Reviews for: Asya's Laws—Lessons in Love Lost and Found

Thank You, Asya

I recently read Asya's Laws and found it riveting.  I am not one to pick up non-fiction, but this book had me from the start.  I was interested in Asya and all of the factes of her life and her character.  She was in a world that I knew very little about, yet I was intrigued by the differences and similarities I found in female experiences and thought.  I think that this is a book that women should read in order to see how Asya' s experiences, and how she handles them, can offer inspiration. 

As for knowledge of a different culture...much more interesting than reading a textbook account of life.  The voice of Asya was loud, clear, and interesting.  The book was an enjoyable read, and I have already passed on recommendations to my friends and co-workers.

Jacquie Johr ~ February 15, 2007

This is a REAL book about a REAL person, Asya, who so candidly, yet carefully unfolds a story that takes the reader through time and across cultural and international boundaries! I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Asya's voice as I read. With the photos from her life included, it was easy to hear her telling me her story and delivering her laws...the wisdom she developed in her lifelong quest for real love. I appreciate her honesty and vulnerability in depicting how she regarded herself throughout this quest and in each of her roles - a girl looking for love, a lover, a wife, a daughter, a mother, etc. Her own perspective on Latvia and Latvians and America and Americans is also interesting to observe as it changes from beginning to end. Thank you, Asya, for going for it with this book!

Sue J., Raleigh, NC ~ January 18, 2007

From Russia With Love

In this world of virtual and mediated reality, Latvian-born Asya Raines has brought decades of memories to life. From tales of her mother as a WWII Soviet freedom fighter blowing up Nazi trucks, to the post War Russian occupation to a late 1970s consolation prize trip to Bulgaria that began with a yearning to see Yugoslavia, to perestroika and her eventual emigration to the United States, she enlightens us with her perceptions and charms us with her perseverance. A book that merits multiple reads!

David Fleetham ~ October 12, 2006

I just finished reading this delightful and down to earth book by Asya Raines. Her "laws" cause the reader to pause and look at love and relationships in a new light. Learning about Asya and her life in Latvia helps the reader to understand Asya's view of love. I wish her much happiness.

Rita Johr ~ September 27, 2006

Lesson's Learned!

I would like to thank Asya for finding the courage to write about her life. It was not only educational and interesting, but it helped me to realize that we can all "choose" the life we live. No one has to be a victim if they don't want to be. Also, she gives great advice in love! An inspirational book that I would recommend to any and all who love to read or love!

N. L. Steimel ~ September 27, 2006

A great book to share with family and friends

I really, truly enjoyed this book. It feels like Asya is sitting next to you telling her story - and she's so warm, and so honest, that you become engrossed in her tale. I picked the book up on a Friday evening, and finished it in a few hours. A great book to share with friends and family - of any age.

Marie Seipenko ~ September 25, 2006

I have a special affinity to much of this book having grown up with my immediate family, and first cousins close in age to Asya and myself, living in communist Poland. My father used to say that the system "shaped" the people. For example, what people would do to get a job promotion, (like the Professor) or get certain special considerations - be it in a doctor's office, a housing commission, etc.  People would rationalize their behavior because it "served" the family well, or they deserved it, or well, that's how it is.... As for women, where are you going to go, when you have limited resources of any kind to start on your own?  So many are essentially forced to stay in abusive relationships. 

 Ania ~ September 22, 2006

Sex and the City, Latvian Style

Carrie Bradshaw and the girls gave us a peek into the challenges, heartbreak, friendship, and love that is life in Manhattan. Asya lets us see and feel those same emotions and experiences that made up her life in Riga. She even describes her version of the Hamptons. Asya entertains as she talks with us, she also educates. My lesson? While there are clearly interesting intellectual and cultural differences, when it comes to matters of the heart and soul we are all clearly One. Brava!

Julie Chun ~ September 16, 2006

"Authentic and honest story of Asya who journeys from the communist Latvia to capitalist America. The trials and tribulations of a very tolerant woman who wants to get along with everyone. A very refreshing story of successes and failure in love in the her native Latvia and then in the USA. Asya's story is brilliantly written in European accent that changes with time losing it completely when it ends in USA. I have asked my young daughters to read this book. Women of all ages will enjoy reading and learning from Asya experiences (Law)!"       

Jay Shah ~September 10, 2006

I liked the title. I like the format that the book is written in. I agree with Asya that it was very important for her to keep her voice in the story. It made the book better and it came across as so authentic. Asya had such an interesting life. She is such a strong person with such a great attitude. The book in inspiring not just because she has managed to live through some tough situations, but mostly because through it all, Asya was able to keep her spirit and love for life. I enjoyed learning a bit about where Asya grew up, it was very interesting. The book was a very quick read and I loved how Asya was able to keep it light even when discussing some depressing times.

Denise Kingston ~ August 31, 2006

A candid look at love and lessons learned

Asya's Laws is a touching story of a Latvian woman's life journey from her native country during her late teens to the United States in her mid-life years. It is told by Asya herself and is very well written. I felt as if she was sitting right next to me sharing her remarkably candid story like I was her closest friend. There were times I could almost feel her put her hand on my arm in a tender gesture seeking my understanding of what she was going through. I highly recommend it for any book club.

Lisa Gillin ~ August 30, 2006

Highly Recommend!

Asya's Laws is a wonderful, inspiring and very truthful book.
I am originally from Latvia and lived there at the same time period described in the book. Even though I was the same age as Asya's children during that period, I was old enough to understand what is going on in the society. This is the first book I ever read that reflects exactly what happened in the country in the period of Soviet Fall from the prospective of a person living each day life.
There are three things I admire the most about the book.
First one is that Soviet Union is not depicted only from the bad side, like it is always portrayed here in the USA. Yes, we did have a lot fun back then. Streets were safe, social sector was very strong (wonderful medical care, strong education system) and even though we did not have fancy staff, nobody died from hunger!
Second aspect I like is the fair description of relationships of national groups in Latvia. Latvia is trying to rewrite a history on its own manner, blaming everybody around for everything what happened in the past and hiding its own faults. Asya did a perfect job describing the complicated patterns of interrelationships in between Latvian, Russian and Jewish communities through personal relationships.
And the third thing, that fascinates me the most, is the optimism of the author. It is so strong it will help you to look at your life from completely different angle.
Asya is such a positive and kind person that the book radiates with optimism from the begging to the end. I just want to say Thank You very much for writing this book. It helps me to stay strong, brave and optimistic.

Olga ~ August 28, 2006

No mere Chick Book

Having grown up with Jewish friends who all had stories of the Holocaust and its impact on their families, particularly those who were from Eastern European families that lived under a dark cloud even before the war, Asya's story was particularly moving and illuminating. I can now understand after reading Asya's family history why Jews, particularly university educated people, embraced communism in the 20s and 30s and apparently looked the other way at Lenin and Stalin's excesses.

The curious perspective of one's religion as one's nationality also finally became clear. For years I have been puzzled as to how any people who had lived for centuries in a nation would be treated as non-nationals. To say a Jew is not a Latvian, or a Jew is not a Pole or a Russian makes no sense to me. Nevertheless, I now understand this tragic historic position and see how it has shaped attitudes towards Jews. I could never before comprehend how victims of the Nazis could so easily turn others over for extermination. Now, sadly, I understand.

This is definitely not a chick book. It's a book about the soul and how it survives love and loss unvanquished.

And on the brighter side, I fully intend to experiment with her recipes and only wish she had added one or two more.

George Ellenwood ~ August 23, 2006

Pleasantly surprised!

Asya's Laws is a wonderful story about life and love and the directions it takes us. It also makes you appreciate the little things that we take for granted in this country. I especially enjoyed Asya's "laws" (sort of life lessons) and the manner in which she describes unpleasant things that occur along the way as "clicks". It is a sweet story that I didn't want to end.

“Lisa” from Michigan ~ August 23, 2006

Asya is my hero!

Asya's Laws is a wonderful book! It takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions: frustration, anger, hurt, anticipation, acceptance, happiness, and best of all, love. In each chapter of her life she continues to know who she is and what she wants even though some circumstances are beyond her control. She always gives people the benefit of the doubt and sees the good in everybody. She is never bitter and is willing to trust and love again and again. I could also relate to some of Asya's "laws" in each chapter. This is a great read, I highly recommend it to all. Asya, you are my hero!

Sandy Bousquette ~August 15, 2006

A Wonderful Memoir

Asya grows up in 60's Soviet-controlled Latvia. Though a Baltic republic with a different language and culture, Soviet Russia controls almost every aspect of daily life. Asya takes us through the details of shopping, marriage, education and tells us about Glasnost and how it released the "genie in the bottle"--the desire to have the freedoms that we often take for granted. Asya punctuates many poignant and even tragicomic experiences with her "laws"-- for example, one of them is of course Murphy's Law (if anything can go wrong...) and my favorite "If you don't risk, you won't drink Champagne."

Along with a fascinating glimpse into the daily life of an era that has come and gone, Asya tells us a very interesting memoir of her life and loves. And at the end of a most modern love story, Asya shares with us her recipes for borscht and goulash. This is a wonderful, intimate memoir and a story of emotional growth and maturation set against a fascinating backdrop. Highly Recommended.

Joanna Daneman – (Amazon reviewer – Middletown, DE) ~ August 12, 2006

Lessons from Asya

WOW - Awesome book. I didn't realize how much I took America for granted until I read this book. I have never been out of the country and though you hear about how people live and the laws they live under, I never really grasped it until I read this book. Asya Raines has a style of writing that has you living her life with her. Not only did she live in a country where she did not have the freedoms that we do and her relationships were also controlling, but she managed to stay strong, take the high road, and move forward to better herself. Even not knowing Asya, I am very proud of her for the way she took control of her life and always had her children's best interest at heart. I wish her and "Frustrated Writer" the very best in all that they do, including, I hope, writing more books. Thanks too for the recipes.

Melanie Phillips~- August 11, 2006

Asya's Laws is touching. A story that will tug at your heart. Highly recommend for book clubs. This is a book I will keep forever and share with everyone.

PAS Book Club ~ August 9, 2006

Enjoyable read on many levels

Asya's Laws is a well-written, enjoyable book that can be appreciated by many different groups of readers. It is, as other reviewers have pointed out, a personal story of a contemporary woman who leaves a society that few of us Americans have experienced, who is also able to make quick and clear correlations between her former lifestyle and ours. In telling the reader about her world, she also tells us about ours, in an honest and at times very amusing way. When Asya steps out of her narrative and speaks to you as a reader, she makes a very relevant and insightful observation. You have to think about what she says and reflect upon it for yourself.

Asya's Laws is also a story about human feelings. In a natural and personal way, Asya shares her experiences across the range of relationships, from family to friends, and helps us to understand things about happiness, love, prejudice, unfaithfulness and many other human emotions without resorting to drama or excessiveness.

The writing is sparse, not overly detailed; yet each word used creates a strong image. As I read it, I found myself wanting to continue from chapter to chapter, yet I often found myself caught by the shift in the narrative and the pace of Asya's life events as her story continues to unfold. It is a book that the reader will want to consume, because your attention is held in a way that makes the book difficult to put down. I found myself reflecting on Asya's life and wishing her the very best as she takes her life lessons forward.

A worthy addition to anyone's reading list.

Sandra McCausland ~ August 8, 2006

Living Life's Journey

This book is an engaging, enlightening and enjoyable read. Her use of language and idioms is delightful and Asya is a gifted writer when it comes to describing the people she has loved. In addition to her compelling story, it was fascinating to learn about the history of Latvia, her home country. I, too, would be thrilled if there was an audio book as I would love to hear the stories in her own voice.

Tricia O'Neill~ August 7, 2006

Truly Amazed

I usually do not like biographical books, especially of someone I have never even heard of, but this one was an exception. Asya looks upon life as a gift and lives every day with that thought. I am truly amazed at the freedoms we Americans have, not really knowing how restrictive other countries are with their citizens. For example, when Asya (from Latvia) wanted to plan a vacation in Yugoslavia, she had to request approval, and pass a personal interview. Her application was rejected and she had to go to Bulgaria instead! Even then she was escorted by the government, and this was just for a vacation!!! This book was an easy read, very funny in parts and truly enlightening! This is a book to pass on to friends!

Sharon Forgue ~ August 7, 2006

I'm a guy and I normally don't read "chick" books

But my wife suggested I read this book during our vacation last month and I read it beginning to end during three days poolside in Puerto Rico. There have been thousands of books written about "how tough it was being me growing up" but Asya's story proves that "it is not what life does to you but how you respond". Asya created a new law every time life handed her another lesson and how she used all of her laws to marshall the courage to come to America to find her true love -- and not on the first try. For me, Asya's Laws has a message and wisdom for both men and women and I have to admit that, once again, my wife was right ...

Chuck Daniels ~ August 5, 2006

Life Lessons

Asya's Laws is a very personal yet universal story. Like a series of diary entries, each chapter captivated me as the inspiring wisdom and primitive simplicity of Asya's life lessons unfolded. Poignant details about her life in Latvia prior to and after The Wall fell down and of her initial struggles as an immigrant in Michigan served as a powerful reminder of my own initial struggles having emigrated to Europe at that same time and of the life lessons I learned there and upon my return to Michigan. Well Done!

Reader in MI ~ August 4, 2006

Latvian descendent

I read Asya's Laws on recommendation of a friend. I will be sending it forward to share with other friends/fellow readers. I thought her choice of words was interesting, and the fact that
she was so blunt about her past relationships. I also liked the monikers she gave people instead of using their real names. I especially liked "the woman with specific style." Her explanations of Russian/Latvian politics were enlightening.

Jan Jacobs ~ August 4, 2006

Capturing my Baltic Heritage

I truly enjoyed Asya's Laws not only as a pocket source of wisdom but also as a compelling story of a family history in Communist Latvia. It has given me the interest to move forward with my own Baltic heritage and hope others will be similarly motivated by her story.

William Newman ~ August 1, 2006

Looking forward to the audio version!

This book is a must read for all! I can't say enough about this wonderful story. A very personal view of Asya's life and her strength and courage to face anything and everything that life throws at her. You can't help but learn and grow from her experiences. I really loved Chapter 11: New York, New York! It was so interesting to hear another culture's perspective of America. The "little" things in life that we as Americans take for granted. And "Asya's Laws" are so thought provoking. My favorites are "Celebrate the beauty of your friends" in Chapter 6; "Learn to live with it" in Chapter 7; and "A real man does not keep a lady waiting at the theater" in Chapter 10 (just to name a few). The way Asya speaks is so creative; "I drank in her looks like a cup of cold coffee that had no sugar or cream" in Chapter 10. And let's not forget the recipes in the back of the book for Asya's Borscht and Goulash. I've tried them both and they are delicious! Thanks to Asya for sharing her life with the world.

Kathy Anderson ~ August 1, 2006

How they lived, laughed and loved .

The love story was enjoyable, BUT the most interesting part for those of us of an age to have spent our childhood diving under school desks during "air raids," is learning how the "Enemy" was living. Asya was growing up in Latvia during the occupations. We have had no real idea how the common people were handling all that. Now with this book, we have a great deal of insight. History lessons, wrapped up in a love story, are the best kind!

Maureen Bianchi  ~ July 31, 2006

I Read This Book Start To Finish in One Sitting; I Couldn't Put It Down!!!!!!

This is JUST one INCREDIBLE story!! I figured I'd read a couple chapters with my 8:00am coffee before I started work and 6 hour later (and no work accomplished), I had read one of the best stories I've read (non-fiction and fiction) in a LONG, LONG time! Reading about Asya's culture in Latvia while growing up, learning about her parents experiences, her loves and her subsequent move to the U.S was educational, enlightening and, most of all, enthralling!!! Her story made me laugh at times and made my heart break at others. It is such a wonderful tale about an endearing and enduring human spirit. A MUST READ!!

Linda Daniels (Rutherford, NJ) ~ July 31, 2006

A European Woman's Perspective

I loved reading Asya's Laws because of Asya's wonderful Eastern European woman's perspective and experiences on love. Even though we grew up in the same era, I felt like we lived in two wildly different experiences and times. Her absolutely refreshing views on love and life gave me an incredible new outlook on my own life. I am recommending this book to every woman I know and have found several men who love the historical references of living behind the Iron Curtain. Do you have a friend who you want to tell how much you treasure their friendship? Send them a copy of Asya's Laws today!!

Teresa Weed Newman ~ July 31, 2006

Great Story!

I enjoyed reading this story of Asya's life growing up behind the Iron Curtain and how the joy of coming to America and the freedom it afforded her contrasted with the challenges facing her. The book was a quick read and I found myself unable to put it down until I had finished. I will highly recommend this to all my friends and anticipate loaning it to friends but not until I have re-read it a 2nd time.

Diane Bozeman ~ July 30, 2006

This book will make you laugh, cry, and restore your faith in love

"Asya's Laws" is for all you hopeless romantics out there who have hit some sharp rocks on relationship rapids, tasted doubt, fear, and wondered whether you'll have the strength to start all over. This story will inspire you and give you some guideposts for navigating the treacherous waters of love and life. This memoir is set in Latvia, a small country where Eastern and Northern Europe meet. You witness the incredible transformations, trials and tribulations of that small but fascinating country just as the life the heroine takes its own wild and unpredictable turns. From the first love marked by religious discrimination and cultural taboos to spousal betrayal to trials of motherhood--Raines depicts them all with the same thoughtful, humorous and honest voice. Asya's laws are insights about love, friendship, and life. It's a delightful, easy read that will remind you what's truly important and rejuvenate your faith in love.

Anna Raleigh (Farmington Hills, MI) ~ July 30, 2006

Quick read

It's a quick read. It's worth buying, keeping, sharing and gift giving at anytime. True to its title, the lessons in love should be shared with many in your life. Asya's Laws won't disappoint the reader. I plan to read it a second time.

Sandy (Lansing, MI) ~ July 30, 2006

A great read!!

This was a very fast reading book. You kept reading to find out what was going to happen next. Reading this book made you appreciate living in the US and all we that we tend to take for granted. This book gave you a glimpse of everyday life behind the Iron Curtain. But it also showed that no matter where you lived, we all have searched for love in similar ways. I could compare my own life to Asya's in so many respects. I would recommend reading this book.

Carol Carter (Southgate, MI) ~ July 26, 2006

The storyteller

This was a book I could not put down. The writing style is that of a storyteller, keeping you captivated from beginning to end. Thank you Asya for giving us a peek behind the Iron Curtain.

Jackie Watson ~ July 26, 2006

From the younger crowd

I really enjoyed this easy and uplifting read. I thought it had a lot of wisdom as well as a lot of fun. This is the kind of book that I would recommend to anyone, male or female (but especially female!) I think it has the depth and range to reach anyone who's been through anything. I'm sure many readers feel this way but the scene that stands out the most for me is Asya scrubbing the floor in her wedding dress at the end of a long tough day - this is an image I've begun to equate with my own daily life!
“C” (Detroit) ~– July 25, 2006

Amazing Book! Absolutely A Must Read! Don't Miss this Opportunity!

I'm sure many readers feel this way but the scene that stands out the most for me is Asya scrubbing the floor in her wedding dress at the end of a long tough day - this is an image I've begun to equate with my own daily life!

This was an incredible opportunity for me to re-live the life in Latvia through Asya's wonderful book. It brought me back to the incredible country, its people and the magnificent history that will stay with me forever.
Asya's Laws is a wonderful combination of a trying life story and a history of an amazing country. I started reading this book on a 5-hour plane ride, and finished it by the end of the flight. I cried, I laughed, and most of all it made me appreciate my life! The writing is absolutely amazing. Extremely easy to read, words just flow by. This is one book you definitely want to buy!!! It will make you want to visit Latvia and its wonderful sights, and give you a newfound appreciation for what you already have.

Julia Bendis ~ July 25, 2006

A memorable book!

Vacation, my favorite time to lounge and read a good book. The 1st day I thought I would read Asya's Law while I sat and had my coffee in the morning. I found myself setting down the book and then picking up the book 10 minutes later to read for "just a few more minutes". Before I knew it, I had finished the book that afternoon.

I learned about life in a Soviet country, Latvia, and that love is no different wherever you live. Through Asya's eyes I was able to feel what it is like to have so little, come to the US and walk into one of our grocery stores where there is not 1 or 2 of an item but there might be 10 different types of the same thing. The next day I walked into my grocery store, I walked around trying to think of how overpowering and mind boggling it was for Asya and yet how we take it all for granted.

I have been back from vacation for 2 weeks and still find myself thinking about Asya and her life, her sense of humor and "laws". I would recommend this book to everyone, it is an easy read, enjoyable and made me think of how lucky I was to have been born in the U.S.

Cheryl O'Donnell (Whitmore Lake, Mi) ~ July 24, 2006

Great read!

Totally enjoyable! The short chapters flow but allowed me to read during snippets of my busy week. All too quickly I finished the book during a weekend getaway. I loved getting to know Asya through her personal journey of love and family and friendships.

Cedar Laker "Grandmkmk" ~ July 18, 2006

Asya Raines' little masterpiece invites us to her spiritual home. Like the concierge of an intimate hotel, she welcomes us. We are for an evening her pampered guests reading in a quiet sitting room and sipping a glass of her vintage Champagne. Asya's words so well-sculpted by the deft hand of Charles Fleetham encourage us to put aside our loveless travels with their many contradictions and conflicts. If we pause to reflect upon Asya's hopeful message in our hearts, we just might allow ourselves to fall in love for the first time or once again and never be the same!

Christopher J. Webb ~ July 14, 2006

I loved this book - it was hard to put down and hard to get out of my head. The writing is lovely and flowing. This book is a must read for anyone who loves love and life with all it's predicatable unpredicability. It's a great book for sharing and giving. First book I've felt strongly enough about to write a review!

"Asya's Laws" is a fascinating, multi-layered autobiography. It is the story of a Jew in an anti-Semitic society; the story of a Baltic communist experiencing the upheaval of perestroika and the downfall of the Soviet Union; the story of an immigrant struggling to integrate into a new and alien environment; but most of all, it is the story of a woman.

Twice-divorced Asya Raines, a Latvian Jew who immigrated to the U.S. in 1997 while in her mid-forties, relates her life-history as viewed through the prism of her relationships with her friends, her family and her lovers. Her mostly tongue-in-cheek "laws" are the lessons that she learns along the way. She shares these lessons with the reader in a way that is both entertaining and instructive, but totally lacking in pomposity, arrogance or false piety. (Example: "a real man does not leave a lady waiting at the theater!") Asya has an inspirational ability to learn from the past instead of becoming embittered by it, to understand and even forgive the bad things that other people do, to recognize and learn from her own mistakes, and to look forward to the future and the adventures that lie ahead.

Asya's distinctive voice, relayed admirably by Charles Fleetham, has a slight but charming foreign accent. It demonstrates how she has held onto her roots while simultaneously adapting to her new surroundings. She occasionally addresses the reader directly, enhancing the intimacy of the narrative. At the end I found myself hoping that at last she has found "true love."

I would thoroughly recommend this book both to the romantic at heart, as well as to anyone interested in learning what life was really like behind the Iron Curtain.

"Adrastea" (Reviewer from Amazon.com)

First of all, from Asya's Laws, I learned about the history of and life in Latvia, a country I knew nothing about.
Secondly, the book gives a first-person brutally yet tenderly honest story of one woman's struggles, triumphs, limitations, pain and glory in loving the men in her life, as well as her friends, and relations.
I was able to read this book so quickly, as the language and tone flow so well.
The titles and quotes at the beginning of every chapter are poignantly developed.
Asya's Laws made me feel frustrated at times with the author's extreme patience with exasperating souls but it also made me laugh and left me with a feeling of satisfaction.

Ellen D. Stern (Reviewer from Amazon.com)

We've all met people who tell life stories we can learn and grow from. Asya, a child of the 1960s Soviet Union, not only tells a compelling story, but also distills her experiences into “laws” that make you smile and ponder. Part memoir of growing up in Latvia as the Iron Curtain unravels, and part cautionary tale about the unpredictability of life and love, Asya's Laws is a well-paced life study that both entertains and inspires. How fascinating to learn about the human side of this Baltic seaside country that came under Russian rule after WWII -- and thus disappeared from American view. With just a touch of Old World manner left in her voice (preserved deftly by co-author Charles Fleetham), Asya's coming-of-age and eventual move to the U.S. is a unique telling of Cold War history. It seems our "enemies" are fiercely proud, patriotic, and hold family and cultural values just like ours.

Where the book really stands out is in its approach to love and romance. All of us in committed relationships know just how hard it is to make them last, and twice-divorced Asya's account of how hard she tried, and what she learned, is more meaningful than dozens of the relationship self-help books I've read. Most of her "laws" are relationship-oriented, ranging from "if you have a secret don't spread it" and "celebrate the beauty of your friends" to "if you don't risk you won't drink champagne" and "if you want to change someone else, change yourself first." Here is the voice of a foreigner whose words truly hit home.

Jim Barnes, Editor

Independent Publisher Online

“Refusing to kneel before the altar of false morality, Asya Raines fearlessly shares what she has learned through every life experience -- the good, the bad and the ugly. Women will see themselves or their children, mothers, sisters and friends, because Asya's Laws extend beyond the borders of countries, beyond the limits of time and space. And these lessons of love lost and found, everyone learns.”

Joni Hubred-Golden, publisher of Michigan Women's Forum

“Asya has been able to chronicle her life in an entertaining and lively fashion making it hard to believe how many other stories and laws she has yet to share. A delightful read with great insight and wisdom. Each chapter provides a life lesson in a very unique manner.”

Rosalind Lullove Cooperman, President & CEO

September Moon Production Network, Inc.

“This is a wonderful and enlightening story about one woman's journey through life and love. See how the influences of her family, friends, loves, country and culture shape her laws about love as she transforms from a young women to an adult, wife, and mother. You hear through her voice what it is like to be in a new country, excited about new opportunities and yet missing her past. Reading Asya's Laws is just like catching up with a long-lost friend. You will finish wishing you knew even more about Asya and her family.”

Kristen Poploskie

Parks of Stonewood Book Club

Asya's Laws is a fascinating, multi-layered biography. It is the story of a Jew in an anti-Semitic society; the story of a Baltic communist experiencing the upheaval of perestroika and the downfall of the Soviet Union; the story of an immigrant struggling to integrate into a new and alien environment; but most of all, it is the story of a woman.

Twice-divorced Asya Raines, a Latvian Jew who immigrated to the U.S. in 1997 while in her mid-forties, relates her life-history as viewed through the prism of her relationships with her friends, her family and her lovers. Her mostly tongue-in-cheek “laws” are the lessons that she learns along the way. She shares these lessons with the reader in a way that is both entertaining and instructive, but totally lacking in pomposity, arrogance or false piety. (Example: “a real man does not leave a lady waiting at the theater!”) Asya has an inspirational ability to learn from the past instead of becoming embittered by it, to understand and even forgive the bad things that other people do, to recognize and learn from her own mistakes, and to look forward to the future and the adventures that lie ahead.

Asya's distinctive voice, relayed admirably by Charles Fleetham, has a slight but charming foreign accent. It demonstrates how she has held onto her roots while simultaneously adapting to her new surroundings. She occasionally addresses the reader directly, enhancing the intimacy of the narrative. At the end I found myself hoping that at last she has found “true love.” I would thoroughly recommend this book both to the romantic at heart, as well as to anyone interested in learning what life was really like behind the Iron Curtain.

Rachel McCormack, President
MicroMax, Inc.

August 28, 2005

Observer and Eccentric Newspapers

Interview with Charles Fleetham

http://www.hometownlife.com/Community/NewsPrint.asp?StoryID=123653

Midwest Book Review  

August 2005

The Search For Unrational Leadership
Charles Fleetham
Right Brain Books, LLC
22000 Springbrook Avenue, Suite 106, Farmington Hills, MI 48336
09763868011  $24.95 

Also available in paperback (097638681X, $15.95)

The Search For Unrational Leadership: Using Rational & Irrational Methods To Change Your Life by Charles Fleetham (founder of Project Innovations, a management consulting firm serving business and government) outlines a strategy to create a "New Economy" based on the principles of what Fleetham has termed "Unrational Leadership". This refers to a process that Fleetham developed using both rational and irrational methodologies to solve complex problems and in the process, achieving some truly astonishing results in resolving societal problems without the side affect of unintended negative consequences. Challenging, unorthodox, at times iconoclastic, The Search For Unrational Leadership is nevertheless thoughtful, thought-provoking, stimulating reading that is especially commended to the attention of anyone having a managerial responsibility for problem solving within their businesses, their communities, their social causes and political/cultural concerns.                   http://www.midwestbookreview.com

ForeWord Review

June 2005

The Most Dangerous Book in America
The Search For Unrational Leadership
Alan Abrams, ForeWordreviews.com

"It took guts for Fleetham to write this book, to chart not just his own course, but that for those who wish to follow. It would be an error not to take his message seriously."

http://www.forewordreviews.com/View-Review.asp?ReviewID=362