The cover got me. It looked real, raw. Something I could related to. I don't know about you, but I've read enough books telling me how to "better myself" that are written from a perspective of someone who just doesn't "get it." Martha & Christin take turns sharing their own difficult life circumstances and coming clean about some of the less-than-productive ways they've tried coping. This book is a mingle of serious heart-sharing, vulnerable admissions, and humor. There are some typical and some atypical resources and suggestions for coping with difficult life circumstances. While the recurring theme is indeed, to get out of bed, there are the usual suggestions to look for positives, list things you're thankful for, start by doing something small, etc., this book also includes some unique suggestions, such as movie and song lists that a reader may want to investigate to lighten their mood. The humor was consistently interspersed, but never made me laugh out loud or prompted me to share the jokes with others. |
All-in-all, I felt this book was a bit of a jack-of-all trades but master of none. It was a casual, pleasant read, but I felt it drug on. Were I not intending to review it, I'm not sure I would've made it more than 1/3 of the way through the book. This book wasn't quite funny enough to be memorable as comedic relief, wasn't quite deep enough in the sharing of personal testimony to allow readers to really relate to and draw from the authors' journeys out of depression, and didn't stand out in the crowd for giving motivating or game-changing advice or suggestions, either.
2015 was a year of my life I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I won't go into all the trauma involved, but it's changed myself and my family and will continue to affect the lens through which we view the world the rest of our lives. I'm glad I picked up this book 2 years out, when I've already gained the ability to get up and out of bed and back in action through the Grace of Christ and His faithfulness. This book could be an encouraging read for others who are up and out of bed, but trying to resist the temptation to dive back in. It's certainly not a life-saver to throw to someone drowning, so keep that in mind if thinking of buying the book as a gift. It's probably one better selected by the reader for themselves. I don't regret reading it, but I won't likely give it space on my shelf despite my persistent habit of staying up too late worrying and lying in bed too long procrastinating.
*In the spirit of full disclosure: I received a copy of this book courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. I am not required to give a positive review or otherwise compensated; my opinions are genuinely expressed.