Papa’s Shoes: A Polish shoemaker and his family settle in small-town America is a work of fiction about immigration with a feminist and historical bent. At 99,968 words,
Papa’s Shoes is a stand-alone novel with series potential.
Ira Schuman is determined to move his family out of their Polish shtetl to the hope and opportunities he’s heard about in America. But along the way he faces the death of three of his four sons, a wife who does not have the same aspirations as his, and the birth of a daughter, Ava, conceived to make up for the loss of his boys. Ava grows up to be smart, beautiful, and very independent.
Besides having a feisty relationship with her overly-protective mother, Ava falls for the college man who directs her high school senior class play. With the news that she wants to marry a non-Jewish man, Ira realizes that his plan to assimilate in the new world has backfired. Should the young couple marry, he must decide whether to banish his daughter from his family or welcome them with open arms. Even though he won’t attend their wedding, he makes her a pair a wedding shoes. In his mind, the shoes are simply a gift, not a peace offering.
Print Length: 286 pages
Publisher: Aberdeen Bay (April 27, 2019)
Publication Date: April 27, 2019
ASIN: B07R7MQ6CM
ISBN-10: 1608300986
ISBN-13: 978-1608300983
Papa's Shoes by Madeline Sharples is available in print and as an ebook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.
5 Star Review by Crystal J. Casavant Otto
Papa’s Shoes by Madeline Sharples is absolutely beautiful and definitely a 5 Star Book. There are so many things Sharples did right with this book, but a few are so outstanding I’d like to point them out in detail:
The historical accuracy in these pages is so well written you often forget it is a work of fiction. Sharples writes with such attention to detail you might think she experienced each scene herself. The sights and sounds of the Shtetl drew me in from the beginning and I continued to enjoy the attention to detail and historical accuracy throughout the story.
The flow of the story is consistent and once the reader is drawn in, their attention is kept from cover to cover.
Papa’s Shoes is a story of courage and love (which is never without loss) and is a heartwarming read that kept me absolutely engaged cover to cover.
The cover of
Papa’s Shoes is lovely, but it’s only after a reader finishes the book they can fully appreciate the true beauty and relevance of the Shoes. It’s apparent much thought and detail went into getting the cover and all pages of this novel absolutely perfect!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others. It is my hope that Madeline Sharples writes a sequel to
Papa’s Shoes so we readers may enjoy more of the lovely characters she’s created in this beautiful book.
Praise:
"From an insightful storyteller,
Papa's Shoes, is a heartwarming story of courage and love. Author Madeline Sharples has created an epic journey with intriguing twists and surprises along the way. From days of old in Poland to cultural and economic realities in America, this is an awe-inspiring novel about families, generational history, and the incredible power of change. You truly won't want to put it down!"
—D.A. Hickman, author of
Ancients of the Earth: Poems of Time
"Author Madeline Sharples tells the intimate story of an American family, of immigration, tragedy, renewal, and love with grace and the delicate touch of a poet. There’s a raw kind of sweetness in this rich and epic saga."
—David W. Berner, author of
The Consequence of Stars and A Well-Respected Man
“An immigrant family’s braided history – its conflicts, losses, and secrets – come to life in
Papa’s Shoes. With loving attention to detail, Madeline Sharples transports readers from a Polish shtetl to the Illinois town where Ira and Ruth settle, and shows us the intimate workings of their
marriage. This family’s triumphant journey to the American Midwest will inspire you long after
you’ve closed these pages.”
—Eleanor Vincent, author of
Swimming with Maya: A Mother’s Story
About the Author:
Madeline has worked most of her professional life as a technical writer, grant writer, and proposal process manager. She began writing poetry, essays, and creative non-fiction when her oldest son, Paul, was diagnosed as manic depressive. She continued writing as a way to heal since his death by suicide in 1999. Madeline’s memoir,
Leaving the Hall Light On, first released on Mother’s Day 2011 in hard cover, is about living with her son’s bipolar disorder and surviving his suicide. Her publisher, Dream of Things, launched a paperback edition in July 2012 and an eBook in August 2012.
Madeline also co-edited Volumes 1 and 2 of
The Great American Poetry Show, a poetry anthology, and wrote the poems for two books of photography,
The Emerging Goddess and Intimacy (Paul Blieden, photographer). Besides having many poems published in print and online magazines, writes regularly for
Naturally Savvy, and occasionally for
PsychAlive,
Open to Hope, and
Journeys Through Grief and
The Huffington Post.
Find Madeline Online:
website/blog
Facebook page
Twitter page
Instagram
Pinterest
----------Upcoming Blog Tour Dates
June 20th @ Women's Writing Circle
Madeline Sharples pens today's guest post at Women's Writing Circle with Susan Weidener - don't miss the post titled: "Fact vs. Fiction" and learn more about Madeline's latest best selling novel
Papa's Shoes.
http://www.susanweidener.com/
June 26th @ Linda Appleman Shapiro
Fellow author and memoirist Linda Appleman Shapiro shares her review of
Papa's Shoes by Madeline Sharples. Don't miss Linda's insight into this touching story of one Polish shoemaker and his family as they move to America!
http://applemanshapiro.com/category/book-reviews/
June 27th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole Pyles reviews the latest best selling novel
Papa's Shoes by Madeline Sharples - readers will delight to hear what Nicole thinks of this crowd pleasing story of one Polish shoemaker and his family!
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/
June 28th @ Deal Sharing Aunt / Vicki Brinius
Vicky Brinius reviews
Papa's Shoes by Madeline Sharples. Find out how she feels after reading this touching story of one Polish shoemaker and his family as they settle in America.
http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/
July 2nd @Author Anthony Avina
Fellow author Anthony Avina reviews
Papa's Shoes by Madeline Sharples - this is a touching story of one Polish shoemaker and his family as they settled in America.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/
July 2nd @ Amanda Sanders
Amanda of Amanda Diaries reviews Madeline Sharples latest novel
Papa's Shoes - read Amanda's review and add this lovely story to your TBR pile today!
https://amandadiaries.com/
July 4th @ Author Anthony Avina
Readers at Anthony Avina's blog will delight with today's guest post and author interview with Madeline Sharples - learn more about her and her latest work!
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/
July 5th @ Lisa Buske
Lisa Buske shares her review of
Papa's Shoes - the latest novel by Madeline Sharples and a touching story of one Polish shoemaker and his family as they settle in America.
https://www.lisambuske.com/
August 12th @ Kathleen Pooler’s Memoir Writer’s Journey
Readers and writers alike will want to stop by Memoir Writer’s Journey to hear from Kathleen Pooler and friend / fellow author Madeline Sharples as they discuss Madeline’s latest book
Papa’s Shoes.
https://krpooler.com/
