Helpful Score: 10
"This well written, thoughtful book wasn't written for me. But it was written for me in later years when I need a road map on how to deal with loss and new life and how to see grandchildren for all the things that I can't see in my own kids now. It's written for the woman that misses her husband and isn't still yelling at him for putting the clothes NEXT to the hamper and not IN the hamper. It's written for the woman who is looking for the larger picture in life and not still consumed by the day in and day out mundane tasks that get us from point A to Point B.
This is the how to guide on growing gracefully and how the small things like caring for those that have no one else will make you life worth living. How when you have nothing left inside, you can still find more when you care for others.
Meet seventy five year old Sarah Lucas, her peaceful life has come to a crashing end when her husband of 50 years, Charles, has a sudden and devastating accident leaving Sarah alone and inconsolable. She is left with her memories and her questions. Her loses and her joys.
Unable to say no, that is not what her parents did, she opens her home to a rag tag group of people. First her granddaughter and her friends, then an Israeli pacifist, two fire victims, a young abused mother and her child, anyone and everyone one who needs a new start or a family to call their own. Slowly, they all come together and gain the confidence they need or the support they were looking for to rebuild their lives and to fly the nest.
This is a remarkable story of how you have choices in life, and when Sarah made the choice to take care of others, she took care of herself.
This is the how to guide on growing gracefully and how the small things like caring for those that have no one else will make you life worth living. How when you have nothing left inside, you can still find more when you care for others.
Meet seventy five year old Sarah Lucas, her peaceful life has come to a crashing end when her husband of 50 years, Charles, has a sudden and devastating accident leaving Sarah alone and inconsolable. She is left with her memories and her questions. Her loses and her joys.
Unable to say no, that is not what her parents did, she opens her home to a rag tag group of people. First her granddaughter and her friends, then an Israeli pacifist, two fire victims, a young abused mother and her child, anyone and everyone one who needs a new start or a family to call their own. Slowly, they all come together and gain the confidence they need or the support they were looking for to rebuild their lives and to fly the nest.
This is a remarkable story of how you have choices in life, and when Sarah made the choice to take care of others, she took care of herself.
Helpful Score: 8
I can't remember the last time, or if ever, that I have read a book where I was teary eyed from the gate, this one caught me. By the second half of the book as Sarah entered the next part of her life I was so immersed in her changes that I hated having to put the book down to real life stuff.
This book is a testament that life is what you make of it and sometimes it's never to late to start over and discover new things about ones self, no matter the age.
This book is a testament that life is what you make of it and sometimes it's never to late to start over and discover new things about ones self, no matter the age.
Helpful Score: 6
Sarah is in her late 70's when abruptly widowed. This isn't one of those funny taking-to-the-road-to-find-yourself-after-all-these-years-type of book. Sarah sticks to what she knows: her home and family, to find herself after her husband's sudden death. Almost by happenstance, and at first reluctantly, she begins taking the cuckoos into her nest, youngsters and elders, strangers and family. And in the saving of them, she, herself, is saved, in a fashion, reborn.
Authors and critics often babble on about plot lines and truth in a novel, honesty blah blah, and I sigh and think, just give me a good story. Funny, after hundreds of books, I found myself thinking, this is the most emotionally honest, personally truthful, book that I've ever read. This is my second reading of this marvelous book, and again, I hated for it to end. I know that if the author continued the story, whether as a sequel or even as a monthly blog, I would delve right in and be comforted.
Authors and critics often babble on about plot lines and truth in a novel, honesty blah blah, and I sigh and think, just give me a good story. Funny, after hundreds of books, I found myself thinking, this is the most emotionally honest, personally truthful, book that I've ever read. This is my second reading of this marvelous book, and again, I hated for it to end. I know that if the author continued the story, whether as a sequel or even as a monthly blog, I would delve right in and be comforted.
Helpful Score: 3
As I was reading this book, I thought it was just ok. But towards the end I started to like it more. I thought there were too many characters introduced and then she didn't follow thru with them. Many times she would mention someone and I couldn't remember who they were. It wasn't one of my favorites, but I am glad I read it.
Helpful Score: 1
75 yr old Sarah Lucas imagined the rest of her days spent in her rural Vermont home with her husband, when he suddenly dies , she is inconsolably alone, until a variety of wayward souls come seeking shelter in her big empty house.Sarah & this unruly flock form a family of sorts & nurture & protect one another,discovering unsuspected strength & courage
A beautiful story about a vibrant beautiful woman.
A beautiful story about a vibrant beautiful woman.
