Foreign Places

by Carol Huebner

Formats

Softcover

£11.95

Softcover

£11.95

Book Details

Language : English

Publication Date : 30/11/2019

Format : Softcover

Dimensions : 5x8

Page Count : 248

ISBN : 9781728334592

About the Book

Karen is surviving coming of age as a member of a rather dysfunctional family. Her parents are gradually becoming alcoholics as they struggle to deal with her father’s career changes, their son’s failures, and a move first to a prestige life in Canada followed by a return to California. How to deal with a dejected brother who seems to be squandering his life? Why is Karen’s mother unable to face the reality of her situation? And how is it that Karen is able to succeed amidst the sometimes depressing situations that develop around her? Occasionally the author fast forwards to give the reader perspective. Does Karen’s family ever become like the normal families she encounters around her?

About the Author

Born in Portland, Oregon, Carol Huebner graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and obtained her Masters degree from Claremont Graduate School. She taught high school and college English for thirty-one years before retiring from high school district administration in 1998. Through much of that time she wrote articles, made conference presentations, and wrote a weekly newspaper column called “Grace on Wheels.” Like her mother, Carol was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This illness eventually landed her in a wheelchair and she convinced her husband to retire by promising to accompany him while he studied in China, where she once again took up teaching, this time volunteering to teach English as a second language to a few eager Chinese students. She continued to write extensively and it was there that she passed away in 2018. Her other two novels, Mara’s Scrapbook and Searching, are also published by Authorhouse.

Customer Reviews

I enjoyed Carol Huebner’s book Foreign Places even more than her other book Searching. I like the character Karen very much because she is independent and optimistic, so you will be surprised to find out that as the plot progresses, both her parents become alcoholic and daily argue with each other about everything. Her older brother is never supportive, nor does he take any responsibility for his family. His rebelliousness goes far beyond his parent’s imagination and causes endless family discord. In addition, moving to a foreign country also means a lot of new challenges for Karen. However, Karen remains hopeful and optimistic when facing all these troubles. She studies hard and manages to get good grades, although her brother always discourages her; she is not popular in school and has only a few friends, but she treats all of them with kindness, regardless of their family background. The fights and arguments in the family do affect her sometimes, but everything will just be alright when she finishes a section of her poetry. And she also finds another good way to get rid of all the miseries: daydreaming. When daydreaming, she can give all the unhappy things happening to her a happy ending. When reading this book, I don’t feel that I am reading someone else’s story, but I feel like I am looking back at my own childhood and looking at my own dairy, which reminds me of the first time I stole things from a store, the first good friend I made and the first fight I saw in my family. Karen is ordinary, but extraordinary! Because she is just like you and me, not really having much of a chance to be under the spotlights. And yet we believe that we have talent and that we can do something special. We will make our mark someday if we can stay positive until God will finally open the door of happiness for us. Highly recommended!

Frank Lei
A beautifully written snapshot of late 50’s life in America and Canada. Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2020 Karen’s dysfunctional family first moves to Canada and then back as they follow her father’s business career changes. On the outside they seem typically middle class, but on the inside, problems abound. The picture of Karen’s brother is of a strikingly familiar 1950’s dejected teen! Her mother’s fakery is at once humorous and tragic, but little Karen is surviving even as alcoholism begins to destroy her parents. I most enjoyed the vivid portrayal of personalities in this book. The writing is refined and brilliant. A wonderful and nostalgic look back at a bygone era!

He Baoluo

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