Carry-On Baggage by Howard Feldman
A review by Brenda Daniels
The blurb of Carry-On Baggage describes the author, Howard Feldman, as “a high-flying commodity trader, living a seemingly perfect life, with a perfect wife and perfect children, in an unbelievably perfect world.”
It then goes on in a more sinister tone to say that Howard “gets attacked. And attacked again. Then he gets sick. His business folds. And his carry-on baggage simply gets too heavy to hold.”
Concerned that this “sort-of autobiography” might be just another moralistic misery memoir, I nevertheless was attracted by the travel theme, and decided to give it a go. I’m glad I did. Carry-On Baggage is neither miserable nor moralistic. Nor is it self-indulgent.
It is an entertaining, descriptive, easy-to-read book, written with humour by an author with an obvious interest in other people.
In this story Howard describes his family and business life in South Africa, Israel and the USA. He speaks candidly of family and business difficulties, of personal faults, and how crime in South Africa deeply affected him and his loved ones. Although the crime experienced was devastating and, for Howard, ultimately life-changing, the incidents aren’t belaboured or inappropriately revealing.
Feldman writes with obvious affection about his extended Jewish family, and manages to portray his natural people skills without pride or affectation.
The blurb preps the reader for a change in the author’s life and therefore psyche. The revelation, however, occurs only at the end of the book where Feldman describes psychologically “unpacking his bags” and “lowering his banners”. Although I found this arrangement a little puzzling I really enjoyed the journey.
I was left with a hope that I might one day meet Howard Feldman face to face.
Carry-On Baggage by Howard Feldman is published by Tracey McDonald Publishers. An e.Book is also available.
Visit www.thewriteoutlook.com for more info on Howard.
Photo: Brenda Daniels
a feast of tales 