Feb 8, 2012

An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski


“Excuse me lady, do you have any spare change?”

This was the first thing he said to me, on 56th street in New York City, right round the corner from Broadway, on a sunny September day.

And when I heard him, I didn’t really hear him. His words were part of the clatter, like a car horn or someone yelling for a cab. They were, you could say, just noise—the kind of nuisance New Yorkers learn to tune out. So I walked right by him, as if he wasn’t there.

But then, just a few yards past him, I stopped.

And then—and I still don’t know why I did this—I came back.


Title: An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-year-old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny
Author: Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski
Publisher: Howard Books; November 2011; hardcover and e-book editions

Book description: An Invisible Thread is the true story of the bond between a harried sales executive and an eleven-year-old boy who seemed destined for a life of poverty. It is the heartwarming story of a friendship that has spanned three decades and brought meaning to an over-scheduled professional and hope to a hungry and desperate boy living on the streets.

When Laura Schroff brushed by a young panhandler on a New York City corner one rainy afternoon, something made her stop and turn back. She took the boy Maurice to lunch at the McDonald's across the street that day. And she continued to go back, again and again for the next four years until both of their lives had changed dramatically.

About the authors: Laura Schroff worked as an advertising executive with media companies including Time Inc. and Conde Nast. She lives in New York City.
Alex Tresniowski of New York City has been a senior writer for People Magazine since 1998. He is also the author of six books, including 2005’s The Vendetta, a true crime story purchased by Universal Pictures and used as a basis for the 2009 Johnny Depp movie, Public Enemies.

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20 comments:

  1. OMG! Looks like such a good book! I love true stories.

    megnate at telus dot net

    ReplyDelete
  2. WOW it sounds amazing. I am a New Yorker and I can totally relate. We need more people like that in this city, Giving out spare change isn't always enough.
    I would love to get my hands on this book. Thanks for the opportunity.

    readingdiva3(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. this is the type of story... that pushes all the terrible news of the day out of sight.
    bdz1961@hotmaildotcom
    Barb

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds like a wonderful, uplifting story. Thanks so much for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Would love to read this book Lomazowr@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for this wonderful giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. A memorable story. Many thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the chance to win!
    irbratb(@)gmail(.)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have heard such wonderful things about this book, and your review was excellent. I would relish the chance to read this one, so please do enter me in your giveaway, and thanks for hosting it!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  10. This looks great! Please enter me!

    bethsbookreviewblog2 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  11. The book sounds really good. Thanks for hosting the giveaway: emerging DOT paradigm AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think I saw this story on the news or some TV show or else a very similar story. Anyway, it sounds inspiring and heart-warming and I'd love to read it.

    Thank you for this giveaway!

    Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. This book sounds really good. It would make a great movie. I find it very interesting and would really enjoy reading it. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  14. sounds like the kind of book that will make me tear up, but I am definitely intrigued and would LOVE to take a read!

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    lilianxcheng AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  15. This story has such an interesting opening and I would love to read this book.
    Thanks for the chance to win.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds great! Please enter me.

    Thanks
    rebecca.bradeen(at)verizon(dot)net

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  17. What a fantastic giveaway. I already have this book on my radar.. I'd love to read it. Thanks for the chance.

    krauscakes at verizon dot net

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  18. Thank you for the giveaway; this sounds like a stellar and uplifting memoir. I'd love to read it! Please enter my name into the drawing.
    linda.limbach@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Please count me in this sounds really good!

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congratulations Beth and Margaret - you are the winners of the giveaway. I'm sending you an email!

    ReplyDelete

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