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I Call Myself Earth Girl
What if you were about to become a grandmother for the first time and you discovered you were pregnant? What if you believed you conceived this child in a dream? What if you tried to end the pregnancy and failed?Gloria Geist's world is turned completely upside down when she discovers she is pregnant and she knows her husband can not be the baby's father. Her recurring dreams about a young girl who calls herself Earth Girl initiate a quest for understanding that leads her to question the nature of time and the possibility of reincarnation.As she is exposed to mystic wisdom through the voice in her dreams, she learns, not only about herself, but also the many facets of family love and acceptance. Her journey of self-discovery ultimately connects her to the future in a way she could never have imagined.
- GenresFantasy
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2013
5 people are currently reading
660 people want to read
About the author
Jan Krause Greene
5 books35 followers I live in a suburb of Boston. I was raised in a suburb of Washington, DC. I came to Boston to attend Boston College and I have been here ever since. Odd, because I really don't like winter.
I have five sons,four grandsons and one granddaughter. While raising my kids, I wrote Homefront, a popular newspaper column chronicling my life as mother, teacher and writer. Currently, I am the occasional co-host of a cable television show, Oneness and Wellness - a good news Show. I also present my original poetry at a variety of venues. I describe myself as a seeker and visionary, whose poetry and fiction examine life's big questions from the perspective of characters both young and old, struggling to understand their place in the world.
I formed my opinions about life at an early age and they haven’t really changed much since then – I believe war does not create lasting solutions, love will be the real revolution, and the human heart can expand until it holds love for the whole world.
I have been a teacher, a newspaper columnist, a bank teller, a house cleaner, an executive director of a non-profit dedicated to education advocacy, a diversity trainer, AIDS activist, a group facilitator, and a waitress. Whatever it took to raise 5 kids and remain true to my values. I can’t carry a tune, but I love to sing and don’t know any steps, but I love to dance!
I have five sons,four grandsons and one granddaughter. While raising my kids, I wrote Homefront, a popular newspaper column chronicling my life as mother, teacher and writer. Currently, I am the occasional co-host of a cable television show, Oneness and Wellness - a good news Show. I also present my original poetry at a variety of venues. I describe myself as a seeker and visionary, whose poetry and fiction examine life's big questions from the perspective of characters both young and old, struggling to understand their place in the world.
I formed my opinions about life at an early age and they haven’t really changed much since then – I believe war does not create lasting solutions, love will be the real revolution, and the human heart can expand until it holds love for the whole world.
I have been a teacher, a newspaper columnist, a bank teller, a house cleaner, an executive director of a non-profit dedicated to education advocacy, a diversity trainer, AIDS activist, a group facilitator, and a waitress. Whatever it took to raise 5 kids and remain true to my values. I can’t carry a tune, but I love to sing and don’t know any steps, but I love to dance!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 24, 2014
I have to admit that the ideas behind I Call Myself Earth Girl were a little out of my comfort zone -- reincarnation; the dead communicating through dreams; the ability to see the future -- but I was drawn into the story through the honesty and sincerity of the characters and their struggles through very difficult situations.
Gloria is a middle-aged woman with a grown daughter when she realizes that she is mysteriously pregnant. Through her dreams, she begins to believe the baby in her belly is actually the child of Earth Girl, who lived during a different time and died before she could birth her own baby. Gloria is understandably confused and frightened by this idea. She lives in the modern day, surrounded by the usual conveniences and beliefs that most American's share. Her internal struggles about what to do about a child she could not have conceived in the usual way were heart wrenching. How can she tell her husband the baby is not his? Can she really believe in the Earth Girl of her dreams?
The details that are revealed about Earth Girl's short life are at times too terrible to imagine, and yet the author forces us to know them. For example, Earth Girl wonders about the cruelty of a god that would make a woman get pregnant in the same way that a man can so terribly hurt her. I think this is one of the strengths of I Call Myself Earth Girl. The reader is reminded of the true plight of young girls and women around the globe, who are often treated as sub-human, with little regard for their feelings or their lives. We are forced to remember that these things happen every day, and we should be actively trying to stop them.
Gloria continues to have the dreams of Earth Girl over the next several years, and through them, the author reveals a world of war and environmental catastrophe. I found myself re-reading the parts about how war can turn even decent people into brutal monsters, in order to soak in this idea and really digest it. With simple conversational tone, the author is able to discuss the apathy that pervades the human race. We all know about famines, wars, rapes, and horrors going on in the rest of the world, and yet we choose to not really think about them. We all have daily obligations and jobs and families, and if the terror is not directly affecting us, we tend to not get involved. This is repeated throughout history, and it a curious problem.
Unfortunately, I found the writing style of this book to be at times distracting. I would have had an easier time keeping track of what was going on if the story were told in one or two people's point of views, instead of many. There were times when I think the prose could have been more concise and polished. However, I appreciated that I Call Myself Earth Girl ended on a note of hope, asking us all to care a little bit more, think a little bit harder, and love a little bit deeper than we have in the past. Even in the most devastating moments, love will live on and can lift us up.
Gloria is a middle-aged woman with a grown daughter when she realizes that she is mysteriously pregnant. Through her dreams, she begins to believe the baby in her belly is actually the child of Earth Girl, who lived during a different time and died before she could birth her own baby. Gloria is understandably confused and frightened by this idea. She lives in the modern day, surrounded by the usual conveniences and beliefs that most American's share. Her internal struggles about what to do about a child she could not have conceived in the usual way were heart wrenching. How can she tell her husband the baby is not his? Can she really believe in the Earth Girl of her dreams?
The details that are revealed about Earth Girl's short life are at times too terrible to imagine, and yet the author forces us to know them. For example, Earth Girl wonders about the cruelty of a god that would make a woman get pregnant in the same way that a man can so terribly hurt her. I think this is one of the strengths of I Call Myself Earth Girl. The reader is reminded of the true plight of young girls and women around the globe, who are often treated as sub-human, with little regard for their feelings or their lives. We are forced to remember that these things happen every day, and we should be actively trying to stop them.
Gloria continues to have the dreams of Earth Girl over the next several years, and through them, the author reveals a world of war and environmental catastrophe. I found myself re-reading the parts about how war can turn even decent people into brutal monsters, in order to soak in this idea and really digest it. With simple conversational tone, the author is able to discuss the apathy that pervades the human race. We all know about famines, wars, rapes, and horrors going on in the rest of the world, and yet we choose to not really think about them. We all have daily obligations and jobs and families, and if the terror is not directly affecting us, we tend to not get involved. This is repeated throughout history, and it a curious problem.
Unfortunately, I found the writing style of this book to be at times distracting. I would have had an easier time keeping track of what was going on if the story were told in one or two people's point of views, instead of many. There were times when I think the prose could have been more concise and polished. However, I appreciated that I Call Myself Earth Girl ended on a note of hope, asking us all to care a little bit more, think a little bit harder, and love a little bit deeper than we have in the past. Even in the most devastating moments, love will live on and can lift us up.
January 26, 2014
This is something quite unique. I've never read anything quite like this book... and it had me from the first chapter. I'm just not sure how it enticed me so soon and so thoroughly. I'll have to read it a second time, soon, to figure out how she did that! I actually found that, although I didn't really have much time to spend reading this book... I kept reading it to the detriment of other things I should be doing!
I wondered how I'd feel, reading a book where the main character is, supposedly, a human girl named Ella, whose eyes glow with golden light, but by the time the little girl had grown to where this began to happen, the author had given just enough 'scientific' and medical rationale to make me quite comfortable with the fact that her eyes glow with a golden light sometimes - mainly when she's upset. And she's legally blind, but sees with her mind... whether her eyes are open or closed. It sounds ridiculous the way I've written it here, but in this book, these concepts just progress in a seemingly natural way.
The quality of this book is second to none. When ever I read a book by an indie author, I normally collect a list of typos and even editing suggestions and then forward these to the author. With this book, I've hit an all time low - in the number of typos that is. This book must have really been put through the ringer and is a credit to the numerous beta readers, story editors, line editors and proof readers involved as well as the author herself, since I hardly found any errors; and the few I found were mostly simple punctuation omissions. Bear in mind that I normally manage to find one or two of these in the Dan Browns, Robert Ludlum and Stephen Kings of the world - so I tip my hat to the author. Superb quality.
This book deals very well with that situation where, on an intuitive level, we are sure something is true, but we allow others to convince us not to trust the feeling - or we rationalise it out of existence all on our own. This book has quite a balanced approach, with characters sitting squarely on both sides of the equation. I found myself wishing, though, that there were more 'Ellas' in the world we live in, to help us overcome this fear of following our intuition and, as Ella says herself, to remind us to "pay attention to the important things."
Excellent read. I'd recommend to all - seekers of all things spiritual and skeptics alike.
I wondered how I'd feel, reading a book where the main character is, supposedly, a human girl named Ella, whose eyes glow with golden light, but by the time the little girl had grown to where this began to happen, the author had given just enough 'scientific' and medical rationale to make me quite comfortable with the fact that her eyes glow with a golden light sometimes - mainly when she's upset. And she's legally blind, but sees with her mind... whether her eyes are open or closed. It sounds ridiculous the way I've written it here, but in this book, these concepts just progress in a seemingly natural way.
The quality of this book is second to none. When ever I read a book by an indie author, I normally collect a list of typos and even editing suggestions and then forward these to the author. With this book, I've hit an all time low - in the number of typos that is. This book must have really been put through the ringer and is a credit to the numerous beta readers, story editors, line editors and proof readers involved as well as the author herself, since I hardly found any errors; and the few I found were mostly simple punctuation omissions. Bear in mind that I normally manage to find one or two of these in the Dan Browns, Robert Ludlum and Stephen Kings of the world - so I tip my hat to the author. Superb quality.
This book deals very well with that situation where, on an intuitive level, we are sure something is true, but we allow others to convince us not to trust the feeling - or we rationalise it out of existence all on our own. This book has quite a balanced approach, with characters sitting squarely on both sides of the equation. I found myself wishing, though, that there were more 'Ellas' in the world we live in, to help us overcome this fear of following our intuition and, as Ella says herself, to remind us to "pay attention to the important things."
Excellent read. I'd recommend to all - seekers of all things spiritual and skeptics alike.
August 19, 2013
Those looking for a book they can't put down because they can't wait to find out what happens next should put this book at the top of their must-read list.
Author Jan Krause Greene has imagined a story that is impactful, inspiring and spiritual. It's the story about Gloria, a present-day woman in mid-life who inexplicably becomes pregnant then starts having strange dreams about someone who calls herself Earth Girl. In Gloria's dreams, Earth Girl recounts events that seem to occur in the future -- a future that is very dark. Gloria wonders where these dreams are coming from, and others wonder if Gloria is going crazy.
The mystery of Gloria's pregnancy and the meaning of her dreams keeps the reader in suspense throughout the book. This story about choices, survival, the possibility of time travel and the fragility of our planet will stay with readers well beyond the end of this book. It begs for a sequel -- which this fan of Krause Greene will be hoping for. Check out http://www.icallmyselfearthgirl.com.
Author Jan Krause Greene has imagined a story that is impactful, inspiring and spiritual. It's the story about Gloria, a present-day woman in mid-life who inexplicably becomes pregnant then starts having strange dreams about someone who calls herself Earth Girl. In Gloria's dreams, Earth Girl recounts events that seem to occur in the future -- a future that is very dark. Gloria wonders where these dreams are coming from, and others wonder if Gloria is going crazy.
The mystery of Gloria's pregnancy and the meaning of her dreams keeps the reader in suspense throughout the book. This story about choices, survival, the possibility of time travel and the fragility of our planet will stay with readers well beyond the end of this book. It begs for a sequel -- which this fan of Krause Greene will be hoping for. Check out http://www.icallmyselfearthgirl.com.
June 22, 2013
What a captivating book, with a powerful message! Dreams of another lifetime, alternating with the impact on the dreamer’s current-day life, creates an intriguing story. Any spiritual seeker will enjoy the many questions that arise, relating to the reality of time, reincarnation, and the effects of our decisions on future generations. The book also has vital information relating to our relentless use of natural resources and ongoing wars.
April 13, 2014
I just received my copy of this book from Jan Krause Greene, the author. Jan and I went to high school together and I can tell already I'm going to love it! We all learned to love reading at Holy Cross and, thankfully, some of us learned to love writing.
April 1, 2014
I Call Myself Earth Girl by Jan Krause Greene is a monument to writing at its best. This reader was simply blown away by the author's skill at hooking the reader right off page one and not letting go for an instant. This is one powerhouse of a read and is especially worthy as its many messages of hope, faith and love shine through every page that dares to overcome the reader with fear, doubt and pain.
The main character is Gloria aged 46 and mysteriously pregnant, not by her loving husband Jared but from an otherworldy source. This is where Earth Girl comes into the story, filling Gloria's dreams with her terrible life which mirrors all the sadness in this world. Gloria travels through her dreams in a living waking nightmare which forces Gloria to alter her thinking of how we perceive reality.
This wonderful book explores what we are and what we may become if we put our minds to it. Inner peace is within our grasp and this reader found it in this mystical book.
This is a FIVE STAR novel full of spiritual mysticism wrapped neatly in a thrilling mystery. Highly recommended.
The main character is Gloria aged 46 and mysteriously pregnant, not by her loving husband Jared but from an otherworldy source. This is where Earth Girl comes into the story, filling Gloria's dreams with her terrible life which mirrors all the sadness in this world. Gloria travels through her dreams in a living waking nightmare which forces Gloria to alter her thinking of how we perceive reality.
This wonderful book explores what we are and what we may become if we put our minds to it. Inner peace is within our grasp and this reader found it in this mystical book.
This is a FIVE STAR novel full of spiritual mysticism wrapped neatly in a thrilling mystery. Highly recommended.
August 10, 2014
I must say, this is one of the more unique stories I've read all year, and I've read quite a few. I also have to give the author kudos for creating a wonderful story full of plot twists that will keep you turning the pages well past your bedtime and characters that jump off the book and endear themselves into your heart. I love it when I read a book from a new author (well, she's new to me-I won this book in a giveaway, and I'm so happy I did). I will read and look forward to any and all new books from Jan Krause Greene she is without a doubt an awesome story teller.
Not only is it a good tale about a miraculous conception, tied into wonderful ideas that give you cause to imagine and meditate on, but it also has messages that are invaluable for all of us to hear and/or read about from time to time. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a wonderful tale of fiction with fantastic enlightenment. This book will make you think. Bravo Jan Krause Greene, bravo!
Not only is it a good tale about a miraculous conception, tied into wonderful ideas that give you cause to imagine and meditate on, but it also has messages that are invaluable for all of us to hear and/or read about from time to time. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a wonderful tale of fiction with fantastic enlightenment. This book will make you think. Bravo Jan Krause Greene, bravo!
August 12, 2013
This book has intrigue and mystery, and an important message that should impact all of us. Underneath the messages, the very real struggle of Gloria coming to terms with a mystery pregnancy at age 46 is beautifully handled. Jan Krause Greene, puts herself into the emotional turmoil of a family torn apart and put back together by the shocking events that unfold, and the challenges posed to their long held beliefs. A must read, it is fast paced and easily digestible.
July 13, 2013
A story that forces you to take a step back and truly look, not only at your personal situation, but the needs of the World. I will definitely read this again as I try to live up to all the needs mentioned. Amazing, powerful message written by an inspirational point of view.
February 20, 2014
WOW. That’s the first thing I’m going to say about this book. Beyond that, I’m pretty much speechless.
I Call Myself Earth Girl starts out with a woman who has mysteriously become pregnant during her menopausal years although she hadn’t had sex with her husband in a period of time in which this may have logically occurred. Now, at first I rolled my eyes and wondered what kind of ride I was going to be taken on. Thoughts of Jesus and the Virgin Mary aside, I assumed her condition was probably psychosomatic and the story was going to be about some poor crazy woman who would end up destroyed when she realized that her pregnancy was a lark. Yet, the pregnancy turned out to be very real and the manner in which the characters dealt with the situation extremely human.
I’d love to go into the details of the story but to do so would rob future readers of the incredible journey that Jan Krause Greene has taken me on. Therefore, I’ll leave it to Ms. Krause Greene to take you down that road.
If I had any complaints about this book it would only be that the characters often times became repetitious with their thoughts. Prior to becoming a writer myself, however, I never would have noticed this. I only did so because I’ve been criticized for the same thing. Aside from that, this was a perfectly written novel that I would recommend that anyone and everyone reads.
Note: This book was given to me by Ms. Krause Green in exchange for a review on my blog. However, this in no way changes or influences my opinion about this book. Run, don’t walk, to your local book store for this one.
I Call Myself Earth Girl starts out with a woman who has mysteriously become pregnant during her menopausal years although she hadn’t had sex with her husband in a period of time in which this may have logically occurred. Now, at first I rolled my eyes and wondered what kind of ride I was going to be taken on. Thoughts of Jesus and the Virgin Mary aside, I assumed her condition was probably psychosomatic and the story was going to be about some poor crazy woman who would end up destroyed when she realized that her pregnancy was a lark. Yet, the pregnancy turned out to be very real and the manner in which the characters dealt with the situation extremely human.
I’d love to go into the details of the story but to do so would rob future readers of the incredible journey that Jan Krause Greene has taken me on. Therefore, I’ll leave it to Ms. Krause Greene to take you down that road.
If I had any complaints about this book it would only be that the characters often times became repetitious with their thoughts. Prior to becoming a writer myself, however, I never would have noticed this. I only did so because I’ve been criticized for the same thing. Aside from that, this was a perfectly written novel that I would recommend that anyone and everyone reads.
Note: This book was given to me by Ms. Krause Green in exchange for a review on my blog. However, this in no way changes or influences my opinion about this book. Run, don’t walk, to your local book store for this one.
October 26, 2014
“I Call Myself Earth Girl” is a fantastic tale which captivates us immediately with its vivid, mysterious, and gut-wrenching imagery. Violent dreams from a past-life, an unusual family drama and a supernatural fetus are brought together in a haunting, intriguing weave. From the first page, Jan Krause Greene’s brilliant novel draws us into a mind-warping realm of impossibilities made real: can you conceive without sex, and have in your womb a child conceived by you in your last lifetime after a violent rape? And what if that child is not a human soul but a being from a celestial realm who lives not in chronological time but eternity? And when she is born, with pupil-less eyes shining like balls of pure gold, and with the ability to see even with her eyes closed, should you be surprised when she turns out to not be your daughter but your spiritual guide? This masterpiece of New Age fiction is a must for anyone who has a hankering for spiritual adventure, and a secret longing for the golden eyes of eternity. Heartily recommended!
~Ram Das Batchelder, author of “Rising in Love: My Wild and Crazy Ride to Here and Now, with Amma, the Hugging Saint”
~Ram Das Batchelder, author of “Rising in Love: My Wild and Crazy Ride to Here and Now, with Amma, the Hugging Saint”
February 5, 2014
I Call Myself Earth Girl hides a deep message within an easy to read story. It's written alternating the story between the "here and now" life of Gloria and the very different life of Earth Girl. Is Earth Girl merely a vivid dream or something more? Well... you'll have to read and decide for yourself!
The storyline is clever and has some interesting twists. The main characters are fleshed out nicely and the dialogue is excellent, but I did find some of the descriptive portions a bit rushed. I would have liked to have been shown more and told less, but that's a personal complaint. It doesn't detract from a well-crafted plot and, all in all, a good thought-provoking read.
I Call Myself Earth Girl
August 20, 2013
I was totally hooked throughout the entirety of this story about a baby girl born by an impossible conception (a sort of virgin birth, let’s say) who seems to have a warning for the world. This is not a plot you’ve read before; the story is unique. It’s so cliche to say “I couldn’t put it down,” but that’s exactly how this novel went for me. It moves fast. I won’t say more so that I don’t take away anyone’s fun in reading it.
As for the characters, their relationships were compelling and kept me wondering what was coming next. It’s not often I come across a novel that’s a quick read but also manages to have depth and meaning—I Call Myself Earth Girl is one of those books. So original. I loved it! I’m hoping to see another book from this author.
Check out the book trailer, too. It’s really great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AEW7f...
As for the characters, their relationships were compelling and kept me wondering what was coming next. It’s not often I come across a novel that’s a quick read but also manages to have depth and meaning—I Call Myself Earth Girl is one of those books. So original. I loved it! I’m hoping to see another book from this author.
Check out the book trailer, too. It’s really great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AEW7f...
August 18, 2013
'I call myself earth girl' is on a level all of its own. Throwing the reader into a parallel universe where she exists, and at the same time, finding her all around us, for those that want to open their hearts to find her. 'I call myself Earth Girl' is a beautiful read with a remarkable story that seems too real not to be true. 'Earth Girl' has a million messages, but the one message you will take home into your heart, is that her story is our story, and the future is in our hands. ' I call myself earth girl' allows us to tap into our true potential and become who we came here to be - A shining light- has been lit at my core and the fire is burning to do more and be more and for this message, i am eternally grateful to the author Jan Krause Green for sharing her beautiful story with us.
March 11, 2014
Jan Krause Greene Has written an awesome first book.. It blew me away.. It is totally Unique.. I have never ever read anything like this before ..I was hooked from the first few pages..I felt as if I was there with the characters.. every step of the way...Especially Earth Girl .. I could feel everything she did.. This book is full of suspense.. heartache.. and Hope..I cried like a baby reading this book.. this is a book I will read again.. I will not give the story away I detest spoilers.. You must read this book you will not be disappointed... For a first novel Jan Krause Green Rocks... I look forward to reading more of her writing...
August 12, 2013
What a powerful book this is! It travels between the present day to dreams from another time, all the while keeping the reader mesmerized. The characters are rich and believable, living with daily joys and struggles. On one level it is a work of fiction, on another an environmental plea and warning of the perils Mother Earth may face. The surprising ending will have you hoping for a sequel. Congratulations to Jan Krause Green for a profound first novel. I look forward to her future books.
August 20, 2013
Clear, clever, ethereal writing that draws you in from the very first page. I Call Myself Earth Girl is a powerful novel I found difficult to put down.
The plot is full of surprises, the pace is quick and the message is deep. This book and its characters will stay with you long after you've finished. I am, as others have stated, hopeful for a sequel!
The plot is full of surprises, the pace is quick and the message is deep. This book and its characters will stay with you long after you've finished. I am, as others have stated, hopeful for a sequel!
Read
December 16, 2016For some reason, Goodreads thinks I am reading this book. Actually, I wrote it!
April 15, 2019
This book pulled me in from the first page. There is a supernatural/spiritual dimension to this story that is engaging and believable. I interpreted this book to be about the dismissal of spiritual/extra-worldly wisdom by conventional knowledge, even if such a dismissal were to lead to tragic consequences--but I could be taking liberties with the author's agenda. You must read the story for yourself to see what you take away from it.
This is more than just a story, though. It is a wake-up call. It is a work of passion, a plea to pay attention--to our inner selves, to each other, to our politics, to our world. If you like books that push you to grow and expand, this is certainly one to check out.
This is more than just a story, though. It is a wake-up call. It is a work of passion, a plea to pay attention--to our inner selves, to each other, to our politics, to our world. If you like books that push you to grow and expand, this is certainly one to check out.
September 22, 2023
Clear, clever, ethereal writing that draws you in from the very first page. I Call Myself Earth Girl is a powerful novel I found difficult to put down.
The plot is full of surprises, the pace is quick and the message is deep. This book and its characters will stay with you long after you've finished. I am, as others have stated, hopeful for a sequel!
The plot is full of surprises, the pace is quick and the message is deep. This book and its characters will stay with you long after you've finished. I am, as others have stated, hopeful for a sequel!
December 2, 2017
Excellent, so far. I'll have a full review when I finish.
October 25, 2016
It has been more than a week since I finished reading this book and I have been struggling with how to review it. It breaks most of the standard rules for fiction--genre, literary, or otherwise--but is surprisingly affecting and effective in its message, in spite or perhaps because of its idiosyncrasies.
Gloria, an upper-middle-class white American woman, discovers that she is unexpectedly pregnant in middle age, with a baby that is not her husband's--and in fact not of this place and time at all. At the same time, Gloria dreams of the life of another young woman, who calls herself Earth Girl, and who dies in childbirth. Gloria's relationship to Earth Girl and her baby and the way their stories intertwine is the subject of this book.
At first I had difficulty relating to Gloria, who functions as the first-person narrator for much of the story. She came across to me as a bit self-absorbed, a bit clueless, and introspective about all the wrong things. Her voice too was tritely realistic. She reminded me of an annoying teacher I had in high school or of somebody else's mother--an adult whom I had to talk to to be polite, but mostly tried to avoid. I found the Earth Girl dreams interesting but they too seemed rather cliched at first, like something you might read about in a fundraising mailing from Americares or Children International.
As the book went along, though, I started to identify with Gloria as a person who felt trapped and swept along by larger forces beyond her control. A number of shocking and unbelievable things happen to Gloria as the story progresses, and after an initial very bad decision motivated by panic, somehow she pulls herself together, copes, and carries on, reconciling with her husband and raising her very unusual daughter in the still comfortably upper middle class community of Newport, RI.
This theme of being able to live more or less normally alongside earth-shattering facts and events, becomes the book's disquieting cautionary tale. When the time comes, Gloria meets even her own death with a quiet dignity and equanimity that was both admirable and a little frightening.
The last quarter of the book, after Gloria dies, is a departure from what came before in both style and content. Events happen so quickly and catastrophically that I felt it was almost a different book, allegorical rather than realistic. I think the narrative would have been overall better served by mixing the two sections: specifically by providing some more ambiguity and foreshadowing outside of Gloria's claustrophobic point of view in the first 3/4, so that the ending doesn't come so figuratively as well as literally from outer space.
In spite of these flaws, I found that the book and its characters stayed with me long after I put it down. We don't want to be Earth Girl, and to avoid the future she represents, we can't afford to be Gloria anymore either.
Gloria, an upper-middle-class white American woman, discovers that she is unexpectedly pregnant in middle age, with a baby that is not her husband's--and in fact not of this place and time at all. At the same time, Gloria dreams of the life of another young woman, who calls herself Earth Girl, and who dies in childbirth. Gloria's relationship to Earth Girl and her baby and the way their stories intertwine is the subject of this book.
At first I had difficulty relating to Gloria, who functions as the first-person narrator for much of the story. She came across to me as a bit self-absorbed, a bit clueless, and introspective about all the wrong things. Her voice too was tritely realistic. She reminded me of an annoying teacher I had in high school or of somebody else's mother--an adult whom I had to talk to to be polite, but mostly tried to avoid. I found the Earth Girl dreams interesting but they too seemed rather cliched at first, like something you might read about in a fundraising mailing from Americares or Children International.
As the book went along, though, I started to identify with Gloria as a person who felt trapped and swept along by larger forces beyond her control. A number of shocking and unbelievable things happen to Gloria as the story progresses, and after an initial very bad decision motivated by panic, somehow she pulls herself together, copes, and carries on, reconciling with her husband and raising her very unusual daughter in the still comfortably upper middle class community of Newport, RI.
This theme of being able to live more or less normally alongside earth-shattering facts and events, becomes the book's disquieting cautionary tale. When the time comes, Gloria meets even her own death with a quiet dignity and equanimity that was both admirable and a little frightening.
The last quarter of the book, after Gloria dies, is a departure from what came before in both style and content. Events happen so quickly and catastrophically that I felt it was almost a different book, allegorical rather than realistic. I think the narrative would have been overall better served by mixing the two sections: specifically by providing some more ambiguity and foreshadowing outside of Gloria's claustrophobic point of view in the first 3/4, so that the ending doesn't come so figuratively as well as literally from outer space.
In spite of these flaws, I found that the book and its characters stayed with me long after I put it down. We don't want to be Earth Girl, and to avoid the future she represents, we can't afford to be Gloria anymore either.
September 28, 2013
I was delighted to come across this book. It is full of the unexpected, not in the sense of strange things jumping out of cupboards, but rather the ideas within and behind this refreshingly intelligent novel. My sense is that Jan Krause Green wanted to consider the impact on a family of the arrival of a child who is truly 'different'. She explores this theme through a young girl who has disabilities combined with remarkable abilities. The result is a novel that has many unusual twists and turns.
A delight and one I am more than happy to highly recommend.
Here is my Amazon review:
In its opening, Call Me Earth Girl carries you convincingly into the tragic chaos of a war torn country. You are not sure where you are but arbitrary death and rape surround a young girl as soldiers go on the rampage. Then you meet Gloria in present day America. She is having visionary dreams about a young girl in a war torn country, and has the awful discovery that she, at 46, has fallen pregnant; the news is awful because it cannot be Gloria's husband's child. Nor is it anyone else's. Gloria becomes convinced she is having Earth Girl's baby, but doesn't expect anyone will believe her.
Jan Krause Greene, in her debut novel, explores an entirely original story line. How would it be when a woman who is about to become a grandmother, falls pregnant with a girl with unusual qualities from some other time and place? We experience the ups and (mainly) downs as the family try to come to terms with its newest member, a blind girl with strange golden eyes, who can see.
Ms. Krause Green has a wonderful ear for dialogue and takes us on a journey into the heart and soul of a family facing the unexpected. It is a joy to come across a story that is so deeply engaging and truly unique.
A delight and one I am more than happy to highly recommend.
Here is my Amazon review:
In its opening, Call Me Earth Girl carries you convincingly into the tragic chaos of a war torn country. You are not sure where you are but arbitrary death and rape surround a young girl as soldiers go on the rampage. Then you meet Gloria in present day America. She is having visionary dreams about a young girl in a war torn country, and has the awful discovery that she, at 46, has fallen pregnant; the news is awful because it cannot be Gloria's husband's child. Nor is it anyone else's. Gloria becomes convinced she is having Earth Girl's baby, but doesn't expect anyone will believe her.
Jan Krause Greene, in her debut novel, explores an entirely original story line. How would it be when a woman who is about to become a grandmother, falls pregnant with a girl with unusual qualities from some other time and place? We experience the ups and (mainly) downs as the family try to come to terms with its newest member, a blind girl with strange golden eyes, who can see.
Ms. Krause Green has a wonderful ear for dialogue and takes us on a journey into the heart and soul of a family facing the unexpected. It is a joy to come across a story that is so deeply engaging and truly unique.
September 13, 2013
She's 46. She just found out she's three months pregnant. Her husband has been away, and she hasn't had sex in six months. Who or what is the father? And how is she going to explain this to her husband? No wonder Gloria Geist is bewildered and frightened.
Could her pregnancy have anything to do with a recurrent nightmare she's been having? Or is it not a dream but a past-life memory ... or a telepathic communication? Whatever it is, it's horrifying, a 12-year-old girl undergoing a devastating ordeal of war and rape.
The girl, Earth Girl, is pregnant from being savaged by a barbarian warrior. Gloria has the intuition that Earth Girl exists in another dimension and is using her as a surrogate mother to bear the child. But with a father like that, what sort of a child would it be? Would she bring the horror of her past with her? Or has she overcome it, gained spiritual power, and is now bringing a message of healing for our violent species and our abused planet?
Or could it be ...?
The surprising answer emerges out of the twists and turns of a well-structured plot that leaves the characters, the world, and the reader much changed. In fact, these lines of William Butler Yeats sum up the book: "All changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born."
The novel blends ecology, mystic wisdom, and the many facets of family love into a satisfying whole. Jan Krause Green is very good at developing and resolving conflicts among her characters, and she has a gift for making the bizarre believable. I Call Myself Earth Girl is her first novel, but it begs for a sequel.
Could her pregnancy have anything to do with a recurrent nightmare she's been having? Or is it not a dream but a past-life memory ... or a telepathic communication? Whatever it is, it's horrifying, a 12-year-old girl undergoing a devastating ordeal of war and rape.
The girl, Earth Girl, is pregnant from being savaged by a barbarian warrior. Gloria has the intuition that Earth Girl exists in another dimension and is using her as a surrogate mother to bear the child. But with a father like that, what sort of a child would it be? Would she bring the horror of her past with her? Or has she overcome it, gained spiritual power, and is now bringing a message of healing for our violent species and our abused planet?
Or could it be ...?
The surprising answer emerges out of the twists and turns of a well-structured plot that leaves the characters, the world, and the reader much changed. In fact, these lines of William Butler Yeats sum up the book: "All changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born."
The novel blends ecology, mystic wisdom, and the many facets of family love into a satisfying whole. Jan Krause Green is very good at developing and resolving conflicts among her characters, and she has a gift for making the bizarre believable. I Call Myself Earth Girl is her first novel, but it begs for a sequel.
October 31, 2013
I read this book and really enjoyed it. It's about a married woman who becomes pregnant, in a way she can't understand. She's married and she and her husband haven't been intimate in a while and she has not cheated. So how can she be pregnant? Her pregnancy is further complicated by dreams of a young girl in a war torn country who is raped and becomes pregnant. Is she pregnant with a reincarnation of this girls baby? Her husband believes that she cheated, but ultimately stays with her because he thinks she's having some mental weakness and she's blocking out that she cheated. The story is good and goes on through the pregnancy, with the dreams, and the families struggle to make sense and get through some rough times. The baby has some unique talents or gifts as she gets older. She knows things she shouldn't. The book focuses largely on what would happen if there was a war and our earth took a beating in the process. I would have liked to have seen more character depth, but that is the only thing that lacked in this book for me. It even made me research some of the things mentioned in the book. It's an easy read, that makes you think.
September 1, 2013
The message in this book is very strong...about taking care of our world to ensure we have a future for our children and grandchildren.
One quote sums it up, "Life on earth can never be fully understood. Life and all it holds is too big for humans to understand. There is the possibility for more joy than they ever comprehend and there is the same possibility of pain and suffering. Humans have embraced pain and sorrow much more fully than they have embraced joy. This why the world suffers."
How this message is shared as part of the storyline is unique, but sometimes confusing; leaving the dialogue between characters a little awkward and unnatural to regular conversation. There were a few parts to the story that seemed out of place for the storyline.
Overall, an interesting read that leaves you thinking and because of that, you will want to read it from cover to cover.
One quote sums it up, "Life on earth can never be fully understood. Life and all it holds is too big for humans to understand. There is the possibility for more joy than they ever comprehend and there is the same possibility of pain and suffering. Humans have embraced pain and sorrow much more fully than they have embraced joy. This why the world suffers."
How this message is shared as part of the storyline is unique, but sometimes confusing; leaving the dialogue between characters a little awkward and unnatural to regular conversation. There were a few parts to the story that seemed out of place for the storyline.
Overall, an interesting read that leaves you thinking and because of that, you will want to read it from cover to cover.
February 9, 2015
Gloria, who's 46, becomes mysteriously pregnant at the same time as her grown daughter. Gloria is horrified - especially since her husband Jared is obviously NOT the father. To make matters worse, Gloria is having dreams of Earth Girl, who apparently lives in a different time, which is a very dark, dangerous place. Earth Girl endures a great deal during her short life. Gloria realizes that there is a connection between Earth Girl and her unborn child. Gloria's baby is definitely no ordinary child. I don't want to give away any more of the plot because of lot of the fun of this novel - or any novel - is finding things out on your own.
This is a very original novel with strong peace and environmental messages. I've never ready anything quite like this before. I do recommend giving this book a chance. It will definitely stay with you long after you finish.
This is a very original novel with strong peace and environmental messages. I've never ready anything quite like this before. I do recommend giving this book a chance. It will definitely stay with you long after you finish.
August 22, 2013
Myths are those truths that can only be told in stories.* - I Call Myself Earth Girl is a compelling myth for the 21st century. Not every reader will be able to make the leap of faith it takes to accept Gloria's life circumstance, but those who can will discover richness and challenge in their own lives revealed by "Earth Girl." Thank you, Jan Krause Greene
*Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype
*Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype
July 24, 2014
I really loved this book. I could not put it down and read it late into the night. The story isn't your average theme. It is refreshing to look at things in a new perspective. The shifting between past/present really worked in this book. I kept wondering what was going to happen next and how everything was going to be connected. This was one book I had a hard time foreshadowing, which made it more enjoyable for me. The author is a great story teller and the story has a unique theme. The story is very powerful and I felt very much like all the character were real. Gloria, Earth Girl, Jared. This story resonates with you long after you finish the book. The loudest feeling being love.
September 6, 2017
Crisp writing by Jan Krause Greene illuminates this contemporary tale which ends with a bright streak that leaves the reader to imagine an unwritten future. Equal parts cautionary and visionary, I Call Myself Earth Girl reveals its story through the life of Gloria. With illusory snapshots into a different era, the author gives a sense of hope for a time guided by a common love of earth and humanity.
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