Paradise Undone, by Annie Dawid
Timed for release on the 45th anniversary of the mass suicide/murder, the book draws on extensive research and interviews, blending fact and fiction, and uses real and composite characters to tell a story about the greatest single loss of US civilian lives in the 20th century.
The book was released on 18th November 2023 and is available in paperback and as an electronic book everywhere, including Amazon.
Reviews
https://magazine.nd.edu/stories/what-im-reading-paradise-undone-annie-dawid
https://d2dgo7ivtbkyn1.cloudfront.net/images/icsahome/ICSA%20Reviews%20Paradise%20Undone.pdf
https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/paradise-undone
Book of the Month February 2024, UK site
Book of the Week, Feb. 16, 2024
https://www.24symbols.com/book/english/annie-dawid/paradise-undone—a-novel-of-jonestown?id=4606370
Denver Post review 12/22/23 by Sandra Dallas
https://writingtoberead.com/tag/jonestown/
Reviewed by Cassie Widjaja for Readers’ Favorite
Put Off My Sackcloth by Annie Dawid is a beautiful collection of essays that center around a woman’s search for happiness and meaning in her life. At the young age of twelve, Annie’s life changed forever when she witnessed her mother’s suicide attempt. Between struggling with her insecurities during her pregnancy and her father’s death, Annie has to battle her suicidal depression. Throughout this book, she not only reflects on the events in her life, but she also offers a fresh perspective on the mass suicides of 1978.
Going against the social stigma regarding depression, Annie Dawid gives an unparalleled look into one’s mind and mental health in Put Off My Sackcloth. While still grappling with heavy topics, she handles them with the care and sensitivity they deserve. I loved how she pointed out the toxic perspective that seeing a psychiatrist was for the weak-minded. I found Annie’s detailed reflections on her life intriguing and her perseverance inspiring. Whereas most people would have given up after the first two or three blows, Annie truly embodies the saying, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’ Though each essay is different, they form a cohesive whole that shines a light on discovering oneself and finding hope in the middle of darkness. Annie’s prose is incredibly engaging, and her essays inspire other survivors to tell their complete stories without hiding anything. Regardless of whether or not you’ve ever experienced depression, this book is a must-read as it offers valuable insight on how one should view life and persevere through troubled times.
From https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/put-off-my-sackcloth
https://magazine.du.edu/a-treasure-trove-of-titles-offers-reflection-humor-and-context/
https://magazine.du.edu/the-essay/
Anatomie of the World (Finishing Line Press, 2017)
Review of Anatomie of the World in Colorado Central, December 2017
Article about Annie Dawid and the writing of Anatomie http://greatneckrecord.com/growing-up-in-great-neck-inspired-this-poet/
Paradise Undone: A Novel of Jonestown, as yet unpublished, finalist at 14 competitions as of 2022
And Darkness Was Under His Feet: Stories of a Family
Litchfield Review Press/Booksurge, 2008
Listen to Annie Dawid’s interview on KWMV’s “A Peek in the Valley”
Recommendation of Darkness, 2017, https://medium.com/the-coil/indie-book-radar-dcdab0128bac
Recommendation of Darkness https://medium.com/the-coil/indie-book-radar-dcdab0128bac
Jack Magnus recent review of Darkness https://books.google.com/books/about/And_Darkness_Was_Under_His_Feet.html?id=2EhoPgAACAAJ
Read an essay by Annie Dawid on writing “And Darkness…”
From Transcript to Fiction, Glimmer Train newsletter, May 1, 2009
Reviews of And Darkness Was Under His Feet: Stories of a Family:
- The Spark (11/2015)
- Reader’s Favorite (03/2015)
- Spring Night in the Left Office (03/2010)
- Jewish Book World (12/2009)
- The Oregonian (6/2009)
- The Jewish Review [OR] (3/2009)
Lily in the Desert, a collection of short fiction
Carnegie-Mellon University Press, Fall 2001
Reviews of Lily in the Dessert
- The Jewish Review [OR] (12/01)
- The Multnomah Village Post [OR] (1/02)
- The Southwest Community Connection [OR] (1/02)
- The Portland Tribune (1/02)
- Wet Mountain Tribune [CO] (1/02)
- The South Coloradan Online (1/02)
- The Oregonian (2/02)
- Great Neck Record [NY] (2/02)
- North Texas Daily (2/02)
- Just Out [OR] (7/02)
- Women’s Review of Books (12/02)
- American Book Review (1/03)
- High Plains Review (1/03)
- KUND Public Radio, Grand Forks ND (3/04)
York Ferry, a novel
New York: Cane Hill Press, 1993, now in second printing.
Reviews of York Ferry
- Kirkus Reviews (12/92)
- Los Angeles Times (1/93)
- New York Times Book Review (2/93)
- Publishers Weekly (12/92)
- Oregonian (2/93)
- Great Neck Record (NY) (3/93)
- Jewish Review (OR) (3/93)
- Jewish Chronicle of Pittsburgh (PA) (3/93)
- Library Journal (12/93)
- Blueline (1994)
