Bittersweet

Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way MP3 CD – Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged
Author: Visit ‘s Shauna Niequist Page ID: 1501261452

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Niequist (Cold Tangerines) returns with an often humorous and always contemplative series of personal essays on bittersweet experiences, illustrating through her own life that “rejoicing is no less rich even when it contains a splinter of sadness.” Spiritually, the book bravely sets out to decipher the paradoxically co-dependent nature of happiness and grief. But Niequist’s title should not be seen as simply a convenient theological metaphor; i t is also a literary device. Impressively, many of Niequist’s perfectly concocted chapters weave in culinary themes, evoking the sensory, physical experience of the bittersweet along with the spiritual sense of it. When writing of deep friendship and the loss that sometimes accompanies it, her narrative often revolves around a dinner table, a cooking club, or a farmer’s market. Niequist’s ability to describe the sensation of eating a peppery arugula salad punctuated with sweet blueberries is just as evocative as her ability to express the intricacies of love, loss, hope, and doubt. Readers of all faiths will find this book courageous, sincere, poetic, and profound. There’s nothing bitter in this sweet treat of a spiritual memoir.

–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

This very personal book offers a modest, gentle, and, yes, bittersweet reflection on life and life-changing moments. In a collection of interweaving essays, Niequist provides “an ode to all things bittersweet, to life at the edges, a love letter to what change can do in us.” To Niequist, change is a good thing even if “incredibly painful.“ In a short period of time, she became pregnant, lost a job she loved, had a baby, and wrote a book. She didnt lose her faith as much as lost track of it. These short pieces capture moments when her world seemed to be spiraling out of control. Stunned by the loss of her beloved grandmother, she discovers that the best way to honor her life is to live in simplicity and kindness. Bittersweet is full of such small but important lessons of daily living, about how to live life again “after the brokenness.” Niequist firmly believes that it is the stories of ordinary people that can make a difference in peoples lives. “There is nothing small or inconsequential about our stories,” she concludes. “There is, in fact, nothing bigger.” –June Sawyers

–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

MP3 CDPublisher: Zondervan on Brilliance Audio; MP3 Una edition (October 20, 2015)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1501261452ISBN-13: 978-1501261459 Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 6.8 inches Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Best Sellers Rank: #1,931,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #8087 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Worship & Devotion > Devotionals #15064 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Christian Living > Spiritual Growth
Recently, I received an advanced review copy of Shauna Niequist’s soon-to-be released memoir/blog style book from Zondervan – Bittersweet. I loved both the topic (thoughts on change, grace, and learning the hard way) and the cover photo with its crumbly chocolate cookie.

Shauna’s writing makes you feel like you have joined an inner circle of really cool 20-something girlfriends, the type of friends who are at different stages of single, married, and mom-life, yet still squeeze in time for blogging, freestyle impromptu Italian dinners, and long talks over chai tea. Her book is equal part reflection, honesty, advice, and food. She made me hungry, not just for the bounty of farmer’s markets, but also for those types of friends who can linger over coffee and bare their souls with one another.

Perhaps my favorite chapter was her writing on friendship. As I finished it, I sighed, wiped away a stray tear, and made another resolution to call all of the dear women who have drifted out of my daily life (you know who you are). She writes:

"Share your life with the people you love, even if it means saving up for a ticket and going without a few things for a while to make it work. There are enough long lonely days of the same old thing, and if you let enough years pass and if you let the routine steamroll your life, you’ll wake up one day, isolated and weary, and wonder what happened to all those old friends. You’ll wonder why all you share is Christmas cards, and why life feels lonely and bone-dry. We were made to live connected and close . . .

So walk across the street, or drive across town, or fly across the country, but don’t let really intimate loving friendships become the last item on your long to-do list. Good friendships are like breakfast.
Download Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way MP3 CD – Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged

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