October 30th, 2008
Through the Storm- Lynne Spears
THIS CONTEST IS NOW OVER. CONGRATULATIONS CAROLYN!
If you would asked me a few months ago if I planned on reading the upcoming book release, Through the Storm by Lynne Spears, mother of the infamous Britney Spears, I probably would have responded, “No, of course not.” However, after reading some responses to this book and seeing how the most unlikely of people raved about it, peaked my curiosity.
Let me state right now that I am not an “US weekly” reader. I don’t even buy “People” magazine anymore. Though there was a time that those magazines were junk food for my gossip craving, but not anymore. Reading them made me sick, so I gave them up completely almost a year ago. My intention in reading Through the Storm was not to get more goods on Britney, but a simply curiosity to what it was like to be a mother to two famous children and especially a mother that held onto Christianity when it seemed her children were going off the deep-end. As a mother myself, I was curious.
One amazing quality about this book is that you almost forget that Lynne is a famous mother. Early on, with the introduction, I started feeling myself identifying with her. One of the purposes in writing this book in particular stood out to me,
“In the fall of 2006, Sandra was very ill with cancer, and she only had a few months left to live. As I watched her put those loose ends of her life in order, I saw how important it was for her to have all aspects of her life settled, not only for her peace of mind, but for her loved ones.
I took a good look at myself and realized that if God were to take me, I wanted my children to know what my thoughts were about the most important elements of this life. I wanted them to see me as a person, not just their mother, and share some of the ways I had gotten through my toughest times.”
I lost my mom at a week shy of my 18th birthday. At the age of 32, I long to see my mother as a person and not just my mother. When Lynne stated this I knew she had every right in the world to write her book.
I think anyone who reads this book will find it a refreshing surprise at how real Lynne Spears is. She opens up and is vulnerable to a point that she doesn’t fear admitting her mistakes and victories. She clearly depicts her faith to the reader. The pictures painted in the gossip mags will take on a whole new perspective if you read this book, it’s garbage and fake. It’s a reality check to the insatiable celebrity appetite of the popular culture. It reminds us that we are all just people trying to make life work. She became a woman in this fight we call life. A mother with real struggles. A wife wanting desperately to hang on to her marriage. I would recommend this book to all mothers.
Thomas Nelson has generously donated a copy of Through the Storm for a giveaway! To enter comment on this post about the Spears you are most curious about. For additional entries:
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Contest ends Midnight of November 20th, 2008.
