Contents of blog copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2023
I've been gone a while. I started reading fanfiction to escape and I got sucked in an abyss.

I have no idea if someone else is hosting similar challenges. I just grabbed some of what I have hosted before.

Here's to a happy year of great reading
Jan2023: Not much has changed. Writing a fanfiction now O_o as well as reading but I bought 7 new books in December and hope to get those read soon. Crossing fingers about adding challenges (late!)

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Thoughts on...Repairing Rainbows

I really should know better than to read these, I become immersed in a story. Luckily for me the author has set this book up with alternating chapters. A wonderful story of family then a dash of despair as we go from before and after.

The dedication says so much:

For My Mother and Sister

Rita Gordon Weinberg
September 23, 1030 - July 5, 1070

Carla Beth Weinberg
September 16, 1958 - July 5, 1970

Wendy Bonnie Weinberg
August 1, 1961 - July 5, 1970


And My Dad

Shloime Weinberg
November 2, 1925 - July 5, 1970 - October 15, 1999



Lynda takes us through the surprise, denial and pain of her experience. Her life starts with:
Our kitchen was full of chatter and laughter. We each appreciated the mealtime as an opportunity to talk about our day, hear about everyone else's, and discuss any news or happenings. We never fuelt rushed and, while my sisters and I may have bickered at other times, we never did so during meals. Eating together around our table was our time for solidarity. It was sacred and cherished.
Then a few chapters later, she hits us with:
Our "home" had become a house. A place to store our clothes. A place to sleep. A place where we could hide in our rooms and cry.

I haven't finished the book, just wanted to get some of my impressions down while fresh.

~back to reading~

Part two is all about the after. Twenty-four chapters of trying to deal with life afterwards. Thankfully they are short so I'm able to read a couple then do something life affirming before going back to read a couple more chapters. The father is basically a zombie trying to deal with settling estates and a lawyer the rest of the family don't like. I think, as does Lynda, that he got railroaded into accepting a deal. But having never gone through something like that I can't even imagine the logical thought process that is lost through grief.

~back to reading~

Finished.

Sad to be finished but extremely satisfied that I read Repairing Rainbows. This is a book about tragedy. It is also a book about hope and perseverance. A book about choices. Repairing Rainbows is a beautiful book.

Lynda and Barry are wonderful people. I'd love to be in their sphere of influence...maybe I can. I may not be able to work for, or with, her but there are lessons that she learned, lessons shared with us, lessons I can learn from.
We have choices. We always have choices.
I think I'll go scrub my kitchen sink with ajax....


Repairing Rainbows
A True Story of Family, Tragedy and Choices
by Lynda Fishman

from the website:

At thirteen years old, Lynda’s life comes to a disastrous halt when her mother and two younger sisters are killed in a plane crash. Her father, overcome by despair, simply continues to exist, in a state devoid of hope. After burying a wife and two young children at the age of 44, the overwhelming responsibility of raising a daughter alone completely immobilizes him.

Teetering on that tender brink between childhood and adolescence, Lynda faces the responsibility of a father in a complete state of shock, a house to take care of and hundreds of decisions about how to proceed with their shattered lives.

In Repairing Rainbows she candidly describes the agonizing memories, deafening silence and endless hardships that are the fallout of incredible loss. As we follow her through marriage, motherhood and her own spiritual journey, Lynda reveals her complex feelings of hope, anger, pity and determination. Most importantly, she learns the crucial difference between “truly living” and the existence that is so often mistaken for being alive.

A true story, written by a woman whose normal and abundant life hides a terrible past, Repairing Rainbows is loaded with important lessons to help others overcome struggles and obstacles, and fulfill their lives. It is a powerful, captivating, riveting and easy-to-read story that will undoubtedly touch the hearts of its readers.


Repairing Rainbows
A True Story of Family, Tragedy and Choices
by Lynda Fishman


self-published
ISBN: 978-0986607400
272 pages
June 2010
Memoir
source: review book
available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo
also on the Kindle. Don't have a Kindle? Download the app and read it on your PC or MAC! I love this part ;-)


Thank you to Nicole of Tribute Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2011

1 comment:

Tribute Books said...

Gina, I really admire the approach you took to your review. It's very compelling to read your thoughts as you were making your way through the book, and I appreciate how you listed the book's dedication as a powerful point that drew you into the book. Something as straightforward as that can make a big impact. And I really like how you selected excerpts that described Lynda's home life before and after the tragedy to compare and contrast how her life completely changed. You selected very telling passages.

If you'd ever like to reach out to Lynda, you can reach her at lynda@repairingrainbows.com or on her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Repairing-Rainbows/10150130115110035

Thanks for being a part of the tour!

http://repairing-rainbows.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer

In accordance to the FTC guidelines, I must state that I make no monetary gains from my reviews or endorsements here on Book Dragon's Lair. All books I review are either borrowed, purchased by me, given as a gift, won in some kind of contest, or received in exchange for an honest review.