The Lip Reader: The Reviews Are In
The Lip Reader, a novel about a deaf woman’s journey, has been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews, On Line Book Club, Have You Heard Book Reviews, Books and Pals, and more. There are currently 21 world-wide customer reviews of The Lip Reader on Amazon with a median of 4.9 stars out of 5.
My favorite is the comment from the publisher, Paper Angel Press’s Acquisitions Editor:
It’s so vivid, so earnest, so honest, so full of love and luminous intelligence, so lacking in mean spirit even as it treats some of the deepest horrors of life with total clarity and resolution. I’m not ashamed to say that even this much-scarred, stoical woman is weeping freely. The world must have this book.
I was both humbled and thrilled. This woman understood exactly what my writing is about.
I could tell USA Today bestselling author, Jacqueline Diamond, became acquainted with Zhila throughout the novel’s 240 pages. She wrote: “Zhila was truly a person who gave more than she received and a beautiful example of compassion in action. Author Michael Thal has created a first-person account of Zhila’s life, giving the reader a humbling opportunity to walk with, and learn from, this amazing person.”
I receive notes, email, and text messages from readers who tell me that they couldn’t put the book down. One reader was angry with me for keeping her up all night. Good! I spent over four years putting my heart and soul into the novel to honor the love of my life. And she couldn’t put it down. That’s the greatest compliment someone can give an author.
ILoveUniqueBooks.com understood this and said, “It would be difficult for even the most hard-hearted to go through The Lip Reader without at least being emotional and feeling moist in the eyes. Lest I forget, there are equally lots of witty lines interspersed throughout the course of the book that would literally have you rolling on the ground with laughter. The Lip Reader is a masterpiece you wouldn’t want to miss for anything!”
After my wife died seven years ago, I felt lost and without an anchor. So I decided to pull all the stories she told me over the years into a novel to honor her life. In so doing, I had to research mid-twentieth century life in Iran. Natalie Soine from Readers’ Favorite gave the book 5 stars and reported: The Lip Reader by Michael Thal is well researched and well written with a wonderful variety of characters, places, and events. Zhila’s bravery, dedication, and determination are beautifully captured. I especially enjoyed the smooth flow of the story and the constant pace throughout, following the lives of Zhila, her friends, and her family. The novel is well edited and easy to read with vivid descriptions and scenes which make it easy for the reader to form a visual of the story. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable novel, highly recommended.
Amazon readers Cheryl Sansone and Icelandia sum things up beautifully. Sansone writes, “I was rapt from beginning to end! The author invites the reader into every vivid scene and brings each character to life! I feel as though I know every person in the poignant story of family, oppression, tragedy and love! Every word is couched in the author’s sensitivity and uncanny understanding of human nature.”
And Icelandia points out, “The story is well written and is especially relevant in this historic moment. It is the story of a woman who is faced with difficult, and at times unimaginable choices, who overcomes the obstacles that life thrusts at her, among them deafness, persecution, antisemitism, and so much more. I couldn’t put it down and was filled with a mixture of sadness and hopefulness at the end. Everyone should read this book.
If you agree with Icelandia you can find The Lip Reader at a few locations in digital, print, and hardcover formats at $3.99, $12.99, and $22.99, respectively.
The Lip Reader will take you to 1960s Iran, England, France, and Israel in the 70s, and Los Angeles, California during the 80s-2000s. It shows the importance of family and Zhila’s core belief: “It’s not what you get in life, it’s what you give back that truly defines you.” And my Zhila did this with panache.
If you decide to read The Lip Reader, please leave a review.
The review from the Paper Angel Press’s Acquisitions Editor exactly expresses my thoughts (although I couldn’t write them as eloquently).
I am not an avid reader but from the moment I started to read The Lip Reader, it was very difficult to put it down.Life is very difficult and challenging for people who don’t have any problems as such,but Zhila over came so many challenges with sheer determination and an attitude that ushered her throughout her life.
Elliott, I’m so glad you enjoyed The Lip Reader. I know you met Jila a few times, so you know how wonderful she truly was. -Michael