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Thursday, June 12, 2014

Review: Breathe by Kelly Kittel

Breathe by Kelly Kittel

Publisher: She Writes Press
Pages: 384
Format: book
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Kelly Kittel never questioned her Mayflower Society mantra—“Family is the most important thing”—until the day her fifteen-month-old son was run over by her sixteen-year-old niece. Nine months later, Kittel’s doctor made a terrible mistake during her subsequent pregnancy and she found herself burying yet another baby. Caught up in the maelstrom of a malpractice lawsuit, Kittel and her husband battle not only the medical system, but their own relatives, in the courtroom. As their family tree begins to topple, the Kittels struggle to nourish the roots of their young family and find healing. Achingly raw and beautifully narrated, Breathe is a story of motherhood, death, and family in the face of unspeakable tragedy and, ultimately, how she learns to breathe again.

Kritters Thoughts:  A woman who always dreamed of a big family, loses two sons within 9 months and then continues to suffer devastating loss again and again.  Not the most happiest of books for the summer season, but bearing witness to someone's story made the emotional journey more than worth it.

There were way too many moments where I couldn't believe that I was reading non-fiction, my heart ached for this woman, not only for the loss but for the lack of family support.  Although I am not a mom, I could still understand her sense of loss, but what I came out with more than anything was how much family support can help you get through anything.  This book made me think about both my immediate family, my in-laws and my extended family and if something tragic where to happen I know that each and every one of them would RUN to come help put me and my husband back on our feet.  

I would recommend reading this one, but you may be prepared for the heaviness of it and may not want to throw this one in the beach bag - unless you are fine with heavy things and tears with ocean waves in the background!


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

4 comments:

  1. This definitely sounds like a very intense and challenging read. Although my family lives quite far away, in two different countries even, I know that if I really needed their help I could always rely on them. I can't believe this is non-fiction, that definitely must add to the tragedy of the reading! Great review :)
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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  2. Hey Kristin, thank you for reading and bearing witness to my story that is Breathe. I'm happy you consider it to have been a worthwhile journey. As for your thoughts on your own family, I truly hope you're right and that you never have to test that. But I must say I used to think the same thing about mine, believe me. I've added many of my own tears to the ocean so I do think that's the perfect place to Breathe! I'm happy to help you with your stated goals re following authors, learning more about publishing, and experiencing "bookie things that I have never done before." I love to read, regularly post reviews on Goodreads, and welcome you to follow me wherever I go!

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  3. I read this one too and I was struck by how strong Kelly and her husband's faith was; not only faith in God, but in themselves and their children that they could get through this and continue to have children. It was a powerful book.

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  4. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this touching book for the tour.

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