- Title: From My Balcony to Yours
- Author: Nino Gugunishvili
- Publisher: Independently Published on October 27, 2020
- Genre: Essays
- Pages: 92
- Formats Available: Paperback & Digital
- Rating: 5/5
Trigger Warnings: Fear, Pandemic
Many thanks to Nino Gugunishvili for providing me with a paperback copy of From My Balcony to Yours with a request for an honest review.
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From My Balcony to Yours Blurb
Canceled Plans? –Check!
Panic and Fear? – Check!
Self- Isolation? – Check!
Missing Friends? – Check!
Gaining Weight? – Check!
Binge-Watching TV? – Check!
Lengthy Self- diggings? – Check!
Hope? – Check, check, check!Who would have thought that Global Pandemic, Self-Isolation, Cluster, and a Lockdown were to become the trendiest words in 2020? Who would have imagined the world would freeze and people would stay home shattered with fear, panic, uncertainty towards their future?
How do we adjust to this changing reality, when none of our questions have answers when plans turn upside down, things get totally out of control?
In her new book: “From My Balcony to Yours,” author Nino Gugunishvili shares her personal account during the first several months of the COVID -19 global pandemic in the form of short stories and observations.
Nino Gugunishvili’s writing biography includes a collection of short stories “ You Will Have a Black Labrador” and a women’s fiction novel “ Friday Evening, Eight O’Clock.”
Goodreads Blurb
My Review
From My Balcony to Yours is another superb set of essays from Nino Gugunishvili. Nino’s feelings about the early months of the Coronavirus pandemic are universal in each of us. Her poignant insight looks right into your soul and commiserates with our fears.
The feeling of holding a conversation with Nino’s writing is back in full force with this book. I never felt as if I were reading about someone else’s life. It was more like sitting down with a cup of Turkish coffee around the kitchen table talking to a friend. But, as we all sit in our homes self-isolating, we know that this in-person chat can’t happen.
Now that we are near to the other side of the crisis, we can look back and see how our lives changed with the restrictions. No matter who you are, your life changed, even if you didn’t take the pandemic seriously. How many of you learned to bake bread, picked up a new language, or stayed in touch with friends through Zoom? Are these activities how you dealt with the fear and insecurities?
Nino talks about these actions and more. The talks of social media in this age of illness spoke to me the most. In all honesty, my routine didn’t change all that much. Of course, I sanitized, wore my mask when I went out and wiped down my groceries before putting them away. These are the skills that were necessary for this new landscape. But as far as natural routine, mine changed very little.
However, while reading Nino’s thoughts, I realized that my melancholy increased. My energy levels plummeted to zero. So, my life changed a lot more than I thought it had. I saw my fears and anxieties in Nino’s words. I, too, have a sweater with a hole in it that brings back memories of a different time. I’m sure you do too.
I award From My Balcony to Yours a full 5 out of 5 stars. I know it is a depressing topic, but this book lets you know that you are not alone in your struggle. I recommend reading this short book as a way to let your feelings rise to the surface. Look them in the eye and move forward.
See my review for You Will Have a Black Labrador
About the Author – Nino Gugunishvili
In my newest book: “From My Balcony to Yours,” l share my personal account during the first several months of the COVID -19 global pandemic in the form of short stories and observations.
“You Will Have a Black Labrador,” published in 2019, is a collection of humorous, semi-autobiographical essays on everything from love, relationships, family, memories, friendships to food and dogs.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading it!
My professional and educational background consists of Film and Television. “Friday Evening, Eight O’Clock” is my debut novel.
Interesting book. I’m so glad there are great authors out there that can document the feelings most of us had during those difficult times. Great review, it seems like this author was able to write about the pandemic in a way that I would never be able to. It’s so important for people to realize how difficult this time was and still is for so many people.
You are right. I couldn’t put my thoughts together like this either. While reading I recognized feelings that I didn’t know I had. It is a great read and so quick too.