Featured books

Featured Websites

.: Reader Views Kids

Provides book reviews, by kids, for kids

.: Inside Scoop Live

Provides live author interviews for podcast

.: Authors Access

Provides interviews with experts in the publishing industry

.: Midwest Book Review

Provides post-publication reviews

.: Reader Views

Provides book reviews and author publicity

.: LR Communication Design

Provides professional website design and development

.: Blogging Authors

Provides a place where writers and readers meet

.: Review The Book

Provides 5 books reviews on 10 different sites

.: Best Sellers World

Provides book reviews and author features

.: Feathered Quill Book Reviews

Provides book reviews and author features

reviews

Over There

Robert Schoenfeld, M. D.
Author House (2009)
ISBN 9781449030711
Reviewed by Andrey Bilko for RebeccasReads (08/10)


An autobiographical account of Dr. Schoenfeld’s adventure of becoming a medical doctor in Europe is a page-turner. It is a marvelous story of dedication and hard work, showing the reader that determination pays off.

Desiring to become a doctor, the author gets advised into going to Switzerland to pursue his studies. Being told that everything will be in English, he is completely unprepared for lectures in French and German. Besides experiencing culture shock, new languages have to be learnt. Oral exams in front of the classmates in two foreign languages - this is just one of the challenges, which many would find extremely discouraging. The author however, does not lose track of his goals and does his best to persevere.

"Over There" is very enjoyable to read, putting the reader right into the midst of described events. With a good sense of humor, some parts are very entertaining. The author describes his personal life with its ups and downs, his wins and losses, and the ways he dealt with them. It is absolutely fascinating to read about all the experienced hardships and how everything turned out at the end. Dr. Schoenfeld accomplished what he desired, being a successful clinician for over forty years. His past experienced shaped his life and taught him crucial lessons. I believe that reflecting on one’s past experiences is absolutely necessary for everyone in order to keep the right perspective into what happened and is happening right. Of course, not everyone’s life may be as adventurous as Dr. Schoenfeld’s, but everyone experiences hardships and challenges from which they learn. And the author shows just that in his pages. He tells the story of his life, inspiring the readers to look back and reflect on their experiences, which taught them important lessons, but may have gone unnoticed.

It is also important to point out that the book is wonderfully illustrated with many photographs, which the author took himself during the adventures. These beautiful color photographs complement the text extremely well, making the described events even more personal for the reader.

I greatly recommend this book to everyone!