I’ve always been a fan of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. A couple of years ago, a very well-read editor friend of mine asked me why I would enjoy reading people’s sad stories. I had never thought about it before, but I realized that the thing that appeals to me about these stories isn’t hearing about people’s trials, it’s hearing how they overcome them.
If you’re anything like me, you go through your own hard times on a pretty regular basis. Unemployment or stressful job situations. Illness or death or depression. Rebellious kids or stubborn in-laws. There’s always a character-building challenge that we’re facing. They’re like mountains that we have to climb, and they sometimes feel insurmountable.
After we finished our last book, I found myself in the middle of a hard time, but I found myself repeatedly running into quotes by Corrie Ten Boom. I would read these profound and profoundly hopeful words from Corrie – a woman who went through hard times that make mine look like a day at the beach—and I decided that I needed to read some of Corrie’s writing. And after I got halfway through The Hiding Place, I knew that it was something certainly worthy of our book discussion.
Jason and I have decided that because this book is so readily and inexpensively available (free at the library, as little as $5 to purchase), that we will skip the giveaway and jump right into the deep end. So next week, we will be right back here, ready to discuss our new book discussion book: Corrie Ten Boom’s The Hiding Place.
Remember! You don’t have to read the book to join the chat. But my co-facilitator and our friends and I welcome you!
See you next week!
About Sarah Salter
Yes, stories like Corrie’s and others certainly are character building..I am reading her story again and look forward to the “new” insights on her biography..:)