My latest novel, Cultivating a Fuji, is 46 days old. How’s it doing in the big, wide world?
World image by Arek Socha from Pixabay
Pretty well, I’d say!
Here are some of the comments that appeared in reviews:
| Website | Date | Quotes |
| Splashes Into Books | 13th May |
This is a very moving story.
There are many other characters and the author does an amazing job of developing them all. It is an intriguing and thought-provoking story, a very different read with a dramatic twist at the end that had me rethinking assumptions I’d made when reading the earlier part of the book. |
| The Bookwormery | 15th May | ————————– [I] found it to be a moving description of social anxiety and just how traumatic a simple meeting can be for sufferers….yes there’s humour, but I found this to be a sad, poignant and thought provoking tale. |
| FNM | 15th May | ————————– This is a book that is guaranteed to stay with you long after you read it, it is a book that really makes you think with a few surprises along the way. |
| Jan’s Book Buzz | 15th May | ————————– Drori tells a story that can only come from a place of empathy and recognition. It says: “I know you. I see you. I hear you. I understand you.” |
| Cheryl M-M’s Book Blog and here | 15th May | ————————– I think the way Drori went about this was thought provoking. It’s a stage with Martin smack bang in the middle with a spotlight on him. |
| In de Boekenkast | 16th May | ————————– Cultivating a Fuji is a very touching story about how hard it can be to fit in the crowd. Martin’s character is well-developed and even the minor personalities have their own past and problems in this wonderful story. |
| Grace J Reviewerlady | 17th May | ————————– What a beautiful book! This is a novel I will reflect on time and time again. This isn’t a ‘preachy’ read; rather it is one of understanding and compassion, and it has brought another excellent author into my world. Extremely enjoyable, providing much food for thought and, in my humble opinion, no less than five stars will do it justice! |
| Radzy Writes | 17th May | ————————– These scenes were deeply uncomfortable for me, as someone who experienced bullying, so I’d be mindful of how you feel, but it’s written sensitively and in a beautifully validating way. The thing I appreciated most about this novel was the way the author constructed a novel elevating social anxiety as a real, difficult thing. She either experiences the illness herself or has done her work. Where the Curious Incident with The Dog in the Night-time is a beautiful novel explaining autism, this, for me, is the work to explain social anxiety. |
| Mai’s Musings | 18th May | ————————– Even when I wasn’t reading the book I found I was thinking about it and counting down to when I could pick it up again. This is an extremely important book for helping people gain an understanding of social anxiety, and just how deeply it can affect the entire lives of sufferers. |
| Book Lovers’ Booklist | 19th May | ————————– Author Miriam Drori has written a compelling, heart-warming and thought-provoking UpLit exploration of loneliness and social anxiety. It was impossible not to be gripped by Martin’s journey, which begins with a business trip to Japan. And, then there’s a whammy of an ending that’ll leave you gasping… |
| Nesie’s Place | 19th May | ————————– This is Martin’s story but there are multiple POVs to show not everyone thinks badly or only want to ridicule him. People want to help… they just don’t know how. Cultivating a Fuji is a good read lovers of contemporary and literary fiction will enjoy, and the twisty conclusion will linger long after the story’s end. |
| What Cathy Read Next | 19th May | ————————– Not everyone is without sympathy for Martin either but sometimes, as the book shows, people willing to help him (such as his boss, John) don’t know the best way to go about it or may inadvertently choose the wrong way. There were some great scenes full of humour… I really enjoyed the second part of the book in which we learn of Martin’s life following his return from Japan. Cultivating a Fuji does a great job of highlighting the experiences of those with social anxiety disorder and the challenges they face using the medium of fiction. |
| Doublestackedshelves | 20th May | ————————– I think the resilience Martin inadvertently learned from his school years, sets him on the path he takes, and propels the story forward into a new chapter in his life. There are plenty of moments of contrition in this book, and the feel is generally cathartic. I did find certain aspects troubling, as I think we are meant to. |
| From Under the Duvet | 20th May | ————————– Miriam Drori has sensitively exposed the reality of living with social anxiety and the impact it has on all involved while creating a character I love in an uplifting, memorable novel. |
| JenaBooks | 21st May | ————————– Miriam Drori, the author, is a marvellous storyteller, especially in her ability to create real and relatable characters. You will be charmed by the story of Martin and all the people he meets. In this book, even the minor walk-on characters are fully developed with fascinating back stories. |
| Herding Cats | 21st May | ————————– It’s such a beautiful and thought provoking story. The first half of this book completely and utterly broke my heart then tenderly pieced it back together, filling it with so much joy. This is really an uplifting novel. |
| Becca’s Books | 22nd May | ————————– I thought the choice to tell the story from both Martin’s perspective and the perspective of those around him added depth to the emotional landscape. The author seems to understand the challenges faced by those of us with social anxiety as well as the troubles that exist for others who try to interact with us. |
| Books Are Cool | 22nd May | ————————– This is a very cleverly constructed novel and beautifully written. There’s no preaching or wallowing. The author presents the issue of social anxiety and gives us a view from both sides: from those who experience it and those who feel that it’s OK to put others down and induce such misery. There’s hope and despair, love and disappointment, achievement and failure, happiness and missed opportunities in this richly textured book that’s rewarding and poignantly enjoyable to read. |
And here are the articles I’ve written recently, mostly about the novel:
| Website | Date | Title |
| Joan Livingston | 6th May | Meet Martin Carter of Cultivating a Fuji |
| Sue Barnard | 10th May | ————————– What’s this thing with social anxiety? |
| Fiona Mcvie | 10th May | ————————– Author Interview |
| Jennifer C. Wilson | 14th May | ————————– Cultivating a Fuji from a Historical Aspect |
| WWBB | 15th May | ————————– Quell those Negative Thoughts |
| B for bookreview | 16th May | ————————– Romantic Relationships – the Missing Link |
| Jo Fenton | 16th May | ————————– Themes in Cultivating a Fuji |
| donnasbookblog | 18th May | ————————– Why I chose to write about a guy with Social Anxiety |
| BetweenTheLines | 20th May | ————————– I do like to be beside the seaside |
| Dash Fan Book Reviews | 22nd May | ————————– How to be Different and Still be Normal (written when I was in a strange mood, I think) |
| Katy’s Writing Coffee Shop | 28th May | ————————– About Martin and the people who failed him. (I’d forgotten I was in a coffee shop!) |
| Always Write Again | 10th June | ————————– Comparing social anxiety and autism. (Would have been better written if I’d realised my response would appear verbatim online.) |
| Catherine Fearns | 11th June | ————————– A playlist for Cultivating a Fuji |
There will be another article in July and other exciting things are in the planning stage. Watch this space!
In the meantime, if you haven’t read Cultivating a Fuji yet, what are you waiting for?
Miriam Drori, Author 