Publications
Partners
The book that became my solace
Books and reading have been my passion ever since I can remember and there is never a day that goes by without me reading usually until the wee hours of the morning.
The darkest time of my life was when my 8 year old daughter died in a road accident. I was devastated and for the first time in my life I did not read for many months. Then my Mom gave me a copy of Rosamund Pilcher's "The Shell Seekers" and slowly, slowly light started to trickle back in and I was on the path to healing.
I still run and bury my nose in a book when depression threatens. Even if I'm just ticked off with my husband, a book is always my solace.
Tessa
The book that saved my life
I have a book that has literally saved my life. The book was given to me by my mom about 25 years ago. It's called, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" by Dr Joseph Murphy. This book came out decades before positive visualisation, and positive self-talk etc became all the rage.
I had had a terrible childhood and became bipolar as a result (this was only diagnosed a few years ago - everyone thought I was just a nutcase).
Well, I was living on my own in a high rise apartment building, and one Saturday I was overcome with loneliness and unhappiness. I stood at the window of my 16th storey flat, and was about to throw myself off, when my eyes hit upon the book that my mother had given me years ago.
It was like it "locked eyes" with me. I had kind of skimmed through it, but never really sat down to read it. So I did (I must have had some semblance of self-preservation going on).
Anyway, long story short, the book saved my life, and lead to me meeting my husband to be six weeks later, and 9 months later we were married. That was 21 years ago, and I'm still on honeymoon.
Debra
Books and life lessons
I was never one for reading Christian novels, but when my mom asked me to read this book, I thought I’d indulge her. This highly emotional story is called Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.
The lessons l learnt from this book is that love and forgiveness are two very powerful emotions and that if we can love and forgive each other just a fraction of how God loves and forgives us when we have sinned, we will live happier lives.
This novel is guaranteed to rip at the emotions of the most ‘unemotional’ person. Highly recommended!
I also love Lindsey Kelk’s I Heart New York – it’s a light, comical read that when I’m feeling down, it just cannot help putting me in the best of moods.
I could easily pretend that I’m the book’s heroine, Angela Clarke. She makes me realise that if I’ve had a disappointment, I should not bury my head under the covers, but rather go out and create my own happiness. What a girl!
Liezel
The most inspirational book
The best inspirational book I have ever read was Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. It is the story of a young man who visits his terminally ill professor every Tuesday. He teaches him about life and about the reasons for everything happening the way they often do in our daily lives.
After I lost my son Emile to suicide I was looking for the reason of life and death and it answered all my questions. That nothing happens without any reason and we should take everything as experience to make us better human beings.
And to try and see the beauty that surrounds us every day and to not get stuck on the negative things.
Rea
Have you read a book that has helped you through a time when you needed it most? Tell us about it below, or share your recommendations for readers in need of a life-me-up read.
Books and reading have been my passion ever since I can remember and there is never a day that goes by without me reading usually until the wee hours of the morning.
The darkest time of my life was when my 8 year old daughter died in a road accident. I was devastated and for the first time in my life I did not read for many months. Then my Mom gave me a copy of Rosamund Pilcher's "The Shell Seekers" and slowly, slowly light started to trickle back in and I was on the path to healing.
I still run and bury my nose in a book when depression threatens. Even if I'm just ticked off with my husband, a book is always my solace.
Tessa
The book that saved my life
I have a book that has literally saved my life. The book was given to me by my mom about 25 years ago. It's called, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" by Dr Joseph Murphy. This book came out decades before positive visualisation, and positive self-talk etc became all the rage.
I had had a terrible childhood and became bipolar as a result (this was only diagnosed a few years ago - everyone thought I was just a nutcase).
Well, I was living on my own in a high rise apartment building, and one Saturday I was overcome with loneliness and unhappiness. I stood at the window of my 16th storey flat, and was about to throw myself off, when my eyes hit upon the book that my mother had given me years ago.
It was like it "locked eyes" with me. I had kind of skimmed through it, but never really sat down to read it. So I did (I must have had some semblance of self-preservation going on).
Anyway, long story short, the book saved my life, and lead to me meeting my husband to be six weeks later, and 9 months later we were married. That was 21 years ago, and I'm still on honeymoon.
Debra
Books and life lessons
I was never one for reading Christian novels, but when my mom asked me to read this book, I thought I’d indulge her. This highly emotional story is called Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.
The lessons l learnt from this book is that love and forgiveness are two very powerful emotions and that if we can love and forgive each other just a fraction of how God loves and forgives us when we have sinned, we will live happier lives.
This novel is guaranteed to rip at the emotions of the most ‘unemotional’ person. Highly recommended!
I also love Lindsey Kelk’s I Heart New York – it’s a light, comical read that when I’m feeling down, it just cannot help putting me in the best of moods.
I could easily pretend that I’m the book’s heroine, Angela Clarke. She makes me realise that if I’ve had a disappointment, I should not bury my head under the covers, but rather go out and create my own happiness. What a girl!
Liezel
The most inspirational book
The best inspirational book I have ever read was Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. It is the story of a young man who visits his terminally ill professor every Tuesday. He teaches him about life and about the reasons for everything happening the way they often do in our daily lives.
After I lost my son Emile to suicide I was looking for the reason of life and death and it answered all my questions. That nothing happens without any reason and we should take everything as experience to make us better human beings.
And to try and see the beauty that surrounds us every day and to not get stuck on the negative things.
Rea
Have you read a book that has helped you through a time when you needed it most? Tell us about it below, or share your recommendations for readers in need of a life-me-up read.
