Prostituting Children in Thailand and An Anthropological Perspectives on Children's Lives. Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends Author s: Alcott's Civil War; J.
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Fetterley 'Wake up and be a man': Haslam My First Book: Stevenson Slaves to Adventure: Mackey Aesop in the Shadows; P. Aug 28, Connie rated it liked it Shelves: I have mixed thoughts about this one. I like Gudenkaufs style, quick and to the point writing, with very realistic characters. She tackles some tough subjects and shows the reader that horrible things do happen to good people. This story was no different. Usually her books lead the reader to a twist, but this time the "oh my" moment started off the story.
Though I liked both the characters of Ellen and Jenny and also liked the chapters being told from different viewpoints unt still thinking. Though I liked both the characters of Ellen and Jenny and also liked the chapters being told from different viewpoints until their individual stories merged I had a few issues with some "realities" of this. Not to spoil anything I think the authorities would have been waiting for her at the end of her bus ride. I also had some problems with no one contacting the authorities regarding her, just inviting her to "join the family".
I realize that there were a lot of other things going on but I just didn't buy that. The 3rd thing that bothered me was with Ellen already being in big trouble, I didn't believe she would go after Ellen on her own OK, she had her Mother along, but still Gudenkauf has a knack for taking a story right out of the headlines, making those involved into "real" people and telling their side of the story. I finished this with a lot of conflicting thoughts I may not be so quick to judge in the future. View all 4 comments. Jul 16, Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews rated it it was amazing. A social worker charged with child negligence?
We need to help children in care treasure the objects that tell their life story
A ten-year old left alone? What do Ellen and Jenny have in common? The common thread has built a beautifully written story by Ms. It deals with social services from the adult and the child's side and what can easily happen both good and bad. You will feel Ellen's pain as she deals with an accident she herself as a social worker deals with every day but with a situation she never thought she would have to personally deal with. You will want A social worker charged with child negligence?
You will want to hug Jenny and take her home with you. You "must" continue to see how things turn out. The meaning of the book's title is explained as you read, and I enjoyed the meaning because it is so true. I started looking for "little mercies" in my own life. It is a book that will take you to a world people actually live through and make you glad you do not, but it will also make you realize that family is the most important element we have, and we should count our blessings.
Nov 16, Mary Kubica rated it it was amazing. I just loved this book! I found it to be both gripping and emotionally moving, especially as a mother myself; I was in tears by the end of the book. I'm so honored I just loved this book! Be sure to check them both out! Yet another winner from Heather Gudenkauf! Sep 01, Barbara rated it liked it. Ohio resident Ellen Moore is a loving wife, good mother, and dedicated social worker. Nevertheless, the system sometimes failed and Ellen is haunted by cases where children suffered terrible deaths.
Then one morning, the unthinkable occurs. Ellen and her husband Adam, running late and harried, fail to communicate. As a res Ohio resident Ellen Moore is a loving wife, good mother, and dedicated social worker. As a result Ellen inadvertently leaves her baby daughter Avery in a steaming car. This type of accident could literally happen to almost anybody but - in the eyes of the law and the public - Ellen is instantly dubbed a criminally neglectful parent.
A parallel story line involves ten-year-old Jenny, who was deserted by her mother years ago and now lives with her alcoholic, petty thief father who can't keep a job. Jenny's dad plans to move them from Nebraska to Iowa for new employment but gets arrested at the bus station, resulting in Jenny making the trip alone. As fate would have it Jenny ends up in the Iowa town where Ellen lives.
The book alternates between two narrators: Jenny is a brave and savvy ten-year-old and manages well during her bus trip, a solo meal in a pancake restaurant, and a detour to look for a relative. Luckily Jenny meets a kindly waitress named Maudene who takes her in and helps her. Meanwhile, Ellen is in a state of high anxiety, in danger of losing her family and her job.
Though Ellen's plight does elicit sympathy I found myself getting annoyed with her constant complaints about her situation. As the story proceeds Jenny's and Ellen's parallel story lines merge resulting in a learning experience for everyone. In the end this is a book about families: I found the premise of the book - a social worker accused of mistreating a child - intriguing and I was interested to follow Ellen's experiences with family, friends, and the law. Jenny's tale was also compelling but less believable. At every step it seemed like Jenny had a fairy godmother looking out for her, which felt unrealistic.
Still, the book tackles a sensitive subject in a sympathetic fashion and is worth reading. You can follow my reviews at http: Another great book written by Heather Gudenkauf! I started reading her novel, when I came upon the "one small mistake [that] can have a life-altering consequence" around page 50 and I almost put the book down. I just didn't think I could go on. Especially since this "mistake" is currently monopolizing our own headlines today!
I thought, Do I really want to read about this? Then I said, Just one more page The author's books are so emotionally charged and engaging that I was pulled right int Another great book written by Heather Gudenkauf! The author's books are so emotionally charged and engaging that I was pulled right into the story and couldn't stop reading until I finished it. I'm going to go and see when her next book is due out!
Jul 25, Crumb rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Fans of Jodi Piccoult of Kristen Hannah. I devoured this book. I couldn't put it down, not even for a second. This grabbed me from page one and didn't let me go until the very last page. This would be a great choice for book club. The book alternated back and forth between Jenny and Ellen. Jenny, an eleven year old girl who longed for nothing more than a family to call her own. Ellen, a fiercely passionate social worker with a husband and three young children.
All of a sudden, Ellen's perfectly managed w I devoured this book. All of a sudden, Ellen's perfectly managed world suddenly becomes completely and utterly unmanageable. This is a tour de force.
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I can't wait to read more of this author's work. View all 5 comments. May 11, Beadyjan rated it it was amazing Shelves: Heather Gudenkaufs books just get better and better, this one's amazing. She creates complex characters with such competence I can't believe they aren't real people. The story is told from two perspectives, that of Ellen the social worker, her busy personal life as a devoted Mother of 3, whose frantic personal life competes for her time with her beloved career of child care social worker to which she is completely dedicated.
Any woman who has juggled home life and career will relate to her somet Heather Gudenkaufs books just get better and better, this one's amazing. Any woman who has juggled home life and career will relate to her sometimes haphazard approach to the breakfast time mayhem as she hurtles out of the door to a job which can frequently contain life and death decisions. Hardly surprising then that mistakes can be made - but one genuine oversight puts her in a dreadful position she has seen clients in and threatens her role as a mother and her position as social worker I can't imagine how awful this must have been yet I felt every second along with her.
Contrast Ellens mature voice with that of a bewildered yet feisty young girl, Jenny whose situation of sudden homelessness brings her into the periphery of Ellens life and into the care of Maudene and suddenly the two similarly chaotic lives coincide. Often feisty young heroines can be a touch annoying, twee or over cute, but Jenny is just right, I loved her, she has had a pretty haphazard upbringing, her Mum abandoning her and left in the care of her hapless yet nevertheless loving Dad who sadly has difficulty enough looking after himself let alone caring properly for a little girl yet she maintains a hopeful optimism which is frequently dashed and an innocence, slightly tarnished but not yet jaded enough to make her cynical.
The story makes you face one of those terrifying "what ifs" which you really never want to contemplate How could you live with yourself and what would you do? There are lots of secondary characters I'd love to know more about - Joe the cop Ellens devoted, platonic friend, and the lovely Maudene too, and I'd so love a hint of what happens afterwards and how the main characters get on in the years following these tragic events.
I read the book avidly 'til late at night and absorbed every word, it was like taking part in an unfolding tragedy I could do nothing about but cheer from the sidelines and hold my breath when things got to their very worst. Fabulous writing from an author who is now one of my very favourites, this book will be enjoyed by anyone who likes Diane Chamberlain Diane Chamberlains writing. A huge thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for supplying me with an advance copy to review, what a privilege and pleasure it was.
Apr 27, Hilary rated it it was amazing Shelves: A complex, heartbreaking, wonderful story of people whose lives and stories intertwine in completely unexpected ways. I was drawn in from the very beginning by the eloquent language, by the too-clear images of the children Ellen cares for and their emotionally shattered states, and by the real horror and disbelief of the new situation: She suffers one blow after another, beginning to fear the experience she's only seen from the other side A complex, heartbreaking, wonderful story of people whose lives and stories intertwine in completely unexpected ways.
She suffers one blow after another, beginning to fear the experience she's only seen from the other side. For most people something is unthinkable: Children, even abused children, love their parents and fear the unknown, and social workers have to deal with these warped relationships daily, a thankless task which can tear families apart in the short term in the hopes of saving the children and giving them hope and a future.
What's clear to anyone working in social services or with foster children is that people, all people, are human and therefore fallible, that mistakes can be made anywhere by anyone, and that our response is what's important: Little Mercies clearly shows this, the difficult choices made by everyone, and the challenges faced by people at various points in "the system".
At the same time, Ellen's experience creates sudden empathy for the adults she deals with, not just the children, and this grows even while she dreads the challenges ahead of her.
Heather Gudenkauf on Running, Social Work, and Trying to Do It All | Bookish
I felt I would be abandoning Jenny and Ellen there, in the middle of a crisis, even as they discovered for themselves the importance of friends and family, calling on people they never expected to really respond. Those small kindnesses, whether help from friends or compassion from a stranger, are the little mercies that get us through difficult times. I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Oh my, oh my.
A Conversation with Heather Gudenkauf. The story line is very realistic. What would I have done? This could happen to me, a family member, a friend, or my next door neighbor. L Oh my, oh my. Little Mercies will make you reflect and be grateful for the time you have with your loved ones. This book also has an amazing secondary character: The world needs more Maudenes.
Definitely a must summertime read. Probably not really my kind of book. However well enough written to be a decent read. I'm aiming to try more of this author's books when I can. Nov 30, Lesley Kagen rated it it was amazing. Heather Gudenkauf's best yet! Don't miss this one! Mar 21, Crystal Craig rated it liked it Shelves: Another reviewer on Goodreads said, "Little Mercies is a light read about a heavy topic.
What an emotional train wreck—at least the audio version felt as such. Narrated by Kate Rudd and Tanya Eby, whoever read the part of Ellen had the voice of sadness, heartbreak, and desperation down to a tee. On a brighter note, the Jenny character added some light-heartedness to the story. The subject matter in this book is a tough pill to swallow, so if you're sensitive to certain to Another reviewer on Goodreads said, "Little Mercies is a light read about a heavy topic.
The subject matter in this book is a tough pill to swallow, so if you're sensitive to certain topics, reader beware. I felt sad for the children and devastated for Ellen. The writing is lukewarm, and the characters lack depth, but with so many controversial topics, book clubs will have a lot of talk about.
Heather Gudenkauf is fast becoming a 'go to' author for many bookworms who enjoy women's fiction or contemporary fiction. Not so much for me. Little Mercies is my third go at the writer, and I've yet to give a rating above three stars. I might try The Weight of Silence.
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May 30, Tania rated it liked it Shelves: Motherhood is a procession of goodbyes. Some bittersweet and filled with promise and hope, some gradual, a gentle prying away of your fingers from something precious, some more violent, unexpected. A quick, easy but sometimes upsetting read. The story jumps between Ellen Moore, a social worker and Jenny, an abused 10 year old. If you are a Jodi Picoult fan, you'll enjoy this.
My only critisism is that the story could have been fleshed out more with an ending that wasn't so perfect. All in all sti Motherhood is a procession of goodbyes. All in all still a very nice beach read. Jun 23, Rose rated it liked it Shelves: This is probably the most difficult review I've had to write about a book in a while, because I'm very conflicted about what my sentiments are regarding the novel.
This was well-written and intimate in terms of the narrative itself showing the thoughts and sentiments of the characters. I applaud Gudenkauf for taking an unflinching look at a series of tough subject matters that came together through the course of the novel, which will become apparent as I talk about the subject matter of this boo This is probably the most difficult review I've had to write about a book in a while, because I'm very conflicted about what my sentiments are regarding the novel. I applaud Gudenkauf for taking an unflinching look at a series of tough subject matters that came together through the course of the novel, which will become apparent as I talk about the subject matter of this book.
Before I do that, I'll say this: I really liked reading Jenny's perspective in this novel. I felt for her through the course of the novel and while her story still had dangling threads left untied, the ending of her respective story left me satisfied. On the contrary, I did not like Ellen's perspective through the novel at all. It made me so angry, I had to restrain myself from throwing my e-reader against the wall. Much of my sentiments isn't only focused on what Ellen did, it was her thoughts throughout the novel and how convenient everything seemed to work out for her.
While I know I was supposed to feel sympathy for her situation given the themes and transpired events in the novel, her narrative left me cold because I saw her as nothing but a privileged, selfish brat who never learned a darned thing by the end of the novel.
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Ellen is a social worker who's worked difficult cases in the past involving removing children from difficult homes and situations. The tables turn when during one tense, busy morning of miscommunication, and an event where Ellen is on the job trying to save the lives of the children she's in charge of, her own daughter ends up nearly losing her life. Ellen's husband had left their 1 year old, Avery, in the backseat of the car, for Ellen to take to daycare. Ellen - overwhelmed and nodding though she didn't completely understand her husband's actions - didn't realize Avery was still in the backseat, drove to her job, and left Avery in the backseat of a hot car.
The little girl reached a temp of , and strangers had to break into the van to get her out. Ellen only realizes this after the fact and completely freaks out. Her horrified reaction is understandable, her pain palpable, her guilt unimaginable for what the situation should lend.
It's a parent's worst nightmare. While I'm not a parent myself, I've worked with kids in the past. When a child is in danger or subject to something like this, especially on the part of a parent realizing something they did directly led to the event, it's hard to take in. That parent would go through the motions, especially in the duration of seeing whether their child will pull through or not.
Not to mention dealing with the consequences. But I couldn't forgive some of Ellen's internal reactions. Restoring Joy to the Sexually Broken. Even Better than Eden: Here's how restrictions apply. Crossway June 30, Language: Print edition purchase must be sold by Amazon. Thousands of books are eligible, including current and former best sellers. Look for the Kindle MatchBook icon on print and Kindle book detail pages of qualifying books.
Print edition must be purchased new and sold by Amazon. Gifting of the Kindle edition at the Kindle MatchBook price is not available. Learn more about Kindle MatchBook. Start reading Unashamed on your Kindle in under a minute. Don't have a Kindle? Try the Kindle edition and experience these great reading features: Share your thoughts with other customers.
Write a customer review. See all customer images. Read reviews that mention davis nelson heather davis exchange for my honest brokenness and finding healing our brokenness finding freedom flyby promotions brene brown marriage and parenting body image shame and guilt christian perspective different types reading this book freedom from shame questions at the end highly recommend unashamed healing recommend this book performance shame. Showing of 56 reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. I have a feeling every reader will find this short, easy to read and very Christ centered book as worthwhile read!
Would be a good one to share as well!! Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. I constantly search for answers to how to fix the broken me and the Lord always provides the perfect resources to help me. He blessed me with this book to help get me another step closer to healing. Too on the fence with the topic of "being ashamed" for Christians. Feels sort of under-girded by psychological philosophies and not biblically appealing. The enemy is not shame but sin. I liked some of the points she made, but overall I would not teach about shame this way.
Not helpful in my counseling world. It is so much easier to tap it down and cover it with the illusion of control. Parts of me bristled at the book's subject matter, the parts of me that love a completed to do list, increasing hits on my blog and compliments on my cutely turned out child. Perfectionism is a cruel task master and rarely allows time for Grace, compassion, love and acceptance. I needed this book! The Junior high girl inside me mocked by a girl, I didn't even know, for the new blue jacket I saved up to purchase The High School girl who started her day at 4: The college girl who looked around a party, after laughing at truly inappropriate behaviors, and wondered what she was doing there needs this book.
The adult woman who watched the other ladies on her street, dressed to the nines, on the way to a girl's night out We all need this book and the healing our Savior guarantees those who take on his light yoke for the oh so heavy yoke of shame. Heather's honest and often raw insights do not promise an easy fix but it does promise companionship on your journey away from shame A thin, small, book, it contains a good explanation of the differences between shame and guilt; focuses on how to find safe people; recognizing shaming behaviors in others including congregations, society, and friends and finding healing in God.
Nelson, a practicing counselor, draws on scriptural references, personal anecdotes, and composites drawn from her counseling work to explain her theory, and provide a different scriptural lens through which people can view their situation.