— Micah Andrew for Midwest Book Review
"I was quite taken back by how much this book actually moved me. It is a very touching and genuine story of love and survival from one generation to the next. I wasn't too crazy about the running aspect, but I quickly got over it, because the story-lines, (ultrarun and grandma Oma), meshed and flowed so well. I may not be a fan of running, but I felt like the two topics crossed-over and worked nicely together. The technical runner's language didn't distract from the stories of the two women, but made it stronger. Margreet Dietz is talented with words, and her experience with ultrarunning makes this a must-read for runners/athletes of all levels. It is a very motivational book, full of emotion - a marathon of words - that take the reader through the highs and lows of a family's past and present."
— Allizabeth Collins for The Paperback Pursuer
"From My Mother is a very touching story of a matriarch that deeply ingrains survival into her family. Largely a book filled with a marathoner's mindset, all of the technical and running jargon do not detract from the story of a love between granddaughter and "Oma" that spans continents, and the hardships that molded the generations into persevering, strong women. The freedom Nadia feels as she runs also parallels the freedom her grandmother struggled so hard to find. This is a novel that successfully integrates heart and sport."
— Charlene Mabie-Gamble for Literary R&R
"Over
the duration of a 100 km marathon, Nadia reflects on the life of her
Oma (grandma), the hardships her loved one endured and the impact it
made on the way she lived."Miles pass under Nadia's feet, her goal is merely to reach the finish line, not necessarily to win . . . for accomplishing the goal is a victory in her book. It allows her time to dwell on her family's history, dig deep into the root and the result, pull tidbits of clues and join them together to create a full picture of those things that had been so vague.
"Oma is cranky, to say the least, at her age. She lives in an apartment in a senior complex, having moved from a house she rented for many years. Paranoia (probably from the trials she faced in her younger years) has set in heavily. The local police are on speed dial as she frequently lodges complaints against her son-in-law, who she feels is surely trying to get her out of the way so he can have her inheritance. Of course, this is not the case and those around her try to be patient and understanding.
"Nadia's journey of 100km is one in which her physical strength is pushed but also her heart and mind.
"It was not difficult to get wrapped up in this story, feeling the ups and downs both in the race and in Nadia's life. It brings to mind that, as stated in the book, our feet may be busy but our minds are still free. I loved that! I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those who are into marathons and so on."
— Brenda Ballard for Readers Favorite
"The device of the ultramarathon makes a neat framework on which the rest of the book can hang. That was a clever idea, and it works well. It's also interesting to learn about the hardships, training regimen, and mindset of someone who's reaching a goal that might seem extreme to the average person.The rhythm of your prose mimics the pattern that one falls into when doing something that requires steadfast endurance, so that's a nice marriage of tone and content. You also do a good job of painting Oma's background so the reader understands her, and her relationship to Nadia."
— Judge (names not disclosed) Writer's Digest 2012 Self-Published Book Awards
