Becoming Bertha, sequel to Bertha-Size Your Life!, continues the saga of personal transformation in a lighthearted, entertaining narrative. As our narrator, Honey, adjusts to moving back to her home town and beginning a writing career, Bertha is still up to her zany antics and wardrobe. Bertha’s hands are full what with founding the Sisterhood of the Sacred Flamingo, designing fantasy shoes, writing Putting Your Best Foot Bertha’s Guide to Life and Shoes, and traveling on a national shoe model tour. Yet, she manages to find the time to spar with the cat, climb on a soapbox without warning, and keep her nemesis, Rita, at bay…without smudging her manicure. Life is good until Bertha begins the shoe model tour, leaving Honey to continue her transformation on her own or revert to her former self. Will Honey follow Bertha’s advice to get over who she has been and become who she is? And…exactly who is she?
This book is a winner. Jane Carroll combines light humor with life lessons in every chapter of this book. I have been waiting for this sequel for a while, and it does not disappoint! Just as I recommended the first Bertha book to my Mom, I will do the same with "Becoming Bertha." I like Jane Carroll's writing because she brings her characters to life, makes them believable with quirks, and teaches me things as I read it (without sounding preachy in any way). Keep writing, Jane!
Becoming Bertha is energy changing. It reminds us that we have the power to alter our perspective for a more positive one. With Bertha at her side, Jane Carroll has a special way of spreading her wisdom and inspiration. We all have our own version of Bertha in us. We just have to pay attention and look for her. This I have learned from reading these books.
Everything JaneCarroll does is positive, reenforcing and at the same time moving. You can’t help but take away something good. This book can be applied to our own lives. There is always a better way to look at things. We can only learn and grow but we need to be taught. That is where the author’s special gifts come in handy. Her skills are as special as the late Maya Angelou.
Jane Carroll’s books are treasures. They are uplifting without being preachy like some self-help books. Becoming Bertha gives you ideas in ways you can make everyday changes. Ideas I will always refer back to when I’m having a bad day. This is being accomplished in a joyful and entertaining fashion with many laughs along the way. Bertha is a character you want to have in your life. Well, maybe the bright green tube tops and florescent stilettos are a bit over the top but I so enjoy reading about Bertha’s latest antics and new outfits! Quote ~
“Well, obviously you can’t live your truth if you don’t know what it is, any more than you can order your favorite pizza if you don’t know what it is. It really doesn’t matter whether it’s food, or fashion, or jobs, or relationships; you have to know what you want first. Then you have to have the courage and strength to show it to the world… to live it.”
When I opened up the book I was so excited to be reunited with Bertha. I hadn't realized how much I missed her inspiring optimistic wisdom and flamboyant delivery. It was like meeting up with an old friend. One that I cherished no matter how little time we had together.
Bertha has a way of looking at life with rose colored glasses. Actually, bright pink (excuse me... Flamingo pink) and lime green but that is besides the point. She has a way of allowing you, the reader to see your own positive qualities. She doesn't talk down to you but rather brings you up by allowing you to appreciate your own uniqueness without worrying about what other people think. Bertha doesn't judge and never scrutinizes. She should be everyone's inner voice. If we let more Bertha into our lives we would be that much closer to accepting ourselves and achieving our dreams.
"I don't think I'm melancholy. It's more like... reflective. It just hit me I really don't know who I am here... Here, I've been a child, a mother, a wife. I'm not exactly any of those things now and yet, here I am. I guess I just don't know who I am or what I'm supposed to do with myself anymore."
Becoming Bertha is the story of a woman who is trying to find herself in a world that is everything but perfect. Bertha is someone she has come to rely on for sound advice. Bertha is sort of out there, not worrying about how others perceive her. Whenever Jane is puzzled about something Bertha is doing she asks Bertha what or why she is doing this and Betha jumps up on her soap box and gives Jane her unfailing and unthreatening advice.
I love the character Bertha as she is a very wise and knowledgeable woman and her thoughts to Jane are very sound. This is a very good book on self awareness and answers some pretty interesting question with very truthful answers. I don't want to suggest any spoilers but this book is one that should be in every woman's library if for nothing else a good laugh, hard lessons learned and the for the spirit of all inquiring women. Pick it up today and start enjoying Becoming Bertha.
Everyone could use a little Bertha in their lives. This sequel in the Bertha series is uplifting and entertains as we read more about Bertha's antics as she doles out her good advice to Honey on all of life's little matters. She demonstrates in her little vignettes how the law of attraction works as she puts a positive spin on things that may not be too thrilling. Bertha teaches us how to feel uplifted instead of deflating ourselves with pessimism. All the while we are eager to know what outlandish outfit she will be wearing next. A feel good read!