I am honoured to be part of the WOW! Women of Writing Blog Tour for Linda Jämsén”s Oddyssey of Love which I read and am now reviewing.
(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)
My Review:
Linda Jämsén’s memoir pulled me in through a number of avenues:
~ as a teacher, who at one time was an ESL teacher and who travelled to the NWT to teach, far from home
~as an older woman who sought love and finally found her match
~as a lover of music
~as someone drawn to Mary, mother of Jesus
I have never been to Eastern Europe and Linda described the countries she visited and lived in so well, especially Budapest. Learning a bit of the Hungarian culture and language was an added bonus.
As she described places she visited and music she played, I found myself looking up cathedrals and towns and even playing music by Liszt. I definitely would love to visit many of these places.
Her writing style was so personal – I felt like we were sharing a pot of tea and she was sharing her life story. So many emotions filled the pages – from sadness, to hope, to embarrassment to love. It was so easy to visualize her adventures. The advice she received, “to settle down, not settle for” was so wise. And Linda followed that advice several times.
I highly recommend Linda’s memoir. It drew me in from the beginning and I was rooting for her to find her soul mate.
About the book Odyssey of Love:
When Linda doesn’t receive the marriage proposal she had long been expecting from her boyfriend on her 41st birthday, she reluctantly visits a psychic, Angelica, who predicts that Linda will soon leave him for a romantic and music-filled Odyssey in Europe. There, a “Russian icon” will lead to her future husband, a “tall man with glasses.”
Skeptical at first, but eager to explore her Eastern European roots and reignite her passion for music, Linda moves to Hungary, the land of her idol, composer-pianist Franz Liszt. In Budapest, she reinvents herself as an English teacher and joins a chorus. Soon, she’s performing at the Liszt Academy of Music and Tel Aviv’s Opera House.
With Angelica’s vision in mind, Linda vows to “settle down, not settle for,” but is tempted by romantic close calls: Gabi is gorgeous but too immature; David in Amsterdam fits Angelica’s description to a T, but his British reserve needs some defrosting. Liszt look-alike Ádám has it all, including a wife.
With her teaching and singing gigs ending, Linda flies to Finland for one last trip before moving back to Boston. But is her Odyssey truly over, or is it just beginning?
Publisher: Tulipan Press (May 2021)
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 194860499X
ISBN-13: 978-1948604994
Genre: Memoir
About the Author, Linda Jämsén
Linda Jämsén is an American ex-pat writer-musician living in Finland. She grew up in New York, holding a book in one hand while exploring the piano keyboard with the other. Mesmerized by her mother’s playing of the Romantic repertoire, she soon studied piano with her and later graduated with a B.A. in Music from Bard College. Linda is also an avid choral singer and has performed in Hungary, Finland, the UK, and Israel.
During her years in Boston, Linda raised funds for a variety of philanthropic causes and completed the graduate management course at Radcliffe Seminars/Harvard. However, longing to return to her musical roots, in 2001 she moved to Budapest, land of her musical idol, Franz Liszt. There, she volunteered for the Music Academy in his name and received a CELTA certificate from International House, where she then taught English as a foreign language. Her musical, romantic, and travel adventures abroad inspired her to write Odyssey of Love: A Memoir of Seeking and Finding, her literary debut.
Linda lives on an island in Helsinki with her husband, the “tall man with glasses” from the memoir, and their treasured Russian icon. A sequel, Triptych, is in the works.
To follow the author, visit her website at www.lindajamsen.com. Make sure you also follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and GoodReads.
— Blog Tour Schedule
September 20th @ The Muffin
We kick off the blog tour over at WOW! Women on Writing’s blog, The Muffin, where we interview the author and give away a copy of this amazing memoir.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
September 21st @ One Writer’s Journey
Join Sue as she features author Linda Jämsén’s guest post about how to organize and host a kick-ass virtual book launch event at little cost.
September 22nd @ Create Write Now
Join Mari as she publishes author Linda Jämsén’s guest post about what inspired her to start journaling.
September 23rd @ One Writer’s Journey
Visit Sue’s blog again where she reviews Linda Jämsén’s memoir Odyssey of Love.
September 24th @ The Faerie Review
Join Lily when she features Linda Jämsén’s memoir Odyssey of Love.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com/
September 26th @ Michelle Cornish’ Blog
Join Michelle as she shares her review of Linda Jämsén’s memoir Odyssey of Love.
https://www.michellecornish.com/blog
September 28th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
Join Lisa as she interviews author Linda Jämsén about her experiences and writing her memoir Odyssey of Love.
https://lisahaselton.com/blog/
September 30th @ Choices
Come by Madeline’s blog today and you can read a fascinating guest post by the author about how a visit to a psychic ended up changing her life.
October 1st @ Michelle Cornish’ Blog
Visit Michelle’s blog again and you can read a guest post by the author about self-publishing versus traditional publishing and why she chose the former.
https://www.michellecornish.com/blog
October 3rd @ Word Magic
Join Fiona as she features Linda Jämsén’s memoir Odyssey of Love and gives away a copy of the book to one lucky reader.
http://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
October 5th @ A Storybook World
Stop by Deirdra’s blog and read a feature of Linda Jämsén’s memoir Odyssey of Love. A memoir you don’t want to miss if you are looking for love!
http://www.astorybookworld.com/
October 6th @ Beverley A. Baird’s Blog
Visit Beverley’s blog and read a guest post by the author about publishing as a debut author in mid-life. Don’t miss this inspiring post!
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com
October 8th @ Beverley A. Baird’s Blog
Come by Beverley’s blog again and you can read her thoughts about Linda Jämsén’s memoir Odyssey of Love.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com
October 11th @ What is That Book About
Visit Michelle’s blog and read Linda Jämsén’s guest post about taking chances in mid-life and finding adventures and true love.
https://www.whatisthatbookabout.com/
October 12th @ Alanna Jean
Alanna features Linda Jämsén’s guest post about top European travel destinations.
October 14th @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy’s blog today and read her review of Linda Jämsén’s memoir Odyssey of Love.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com/
October 15th @ The Forgotten Books
Join Heather as she reviews Linda Jämsén’s memoir Odyssey of Love on her Instagram page.
https://www.instagram.com/The_forgotten_books_/
October 18th @ Memoir Writer’s Journey
Visit Kathleen’s website as she reviews Linda Jämsén’s memoir Odyssey of Love.
October 20th @ Words from the Heart
Visit Linda’s blog where she reviews Linda Jämsén’s memoir Odyssey of Love.
https://contemplativeed.blogspot.com/
October 24th @ Leslie’s Voice
Join Leslie on her blog today and read her review of Linda Jämsén’s memoir Odyssey of Love.
Beverley A Baird 
Thanks for the lovely post, Beverley. I’m glad you could relate to much of my journey because of your background. I hope you get to travel to Eastern Europe and explore the Liszt sites one day. All the best, Linda
Thanks Linda. Loved reading your memoir. And the wedding photos as well! All the best to you