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| Beth Bernstein at a reception held by Manika Jewelry in San Francisco, CA |
My Charmed Life: Rocky Romances, Precious Family Connections and Searching For a Band of Gold
I don't know about you, but when I first heard about Beth Bernstein's book My Charmed Life, I found the premise BRILLIANT!
Beth has written about dating, relationships and family for women’s and lifestyle magazines, and has worked in the jewelry industry for twenty years. She runs her own consulting company, where she works with leading jewelry designers and retailers.
...and the idea of telling the story of her life and the times she grew up in as these events related to a specific piece of jewelry intrigued me.
I have to say that I rank Beth among the relatively few fabulous women authors who through shared experiences, biting humor and sometimes brutal honesty have created a new genre in Women's Literature.
Beth along with Jen Lancaster (Bitter Is The New Black) and Jenny Lawson (Let's Pretend This Never Happened) have carved a new Realism niche in Contemporary Literature. With commentary that will have you howling, tittering and bawling, all the while nodding your head in agreement because you have been there!
With roots firmly entrenched in the Jewelry Industry it is no surprise that a Jewelry Box should hold the most important memories of Beth's life. From the amazingly poignant tale of her Mother's Watch to her on-again-off-again relationship with a smoldering Italian...it truly is a Charmed Life!
When Beth Bernstein’s mother unexpectedly passed away, Beth’s life was forever changed, as she knew that she’d lost not only her best friend, but also a big part of herself. In this heartwarming and moving memoir, Beth learns how to link together the platinum memories of the jewelry handed down to her by the woman who taught her how to love, overcome obstacles, and (most important) accessorize.
As a young girl, Beth learned that not all engagements came with a ring. The unconventional engagement watch Beth’s father gave her mother, her mom’s postdivorce transformation from wearing Jackie O pearls to donning love beads--each piece of jewelry represents an intimate memory, a reminder to rise above life’s challenges and enjoy its triumphs. And there are also Beth’s own experiences with rocky romances, of the too many engagement rings she fell in love with and the too few men who could commit. She tells the story of these relationships with sparkles of hilarity and glimmers of hope, conjuring up lost keepsakes and fiery moments--until she realizes that the brightest gems are the ones you give yourself, and finds freedom she never thought possible.
