Saturday, July 24, 2010

64. The Things We Do For Love by Kristin Hannah

Aw yes, another book by Ms. Hannah. I have to admit I almost didn't read this one as I thought it would cut to close to home, and while it did, it taught me a lot too. An excellent, tear-jerker, I give it an A.

From Amazon:
Years of trying unsuccessfully to conceive a child have broken more than Angie DeSaria’s heart. Following a painful divorce, she moves back to her small Pacific Northwest hometown and takes over management of her family’s restaurant. In West End, where life rises and falls like the tides, Angie’s fortunes will drastically change yet again when she meets and befriends a troubled young woman.Angie hires Lauren Ribido because she sees something special in the seventeen-year-old. They quickly form a deep bond, and when Lauren is abandoned by her mother, Angie offers the girl a place to stay. But nothing could have prepared Angie for the far-reaching repercussions of this act of kindness. Together, these two women—one who longs for a child and the other who longs for a mother’s love—will be tested in ways that neither could have imagined.

For over a year and a half, my husband and I have been trying and failing to get pregnant. We're both young and in good health, so it's difficult to understand why this isn't happening. I have to admit to nodding along with a lot of Angie's thoughts and feelings throughout the book, including those that she doesn't understand why God will give children do those who aren't deserving, but not allowing others the privilege of having just one. I think I came to grips with a lot of my feelings while reading this story, and while I understand that it is fiction, I have hope for the future. I have decided to count my blessings, not the things I don't have, and the biggest blessing of all is my wonderful husband. He is more than enough and more than I deserve, and I would never want something like children to drive us apart. Thank you Ms. Hannah for writing such a wonderful story, and one that is sure to stay with me for a long time, hopefully forever.

2 comments:

stacybuckeye said...

I'm sorry that you and your husband are going through this. I had a miscarriage almost immediately after we started trying to have kids and it took about a year and a half of trying to get pregnant this time (with no help). As you often hear we got pregnant when I had given up and decided it wasn't going to happen for us. My husband contends it was a night of too much wine.
You certainly don't need kids to be happy and it is hard to see other pregnant women. I wish you baby luck :)

Staci said...

Oh Kristie....I didn't know that you and your hubby have been going through this. I'm thinking of both of you and I just know that it will happen!!!

Send me your address so I can mail "Hidden Wives" to you...o.k.?