Lonny Love


Non-Fiction - Biography
164 Pages
Reviewed on 05/22/2015
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Gloria Lichtenberg was born in the Bronx, N.Y. Her career as a sixth grade teacher at a local elementary school afforded her much happiness and satisfaction. She wrote songs that she used for teaching in her classroom. Some of her past students still remember her Grammar Songs, etc.
Due to the circumstances described in her book “Lonny Love,” she had to leave New York City, or her health would suffer. She and her husband retired and settled in Boynton Beach, Florida. She set up a Drama Club and helped in the production of original musicals for which she co-wrote the lyrics, and assisted in the directing.
She wrote “Children’s Know-It-All Songs,” a book of original songs for Early Childhood teachers. She has happily given her music books as gifts to be used in the classrooms here and as far away as Kenya.
She credits Facebook for affording her the joy of being in contact with many of her past students, and bringing back fond memories.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

“Lon Ian Lichtenberg was born in The Bronx on May 22, 1961. He weighed six pounds and two ounces, was blue-eyed and beautiful. It was a very normal birth, but not so his life to come.” Lonny Love by Gloria Lichtenberg is a biography about the author’s son, Lonny, a drug addict and dealer, who was finally rehabilitated. Lonny’s roller-coaster life is chronicled in short chapters through Gloria’s simple yet insightful writing as she weaves love, hope, and sorrow into this memoir.

Lonny has a wonderful family and friends who tried and tried to guide him back to the drug-free life, but it was easier said than done. Some personal photos are included so we could put a face to the young man who started looking into a bright future, spiraled down into a drug ridden life, then got back onto his feet and lived again, albeit with the consequences of his past mistakes. Drugs, homelessness, rehab, jail, and detox eventually led to HIV, Lola, new friends, BOGO (Buy One, Get One), Dunkin' Donuts, watching his favorite TV shows and much more.

All in all, Lonny Love is heartrending but witty and informative at the same time. It is also a walk down Memory Lane for me, looking back at life in the '80s and '90s. Written in an easy, pulp-fiction style, the reading was a breeze and deeply engaging. I wish all biographies could be written like this. Apart from all the negative things he did, Lonny was a loving son, brother, friend, funny and compassionate guy, and much loved by everyone. A laudable biography from Gloria and a great tribute to Lonny.

Faridah Nassozi

Drug addiction is a vice that many countless people across the globe are struggling with. The addiction takes one away from any chance of a normal life and a bright future and onto a path of total destruction. As much as the addicts suffer through the consequences of alcohol and drug abuse, so do their loved ones. In her book Lonny Love, Gloria Lichtenberg narrates her son’s rough struggle with addiction and the consequences of his life choices. Lonny’s life story is filled with dreadful details of his journey, the choices he made early in life, and how these choices affected the rest of his life.

Lonny Love by Gloria Lichtenberg is a touching story of a struggling addict as seen through his mother’s loving eyes. Gloria shares intimate details about her family and their life in general, and this really gave a personal touch to the story. The story highlights the importance of a committed, loving support system in improving the chances of recovery, and the toll the journey takes on that support system. Lonny Love is a very inspiring story that will touch many lives, especially those struggling to defeat the same demons that he battled, and also those seeking to understand the journey through the dark tunnels of drug addiction. Anyone who has witnessed an addict’s journey through the darkness to redemption will really find a connection with this story, and those that haven’t had firsthand experience will find great insight here. His story will leave a lasting mark on every reader’s mind. It is an inspiring story and a worthy read.