I'm Happy after buyingThis Dancing Heaven sisters Christine Grote
This is a truly beautiful memoir--one that will leave the reader both rejoicing and crying as Grote relays the story of her wonderful sister's life. Annie, born with severe brain damage, defied doctors and lived to be 51 years old, and though times were hard for Annie and her family, Grote depicts their lives with elegance. Through this beautiful memoir, Grote shows just how special Annie really was, how much she touched the lives of those around her, and how much she means to those that really knew her.
I was very impressed with this memoir; Grote is a beautiful writer, painting a vivid picture of her life growing up with a severely disabled sister. This is a topic that very few tread upon, and Grote presents both the good and the bad, juxtaposing her childhood remembrances with the last few weeks of Annie's life in these riveting prose. It's a very powerful story, and one can't help but walk away from a memoir like this amazed by Annie and all those around her. It's is a heart-warming tale, and though it left me bereft at the end, Grote has written a raw, beautiful recollection of her sister's amazing life. I am in awe of Grote's entire family. It's an amazing read, and I am so thankful to have the chance to read it. I know that Annie is continuing to bless her loved ones, even now, as she's dancing in heaven. Five stars.
"In some ways, she's the lucky one. She's never known rejection or failure or reprimand. All she's ever known is Love"
ReplyDeleteJust one of the many quotes that sticks with me after reading this loving tribute to Annie. Annie was surrounded by Love her entire 51 years of life, blessed with a remarkable family. This is a sister's story about strength, compassion, determination and unconditional Love. Annie's sweet smile speaks volumes for the love and care she received from her amazing family.
This is a particularly well-written and absorbing account of the life and death of Annie and her loving and devoted family, as told by her sister Christine. In the book, Christine shares how everyone who crossed Annie's path was touched and I was no exception. Annie crept into my heart and I felt myself going through many emotions as her life on this earth slowly ebbed away. The author crosses between past and present flawlessly. I have the greatest respect and admiration for the entire family and I'm quite sure that Annie is now, dancing in heaven. And through this book, Annie will continue to touch hearts just as she always did. Christine, you have done a wonderful thing in sharing this story, for Annie, for your family, for all of us. A true example of unconditional love all round.
ReplyDeleteWith compassion, courage and clarity, Christine Grote shows the reader what life with a disabled sibling looks and feels like. What I thought was a slow start in the beginning- a series of details about daily life- turned out to serve a purpose. It gave me a strong sense of the importance of routine in maintaining order when lives are disrupted by disability. It all fell into place as the story moved along. I developed a deeper appreciation for how this family adapted. We meet Christina's younger sister, Annie who was diagnosed within her first year of life with a "cerebral defect" which rendered her profoundly disabled. She never outgrew her infantile needs although she lived to the age of fifty-one. Annie was treated with respect and love as her family looked beyond her disability and treated her as a valued family member. The one thing Annie could do was smile. Christine weaves in how Annie's smile was a source of great joy for her family. We come to know and love Annie as her family does and, therefore, feel her loss when she dies. The author does a masterful job of showing not only the love but also the impact of this disability on all family members, particularly her mother and father. Her own powerful reflections deepen the layers and bring the reader closer to the experience. What is so striking is how this family adapted to Annie's limitations. They simply surrounded her with genuine love and worked their lives around her without reservation or regret. The depth of love that comes through Christine's writing is truly heartwarming. It is a lovely tribute to a beloved sister and a powerful reminder of the value of all human life. Christine's vision of Annie dancing in Heaven is beautiful. I am left with the sense that we all have a purpose in our life. Annie's purpose was to touch people's hearts with her smile and her family preserved and nurtured that purpose throughout her entire life. Beautiful story!
ReplyDeleteIn this poignant memoir of her sister, the author tells of the love and devotion of her parents and the blessedness of having Annie in their family for 51 years. The family never regretted the decision to keep Annie at home and take care of her themselves; saying, "God gave her to us and we will do the best we can to care for her, she simply does not belong in an institution."
ReplyDeleteI could not put the book down and read it in one sitting; from it, I learned what is really important in life. Everyone should read this memoir, the author wrote with love, honor, and care to preserve the precious memories of Annie. She also wrote about some of the mixed emotions she had growing up so that we could see the struggles in her and her famillies lives. A very true-to-live story that you won't be able to put down.
This is a truly beautiful memoir--one that will leave the reader both rejoicing and crying as Grote relays the story of her wonderful sister's life. Annie, born with severe brain damage, defied doctors and lived to be 51 years old, and though times were hard for Annie and her family, Grote depicts their lives with elegance. Through this beautiful memoir, Grote shows just how special Annie really was, how much she touched the lives of those around her, and how much she means to those that really knew her.
ReplyDeleteI was very impressed with this memoir; Grote is a beautiful writer, painting a vivid picture of her life growing up with a severely disabled sister. This is a topic that very few tread upon, and Grote presents both the good and the bad, juxtaposing her childhood remembrances with the last few weeks of Annie's life in these riveting prose. It's a very powerful story, and one can't help but walk away from a memoir like this amazed by Annie and all those around her. It's is a heart-warming tale, and though it left me bereft at the end, Grote has written a raw, beautiful recollection of her sister's amazing life. I am in awe of Grote's entire family. It's an amazing read, and I am so thankful to have the chance to read it. I know that Annie is continuing to bless her loved ones, even now, as she's dancing in heaven. Five stars.
I received a free copy of the Kindle version of this book to review for The Kindle Book Review website, and am in no way affiliated with the author or the publisher. So when I tell you that I loved it completely, through and through, my only wish is that people will make the decision to read this book.
ReplyDeleteThe author is heart-felt in her love for her extremely mentally and physically damaged younger sister, a 51-year-old perpetual infant. Christine Grote beautifully expresses her family's love and life-time devotion to Annie, who eventually died of cancer. Annie, throughout her life, doled out big dollops of love and smiles, delighting those around her. Her care was 24/7, and at the end of her life, her father also began to show the effects of the onset of Alzheimer's. Her mother, in her 70s, tried hard to be the sole caregiver and controller, but was beaten by the hefty circumstances.
Nowhere in this book did I find false affection propped up to look like family loyalty. All the emotions were genuinely loving, expressing true concern and deep loss. Again, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
-- Java Davis (The Kindle Book Review)
ReplyDeleteAs I turned the last page, tears were streaming down my face. Happy that sweet little Annie was finally able to dance in heaven, no longer hampered by the prison that her body had been for her sparkling and merry mind. Sad that her radiant smile was now only a memory.
ReplyDeleteDancing in Heaven, a sister's memoir, is written by Christine M. Grote. She is a talented, gifted writer, whose words filled my mind the last six weeks. I finished it last night. Each evening I would read one page of the book, to fully absorp and respect this special story, and not race through it. A story Christine wrote about her severely disabled sister Annie, who died at the age of 51 on August 16, 2009. Not as an adult, but still a child.
Christine's parents devoted their lives to take care of their children. To raise Christine and Carol. But mostly they were there for Annie, who needed their attention each day and each night of her entire life. And they gave it, willing and full of love. For their girl.
In Dancing in Heaven, Christine takes us on a journey. She shares Annie's story with us in the immediate and more distant past, describing the impact that Annie had on all of their lives. Through the writer's eyes we are silent witnesses of the last days Annie spent in her family's caring arms. Christine also takes us back in time to show us how growing up with Annie was - how their family life was touched - through moving anecdotes.
The love they all gave to Annie, was returned many times over by this sweet and gentle little lady. Through her special smiles and her unique ways of telling those around her that she knew they cared. And was happy. When one looks behind the limited body into the spirit of a person this radiant, boundaries disappear. It is soul to soul. And Annie's spirit has always been dancing.
I can fully recommend this courageous, sweet and sincere book. Christine M. Grote's beautiful words have a flow that will take you along gently. I admire her greatly as a writer and adore her as Annie's sister.
This is the remarkable true story all about Annie, told by her sister the author Christine M Grote. Annie was born with severe brain damage in 1958 when Christine was little more than a year old, so her memories of childhood don't include a time before Annie. She had always been in Christine's life with her disabilities fully present. She had never known life without her.
ReplyDeleteThe whole family take constant care of Annie. Annie is diagnosed as having cerebral palsy. Annie does not walk or talk. Although she does not speak she can respond to family members by movements in her right arm and leg and by using facial expressions and by smiling.
Christine tells Annie's story in a diary of events leading up to Annie's passing. It is a very touching memoir of what is happening in the present as the family prepare for Annie to pass, when her health deteriorates. To reflecting back to the past memories and there are some beautiful photographs shared in the book from past memories.
This book is a must read. The love and devotion shared for Annie by all family members is present throughout the book. You really feel the emotions of the family as Annie reaches the end of her life. Annie's personality and charisma shines too in the wonderful way memories and photographs are shared and written beautifully by a loving sister.