Book Review: Hannah's Gift: Lessons From a Life Fully Lived

On a recent trip to the quaint (read: disappointingly small and a bit shabby in appearance yet cozy) Farmington Public Library I picked up three books. I tend to randomly select books, yes sometimes based upon their cover art. While perusing the shelves I came upon a small book with bright red writing on the spine. I was in the psychology section, I typically check it for any reads that can broaden my education, and did not really expect to find a "for the heck of it" read there, alas, Hannah's Gift: Lessons From a Life Fully Lived came into my hands.

The book's cover had a pair of little girl's red mary janes on the cover and the flap which I briefly perused stated that it was a mother's story of her 3-year old's diagnosis and life (and later death) with cancer. Something drew me to it and I checked the book out.

I finally picked the book up yesterday afternoon and I was sucked in. Maria Housden's voice is impeccably clear and her heartfelt stories of a beautiful little girl were so poignant I could not put the book down. Each page drew me deeper into the story and I felt as though I understood the family's innermost workings with each line. There were tears, frustration, disappointment, but at the end the triumph is what was most captivating.

Lately I have found myself drawn to anything and everything grief related. No doubt this is due in part to not working, and also not having many grief-related experiences of my own I am feeling that I need to have a better understanding and the best I can do for now is read about others' experiences. I'm also finding that I am being drawn in to literature that explores spirituality which this book does incorporate but not limit to Christianity.

Overall, Ms. Housden did an excellent job with this book and of course because I Google'd it I found out that she has a second book that, although it's not a sequel, seems to take place where Hannah's Gift left off. I recommend any one who thinks they may encounter someone dealing with grief and loss (that's you, everyone will unfortunately occur to us all) pick up this book. It's a quick read (did I mention I read it all in practically one sitting) and you won't regret it.

Happy Reading!