A Four-Book Memoir Series written by Trinidadian Author Brenda Mohammed is set in Trinidad and Tobago.
The first book, MY LIFE AS A BANKER, starts with the author's early life and childhood, leading up to her first job which was banking.
After a successful banking career spanning several years, Brenda was promoted to a senior managerial position.
In her memoir, RETIREMENT IS FUN, which is a sequel to My Life as a Banker - A Life Worth Living, Brenda describes her many wonderful experiences at the end of her banking career.
Reluctant to move on from banking, she amazes herself when she turned down an offer to work in a higher position at another bank.
She chose Insurance instead, and for her, it turned out to be the better choice.
Of course, life is not a bed of roses, and in the book I AM CANCER FREE, you will read how Brenda stands out as a beacon of light throughout every challenge she faces.
In her pictorial travel book of priceless memories, TRAVEL MEMOIRS WITH PICTURES, she describes countries visited, and the wonderful times she and her family had on their tourist trips.
The series continues this week with what reviewers are saying about my memoirs. Today I will share an extract of reviews for Retirement is Fun.
To read the full reviews go to Amazon Universal Link.
1. An enjoyable account of retirement from an amazing author!
Ms. Mohammed recounts in great detail her decision to embark on a totally new career, with its ensuing challenges and rewards, after retiring from a successful career in banking.
2. It’s the web of family closeness facilitated by Brenda from which she draws strength in her darkest hour as she is afflicted with cancer and successfully grapples with retirement. It is in Brenda’s indefatigable efforts to champion the cause of family even as she journeys through a series sicknesses, births and deaths sequences and remains unfazed that a true hero is born.
3. "Retirement is Fun", is a seamless account of family life, hard work, and dedication. The author talks about her impressive career from banker to an insurance agent, to a lifetime member of the company that she worked for. Through it all, she beat the odds of life-threatening health problems.
4. Enlightening and inspiring, author Brenda Mohammed takes us through a bird's eye view turned fly on the wall look at her life. Banking? Insurance? Exotic holidays? For some of us, such a life is beyond our reach. For those of us to strive just be a little bit better at what we do, each and every day, we are the kind of reader suited to this book.
5. Anyone can read it, but you will be pleasantly surprised just how the author takes on new challenges with gusto. True, she has a large family and strong network of friends egging her on, but this is clearly her own tale, and how retirement is anything but a door closing.
6. After working for many years, it is difficult to pack up your job and leave an establishment, which became like a second home.
The author wondered what she would do when she retired at a very young age. It was the policy of the bank in those days.
The birth of her grandchildren brought much joy into her life. Her book is filled with inspiration and hope and it is one that everyone should read whether you are retiring or not.
8. Take a flight into the fascinating and fast-paced life of author Brenda Mohammed as she reflects on her years of early retirement. “Retirement is Fun” reads like a journal detailing the many aspects of Mohammed’s post-retirement days spent traveling the world. We follow her and her family as they globe-trot from their native Trinidad to the world’s largest cities, including Rome, London, and New York, to more exotic locations, such as Spain, Anguilla, and Columbia, and to popular tourist destinations like Hollywood and Las Vegas, as the author gives her impressions of each stop along the way.
9. "Retirement is Fun", is a seamless account of family life, hard work, and dedication. The author talks about her impressive career from banker to an insurance agent.
10. A well-written chronicle of the author's experiences and adventures since her retirement from a long career in the bank
This inspiring book tells of the many adventures experienced by the author after retiring from a banking career.
You can read the full reviews on Amazon Universal Link.
In case you have not yet read the book it is available at Amazon Universal Link and Books2Read Universal Link.
My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living"
A Life worth Living] is a wonderful story detailing how the author started at a clerical ...
By Amazon Customer Five Stars
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase My Life as a Banker: A Life worth Living is a wonderful story detailing how the author started at a clerical level and rose to a senior position, solely on the basis of her dedication, hard work, and intelligence.
Brenda Mohammad describes how the manual work was transformed to computerization, her working at different branches and working relationship with her colleagues.
Her farewell party from the fellow workers describes how popular she was during her stay with them.
It was interesting to note, as a tradition, the groom used to write a letter to the bride's father to seek permission to marry his daughter.
This is what happened when her husband proposed her.
Description of her marriage is so beautiful and emotional.
Brenda had an extensive travelling of the United States and Europe; I enjoyed her visits to Germany and Holland the most.
Close knitting in her family and how her parents and her siblings took care of each other is worth reading;
It was touching to read how her father talked to all of his children separately before his death.
Brenda's belief in God is remarkable.
Retirement is Fun: When one door closes, another opens
An enjoyable account of retirement from an amazing author!
By Kelly on October 16, 2017, Five Stars
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
"Retirement Is Fun" is an enjoyable account of life after retirement, written by an amazing author, Brenda Mohammed. Ms. Mohammed recounts in great detail her decision to embark on a totally new career, with its ensuing challenges and rewards, after retiring from a successful career in banking.
"Why not?" was her mental approach as she entered the world of insurance, quickly rising to the top of the profession as she continually worked tirelessly to increase her skills and abilities.
"Retirement Is Fun" is not only a testament to her success, but to her absolute enjoyment of life and everything it has to offer. Ms. Mohammed writes about her professional successes, but also of her personal life. The reader gets to know her extended family as they are such an integral part of her life. She enjoys her family, travels often and extensively throughout the world, revels in her grandchildren and is a marvelous example of how much one can achieve in life. Such an enjoyable read!
Retirement is Fun - A New Chapter is a sequel to "My Life as a Banker - A Life Worth Living."
The author learned through her many experiences at the end of her banking career, that retirement is a time to enjoy life.
She faced many challenges such as cancer, deaths of loved ones, and an accident, which made her realize that life is very short.On the other hand, she landed a new job in an Insurance company and had numerous travel opportunities after she left her job at the bank.
The author has surely proven that when she retired from her first job she definitely did not retire from life. For her, Retirement is indeed fun.
REVIEWS
Review by Readers Favorite:
Retirement is Fun: A New Chapter by Brenda Mohammed is an interesting memoir where the author shares with readers her moments after retirement and how it is a time when everyone should sit back and enjoy life. After reading this book, no one will dread retirement. They will all look forward to it and use that time to enjoy the beauty of life, spend more time with the family, and experience their unconditional love. Retiring from the job does not mean one retires from life because one gets time to appreciate the beauty of unlimited time and use it effectively by doing things they missed out on doing while they were working
.
The book is uplifting as it makes everyone who is going to retire look forward to it. The author's experiences and adventures after retirement give readers ideas on how to handle their lives in a good and happy way after retiring from their jobs. Brenda Mohammed shows by example how one's attitude can make a difference to everything and life can be enjoyed at any age, irrespective of whether you are young or not.
The memoir is simple and chronicles the author's life and events, taking readers into her space. The memoir is a good read; readers can connect well with what the author says and the events and experiences in her life and the way she handles life is tangible. The words of wisdom from Dr. Murdoch quoted at the end of the book are very inspirational and will help readers look at life in a positive way. An interesting book for all those who are going to retire from their jobs and want to know how to handle life after that.
Comment by a British Writer Margaret Lossl shared on LinkedIn
"We all face challenges. I have found that 'what doesn't kill you will make you stronger' to be true. I have recently met an inspirational writer Brenda Mohammed and in her book 'Retirement is Fun: A New Chapter' (Amazon) she reveals her triumph over hazardous challenges. Her positive outlook and faith carry her through the difficult phase between her high-profile job in a bank and retirement, but it is in these halcyon days of retirement, that life really throws her a curved ball. No matter what you are going through, make it count and enable growth. You are not alone.
Retirement is Fun: A new Chapter was a nominee in the Metamorph's Publishing Summer Indie Book Awards 2016.
When people hear the word Retirement they pull back. No one wants to feel that he or she is a retiree. This book will tell you that when you retire from one job there are others lined up for you. You just need to choose wisely.
'On Sunday night, the MDRT [Million Dollar Round table] welcome reception was held in the Stadium at the Invesco Field, which is the football field of the Denver Broncos.
The posh Adam’s Mark Hotel was one of the hotels reserved by MDRT to be a meeting place, where members assembled to be transported to the Stadium for the welcome reception. The Million Dollar Round Table is the Premier Association of Financial Professionals and has nothing to do with your financial status.
Dozens of buses pulled up at the hotel to take us to our destination.
When we arrived there, popular music bands entertained us.
There were lots to eat and drink.
It was remarkable to see agents from every part of the world having such a good time together.
I met many of my other friends from other agencies and we enjoyed the night together.
At the MDRT Conference, on all three days, the speakers held our attention with their dynamic presentations.
One of the speakers was a young teacher who won the Teacher of the Year award in America.
He said that he wrote a book and sent it to Oprah Winfrey.
She invited him on her show, spoke about the book and held the book close to her heart.
The next day his book was Number One in America. He used the royalties to open a chain of schools in America.
I wondered if I could be so lucky if I submitted my book to her.'
Books are available at Amazon Universal Link, Create Space, Barnes and Nobles, and Book2 Read Universal Link.
My husband finally read my book "Retirement is Fun : A New Chapter."
He decided to read the book prior to attending a retirement party for one of my relatives.
He commented as follows:
" This is a wonderful account of your Retirement and all the things you have accomplished after leaving your first job.
You have demonstrated that Life does not stop at Retirement.
Life is about the choices you make.
Retirement is really a New Chapter.
You have proven this."
Retirement is Fun : A New Chapter was referred to at that function by one of the speakers.
She said 'Retirement is Fun : A New Chapter is the best book she read on Retirement and that she will recommend it to all.
Incidentally, she was the person who wrote the Foreword to the book.
Here it is :
FOREWORD
Have you thought about your retirement, which will take place sometime in the future?
Many persons dread retirement. Some even look forward to it.
When you read this book, “Retirement is Fun” written by Mrs. Brenda Mohammed you will realize that no matter how you may think of your retirement, when you do retire, it can be a season of great joy and happiness. You will begin to realize too, that when one door closes another even more beautiful door opens for you.
You are truly able to see the beauty of life, and enjoy the beauty of time, time to spend with your children, grandchildren, siblings and to explore new horizons just like the author did.
She was able to face many of life’s challenges too when they did occur because of the beauty of the unlimited time and unconditional love of her family.
So all readers, my advice to you is to keep working while you are young and look forward to those glorious days of retirement ahead of you.
Read this book and see the wonders of retirement experienced first-hand by the author who at first was devastated by her sudden retirement in her still youthful days.
She learned through her many experiences that retirement is a time to enjoy life.
The author has undoubtedly proved that when she retired from her first job, she did not retire from life.
I was indeed surprised that three of my books were nominated for the Summer Indie Book Awards 2016.
My books may not place first in any category but I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.
The books are available in Kindle and Paperback at Amazon
This book was described by a reviewer as a travelogue, because it is filled with lots of travel, adventure, and excitement, notwithstanding bouts of illness,an accident, a devastating hurricane, and death of loved ones.
A well-written chronicle of the author's experiences and adventures since her retirement from a long career in the bank
August 26, 2014
Format: Paperback
This inspiring book tells of the many adventures experienced by the author after retiring from a banking career at the age of 55.
She talks about her new career in the insurance business and narrates, with meticulous detail, the many wonderful experiences
in her new life including the birth of her grandchildren, her meeting of new friends, her travels abroad, and her continued enjoyment of life. For her, life certainly did not stop at retirement.
Throughout the book, the author demonstrates a positive outlook on everything that happens in her life. Not only did she endure wonderful experiences, but she also had a bout with cancer and a terrible accident in Miami. She interprets these negative events in a positive light by using them to show how her faith helped her to overcome these obstacles.
The author's appreciation of life is evident as she treasures every moment with her family and the time she shares with them.
As in her previous books, the author once again exhibits a remarkable memory for details as she provides a meticulous description of all her activities since retirement. The style is simple and readable.
The book shows that life certainly does not end when one retires.
Life continues and one must live with a positive and determined spirit to continue experiencing the joy of life
and to discover one's hidden talents.
I enjoyed the positive spirit shown by the author in this book. She demonstrates that it is one's attitude that counts towards one's enjoyment of life.
This book is recommended for all retirees or persons contemplating retirement. Paperback Edition
Valerie Peterson, About.com Book Publishing, says:
Brenda, sounds like you're really having fun with your retirement if you're publishing a book about it! Thanks so much for the CreateSpace review. Cheers to you!
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