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Stars in our Eyes
Stars in the sky, stars on the screen, stars in our eyes…
These true stories will make you smile, maybe shed a tear.
Taking you all over the map, they‘ll lead you through coincidence and dreams, love and shame, ruses and muses. The tales are dashed with divine oversight, wisdom, even regret.
Guaranteed to legitimize your own zealous ventures, W. M. Raebeck unabashedly shares her acting exploits, naive romantic expectations, and the deep underlying family imprints affecting us all.
These true stories will make you smile, maybe shed a tear.
Taking you all over the map, they‘ll lead you through coincidence and dreams, love and shame, ruses and muses. The tales are dashed with divine oversight, wisdom, even regret.
Guaranteed to legitimize your own zealous ventures, W. M. Raebeck unabashedly shares her acting exploits, naive romantic expectations, and the deep underlying family imprints affecting us all.
240 pages, Paperback
Published December 23, 2017
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
W.M. Raebeck
6 books81 followersW. M. Raebeck lives in Hawaii where she adores turquoise waters, her old wooden chair, rural view, cat, and birdsong. Retrieving live creatures from the jowls of White Boy is the worst part of her day (aside from seriously questioning everything about today's America).
Raebeck's books (incl. 'Some Swamis are Fat' under pen-name Ava Greene) are true-life accounts. From the misadventures of a sugar-freak hippie chick, to trekking through the Costa Rican jungle, to teaching yoga in Santa Monica, to war-time journalism in Nicaragua (next book, out in 2022), her tales are laced with old soul insight, spiritual stretching, and constant exits from the comfort zone.
Environmental and animal rights activism are life-long pursuits for this author. And yoga and natural health have been foundations of her life (sugar notwithstanding).
Temporarily out of mischief, W.M. Raebeck recently released "Silence of Islands," a soothing, moving collection of poetry. You will love this book.
Visit "WendyRaebeck.com" for photos, excerpts, blog posts, and to join the email list for occasional news about books and special deals. You'll receive 2 free stories when you join the club!
Raebeck's books (incl. 'Some Swamis are Fat' under pen-name Ava Greene) are true-life accounts. From the misadventures of a sugar-freak hippie chick, to trekking through the Costa Rican jungle, to teaching yoga in Santa Monica, to war-time journalism in Nicaragua (next book, out in 2022), her tales are laced with old soul insight, spiritual stretching, and constant exits from the comfort zone.
Environmental and animal rights activism are life-long pursuits for this author. And yoga and natural health have been foundations of her life (sugar notwithstanding).
Temporarily out of mischief, W.M. Raebeck recently released "Silence of Islands," a soothing, moving collection of poetry. You will love this book.
Visit "WendyRaebeck.com" for photos, excerpts, blog posts, and to join the email list for occasional news about books and special deals. You'll receive 2 free stories when you join the club!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 28, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s something of a curate’s egg, but a short story book of memoirs is a tricky thing to do, and the author pulls it off.
Her life seems to have been a rather hand to mouth, peripatetic affair, and accordingly, the stories take us though a gamut of jobs usually taken by life’s experience-seekers – artist - actress - yoga teacher - masseuse - real estate agent etc. But her experiences give her a trunk full of tales.
Always short of money and on to the next job, the next fractious family altercation or disastrous romantic attachment. Her independent attitude takes us to a myriad of odd places where she has tried to put down roots, and ever seeking to find a life suitable for someone as free-wheeling as her, she sometimes finds herself in the strangest situations. But when we see her trying to look after her ailing father or barrelling across America in some non-descript car as she criss-crosses the continent accompanied by a cat or dog, we feel we know the sort of person she is.
Touchingly caring and clearly trying to think the best of those she meets if possible, her observations are often expressed with the delightful insouciance of the wide-eyed American that we outsiders don’t seem able to do – but this only adds to the charm.
Her humorous take on life is always present, and although she’s never short of an opinion, she’s not at all opinionated. There’s a lot of talent here – good sharp characterisation, keen observation, swift moving dialogue, reflections on life that are wise, and there are some delightful flashes of human understanding
The author has (perhaps unwittingly) laid out her life’s voyage for us to take part in with refreshing honesty, and having been party to this journey, during the final stories (by which time she has turned 60 and is living in Hawaii (as one does)), the book gives you the feel of a contemporary Othello as he looks back on his life in Act 5 scene 2: “Soft you, a word or two before you go……..”. Moving.
Her life seems to have been a rather hand to mouth, peripatetic affair, and accordingly, the stories take us though a gamut of jobs usually taken by life’s experience-seekers – artist - actress - yoga teacher - masseuse - real estate agent etc. But her experiences give her a trunk full of tales.
Always short of money and on to the next job, the next fractious family altercation or disastrous romantic attachment. Her independent attitude takes us to a myriad of odd places where she has tried to put down roots, and ever seeking to find a life suitable for someone as free-wheeling as her, she sometimes finds herself in the strangest situations. But when we see her trying to look after her ailing father or barrelling across America in some non-descript car as she criss-crosses the continent accompanied by a cat or dog, we feel we know the sort of person she is.
Touchingly caring and clearly trying to think the best of those she meets if possible, her observations are often expressed with the delightful insouciance of the wide-eyed American that we outsiders don’t seem able to do – but this only adds to the charm.
Her humorous take on life is always present, and although she’s never short of an opinion, she’s not at all opinionated. There’s a lot of talent here – good sharp characterisation, keen observation, swift moving dialogue, reflections on life that are wise, and there are some delightful flashes of human understanding
The author has (perhaps unwittingly) laid out her life’s voyage for us to take part in with refreshing honesty, and having been party to this journey, during the final stories (by which time she has turned 60 and is living in Hawaii (as one does)), the book gives you the feel of a contemporary Othello as he looks back on his life in Act 5 scene 2: “Soft you, a word or two before you go……..”. Moving.
July 30, 2024
"Stars in Our Eyes" by W M Raebeck is a captivating collection of short stories that masterfully explores the human condition through a series of poignant and beautifully crafted narratives. Each story is a gem, offering a unique perspective on life's myriad experiences, from the mundane to the extraordinary. Raebeck's stories are infused with introspection and lessons learned from her "unruly life," making them relatable and thought-provoking. Two of my favorites are 'Working the Party,' where two saucy blondes are looking for mischief, and 'Starving Artist,' where 'suffering for art' becomes all too real. Lyrical and evocative, the writing draws readers in with an effortless grace, and the characters are richly developed and relatable, making their journeys all the more compelling.
One of the standout features of "Stars in Our Eyes" is the author's ability to weave together themes of love, loss, hope, and resilience with a delicate touch. Her prose is imbued with a sense of wonder and introspection, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives and the stars in their own eyes. The depth and authenticity of the stories resonate long after the final page is turned, leaving readers with a sense of connection and understanding.
"Stars in Our Eyes" is a testament to W.M. Raebeck's talent as a storyteller. For anyone who appreciates finely crafted short stories that speak to the heart and soul, this anthology will leave a lasting impression and is highly recommended.
One of the standout features of "Stars in Our Eyes" is the author's ability to weave together themes of love, loss, hope, and resilience with a delicate touch. Her prose is imbued with a sense of wonder and introspection, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives and the stars in their own eyes. The depth and authenticity of the stories resonate long after the final page is turned, leaving readers with a sense of connection and understanding.
"Stars in Our Eyes" is a testament to W.M. Raebeck's talent as a storyteller. For anyone who appreciates finely crafted short stories that speak to the heart and soul, this anthology will leave a lasting impression and is highly recommended.
April 14, 2018
Wendy shares short stories concerning significant periods in her life and her love of writing. Covering different ages and locations, she has a grab bag of experiences that are guaranteed to enlighten and amuse the reader. The only problem I had was the lack of chronological sequence that often threw me off. To compensate my confusion, I read a story a day, taking time to digest the event.
March 28, 2020
Anything but boring!
This is an eclectic selection of true stories spanning a lot of geography, several decades, observations about coincidence and spirit, and some juicy love and life stuff. Fun to read. You never know where the next story will take you or what its message might be. But each unfolds with vivid color and feel-like-you're-there storytelling. Moving through, you begin to sense the writer quilted her stories together carefully, with a pattern in mind. And by the end, after riding with her, you feel fresh and ready for your own next chapter.
This is an eclectic selection of true stories spanning a lot of geography, several decades, observations about coincidence and spirit, and some juicy love and life stuff. Fun to read. You never know where the next story will take you or what its message might be. But each unfolds with vivid color and feel-like-you're-there storytelling. Moving through, you begin to sense the writer quilted her stories together carefully, with a pattern in mind. And by the end, after riding with her, you feel fresh and ready for your own next chapter.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews