Hannah's Gift: Lessons from a Life Fully Lived

My neighbor loaned me this book, saying she and her teenage daughter had cried while reading it. I didn't cry. I liked parts of it. And I found myself annoyed by other parts.

So... My disclaimer: I've not been through anything similar to the death of a child. I've not even been through the death of a parent or sibling. Grandparents, in their 90's, is as close to death as I've gotten. I have no doubt I'm colored by that (lack of) experience. I'm reminded a bit of when I complain about advertisements I see and don't understand and a friend says "If you don't understand the ad, it wasn't aimed at you." This book wasn't aimed at me.

I liked the general story. I was annoyed by the continued Christian outlook and "God's will" statements. Perhaps, though, that brings peace to those whom the book is written for. I liked the general message, at least the message I took from it, to enjoy the day, live in the moment, accept what is and deal with it as best you can with the information you have on hand. Don't second guess your decisions later. You do what you can do with the information you have.

Hannah dies from cancer. The book covers her mother's story from diagnosis at age 3 through the treatment to the knowledge of impending death soon thereafter through the death, other children, and divorce. In the beginning the vignettes were a bit preachy for me and I almost set the book aside. But as the story went on, the writing grew in strength. If you're Christian, I think you might enjoy this more than I did. If you've been through something similar, perhaps you would as well. For me, I'm glad I read it, although I found the proselytizing tiresome. Maybe it's my Californian perspective but by "exploring other thoughts" I expected a bit more than reading about reincarnation, keeping dream journals, and burning incense.

So I'm documenting having read this because I'm trying to keep track of what I've read. I'm not sure I'd recommend it but I haven't been in the position that would make this comforting and perhaps those who have been through the death of a loved one at an unexpected/unusual time would... I'm sure it helped the author to have written it, and that I totally understand.