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5/5
KIRKUS REVIEWS
A rich, resonant, and vividly imagined character study. Schwartz’s second novel traces the contours of one man’s life, or his “journey to spirit,” across seven decades. As a small child growing up in 1940s and ’50s Newark, New Jersey, Cameron Simmons is so slow to walk and talk that his dad remarks there must be a “tortoise walking around his hair.” The comment, made by a generally aloof father, stays with Cam for the rest of his life—one spent, in part, obtaining multiple degrees at Rutgers University during the ’60s; avoiding the Vietnam War draft to pursue an ultimately underwhelming career in pharmacology; and having a tumultuous series of typically fumbling and often chaste relationships, including an early failed marriage prior to a more long-lasting union. He also raises an adopted son with a tenderness his father never bestowed on him; switches jobs to become, at 6 feet, 5 inches in height, the tallest—if not most successful—eyeglasses salesman in the Eastern United States; and settles down, at a later age, to begin a career as a writer with a modest following on LinkedIn. However, Cam’s figurative tortoise—eternally perched atop his head, wandering and searching, undercutting his day-to-day being with a constant sense of precipice and inadequacy—hampers his joy. Something feels, for him, forever missing, as manifested in myriad suicide attempts. Schwartz ably captures this feeling of absence in confident, cohesive first-person prose, divided into carefully considered and often wry chapters: “All the while, the tortoise was still hanging around, precipitating lapses in my development, confidence, and general sense of where the hell I was going in life.” Cam’s finely detailed and distinctive voice never falters, evoking the protagonists in the works of such authors as John Irving and Mordecai Richler. By straddling the political and the personal—from the Watergate hearings and burgeoning climate protests to Cam’s persistent, often aimless yearnings—the book offers a wide-reaching tale of humanity. A rich, resonant, and vividly imagined character study.
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BILL BATES
Cal, I want you to know that I just finished reading your latest novel, THERE’S A TORTOISE IN MY HAIR. It took me back to our days in Newark when we were just starting our lives as young adults in the 1960’s and 70’s. It was definitely a time of growth, exploration, discovery, and wonder, The chapters carry the reader through Cam’s life as a son, athlete, husband, professional, and father, all with a fascinating candor and the ability to unselfishly share his most personal feelings and experiences. The episodes I enjoyed most were great examples of not only the humor of the era but also the angst. You have an inquisitive mind and shared it so generously. I loved THERE’S A TORTOISE IN MY HAIR from cover to cover - now available on Amazon.
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MARC A. TARABOUR
There's a Tortoise in My Hair, a novel of a life worth living. The words flowed like velvet, I laughed, and I cried following the 60-year journey of the life of an extraordinary and blessed man. The characters' energy and mental acrobatics left me exhausted at times. This is a rare book you know you pick back up to read again. Growing up and still being part of the Weequahic community gives you the nostalgia you could only get from Philp Roth till now.
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NOLA (Cultural Experiential Marketing)
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MICKEY K. (Physician)
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STEPHEN LADDY (Pharmacist)
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NEIL M. (TV/social Media)
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NJKB
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2023
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LOIS W
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CAROL SELICK (Author, Singer-Songwriter)
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2023
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GIGI
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
Rich in style filled with synchronicities galore...I discovered 444 and also 111....more than worth the read to find the nuggets waiting for you...might I add the author is honest enough to write what most of us are only willing to think....
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A.B.
"Capturing each moment of anguish or hilarity with painstaking detail, Calvin Barry Schwartz's There's a Tortoise in My Hair is more than a life story; it's a legacy of love—for the world, for humanity, and for the pains of life that shape our ability to love in the first place”
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Betty L'Ursula
Betty L'Ursula
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read.
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024
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Unique, intelligent, and real. Very enjoyable story with real life struggles and discovery. excellent story that many would relate to, and thus perhaps inspire them through one’s own life experience and challenges.
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Kirkus Review Spot On
Keith Armonaitis
What a great character study - reminded me of Vonnegut at points, Steinbeck in others, but had its own unique voice. Cameron, the protagonist of the story, leads a conflicted life, with interventions in the form of lucky (he would say spiritual) interventions that both helps and hinders him along his journey. Yet we arrive at a place that many middle aged men find themselves as they look back on their life and wonder - "Was it enough?" Well. done.
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A Portrait of the Artist as he comes to understand his life by Pocahantas718
The protagonist of this well-told and ultimately spiritual tale, Cameron, spends much of the novel wandering through life, feeling like something is missing. Eventually he comes to realize that something has been guiding his life all along. This novel is filled with such a multitude of details about growing up in New Jersey, marrying, starting a family, and eventually aging, that you come away with the sense of a real life actually lived. Don't expect a big Hollywood style ending; writer Calvin Schwartz is working on something truer, closer to our real lives.
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Cameron is "Everyman" by Dean Coff Rhynes
“Cameron is “Everyman” in the modern world, living a quotidian life that’s enervated by racism, sexism, genderism, ableism, and wokeism, that is to say, a mind-altering, coif-dwelling tortoise…conspiring to defy spiritual development……”
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Alexandra Dotcheva: Heartwarming, bittersweet, real
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2024
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A sincere, wise account on a character’s life, spiced with self-irony, abounding in sharp insights on relationships, experience, history, business, and, most eminently, the seemingly gradual yet imminent passage of life. Coming out of this book, I found myself reflecting for hours on how truly enriching those small, easily taken-for-granted events in our lives can turn out at the sobering end of “the long and winding road.” Calvin Schwartz offers a candid approach to the multifaceted essence of personal accountability, gracefully transitioning the reader’s attention from a life’s obsessively endless demands and distractions into a spiral of inner peace and confidence through spiritual awakening that is inescapable to those in search of more than just personal fulfillment.
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Helena 5.0 out of 5 stars A hidden gem Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2024 Verified Purchase
I owed the author of this book a favor and needed to read his book, but I must admit that the title didn’t really excite me. I procrastinated for almost a year. I finally took the plunge and dove in. I’m so glad that I did! This book is one of the most honest and raw narratives of an American man that I have ever read. He has a great sense of humor that had me laughing out loud at some parts. He’s also an incredibly humble and a talented writer. I enjoyed reading about his experiences in college, as an unhappy pharmacist, a glasses salesman, a journalist, writer, and teacher. What a varied career! All recounted with a sense of dry humor. His efforts to get laid as a young man were hilarious. I also enjoyed his sense of mysticism and spirituality and unexplained, almost supernatural events. What a great read! I highly recommend it! You can’t judge this book by its unsexy title.
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AUTHOR CALVIN SCHWARTZ NOW COMPARED TO PHILLIP ROTH & JOHN IRVING by E. A. B. Randall
Calvin Schwartz published his 2nd novel ‘There’s A Tortoise in My Hair’ last October 2023. It received the prestigious Kirkus Star for excellence. Kirkus Review also compared Calvin’s style to John Irving (World According to Garp) Review link: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/calvin-schwartz/theres-a-tortoise-in-my-hair-a-journey-to-spirit/
The novel is on Amazon & Kindle: https://amzn.to/46CveE9 He’s also doing book clubs, libraries & Zooms.
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Calvin Barry Schwartz's There's a Tortoise in My Hair shares some stylistic and thematic similarities with Philip Roth’s work, particularly in its introspective and personal narrative tone. Both authors delve deeply into themes of identity, cultural heritage, and personal struggle, often set against the backdrop of New Jersey's urban or suburban environments.
Similarities: Setting and Cultural Context: Both writers evoke the American experience in Newark, New Jersey. Schwartz explicitly references Roth, pointing to shared geographical and cultural inspirations. They explore the dynamics of Eastern European immigrant families and the challenges faced by first-generation Americans.
Exploration of Identity: Schwartz and Roth focus on their protagonists’ struggles with self-perception, societal expectations, and personal insecurities. Schwartz’s metaphorical "tortoise in my hair" mirrors Roth’s use of humor and symbolism to dissect identity and familial pressures.
Stream-of-Consciousness Style: Schwartz, like Roth, employs a reflective, sometimes meandering narrative, rich with personal anecdotes and social commentary.
Emotional Honesty: Both authors write with raw vulnerability, offering unfiltered insights into the psyche of their protagonists.
Differences: Tone: Roth often leans into satire and existential despair, while Schwartz adopts a more optimistic and spiritual tone, focusing on redemption and self-discovery.
Philosophical and Spiritual Undertones: Schwartz explores spirituality and synchronicity as central themes, contrasting with Roth’s often more secular existential inquiries.
Structure and Approach: Roth’s narratives are tightly structured, sometimes polemical, while Schwartz’s writing is conversational and episodic, reflecting his stream-of-consciousness style.
Overall, while Schwartz's writing shares a cultural and stylistic lineage with Roth, his tone is more redemptive and spiritually inclined. Roth’s work, by contrast, frequently interrogates the darker aspects of human nature and societal hypocrisy.
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Kae Wagner: 5.0 out of 5 stars: "Brutally Honest" Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2025 Verified Purchase
Calvin Schwartz doesn’t hold back on sharing his deepest thoughts of life, love, and lust in this revelation of a life lived with ‘a tortoise in my hair;’ a brilliant metaphor for living with a creative mind that took time to sort out its way in the world. Schwartz reveals a rare, unvarnished look at what goes through the mind of someone who experiences creativity, passion, spirituality, and humanity in huge doses of unfettered energy, accompanied by the downside of the valley of despair. Part memoir, part personal development guidebook, the book’s structure and well-written prose keeps the reader intrigued, along for the ride to see where this journey goes and if the resolution hoped for materializes. Readers will warm to the reflections on historical twists and turns from the Vietnamese War to the COVID pandemic.
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Book Lover! Thought-provoking March 13, 2025
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A clear and well-written narrative about life choices. Told in a funny and unique style of writing, this book definitely holds the attention of the reader: just what career or option will the author choose next?! But underneath it all is who a lot of us are - just people trying to find our way in life (it's just that most of us aren't that witty and observant!) I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it's thought-provoking, has spiritual and mysticism, and is just a good story! It's a peek inside someone's life and mind...and it's fascinating!!
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JACOB TOPOREK Twists and Turns March 24, 2025 5 STARS
5 stars
March 24, 2025
I must admit that it is quite some time that I have read a book. The opportunity presented itself to so again and I was pleased that it was this one. From the outset, the author drew me in creating memories of Cam's life which were engaging because they mimicked in so many ways my own. A product of family criticism and the struggle to find oneself and the proper acceptance did not make my youthful days easy. Personal development was slow with personal question aplenty. But the unforeseen twists and turns of life built character and confidence. Thus, in so many ways I found in Cam's development and progress, a strong relationship to my own. The author's story is the story of each one of us. And, a good read, no less.
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SYLVIA JACOBS "Events defy conventional explanation and leave a lasting impact on the reader."
“A Tortoise in My Hair: A Journey to Spirit,” a fictional memoir, was published on October 11, 2023. The book recounts the life of Cameron Simmons from childhood to the present. The author delves into the extraordinary events that have shaped Simmons’ life, highlighting his unwavering spirituality. These events defy conventional explanation and leave a lasting impact on the reader.
A notable reference in the memoir is Dale Carnegie’s classic work, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” This invaluable book serves as a guiding principle for Simmons, emphasizing the importance of positive and constructive communication.
“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything” is a maxim that Simmons adheres to, fostering a harmonious and respectful environment.
For more information, please visit:
https://a.co/d/iaVk5ki
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EVA 5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful, Reflective, and Inspiring Journey Reviewed in Canada on April 28, 2025
Reviewed in Canada on April 28, 2025
"There's a Tortoise in My Hair" is one of those rare books that stays with you long after you finish it. Calvin Barry Schwartz takes readers on a deeply personal, heartfelt journey through life’s highs, lows, and spiritual awakenings. His storytelling is honest, emotional, and often humorous, capturing the beauty in ordinary moments and the profound lessons hidden in everyday experiences.
Through a mix of memoir, self-discovery, and reflection, Schwartz explores themes like family, growth, resilience, and finding one’s true self. His writing feels intimate and genuine, as if a close friend is sitting across from you, sharing his story with all its vulnerability and hope. I especially loved how he weaves in the idea of spirit and destiny — reminding us that it’s never too late to embrace who we are meant to be.
This book is a gift for anyone who has ever struggled with self-doubt, faced crossroads in life, or searched for deeper meaning. Thought-provoking, touching, and uplifting — I highly recommend it to anyone who loves inspiring, real-life storytelling.
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Michael Tremyer 5.0 out of 5 stars There’s a Tortoise in My Hair
Michael Tremyer
There’s a Tortoise in My Hair is a soulful, spiritual memoir disguised as fiction—a tender journey through the life of Cameron Simmons, a sensitive soul shaped by synchronicities, heartbreak, and quiet awakenings. From 1940s Newark to the shores of New Jersey, Calvin Barry Schwartz explores identity, trauma, and the slow unfolding of purpose with poetic honesty.
What begins as an odd childhood quirk—a tortoise-shaped head—becomes a lifelong metaphor for inner guidance, resilience, and spiritual curiosity. If you’ve ever asked yourself, Why am I here? or longed for deeper meaning in life’s messiness, this book feels like a whispered answer from the universe.
Moving, funny, and deeply introspective—this is a late bloomer’s coming-of-age, perfect for readers drawn to soulful storytelling, second chances, and signs that show up when we’re finally ready to see them.
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Diana Kimak: Excellent book June 2, 2025
Diana Kimak
Excellent book
June 2, 2025
This is a captivating read about the author’s life journey and the challenges he faced. It’s well written and keeps you engaged from cover to cover. I highly recommend it!
