Book Review: Not Really Gone By: Blaire Sharpe
I was able to relate to this book in more that one way. Although there wasn’t an alcoholism issue in my family, there was depression and my grandmother was the one that raised me. This is such an inspirational story that shows the true meaning of love. Just like my grandmother the author’s grandmother was a model of wisdom and strength. I really liked that this book started off with childhood reflections of the author. This book has a nostalgic tone. Every now & then the author’s words are filled with regret, but mostly they’re honest memories! I have a lot of wonderful memories of my relationship with my grandmother but I also have a lot of sad and painful memories of her gradual journey to the end. I found this book to be very comforting.
About the book…
This memoir reveals the inspiring story of undying love and unbreakable bonds between a woman and the grandmother who raised her. Together they bravely struggle through a family legacy of alcoholism and depression, modeling strength and wisdom to endure life’s challenges.
In every family there is a rock—the person that keeps things together. In Blaire Sharpe’s family, that rock was her grandma. As she shares the inspiring story of her relationship with her grandma, Blaire expands on the notion of what it really means to be loved.
When she was just an infant, Blaire’s troubled parents divorced. Since both parents were incapable of raising Blaire and her siblings, the children were slated for foster care—until their grandmother, Eleanor, stepped in to raise them as her own. As Eleanor valiantly struggled against a family legacy of alcoholism and depression, she modeled strength and wisdom to endure the most challenging of times. Still, Blaire’s life was not perfect. As she matured into adulthood, she battled addictions that eventually led her into recovery, just as Eleanor’s health began to decline. When she found herself sandwiched between two generations, each increasingly needy, Blaire poignantly reveals how she discovered the true meaning of love and commitment, and the essence of what it means to be a mother.
Available to buy from…
Amazon, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes & Noble
About The Author
Blaire Sharpe holds master’s degrees in Business and Mental Health Counseling. She specializes in working with adults suffering from mood disorders and survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Blaire lives in a suburb of Detroit with her husband, three children, and two dogs. This is her first book.
Find the author on the following sites…
Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon Author Page