This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Howard Shulman was born in Orange, New Jersey. After losing half his face to an infection as a newborn, he was abandoned by his parents and spent the first three years of his life in a hospital. The doctors, nurses, and orderlies were the only family he knew.
Howard ultimately overcame his tragic beginnings, going from dishwasher to successful entrepreneur, from loner to family man. He lives in San Diego with his wife and two stepdaughters.
Reviewed by Jessyca Garcia for Readers' Favorite
Running from the Mirror by Howard Shulman is a memoir about Shulman’s life. When Shulman was just a newborn baby, he contracted a staph infection that ate his face off. His parents did not want to deal with a child that had so many health issues so they gave him up for adoption. This is his story about growing up different and looking for a place to belong.
I thought Running from the Mirror was an interesting story. At times I felt really sorry for Shulman and wanted to give him a giant hug. Other times I wanted to yell at him because he kept making mistakes and hurting the only people that seemed to care for him. Growing up a foster kid is hard, but growing up a foster kid that requires a lot of medical care is even harder. Shulman’s foster parents, Shirl and Ed, were great. They might not have been perfect but I have tremendous respect for them opening their home to a stranger.
I thought that this story was going to turn out a little different. I was not expecting Shulman to become a drug dealer. I am glad that he finally found happiness, but he walked a crooked road to get there. I can see this story being inspirational to some people. I liked the little follow up on all of Shulman’s friends at the end of the book. Reading Shulman’s words made me feel as if I too had known his friends personally. Overall, this was a good book.
