"White Feathers," by Pamela Jouan is an eloquent, moving tribute to her parents. As a widow, I know from personal experience there is no measure for grief when a spouse dies. I identify fully with the emotional turmoil you describe following this devastating loss, and also the chance to find joy in life again." Elaine Williams, author "A Journey Well Taken: Life After Loss."
The author, Pamela Jouan writes, "I wrote a book for my mother last year that I just self-published. It was originally a gift to her for what would have been her 40th wedding anniversary on that Easter Sunday. I have since published it with all proceeds benefiting cancer research. My father passed away from cancer 3 years ago this September...I have been getting tremendous response from widows who identify with the story.
White Feathers is the story of what would happen if we were given one more day with someone we had lost. The main characters, a couple called Charles and Ruby, are modeled after my parents—most of the details of their lives are all based in fact, as well as a few extraordinary points. Needless to say, my book weaves faith and hope into a tale about lost love and dealing with that loss.
In an effort to do a little more, I decided to publish my book and contribute all proceeds to cancer research. It is currently available through www.amazon.com for purchase. I created a web site http://www.pamelajouan.com"> that talks more about my book and has a list of questions to base a book club discussion on."
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
5 Star Review by Midwest Book Review
5 Stars
A story that the recently widowed will take comfort in reading. September 2, 2008
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) -
"To love someone unconditionally for over twenty years and then have them snatched away, this one of the most heartbreaking experiences life can impose upon any of us. "A Journey Well Taken: Life After Loss" is Elaine William's reflections of her life after dealing with the death of her husbands. She deals with widowhood at a relatively young age and dealing with it through her writing, where she has done quite a few works from fiction to non-fiction to screenplays. Deftly written with an engaging sensitivity and candor, "A Journey Well Taken" is a story that the recently widowed will take comfort in reading."
A story that the recently widowed will take comfort in reading. September 2, 2008
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) -
"To love someone unconditionally for over twenty years and then have them snatched away, this one of the most heartbreaking experiences life can impose upon any of us. "A Journey Well Taken: Life After Loss" is Elaine William's reflections of her life after dealing with the death of her husbands. She deals with widowhood at a relatively young age and dealing with it through her writing, where she has done quite a few works from fiction to non-fiction to screenplays. Deftly written with an engaging sensitivity and candor, "A Journey Well Taken" is a story that the recently widowed will take comfort in reading."
New Review at Menupause.info
"A Journey Well Taken: Life After Loss" has a new review at
http://www.menupause.info/archives/777/>.
Below is the beginning of the review by Ellensue Spicer: You can click on the link above to read it in its entirety.
"As a divorcee, I was under the naive impression that women who were widowed didn’t suffer the way divorced women did. After all, the person responsible for some of my pain was still walking around, often causing me more pain. At least, as a widow, there was some closure. But after reading Elaine Williams moving and courageous account of her “life after loss” (subtitle of her book), I revised my thinking completely..."
http://www.menupause.info/archives/777/>.
Below is the beginning of the review by Ellensue Spicer: You can click on the link above to read it in its entirety.
"As a divorcee, I was under the naive impression that women who were widowed didn’t suffer the way divorced women did. After all, the person responsible for some of my pain was still walking around, often causing me more pain. At least, as a widow, there was some closure. But after reading Elaine Williams moving and courageous account of her “life after loss” (subtitle of her book), I revised my thinking completely..."
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Book Review: Surviving Ben's Suicide by C.Comfort Shields
Recently, I was asked to review a book entitled "Surviving Ben's Suicide, A Woman's Journey of Self-Discovery" by C. Comfort Shields. My review follows:
"Surviving loss. Comfort Shields' story about surviving and living again after the suicide of her boyfriend is deeply personal and poignantly honest. Suicide is devastating, leaving loved ones bereft and with unanswered questions. Human life is frail, but as Comfort comes to understand, we are only responsible for our own actions and decisions. As much as we love another, we can only do so much to help them on their life journey, and the final decisions are up to each individual. Her story will reach out and touch many suffering along the same path."
Comfort's writing draws you into the story of her life as a young woman. And her love for Ben, a troubled young man. I am posting an excerpt with permission.
"...And then it hit me that I had been feeling lousy at work because I thought that I deserved it. I thought so because I believed that I was responsible for Ben’s death. But I wasn’t responsible for the choices that Ben made...
This revelation freed something inside of me, and I was able to go to work the following Monday and see myself through the eyes of the people around me. I knew I had made a mistake or two that week and that I would make another the next. I also knew, though, that most of the work I did was pretty good. And I knew that sometimes my boss might feel a little annoyed with me but wouldn’t have asked me to stay in my job if she had not wanted me there. Not only did I like and respect my boss, but she had become my good friend—even though I had not allowed myself to believe that she was my friend. . . .
I began to think about how Ben came to me—how he may have tried Sarah Lawrence as a last resort and how others had turned away from him. I started to feel proud that I had been there to reach out to him. And then I saw clearly that I had taken on a huge responsibility and that I had expected to win. The stakes were high. Life and death. Although Ben had not survived, at least I could say that I tried."
"Surviving loss. Comfort Shields' story about surviving and living again after the suicide of her boyfriend is deeply personal and poignantly honest. Suicide is devastating, leaving loved ones bereft and with unanswered questions. Human life is frail, but as Comfort comes to understand, we are only responsible for our own actions and decisions. As much as we love another, we can only do so much to help them on their life journey, and the final decisions are up to each individual. Her story will reach out and touch many suffering along the same path."
Comfort's writing draws you into the story of her life as a young woman. And her love for Ben, a troubled young man. I am posting an excerpt with permission.
"...And then it hit me that I had been feeling lousy at work because I thought that I deserved it. I thought so because I believed that I was responsible for Ben’s death. But I wasn’t responsible for the choices that Ben made...
This revelation freed something inside of me, and I was able to go to work the following Monday and see myself through the eyes of the people around me. I knew I had made a mistake or two that week and that I would make another the next. I also knew, though, that most of the work I did was pretty good. And I knew that sometimes my boss might feel a little annoyed with me but wouldn’t have asked me to stay in my job if she had not wanted me there. Not only did I like and respect my boss, but she had become my good friend—even though I had not allowed myself to believe that she was my friend. . . .
I began to think about how Ben came to me—how he may have tried Sarah Lawrence as a last resort and how others had turned away from him. I started to feel proud that I had been there to reach out to him. And then I saw clearly that I had taken on a huge responsibility and that I had expected to win. The stakes were high. Life and death. Although Ben had not survived, at least I could say that I tried."
Saturday, June 7, 2008
A Journey Well Taken Review at The Light Beyond
The Light Beyond Website Mission: Helping you through grief and bereavement, one step at a time..."
Lucie Storrs of The Light Beyond has graciously posted a review of A Journey Well Taken: Life After Loss. http://thelightbeyond.typepad.com/blog/
Lucie Storrs of The Light Beyond has graciously posted a review of A Journey Well Taken: Life After Loss. http://thelightbeyond.typepad.com/blog/
Friday, May 2, 2008
Blogger News Network Book Review
Latest review up on Blogger News Network for A Journey Well Taken: Life After Loss. Here is the link.
http://www.bloggernews.net/115434
http://www.bloggernews.net/115434
Monday, February 18, 2008
Journey Book Review by Laurie Weiss, Ph.D
"Elaine Williams gives her reader the gift of herself with her simple and profound sharing of the experience every happily married woman dreads, nursing her life partner through his final illness and coming to terms with life alone. It isn’t neat and it isn’t pretty, but it is so real it leaves us with hope that even the unthinkable can be assimilated and integrated into an evolving life. Thank you, Elaine, this is a beautiful book. "
Laurie Weiss, Ph.D
Author, Being Happy Together: How to Create a Fabulous Relationship With Your Life Partner in Less Than an Hour a Week and Recovery from CoDependency: It's Never Too Late to Reclaim Your Childhood (with Jonathan B. Weiss, Ph.D.)
www.empowermentsystems.com
Laurie Weiss, Ph.D
Author, Being Happy Together: How to Create a Fabulous Relationship With Your Life Partner in Less Than an Hour a Week and Recovery from CoDependency: It's Never Too Late to Reclaim Your Childhood (with Jonathan B. Weiss, Ph.D.)
www.empowermentsystems.com
Friday, February 15, 2008
New Book Review Pamela D. Blair
"Elaine Williams has written a deeply personal, yet universally appealing and boldly honest account of the loss of a loved one that will inspire and motivate the reader to grieve and go on -- to not only survive in the face of loss, but ultimately to thrive. I am pleased to highly recommend it."
Pamela D. Blair, co-author I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Sudden Loss of a Loved One, and
The Next Fifty Years: A Guide for Women at Midlife and Beyond.
http://www.pamblair.com/
Pamela D. Blair, co-author I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Sudden Loss of a Loved One, and
The Next Fifty Years: A Guide for Women at Midlife and Beyond.
http://www.pamblair.com/
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