Disclosure: I received a free ebook copy of ‘Life, In Spite of Me’ by Kristen Jane Anderson from
Blogging for Books in return for my review. All opinions are 100% my own!
We’ve all been hurt. We’ve all been depressed at one point or another. Have you ever felt like ending your life, though? In 2007 I was diagnosed with a chronic pain condition at the age of 17. I was severely depressed because I knew I was going to have it for the rest of my life. Did I feel like ending my life? Honestly, at one point yes. Thank God my dear mom did everything in her power to get me the help, mentally and physically, that I needed.
When I read Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson I felt her pain. I understand completely what she was going through, except for the fact that three of her friends had died along with her grandmother in two year and mine was a physical pain that caused me to be depressed.
After still dealing with the four deaths, she was raped by a person she thought she could trust. After all the emotional and physical pain she went through, on a January night, at age 17 she decided to lay down on train tracks and wait for the train to come and run over her and end her pain and suffering.
But she did not die.
At the young age of 17, Kristen became a double amputee. God apparently had other plans for her and she survived being run over. Going through her recovery and new life as am amputee is purely amazing. I absolutely love how Kristen did not hold back. She was honest, even if the details were grimm.
The part I love is when Kristen finds God. It was such an amazing part of a book, and definitely one I could connect with her on. Since losing my mom in May (actually exactly 4 months ago today), I found God. Through something terrible happening, both to me and Kristen, we both found love in God.
I definitely recommend this book, 100%. Especially anyone contemplating suicide. Kristen doesn’t glamorize suicide once, which is the way it should be. Everyone deserves hope when they think they’ll never have any again. Kristen is good at doing that. Life is a precious thing and things will get better, no matter how far down you feel you are.
After reading this book I did a Google search on Kristen Jane Anderson and found that she has created a non-profit ministry called Reaching You Ministries. You can find out more about Kristen and the ministry by visiting the website and Facebook!
It would be wonderful if you could rate my review on the Blogging For Books website! Thank you so much!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Wow! I have never been through anything bad enough that I felt like taking my own life but if I had been through what she had you just never know. It is amazing how life works, clearly God had other plans for her.
This looks super interesting!! I’ll need to grab it!
That book sounds super interesting 🙂
I have read this book and it really was inspiring. Thanks for a great review.
First off, I’m glad to hear that you are in a better place than you once were. Second, this book looks so inspiring. What a courageous young woman to go through something like that and not only go on to live her life, but to do so with grace and to share her story with others. Amazing!
Good Read! I am always looking for good books to read before I go to bed, so this one sounds like a very interesting one. Thanks.
I think this is a must read! Maybe we will understand then why people do the things they do and feel the way they feel!
Never have I wanted to end my own life or hurt myself. I did have a friend who I had to always talk out of ending her life. She would at least once a week need me to talk sense into her. The friendship became so draining for me that I had to step back for my own sanity.
Thank goodness Kristen became strong enough to want to help herself.
I love books that uplift and encourage us and give us hope! This book sounds amazing and definitely one to touch one’s heart.
Sounds so inspiring! We all suffer pain and problems in life but we should remember that there is God to help us 🙂
Wow, this is very good reading.
Thank you for the info
Def. sounds like an inspiring and heart wrenching book. I would be interested in reading this book. She must be an amazing young man and God has great plans for her. he spared her life and she found him, waiting as He always is. Incredible.
So touching story . It is totally about a strong woman!
Looks really interesting. Will have to definately grab it up.
Thanks for sharing
Wow, this sound like an amazing book! I LOVE biographies… I will have to check it out and see if I can find time to read it.
I can’t say that I have been through anything like that, thankfully.
I have never thought of killing myself but had a friend that did. …. Not fun to go through it with someone…
What a journey. This sounds like a great read. Thanks for sharing the inspiration!
Sounds like a great book on faith. She truly went through a lot quite like Job in the bible. I’m happy she kept the faith. I’ll check out her ministry as well.
What a tremendous story! I’m sorry to hear of your condition. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to deal with chronic pain that you know will not go away. I am amazed and happy that you have found a way to cope. Kristen sounds like an amazing woman as well. Will definitely add her book to my reading list.
Wow, very sad but yet very uplifting. I think I would love to read this book and find out more detail. Great review!
This book reminds me of another one: The Spark
I think suicide is something people either understand or don’t. I do understand the pain that leads people to do desperate things. I also suffer from chronic pain and it is very depressing. I still do what needs to be done and make the best of the day. The book sounds very inspiring, as well as, amazing.
The book sounds amazing! Very inspiriting story/read. I will look for it . Thanks for recommending it
It’s amazing how some people find the inner courage to forge ahead despite tremendous odds. She is truly inspirational.
Sounds like a great real story book. I like inspirational books for life like this.
Sounds like a very inspirational book.
Looks like a good book 🙂 I’ve been getting back into reading lately ’cause I really think I need to. Might add this to my list of books to get 🙂
This book is good and inspiring! We just need to trust ourselves and find GOD in our heart and everything will be fine.
Lookslike a pretty awesome book. I’ll have to add it to my reading list 🙂
Wow! What an amazing story. She deserves happiness!