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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Sounds depressing (a woman who becomes a minister after her husband dies) but it's really not. It's really well-written and I learned a lot - who knew the Maine Forest Service has a minister?!
This is an amazing book about the resiliency of a family and fulfilling your dreams. She has an interesting view on religion and heaven. I couldn't put this book down.
I am gushing over the memoir. I'd heard this book mentioned through an NPR podcast about writing and it intrigued me enough that I purchased a copy through Better World Books. I read it nearly in one sitting because I was so engrossed in both the story and the wonderful writing. Braestrup is thoughtful and direct about her experiences with the divine. She weaves grief, hope, fear, and joy through a narrative that returns time and again to the theme of deep universal love. I have already handed this off to a pastor friend and anticipate sharing it with others either through loans or gifts in the future. I have also purchased all of the other books that Braestrup has published through Better World Books.
I read a lot of memoirs and this one is going straight to my favorites shelf. Unassuming, tender, insightful, beautiful.
Really enjoyed this; our church book club selected it. The book has a nice balance of family life, theology, and memoir. I enjoyed the subtle ways Braestrup frequently inserted humor. Her interview at the end gave a nice summarization; I felt the book was really about love. While I don't necessarily agree with all of her religious views, I really appreciate what she is doing, and how her own faith has evolved. I was able to pick up her next too books at the library, and plan to read more.
A lovely book, but one of the few I've put down and thought "boy, I wish that were longer", which is why I only gave it 4 stars - I really wanted more.
An interesting look at someone ministering to law enforcement. Her relationship with the ministry is also interesting, since it was never really her calling, but her late husband's calling. She is a true optimist, and even though she's on the fringes of law enforcement, where one tends to see people on the worst day of their lives, she still retains a positive view of humanity and the healing potential we all have. Sweet without being saccharine.
An interesting look at someone ministering to law enforcement. Her relationship with the ministry is also interesting, since it was never really her calling, but her late husband's calling. She is a true optimist, and even though she's on the fringes of law enforcement, where one tends to see people on the worst day of their lives, she still retains a positive view of humanity and the healing potential we all have. Sweet without being saccharine.
This book had some interesting moments, but there were times that the author lost me when she switched back and forth between past and present. The chapters where she talked about her husband's death and cremation were very sad. Her job as a chaplain for the Maine Game Warden Search & Rescue Team sounded very interesting.
I picked up Here If You Need Me as an impulse purchase at $1.99. As I read it, I realized it's worth so much more...
This is the true story of Kate (author), who lost her state trooper husband in an accident and then went on to become a minister. She recounts her life experiences, including those as as a chaplain with the Maine fish & game agency during missing person searches. She offers support to wardens, search & rescue personnel, and comfort to victims' families. I found these search stories fascinating: How does a minister offer comfort to a family who state they don't believe in God? How to comfort the family of a very small child lost alone in the woods? How to suspend judgment when the missing contributed to their predicament via their drug addiction?
Ultimately, I found this book to be very moving and a wonderful testament to empathy and our shared humanity. Highly recommended.
This is the true story of Kate (author), who lost her state trooper husband in an accident and then went on to become a minister. She recounts her life experiences, including those as as a chaplain with the Maine fish & game agency during missing person searches. She offers support to wardens, search & rescue personnel, and comfort to victims' families. I found these search stories fascinating: How does a minister offer comfort to a family who state they don't believe in God? How to comfort the family of a very small child lost alone in the woods? How to suspend judgment when the missing contributed to their predicament via their drug addiction?
Ultimately, I found this book to be very moving and a wonderful testament to empathy and our shared humanity. Highly recommended.
3.5 - I adored the author's story on The Moth. This slim volume was not quite as good, but it was a quick, moving read.
ETA: Have since read several times, and still love it passionately. Great book. I personally want to make the HBO series of it:)
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You can subtract at least one star just knowing this was probably a case of "right book at the right time" for me. Also I haven't really read it yet---I was listening to it on CD.
I wondered if it would be engaging enough to keep me awake for my solo roadtrip to Flagstaff. I liked the first hour or so on the way there, but LOVED it on the long drive home, especially after taking the wrong turn onto 191 and ended up deep into Navajo Country with no road signs anywhere, especially after the guy I stopped to ask directions from tried to get in my car...
So now I want to actually read it. The past few weeks have dealt with so many of the big questions Braestrup's work and life deal with...evil, loss, pain. I love how she finds the philosophical puzzle much less engaging than the practical, "What do we do now?" I love her definition of what makes a miracle a miracle (one's gratitude), and I love the exchanges between her children and her.
I would describe the book overall as a love letter to the men and women of the Maine game wardens with whom she works, and to her late husband. I had no real idea of the work they do, and am in awe of it now.
I can imagine the film version, because her work supplies the drama and suspence, and her humor and perspective give them meaning.
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You can subtract at least one star just knowing this was probably a case of "right book at the right time" for me. Also I haven't really read it yet---I was listening to it on CD.
I wondered if it would be engaging enough to keep me awake for my solo roadtrip to Flagstaff. I liked the first hour or so on the way there, but LOVED it on the long drive home, especially after taking the wrong turn onto 191 and ended up deep into Navajo Country with no road signs anywhere, especially after the guy I stopped to ask directions from tried to get in my car...
So now I want to actually read it. The past few weeks have dealt with so many of the big questions Braestrup's work and life deal with...evil, loss, pain. I love how she finds the philosophical puzzle much less engaging than the practical, "What do we do now?" I love her definition of what makes a miracle a miracle (one's gratitude), and I love the exchanges between her children and her.
I would describe the book overall as a love letter to the men and women of the Maine game wardens with whom she works, and to her late husband. I had no real idea of the work they do, and am in awe of it now.
I can imagine the film version, because her work supplies the drama and suspence, and her humor and perspective give them meaning.