Fallen on My Knees

Rating:
Summary: Downside Up
Review:
Is it a journal? Memoirs? Confession? Expose?

Let me simply call it a reflective reportage of a harrowing journey by
a pre-cursed and highly dysfunctional Alice through a merciless, urban,
Wonderland, in the quest of survival and ultimate redemption.

While Paula Bartello recalls her experiences and traumas in vivid
detail and unmasked candour, her journalistic rather than prosaic tone
remaining as restraint as that of a tour guide's, she valiantly resists
slipping into judgement, indulgence, pandering, or solicitation of
pity. Indeed, one gets the impression that Ms Bartello is not even
telling her own story, but someone else's.

It is a remarkable feat that Ms. Bartello manages to relive the pains
of a fractured home, abuse, rape, drugs, dysfunctional relationships,
promiscuity, and ultimately the post-birth death of a twin daughter
during the September 11th terrorist assault just a few blocks away,
without even hinting at self-sorrow or pathos. While the reader feels
goose bumps and fights off tears, Bartello valiantly stays the course
with dead-pan rhetoric and surgical demeanour.

FALLEN ON MY KNEES is an exceptionally well written, meticulously
measured, self-portrait in motion of a remarkable woman whose
relentlessly noble spirit and defiance lead her not only to ultimate
survival, but triumph.

When I closed Paula Bartello's book, I felt quite small.

Mark Wirtz (Author of "Love Is Eggshaped" and "CyberGod")
www.markwirtz.com

Rating:
Summary: TERRIFIC READ!!!!!!
Review: TERRIFIC READ!!!
Fallen on my knees is a brilliantly written memoire. Once I started reading the story I couldn`t put it down. The story leads one down the path of the authors life, through her trials, tribulations, and the horrific tragedy of losing one of her twin-children at birth. It is amazing how Paula was able to overcome such a horrific ordeal, and at the same time help so many others who must face a similar situation. The book was well edited, and was a smooth and easy read. Well done Ms. Papapetrou, I give the book 5 STARS!!!!

Rating:
Summary: fallen but back up...
Review: What a wonderful diary type autobiography of a life filled with problem after problem and how this survivor rises above the low points to see a different way to cope with it all. Fallen on My Knees by Paula Bartello Papapetrou chronicles her struggles and obvious need for recognition and love and how it takes the loss of a child to have her literally fall down to find a way to lift her arms to God and find peace. This well written tale of triumph over tragedy is a winner!