Love for Family, Friends, and Books
Publisher: Hamilton Books An Imprint of Rowman & Littlefield
Published: 2015
Place of publication: Lanham, Boulder, New York, Toronto, Plymouth UK
Format: paperback
Number of pages: 353
Notes: An autobiography unlike other literary forms shows the ego of an author. Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm’s ego is delicate, fascinating, and courageous. Some fragments are almost like a movie with interesting dialog, compelling moments, and realistic characters.

Vividly portrayed are dedicated and devoted parents who instilled a love for reading and books that formed the foundation for her career. Detailed descriptions of coping with the rigors of achieving an advanced education, career start, and caring, rearing and devoting love to a young son are outstanding


REVIEWS:
Aleksandra Ziolkowska Boehm, emerges in this fascinating book as a complex, questing Polish/Canadian/American individual. She draws us, like threads through a tapestry, into the contrasting worlds of both Polish and American writers, musicians, journalists and artists and gives us unique glimpses into the minds of high officials and behind the scene views of Polish and American drama. Amusing, seemingly trivial, matters are interwoven with magical moments of significant value.
Aleksandra writes with moving honesty and candor about herself. She gives the reader a total sense of being right there with her—as she movingly recalls her childhood and formative years in Poland. As a student her destiny is interwoven with the great Polish writer Melchior Wańkowicz and his enlightened circle. We watch her growing and changing as she bonds with her son and beloved animals, as she travels around the planet, falls in love, marries an adventurous American and sympathetically evaluates her split worlds. Romantic, loving, strong, brilliant and intently responsive—this is Aleksandra, whose wise perceptions, struggles, failures and achievements illuminate and inspire us through this powerful and beautifully written book.
—Audrey Ronning Topping, American Publisher's 2013 Prose Award winner author

Through Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm’s award-winning writings about Poles, Americans and Canadians and her personal visits, she has become an excellent ambassador for all three countries. The author's writings have motivated many Canadian citizens to rediscover their Polish roots.
—Jesse Flis, member of Canadian Parliament for fourteen years

Ziolkowska’s storytelling talents are on full display. This is more than an autobiography. Through the storyteller’s art, her talent becomes a lens for larger events, as well as her own life: from Warsaw to the Crazy Horse memorial that members of her family are carving in South Dakota, from Zbigniew Brzeziñski to Pope John Paul II.
—Bruce E. Johansen, Jacob J. Isaacson University Research Professor, communication and Native American studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha
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"A good book to read by the fireplace, with a cup of tea in hand".
Sarmatian Review, January 2016
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“In her autobiography, Love for Family, Friends, and Books,Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm recounts the major events in her life starting in Poland and winding through England, Canada, and finally the United States. Using the unique literary device of forgoing the narrative structure, Ziolkowska-Boehm instead relates memories by drifting from topic to topic highlighting the important experiences of her life.
Born in Łódź, to a family that emphasized reading and education, Aleksandra seemed destined to be an academic and writer. Indeed, even after giving birth to her son in 1969 she still continued on with her studies at the University of Łódź to earn her Master’s degree. For her Master’s thesis she chose Melchior Wańkowicz as her topic as her father had a substantial collection of his books. After his interview, Wańkowicz asked to see Aleksandra’s thesis so far. He was so impressed by her analysis of his works that he hired her as his research assistant. Under his tutelage, Ziolkowska-Boehm launched her writing career.
Her academic and writing career has led her on path across the globe. At one point she lived in Toronto, Canada, having accepted three writing scholarships before finally settling in the United States where she lives now.”
Mary Lanham, POLISH AMERICAN JOURNAL, January 28, 2016
*




COMMENTS:

As we move through life there are many people and experiences and memories that touch our lives and leave lasting impressions that shape our lives forever.
How wonderful that you have been able to put your rich life experiences down on paper.
-Marina Glista, Mississauga, Canada
.
You have written extensively about other people praising their contributions to life and country. It was time to share yourself, family and friends with your readers.
-Jesse Flis, Toronto, Canada
.
What a nicely illustrated and very personal book - which I am happy to have. You have done a nice job recording the high points and the joy point of your life.

-Zbigniew Brzezinski, Washington, D.C.


***

Polish American Journal, February 2016
Love for Family, Friends, and Books
by Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm
Hamilton Books, 2015, 353 pps.
4051 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200
Lanham, Maryland 20706
In her autobiography, Love for Family, Friends, and Books, Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm recounts the major events in her life starting in Poland and winding through England, Canada, and finally the United States. Using the unique literary device of forgoing the narrative structure, Ziolkowska-Boehm instead relates memories by drifting from topic to topic highlighting the important experiences of her life.
Born in Łódź, to a family that emphasized reading and education, Aleksandra seemed destined to be an academic and writer. Indeed, even after giving birth to her son in 1969 she still continued on with her studies at the University of Łódź to earn her Master’s degree. For her Master’s thesis she chose Melchior Wańkowicz as her topic as her father had a substantial collection of his books. After his interview, Wańkowicz asked to see Aleksandra’s thesis so far. He was so impressed by her analysis of his works that he hired her as his research assistant. Under his tutelage, Ziolkowska-Boehm launched her writing career.
Her academic and writing career has led her on path across the globe. At one point she lived in Toronto, Canada, having accepted three writing scholarships before finally settling in the United States where she lives now.
Love for Family, Friends, and Books by Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm is available fromwww.Amazon.com and at www.Roman.com.
About the author: Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm holds a Master’s Degree in literature from the University of Łódź and a PhD in Humanities from the University of Warsaw. She has a son named Thomas and currently lives with her husband, Norman Boehm in Wilmington, Delaware.

Some fragments are almost like a movie with interesting dialog, compelling moments and realistic characters.
The autobiography presents the author’s recollections of her childhood, school and university years, travels abroad, and contacts and meetings with recognized people of achievement in the fields of writing, art, theater and politics.
The book clearly demonstrates the author’s ability to write openly about personal matters, family and socializing among the intelligentsia.

Polish life, immigrant stories and impressions and experiences of life in Canada and the United States are supplemented by keen observations of European, Canadian and American cultures. The many family, friends and acquaintances of the author become personal to the reader. But most intriguing of them is the famed Polish writer Melchior Wankowicz whose influence and mentoring are acknowledged, deeply appreciated, praised and never forgotten by the author.

John Knowles, amazon.com March 3, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1OMN6GDWYJ4XG/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv


An autobiography unlike other literary forms shows the ego of an author. Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm’s ego is delicate, fascinating, and courageous. Some fragments are almost like a movie with interesting dialog, compelling moments, and realistic characters.

Vividly portrayed are dedicated and devoted parents who instilled a love for reading and books that formed the foundation for her career. Detailed descriptions of coping with the rigors of achieving an advanced education, career start, and caring, rearing and devoting love to a young son are outstanding.

https://books.google.com/books/about/Love_for_Family_Friends_and_Books.html?id=NNFbCQAAQBAJ

I found many interesting fragments that moved me and gave thoughts to think.
Lee Wilson, Wheaton, Illinois
https://books.google.com/books?id=NNFbCQAAQBAJ
*
Aleksandra, I am reading your book Love of Family, so interesting to read about your life in Poland, a lovely family; you were lucky to come out of the motorcycle accident.  Your book is fascinating, from the heart!
Not everyone has the interesting life you have had. I enjoyed reading your book very much especially as I know you, I feel I know you even better now. I had not realized you were so involved in so many ways and the interesting experiences you have had. The Polish Literary groups seem much more educated and dedicated than the U.S. Also Tomek’s education more intense.

You must have admired the writer Wankowicz a great deal and he chose and put his trust in you,  very touching and rewarding as from reading he sounded somewhat pompous and austere to people.

 I did have a hard time with all the Polish names not being familiar to me. I am so impressed with all the people you knew and worked with, also the beautiful places you have travelled to, I don’t know why you thought it was nice coming out here to us.

 Your stories of experiences with family, friends and the close connection to Tomek are very heart warming, and of course Norman coming in to your life..
Margaret Ackerman, New Alexandria, Pennsylvania, October 30, 2020
Table of contents: title: CONTENTS; title: List of Photographs; title: Preface; title: Chapter 1: Family; title: Chapter 2: Church; title: Chapter 3: Garden; title: Chapter 4: Pets; title: Chapter 5: School; title: Chapter 6: University - Marriage - Birth of Thomas; title: Chapter 7: Melchior Wańkowicz; title: Chapter 8: House on Studencka Street; title: Chapter 9: The Writer’s Illness; title: Chapter 10: Burial of Wańkowicz; title: Chapter 11: Fortune teller; title: Chapter 12: England Again; title: Chapter 13: Apartment on Kmicica Street; title: Chapter 14: First Book: Near Wańkowicz; title: Chapter 15: Ship Cruise; title: Chapter 16: Radziejowice - Professor Władysław Tatarkiewicz; title: Chapter 17: Tomek’s School; title: Chapter 18: Nieborów; title: Chapter 19: Zakopane; title: Chapter 20: Roman Rodziewicz; title: Chapter 21: Canada; title: Chapter 22: Return to Poland; title: Chapter 23: Visiting the United States; title: Chapter 24: Norman; title: Chapter 24Notes and Thoughts; title: Endnotes; title: Index; title: About the Author