Anna Whiston-Donaldson is a popular blogger at An Inch of Gray. A graduate of James Madison University and Wake Forest University, she taught high school English for six years before becoming a full-time mom and writer. She lives with her husband, Tim, and daughter, Margaret, in suburban Washington, DC.
Profound, tender, honest and utterly unforgettable.
Gretchen Rubin, author of #1 New York Times bestseller, The
Happiness Project
Will touch every reader who picks it up.
The Washingtonian
"In this powerful debut memoir, blogger Whiston-Donaldson tells the
tragic story of the death of her 12-year-old son Jack. The author
is an emotionally insightful guide to the territory of grief. She
notes the relationship of grief and shame, the comforts and sorrows
of sex, and the hideous fights between bereaved parents. From its
disarming opening sentence ( I thought the first book I d write
would be about painting furniture ), the book avoids
sentimentality. The book is well paced the reader knows from the
start that the author s child is dead, but doesn t know precisely
how he dies for some chapters and is underpinned by a steady
drumbeat of faith, as Whiston-Donaldson negotiates a new
relationship with God after Jack s death. She feels deeply loved by
God, almost as if I m wrapped in a soft, cotton batting, but she is
also disappointed and hurt... and the only broken body I can
picture right now is Jack s. Whiston-Donaldson s compelling account
belongs on the shelf next to Richard Lischer sStations of the
Heart."
Publishers Weekly
In her beautiful, clear-eyed prose Anna brings to life complex
miracles: that the anchor of being strong is tied to feelings of
unbearable weakness; that the ache of grief is often accompanied by
glittering beauty; and that all we do not understand is more
important to making sense of life than what we know. Her story, as
well as Jack s story, is gorgeous, bold and true, and no one will
be unchanged in reading it.
Stacy Morrison, Editor in Chief, BlogHer; author of Falling Apart
in One Piece
This is not a book; it is a kaleidoscope. With every turn of the
page, a new discovery is made that forever alters your view of
pain, joy, heartache, time, hope, and healing. As I journeyed
through Anna s divinely written prose, I found myself unable to
stand by as a passive recipient of her message. I needed to act.
Because of Anna and Jack, I talked with my child about heaven. I
walked around the pool s edge to sit beside a grieving woman. I
looked into the darkest places of my soul and for the first time, I
did not look away. If you yearn to stop hiding from that which
prevents you from truly living, step into the kaleidoscope that is
Rare Bird. Turn the page wake up, stand up, comfort, love, and
live. Turn the page let your eyes be opened to the light that
exists in whatever darkness you face.
Rachel Macy Stafford, New York Times best-selling author of Hands
Free Mama
A masterpiece of hope, love, and the resilience and ferocity of the
human spirit.
From the foreword by Glennon Doyle Melton, Momastery.com; author of
Carry On, Warrior
"Rare Bird is not just another well-written story of love, loss,
and the aftermath of death, but it is a story that clearly shows
the constant presence and grace of a loving God. It gives assurance
and comfort to those whose hearts are grieving, and hope to those
who are afraid."
Mary C. Neal, MD, New York Times best-selling author of To Heaven
and Back"
Praise for" Rare Bird
"In this powerful debut memoir, blogger Whiston-Donaldson tells the
tragic story--of the death of her 12-year-old son Jack. The author
is an emotionally insightful guide to the territory of grief. She
notes the relationship of grief and shame, the comforts and sorrows
of sex, and the hideous fights between bereaved parents. From its
disarming opening sentence ("I thought the first book I'd write
would be about painting furniture"), the book avoids
sentimentality. The book is well paced--the reader knows from the
start that the author's child is dead, but doesn't know precisely
how he dies for some chapters--and is underpinned by a steady
drumbeat of faith, as Whiston-Donaldson negotiates a new
relationship with God after Jack's death. She feels deeply loved by
God, "almost as if I'm wrapped in a soft, cotton batting," but she
is also "disappointed and hurt... and the only broken body I can
picture right now is Jack's." Whiston-Donaldson's compelling
account belongs on the shelf next to Richard Lischer's "Stations of
the Heart. (Sept.)"
--"Publishers Weekly"
"In her beautiful, clear-eyed prose Anna brings to life complex
miracles: that the anchor of being strong is tied to feelings of
unbearable weakness; that the ache of grief is often accompanied by
glittering beauty; and that all we do not understand is more
important to making sense of life than what we know. Her story, as
well as Jack's story, is gorgeous, bold and true, and no one will
be unchanged in reading it."
-- Stacy Morrison, Editor in Chief, BlogHer; author of "Falling
Apart in One Piece"
"Profound, tender, honest--and utterly unforgettable."
"-- Gretchen Rubin, author of #1 New York Times bestseller, The
Happiness Project
"
"This is not a book; it is a kaleidoscope. With every turn of the
page, a new discovery is made that forever alters your view of
pain, joy, heartache, time, hope, and healing. As I journeyed
through Anna's divinely written prose, I found myself unable to
stand by as a passive recipient of her message. I needed to act.
Because of Anna and Jack, I talked with my child about heaven. I
walked around the pool's edge to sit beside a grieving woman. I
looked into the darkest places of my soul and for the first time, I
did not look away. If you yearn to stop hiding from that which
prevents you from truly living, step into the kaleidoscope that is
Rare Bird. Turn the page--wake up, stand up, comfort, love, and
live. Turn the page--let your eyes be opened to the light that
exists in whatever darkness you face."
-- Rachel Macy Stafford, New York Times best-selling author of
"Hands Free Mama"
"A masterpiece of hope, love, and the resilience and ferocity of
the human spirit."
-- From the foreword by Glennon Doyle Melton, Momastery.com; author
of "Carry On, Warrior"
" "
""Rare Bird "is not just another well-written story of love, loss,
and the aftermath of death, but it is a story that clearly shows
the constant presence and grace of a loving God. It gives assurance
and comfort to those whose hearts are grieving, and hope to those
who are afraid."
-- Mary C. Neal, MD, "New York Times" best-selling author of" To
Heaven and Back"
Praise for" Rare Bird
""In her beautiful, clear-eyed prose Anna brings to life complex
miracles: that the anchor of being strong is tied to feelings of
unbearable weakness; that the ache of grief is often accompanied by
glittering beauty; and that all we do not understand is more
important to making sense of life than what we know. Her story, as
well as Jack's story, is gorgeous, bold and true, and no one will
be unchanged in reading it."
-- Stacy Morrison, Editor in Chief, BlogHer; author of "Falling
Apart in One Piece"
"Profound, tender, honest--and utterly unforgettable."
"-- Gretchen Rubin, author of #1 New York Times bestseller, The
Happiness Project
"
"This is not a book; it is a kaleidoscope. With every turn of the
page, a new discovery is made that forever alters your view of
pain, joy, heartache, time, hope, and healing. As I journeyed
through Anna's divinely written prose, I found myself unable to
stand by as a passive recipient of her message. I needed to act.
Because of Anna and Jack, I talked with my child about heaven. I
walked around the pool's edge to sit beside a grieving woman. I
looked into the darkest places of my soul and for the first time, I
did not look away. If you yearn to stop hiding from that which
prevents you from truly living, step into the kaleidoscope that is
Rare Bird. Turn the page--wake up, stand up, comfort, love, and
live. Turn the page--let your eyes be opened to the light that
exists in whatever darkness you face."
-- Rachel Macy Stafford, New York Times best-selling author of
"Hands Free Mama"
"A masterpiece of hope, love, and the resilience and ferocity of
the human spirit."
-- From the foreword by Glennon Doyle Melton, Momastery.com; author
of "Carry On, Warrior"
" "
""Rare Bird "is not just another well-written story of love, loss,
and the aftermath of death, but it is a story that clearly shows
the constant presence and grace of a loving God. It gives assurance
and comfort to t
Praise for "Rare Bird
"
"In her beautiful, clear-eyed prose Anna brings to life complex
miracles: that the anchor of being strong is tied to feelings of
unbearable weakness; that the ache of grief is often accompanied by
glittering beauty; and that all we do not understand is more
important to making sense of life than what we know. Her story, as
well as Jack's story, is gorgeous, bold and true, and no one will
be unchanged in reading it."
"-- Stacy Morrison, Editor in Chief & VP, Content Programming,
author of Falling Apart in One Piece
"
"Profound, tender, honest--and utterly unforgettable."
"-- Gretchen Rubin, author of #1 New York Times bestseller, The
Happiness Project
"
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