Carrie Lange

A spiritual, life-changing story full of tragedy and hope.

It's hard to summarise the story w/out risk of spoilers, so I'll do my best. It's the story of a man who is depressed and he meets a woman who later becomes his fiancée. However, even his new found love isn't enough to pull him out of his darkness. It's only after he makes a life-changing decision that his perspective on living changes dramatically. Throughout the book there are strong themes of mental illness, hope, spiritualism, and more. There are strong supernatural/paranormal and past life themes which I loved. I don't suffer from mental illness and this novel gave me new perspective on the struggles and difficulties a person faces when they suffer depression and mental illness, all wrapped into a highly entertaining and page-turning story. I felt great empathy for ALL of the characters, and the author BLEW MY MIND at the end of the book with her ABOUT THE AUTHOR - it brought tears to my eyes. This is an inspiring and thought provoking read that I highly recommend.

Here are just a few of my favourite lines are:

"The reflection of candlelight glimmered along the seven-inch steel blade. Like a lover, it enchanted him."

"We, the suicidally depressed. We are at the end stage. We are dying. Yet, unlike a person dying from cancer, who is gently encouraged to let go when his battle is lost and his pain is unbearable, we are told to keep holding on. And when we no longer can, we are hated, mocked, looked down upon. The dying cancer patient becomes a hero. We become an embarrassment. A shameful thing to be hidden away."

"Cancer creates heroes who deserve support and understanding. Mental illness creates losers who deserve nothing but derision. We had to fight along, my hope and me....I battled a fatal disease. Just as fatal as cancer. But my illness didn't show on the outside of my body like cancer does. It was hidden away inside my brain."

"You didn't let go. You ran away. There's a big difference."

"Weeping is different than crying. When you weep, a part of your soul is carried away with your tears."

"When the world is gone, the spirit sees."

"Every bit of matter in the universe has spirit. Even after a body dies, tiny molecules and particles still exist. They still have spirit. Every think has spirit."

"When someone dies, the pain and grief doesn't end for those closest to that person when the funeral ends. The worst is just the beginning for them." (excerpt from ABOUT THE AUTHOR)… (mais)

This was a very moving book that explores not only those who commit suicide, but the aftermath for the survivors: the ones they left behind. It is incredibly emotional, frustrating, and really makes you think about the thoughtless remarks that come out of people's mouths, even if they are well-meaning. Tar and Rale's story was just as heartbreaking as Dan and Anne's, and their inability to let go. This is not an easy read due to the subject matter at hand. It isn't a breezy book. It's thought-provoking, heartwrenching, sad, and yet...hopeful. There is hope. There is always hope. Dan thought everyone would be better off if he was no longer in the world, that his pain would stop as soon as he pulled the trigger. But it didn't. He had to learn to let go first, but how could he when he sees his Anne so tormented?

As you journey with Dan and Anne and others, I think you'll run a gamut of emotions from sympathy and empathy to shock to contemplation of people in your own life, etc. The bigger picture of this book is heartfelt and emotional and true: keep living. You are worth saving. Don't give up. When you need help, reach out and ask for it, either from someone you trust or that hotline. There are people to help. You are not alone.
1-800-273-8255
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/… (mais)