Book Review: Cold Tangerines

I am not by habit or hobby a reader. I maybe read a couple of books a year-by sheer accident I think. And those books tend to be ones that come highly recommended so that I know a little about them before I dive in, and that I'm going to be in for a good read. And most of the time they will sit on my nightstand for quite a while collecting dust. But after I had heard so many good things from so many people, and we were placing an Amazon order anyways, I knew I had to have this book and this time-I wouldn't let the dust collect.

In less than a week I had it finished, and enjoyed every page. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn't put it down. I had so many Post-Its on the first dozen pages I had to stop before I ran out. Shauna did an amazing job of sharing part of her journey in such a personal way. It takes great confidence and security to open up about all of those deep dark things in us that we want to hide from the world and she does it ever so gracefully and beautifully here. No pretense, no hidden agenda. Just the sweet truth about life and love and everything in between.

I love a good book that makes you stop and reexamine at least some part of your life, or your choices, or your attitude. And when you least expect it to. And Cold Tangerines did that for me. Very subtly as I reached for another tissue or desperately pryed my eyes open for just one more chapter I found myself saying, 'yes, I will'. Just as the sub-title suggests, I was reminding myself to "celebrate every day". Shauna reminds us about the gifts from God around us, in us, with us, every day. And how easy it is to get caught up and neglect them. But that if we take notice, if we slow down and take it all in, how much more wonderful and enriched our lives can be. Every day.

Cold Tangerines was a joy to read, and has a little bit of something for everyone. I'm planning on leaving it on my nightstand to crack open again when I need a refresher on celebrating. It is beautiful and timeless in that it's message will never get stale and Shauna's ability to relate to the reader in such an intimate way will reach me again at another stage of life I'm sure.