When I was first asked to review this book I wondered why I said yes. It's the story of a girl dealing with anorexia nervosa, which is obviously a problem I've never had to face, but it's also the story of a girl dealing with her own self worth and has many spiritual elements that appealed to me, so I gave it a try.Boy, am I ever thankful that I did.
Any of you who follow my blog with any kind of regularity know that my mother passed away a few months ago and I've been really struggling since. I had even begun to question if there really was a life after this one and if my Heavenly Father loved me. I spent a lot of time very angry at him for taking my best friend away and that attitude has been reflected in my life. Call me strange, but the written word has always affected me much more strongly than anything anyone can say and reading this book was no exception.
What does anorexia nervosa have to do with death, you might ask?
Well, everything, really. I don't want to ruin the story for any of you, but Haley nearly lost her life in this battle and what she went through helped me to understand some of the things that had been bothering me about my mother's last few days. I also saw myself in some of the challenges Haley faced with her self image and her relationship with food. It was a very eye opening experience and a fascinating, heart wrenching read.
Let me put it to you this way. I sat on a bathroom floor for five hours finishing the book because I couldn't put it down. I stayed up all night with two kids to send off to school the next day. That's how great this book was and is something I think everyone should read. The problems with body image and self worth are prevalent in our society and something that each of us will come across almost daily. By understanding the problems and thinking that accompany it we may find a way to help those who struggle--and at the very least, find some answers to our own problems.
That's what A Future for Tomorrow has done for me. Haley's story has brought me peace in remembering my mother's last days and she has helped me to understand myself in ways I couldn't before. I wish I could give a copy of this book to each of my young women, but at least I can use the principles I have learned to help them to love themselves and love their bodies and see themselves the way that Heavenly Father does.
My Rating: Two thumbs up.
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publisher: Granite Publishers, Inc (2008)
ASIN: B001G6JFVW
To Order: Amazon.com or DeseretBook.com
6 comments:
wow, thank you so much for this wonderful review. Again, I feel so honored and humbled that my book has touched you the way it did. I'm sure Tristi was inspired to ask you to review it.
Thank you again, keep in touch.
I want to invite you and your blog readers to visit my blog afuturefortomorrow.blogspot.com
I love comments!!
Thanks for the post. It made me think about my own young women and the "body" messages I hope they are taking into their hearts. Makes me more aware of my need to encourage those good messages.
Karen, great review, and I just want you to know I love you.
(((hugs)))
Sounds like a great book!
And thanks for sharing your feelings about your mom.
It sounds like a very worthwhile book to read, Karen. I suffered from anorexia as a teenager and those images in my head then are still in my head now. I think I'll pick it up and give it a read. If you couldn't put it down, it has to be worth reading.
I dropped by to invite to join me over at Neighborhood & Friends, a new social network I created for the discerning Latter-day Saint wishing to socialize online in a safe, fun, happy environment. Please come check it out. Find me there as Candace E. Salima. I hope to see you there soon. It is a blast.
Merry Christmas!
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