***POSSIBLE
SPOILERS PRESENT WITHIN REVIEW***
Wow!
That was sure one emotional read. Have to get my thoughts together before I can
review this one...
Ms.
Harper says that this one was the “hardest thing she’s ever written”, and I
believe her. It seemed to come from the most deepest part of her. The writing
was amazing and showed true sincerity. Every heartbreaking moment seemed to
come from within. I’ve never had to deal with postpartum depression myself per-se
even after having four kids, but I’ve definitely seen first-hand how it can
affect a family member. It’s hard to understand how a person can feel this way,
and many people think it’s all an act, but believe me when I say IT’S NOT! It
gets to be a really dismal and painful time. And, I can really see why it was
so difficult for Edie not to be able to talk to her husband regarding it even
though he was supposed to be her “hero”. Some of the choices she made were hard
to swallow. And, you could really feel for her and why she had no alternative
as to the decisions she made, but what about her family? She was trying to save
them, but in the process she hurt them so irrevocably. And, her poor husband.
Gosh! He was such a hero! At one
point he tries to hurt her in return, only making it more difficult for both of
them, but even that seemed to backfire when he really couldn’t turn off his
feelings as to the fact that he still loved her and probably always will love
her. So so sad! Man, when I tell you that at times the waterworks threatened to
fall, and I couldn’t help myself. I was tearful for all of them. Edie, Donovan,
and their three beautiful children. This is one book that I know will just stay
with me for awhile! There was just so many underlying problems that were
brought out as each level of Edie’s issues started to surface. Everything was
peeled away until the truth of what really happened with Edie rose to the top.
It took Donnie everything that he really had to dig deep and see what was
really going on with Edie at that most difficult and dark time in her life. To totally
understand just exactly what she was going through. He was, without a doubt, an
amazing man, and she was truly a survivor. A fighter. A survivor that once she
started healing, just would not give up no matter what mountains she had to
climb to reclaim her family. She was there for her husband and children and
nothing was going to change that now. Truly an amazing story! Tissues will be
needed. Understanding will have to be forefront. And, what I took away from
Edie and Donnie’s story was so powerful and beautiful! A book not to be missed!
Ms. Harper really out-did herself with this one...
“You
are forgiven. I forgive you. The kids too.” He pulled back and held my face in
his hands, forcing me to look into his eyes as he spoke. “We wouldn’t have been
so hurt...so broken if we didn’t love you that much. You and the kids are my
whole world, Edie. My everything. You were my reason to breathe. And then you
left and took my oxygen with you. That wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t love
you that much. It doesn’t matter how long it took you to come home, the only
thing that matters is that you’re here. My heart can beat again. I can breathe
again. And I will never give that up. I can promise you that. So please, never
worry about me leaving or that we’ll stop loving you. That will never happen.” ~ Donovan (Chap.
16)
“We
are never given anything we can’t handle. Sometimes we think we are, but those
are the times that count the most. It’s the Mount Everest, and when you’re
standing on the top, nothing feels better knowing you’ve achieved it. You made
it. You survived.” ~ Edie (Chap. 27)
“I
learned a lot through my journey. But out of it all, I learned: Mistakes
happen...you learn, you grow, and you teach. There’s no such thing as moving
on...you carry on. You live on.” ~ Edie (Epilogue)
Review Written, 9/10/15
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