Jun
In an Instant
A few years ago I had the great pleasure of working in a bookstore and, aside from getting to spend my days with booklovers, I got to be around books. Lots and lots of books. Seeing as how I worked the register most days, I got to see the hot sellers. One of those was Emily Giffin.
Her books always stood out to me because of the relatively plain covers and fun-sounding (at least for me) titles. Yet, in the interest of hanging on to my paycheck, I never bought one.
But I wanted to.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I was meeting a good friend at a bookstore (bad idea) before heading off to lunch. On the new release shelf was Emily Giffin’s latest, HEART OF THE MATTER. I flipped open the book, read the jacket copy, and marched up to the register.
Boy, am I glad I did. It was outstanding–the writing, the characters, the description, the story, etc.
I’m going to share the book description that is shared on Emily’s website and then get to my book themed question (don’t worry, you don’t have to have read the book to participate–that’s the beauty of my Reading Tuesdays).
Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Despite her mother’s warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life.
Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie–a boy who has never known his father. After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance–and even, to some degree, friendships–believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.
Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined.
So there you have it, HEART OF THE MATTER in a very tiny nutshell. I will simply say it was great. Really, really great.
Now, my thought-provoking (and, hopefully, my discussion-stirring) question for all of you: Have you ever had a life-changing moment–one that changed your perspective in ways you never could have imagined? If so (and you’re willing), can you share?
~Elizabeth
June 22nd, 2010 at 8:21 am
I was working for a local newspaper when we heard about a shooting on our town square. Our editor gave me all the details, then told me I couldn’t share it.
Which was tough, because I was on my way to cover a meeting, and the man who’d just been gunned down was supposed to attend. About an hour into the meeting, someone rushed in and broke the news.
All eyes went to me. “Did you know?”
I did.
“And you didn’t tell us?”
Until then, I’d just been a member of the community who reported news. At that moment, and from that point forward, I was “the media.” It was the first time I’d had to hold something back that people around me certainly would have wanted to know. It changed how they saw me. It changed how I saw myself.
Picked up two lessons that day; the shooter was a member of our church, and a guy who’d been in our Christmas play.
So it also changed how I looked at guy in the next pew, and the many friendly faces in my little town.
June 22nd, 2010 at 8:32 am
Joe, that must have been really hard. And I bet it does make you look at the guy next to you just a little bit differently. You just never know.
Me…I have to say I’ve had many. But the most recent would surely be my diagnosis with M.S. All of a sudden, the things that always seem to happen to “other people” was happening to me. I learned how to be even more independent than I was before (something I thought was impossible). I learned about soldiering. But, most importantly, it’s changed my perspective on what’s important. Prior to this, I think I had my head screwed on pretty well in that regard. But after, even more so. It wakes you up and makes you look at what’s important and what’s not. It makes you want to be better to the ones who mean the most to you. It makes you not want to waste time on the people who just aren’t worth it. And it makes you even more empathetic to the plight of others.
Do I wish I didn’t have this? Sure. But it’s shaping me.
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:17 pm
My mother died suddenly when I was 13. She had the flu (a similar strain to H1N1, for the 70s). She had been sick at home, then rushed to the hospital while I was at school, and the next morning she died. Nine months later my dad remarried a much younger woman, who had two daughters from her previous marriage. Everything was turned upside down. The Christmas traditions changed instantly, even the ornaments on the tree. Trying to learn to cook I would do something the way my mom had taught me, only to hear “well that’s stupid.” I shut down for a period of time–stayed in my room a lot; did ok at school–that was my respite. I really think it all warped me in some ways, and looking back I should have had counseling. But my dad was struggling with work, new blended family, and it was easier to ignore. We are all ok now (well, mostly!!), but that event changed the way I see things in life; what I want from life. Sometimes I still feel like the spirit of myself at 13 is still stuck in my 47 year old body, but life is good again!
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Kellie, I can’t even imagine. I’m sorry for what you went through. It’s interesting how a single moment (the death of a parent, an illness, a decision, whatever) can change everything that comes from that moment on. I’m glad you’re doing good again! If you read Emily’s book, she describes that “moment” so perfectly in the first chapter.
June 22nd, 2010 at 2:37 pm
I’m going to generalize this…and it wasn’t a “moment” it was a whole string of experiences that took place over years. I’ve probably mentioned I’ve been through a divorce. Well, what brought me to that point (a point I’d have sworn I’d never get to, I was a staunch believer in staying married no matter what); was a bunch of things. Finding out that the faith I’d been taught from childhood wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, losing my mom suddenly and finding out that the house we were living in suddenly belonged to someone else (mom never changed her will when her circumstances changed), and realizing that there was more to life than just getting through each day the best I could. The results are now that I’m in much healthier relationship, I’m happy with my life, and I’m in a much more stable place, both financially and emotionally than I’ve ever been in my adult life.
June 22nd, 2010 at 5:07 pm
I guess I have two. When I realized I was really getting divorced and that my family supported me. It was my decision and for a while, it was the weight of the world on my shoulders.
The other is when the nurse called with the biopsy results. Once she says it’s cancer, it sure kills the conversation.
My life has moved through a lot of twists and turns I never expected. But I’m a better person for the trials and have a lot of things to be thankful for.
June 22nd, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Shel and Lynn, I’m glad your moments have made you stronger people! {{Hugs}}
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Not to make lite of anyone’s circumstances, please know that, but the little mantra that helps me a lot is: that which doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. Hugs to all who’ve shared!
June 23rd, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Kellie – You have to have a bit of a sense of humor to get through these things. I remember talking to someone when another handful was given to me. They said that God would only give us what we could handle. I shot back I wished he thought less of me because he was over estimating my abilities….
I was wrong. (grin…)
June 24th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Well said, Kellie and Lynn!