Overview

Building Life is the second volume of an unconventional memoir from the highly original writer, Sylvia Baer. Through essays and photographs-many of which have been shared worldwide on social media-Baer tells the stories of five generations of her remarkable family, as well as stories of their neighbors in the buildings and communities she grew up in. With great grandparents who lived under pogroms in Eastern Europe; grandparents who escaped the Holocaust to Uruguay, where she was born; a grandfather who was a celebrated engineer and German immigrant to the United States in the 1920s; parents from diverse cultures and languages; her own United States immigrant experiences in the late 1950s; and stories of the many people who helped, guided, and influenced her during her childhood, Baer tells her own family's story, an American story, and a universal human story. Vivid family photographs illuminate Baer's lovely, compelling essays. This second volume also includes powerful vignettes of Baer's students-just a few of the thousands of students she has taught (and learned from) over the course of her fifty-year career.

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Reviews

"""When I read Sylvia Baer's intensely personal and profound stories, I am reminded of Aesop's Fables-where good conquers evil or darkness is erased by light. Sylvia's memories become our memories-they recall the sights, the smells and the sensations of distant lands and generations past. Again and again, Sylvia's tales awaken something profound inside of us, producing a smile and even tears of joy."" -Lauren Young, Editor, Digital Special Projects, Reuters ""Sylvia has an amazing memory, and amazing memories. Her detailed stories of the relatives, friends, teachers, and students she has encountered in her 70+ years are truly fascinating."" -Lee Gordon, Voiceover Artist ""When I read an excerpt from Sylvia Baer's book of her fascinating life, I know that I not only will be entertained, but I will feel, and find myself truly caring for her characters. Her revelations and insights into the human life journey keep you intrigued. Every story is like a short film filled with unforgettable characters that keep you keep reading and reading."" -Victoria Papale, Artist, Ancient Paintings and Artifacts Specialist ""Sylvia Baer has a knack for making people cry. Not painfully ugly crying, but heartfelt 'I was there' crying, 'I feel this too' crying. The first time I read one of her stories, something in it resonated so soundly within me that I felt she had observed one of the most painful parts of my life and then based her story on it. I cried for almost an hour, then returned to her page on Facebook to devour more of her writing. Every single one of her tales reveals more about Sylvia-but also about all of us, her readers. She has a skill with writing, which immediately pulls you into the story, into the situation as if you were there with her in the experiences she describes. And her emotions dance off the page and imbed themselves in your heart. Not only is Sylvia Baer a poet, she's also a wonderful master of words."" -Angela Garry, Author ""Sylvia Baer's writings take you on a life journey, filled with stories of family life in Uruguay, Brazil, and New Jersey. It is the journey to adulthood of a girl who is sensitive and kind, devastatingly smart and curious, smart-alecky and resourceful, and wise beyond her years: an Anne of Green Gables of her place and time. It is an inspiration for lovers of words, writing, teaching and life."" -Susan Krysiak, Media Director, MAC, Cape May, New Jersey ""Sylvia Baer is equal parts Emily Dickinson, Nora Ephron and Gidget! Through her insightful, engaging narratives, gathered from her immigrant girlhood through half a century of teaching at some of the top colleges in the country, this treasure trove of stories from her life will inspire, make you laugh and sometimes bring tears. She's the mom, grandmother, sister and best friend you wish you had. She wants to help everyone live life better and shows us the way here."" -Celeste McCauley, New York City-based Writer and Editor ""In each story, Sylvia not only creates characters and scenarios that instantly captivate her readers, but she also somehow manages to capture in words exactly what it is to be human."" -Dr. Andrea Vinci, Professor of English"

Author Information

Dr. Sylvia Baer is a professor of English at Rowan College, an Associate Fellow at Yale University (Davenport), and the Poet Laureate of Cape May, New Jersey, where her famed Poet-Tree blooms with poems each summer. She recently celebrated her fiftieth year of teaching.

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