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Publishers Weekly
Farren shares with
readers the pride, fear and resentment that make up her "abnormal"
life next to her husband, Dan, engaged full-time in the Petaluma,
California fire department, 50 miles north of San Francisco. Unlike
his Irish ancestors, on whom the dangerous, low-ladder jobs of
policemen and firemen fell by default, Dan has craved the daily
danger and heroism of fire fighting since childhood. Farren recounts
Dan's
initial acceptance
as a recruit after a grueling series of trials and his eventual
assimilation into a fiercely loyal brotherhood that would see him
through the births of his five children and a devastating accident
that nearly ended his active career.
Farren ably takes
readers through the stress of calls on her husband, ending either
in a valiant "save" by the force or a depressing loss
of life; she recalls the galvanizing effects of 9/11 in bringing
the community of firefighters together. Moreover, she writes of
her own career transition, from paramedic to full-time mom and
"shivering ball of nerves" whose status as a fireman's
wife did not exempt her from distractedly courting disaster or
calling 911 when she heard a noise in the house. Although short
on fire-fighting history and containing awkward shifts in POV
to narrate the action, Farren's memoir proves an elucidating journey.
(March)
© Reed Business Information, a division
of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Susan Farren’s abilities as an inspirational speaker are phenomenal. She is able to quickly engage her audience, she interweaves her messages with important messages, narratives that hold the audience, and a sense of humor that keeps the audience captivated. In addition, her style of delivery is enthusiastic as well as riveting. Anyone bringing Susan in as a speaker will be captivated by the message as well as the speaker. As a professor of Communication courses, I have referred to her abilities many times in my courses when discussing the mechanics of good speechmaking. I recommend her without reservation to any group looking for an outstanding inspirational speaker.
~ Nina-Jo Moore
Professor of Communications
Appalachian State University |
Inkslinger Review
The Fireman's Wife, by Susan Farren (March)
People who take on the job of protecting their fellow citizens'
lives on a daily basis know the risks when they sign on, but many
of their spouses don't realize the extent of that danger until
they visit the firehouse for the first time and are shown the
memorial wall. There is such a wall in every firehouse in the
country ~ since 9/11, many of them commemorate the men who lost
their lives in the worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor.
As a former paramedic, Farren is more aware than most and relates
her knowledge in a compelling way in this fascinating memoir.
Firefighters Bookstore
This is perhaps
the most outstanding portrait I've ever read of what it is like
to be a fire service wife in today's world. First there's the
struggle of getting hired, then there's the probie period, then
settling into the shift schedule with overtime and call-backs,
and for some, the ever-present thought that this morning's kiss
goodbye could be the last. Although the plot device of this book
is Farren's husband's fireground injury, the real story is the
way the fire service commitment threads its way through their
whole life. Farren's writing is tight and her recollections filled
with insight and humor. Having lived a 20-year fire service marriage
myself, I devoured every page as if I were re-reading parts of
my own life. Although there are many spouses who are fire service
husbands (EMS, fire, rescue, wildland, etc.), this particular
memoir speaks to the issues, challenges and rewards of being a
fire service wife.
What others are saying....
"I just finished your book
and I am speechless...."
July 17, 2006
It is as if you were in my mind and heart
while you were writing it. I don't talk much about the concerns
I have with my husbands job but I feel them and they are very
real. It's nice to know I am not alone. I am going to go wipe
my tears now and get back to my daily routine. Thank you so much
for putting yourself out there they way that you did. God bless
you and your family ~ K. James
June 22, 2006
For my Mother's Day gift, my daughter Jennie,
gave me your book to read. I just finished reading this masterpiece.
I was very moved, laughed and now have a far greater understanding
of the public safety out there for all of us. There have been
many, many times the fire department has been in my home for my
ailing mother. I never understood why the fire department was
always dispatched for an illness call, as I always called just
for an ambulance. Now, I am very grateful for the 'eye-opening'
knowledge you have been able to unveil in your book. It is not
just for public safety workers families, but for all to read.
Thank You for taking the effort & time to write this book,
it has definitely changed my way of thinking in regards to public
safety. ~ M. Hansen
"I wept--I am a Fireman's Wife"
March 28, 2006
"Susan, thank you for so beautifully and succinctly describing
our lives....Especially for acknowledging your faith when there
is no explanation. I am proud to call this crazy, exhausting,
wonderful life my own. My husband just returned to full duties
after being out on injury for 16 months. This engaging and heartwarming
book is a quick read."
"I'm "the fireman's kid"
- this was my story too!
April 15, 2006
"Susan Farren wrote an amazing, detailed, funny, heartfelt
description of a fireman's family. As the daughter of a fireman,
I remember visits to the station, crawling on the engines and
trucks,dad being gone on "OT", and how much he looked
forward to his 4-days, so we could all spend time together. Seeing
the life of a fireman's wife described so well makes me appreciate
so much more what my own mom went through when I was little."
~ A. Albertson
"Even if you're not the wife
of a firefighter you'll find yourself in this book...."
March 23, 2006
"Although I do not have family members in the fire or police
service this book moved me to tears. While Downtown today a fire
truck roared by me on a way to a call. I must tell you for the
first time I stopped and paused to think about the fire fighters
on that truck, and their loved ones at home. Both men and women
will find this story interesting, humorous, and inspiring. An
easy quick read." ~ S. Longfellow
"I laughed, I cried ...."
March 31, 2006
"This book was outstanding and kept my interest ( No easy
task ). The story is so real and so applicable to many people.
The firemen , their wifes, EMS, police, hospital personnel and
people who just want to know what it is like to be a fireman's
wife. Susan is a wonderful writer with a sense of humor and shows
that she discerns a deeper purpose in one's everyday job: her's
as a fireman's wife and mother as well as her husband as a fireman
putting his life on the line everyday.
I can't wait for the next book. I hope she is writing one."
~ W. Thomas
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