, true romance!
November 24, 2015
won this here on Goodreads. What a wonderful read. Loved the whole concept. Wish I had wonderful memories like these from my family.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews