Reader Submitted Stories

I have spent a decade, off and on, meeting and dating online. I am one of those women who seems to make men very comfortable and so they have behaved and spoken, endlessly, without any concept of propriety or boundaries, as if they were in some sort of social dmz, safe from any censorship or outrage. I listened and watched and ended up with a funny, sad, curious, unpredictable, and even poignant collection of encounters with doctors, lawers, judges, artists, businessmen, and others, including 12 who had an uncanny connection with my past, and in those encounters, some perception of the past was significantly altered. Those who heard my stories were in disbelief and yet sure that no one could make up such events. I place no judgement on any of my experiences, even though sometimes it was hard to avoid. I see them as a fascinating journey into the very human and sensitive matters of the heart, a journey that, except for the internet, could never have been possible. The phenomena of internet dating has become overwhelmingly huge since I began, but to many it is still suspect with a mixed reputation. To those who have and are doing it, this story is theirs too, for those who haven’t, it will be a look into what must surely be at least a curiosity. My story is not meant to support or change anyone’s attitude in any way. We have it, we need it, and this is just what happened. And it’s all “g” rated.

–by Marian

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • Sex and Love

By Gary from Missouri
Internet Review of Books

It’s a tale well-told, but it’s short. Given that most of the pages are cartoon panels–that means only 20, 30, or maybe 40 words on a page–Henley cannot dig down hard, dig down, dig down into the mud, to find and then sustain, the emotional depth, the passion, the anger, the despair that ricochet off the pages of most memoirs. How short? I read The Shiniest Jewel in an hour, pausing to drink a cup of tea and eat a bowl of fruit and yogurt.

Was it enough? No. And yes.

No, because I’m a curious sort, a reader who is intrigued by nuance and referential writing and back story. For example, why adopt a Russian child? Are there not children in the USA who are adoptable? Why a boy and not a girl? Why not a mixed race or minority child languishing in foster care or an orphanage?

But yes, it was also enough because how else might I ask Marian Henley to tell the story? She is, after all, a gifted cartoonist, which means much of the way she sees the world comes out as the ink tracks along the page.

Read my full review at The Internet Review of Books.

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • THE SHINIEST JEWEL Advance Reviews

By Alea from Minnesota
Pop Culture Junkie

Marian has a serious boyfriend, that she isn’t ready to marry. She is about to turn 50 and decides she wants more than anything a child so she turns to adoption. We go along on her journey through disappointment and also happiness. At the same time she’s trying to adopt a child her father is slowly dying. She fears she will be out of the country during her father’s last days. This is a beautiful story of life and death and everything in between.

What a great story that is only complimented by the graphic novel format. Seeing the author’s work right there in front of your eyes instead of just reading about it is wonderful. Henley has a very simple illustration style, basically line drawings yet the emotion is there. A person has to be very brave to tell such a personal story such as this.

Like The Heartbreak Diet, The Shiniest Jewel would be a great place to start for someone hesitant about graphic novels. It’s a very approachable story!

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • THE SHINIEST JEWEL Advance Reviews

By Diana from Mississippi

When I got the book and saw how it was presented in the “comic strip” format I thought I wont be able to read this way. I also thought how can the book be in depth…sharing Marion’s feeling, frustrations and joys. Once I opened the book to read it I was hooked and the story came alive with the graphics. I was pleasantly surprised how I became swept away on her journey and was praying for a happy ending. I felt the sorrow she went through with her Dad and her frustrations during the adoption process.

Her “family love story” shined through and I was sad to have the book end.

Good Luck,Marion!

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • THE SHINIEST JEWEL Advance Reviews

By Dawn from Illinois
Devourer of Books

The Shiniest Jewel represents my very first experience with a graphic novel, although actually it is not a novel, but a graphic memoir. The graphic memoir seems really to be taking off, I have Persepolis in my teetering TBR pile, but I got to this first. I think this format can work really, really well for a memoir, particularly one like this that only spans a year or so.

I really enjoyed Henley’s story. I was under the impression that it was completely about her experience with foreign adoption at the age of 50, but it was really much more. The subtitle, A Family Love Story, is extremely fitting. The Shiniest Jewel deals with Henley’s relationship with her parents, particularly her ailing father, her marriage-phobic relationship with her boyfriend, and the emotional ups and downs of adoption. The illustrations are at times both poignant and hilarious, and the story itself was very moving.

This is something I would recommend to anyone, but particularly those who are contemplating or have gone through adoption, particularly foreign adoption.

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • THE SHINIEST JEWEL Advance Reviews

By Karin from Illinois

I’m not about to turn fifty, nor am I considering adoption (or motherhood, for that matter), nor am I familiar with Maxine, Marian Henley’s comic strip. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed her newest project–the graphic novel, The Shiniest Jewel. She writes (and draws) about adopting her son, William Igor, from Russia and all of the ensuing drama that she welcomed into her life as a result. Although Henley’s adoption application was approved, she was not able to adopt the first child she was promised, and during a subsequent interview with her agency she was told that she was not an ideal “family” for a young child as she was older, single, and worked full-time. Henley managed to traverse these disappointments and setbacks with grace (for the most part) as well as frustration, and her perseverance eventually brought William Igor into her life.

Marian Henley’s simplistic black and white drawings really lend themselves well to her story. Her self-portraits are spot on (check out her website for a comparison!) and she manages to convey a lot of emotion (as well as humor) with her well-chosen words and images. Henley’s story should resonate with a lot of people–regardless of whether or not they share her situation or experience–as it is primarily about welcoming love and life into one’s home and heart.

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • THE SHINIEST JEWEL Advance Reviews

By Trumillia from Missouri
Musings of a Mid Life Diva

Imagine my joy upon receiving the book and realizing that the entire story was an illustrated account of one woman’s journey to motherhood! How wonderful! I was enraptured with Marian’s story from page one and can say that I was unable to put it down and read the entire book at one sitting! I was sad to see it end, but can only hope that Marian will continue to document her journey with Baby William/Igor in illustrations. I will try to wait patiently for her “next installment”! Excellent work Marian!

Trumillia Lunnie-Thomas, BA, MA, Author of “Soul Powerful, Everyday Life Lessons for Uncovering and Recovering Your Greatness Within” and upcoming titles “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Mid Life” and “When Crazy’s Coming, Cross The Street - The Mid Life Misadventures of a Mid Life Diva”

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • THE SHINIEST JEWEL Advance Reviews

By Bethanne from Illinois
Romance in Writing
Romantic Bites

Despite not relating to Marian Henley on a personal level–why do baby boomers think 45 is young! Bernie Mac is dead at 50!–I was touched by her story. I admire her fighting spirit. She didn’t give up when others might have.

More, I was inspired by her father’s story. His background, his sense of family, his quiet nature struck something familiar in me. I wished, reading to the end, for a happy ending as that for Marian. Best Wishes, Bethanne

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • THE SHINIEST JEWEL Advance Reviews

By Lori from Indiana
Publishing Careers

When my coworker told me about Springboard Press’ appeal for advance reviewers of The Shinest Jewel, I jumped at the chance. It was touted as a book about adopting a baby at age 50, a subject that I am growing more and more interested in. One look at the cover illustration and my heartstrings were officially tugged.

Springboard quickly sent me a copy of the book and I eagerly sat down to read it at naptime last weekend. For whatever reason, it hadn’t occurred to me that the book by the creator of the Crabby Road cartoons [editor's note: that is a different Maxine than the one Marian Henley created] wouldn’t be all texty. But it still nearly knocked me down when I opened it and found the story was told in cartoon form.

You might think that using cartoons would make the story more shallow, but you’d be wrong. Henley manages to pack a thousand words and some powerful emotions into each comic strip.

The Shiniest Jewel is entertaining, engrossing, and enlightening all at once, showing readers what happens when a single woman decides to travel to Russia to adopt a child–and resolves quite a few other relationships along the way.

I finished the book in one sitting, but I’ve gone back to reread parts of it since. My mom wants to read it next but I’m not ready to let it go yet.

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • THE SHINIEST JEWEL Advance Reviews

By April from Iowa
Cafe of Dreams

A beautiful and compelling story, told with humor and compassion. The Shiniest Jewel takes us on a journey with Marian, as she makes the decision to adopt a baby. As she struggles with the physical and emotional turmoil of the difficulties of adopting from overseas, she must also deal with turning fifty, taking her relationship with a long time boyfriend, to a whole new level, and watching as her father’s life begins to slip away.

It, quite honestly, amazes me how a story can be told to such an extent that makes the reader feel as though they are right there with the main character, using such few words. This is the power of the graphic novel. Through wondrous pictures that tell the story, intermingled with thoughts and conversation, The Shiniest Jewel is a true gem of a book. Marian Henley’s talent shines brightly in her memoir, told in a way that any and everyone can enjoy and in some way or another, be able to relate to. I greatly look forward to reading other works by this author and recommend The Shiniest Jewel, to both those who regularly read graphic novels and to those whom this is a new genre.

Be sure to visit Marian’s website to view pictures of her beautiful son, William, for whom the story is ultimately about, and to keep up to date on future and current book releases. Click the following: http://www.maxine.net

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • THE SHINIEST JEWEL Advance Reviews