Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Bandgt;AS INDIVIDUALS, CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS andlt;/Bandgt;and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, showed Americans how optimism, an adventurous spirit, and a call to service can help change the world. As a couple, they became a national example of the healing power to be found in deeply shared love and courage. Their arrival in the world spotlight came under the worst of circumstances. On January 8, 2011, while meeting with her constituents in Tucson, Arizona, Gabby was the victim of an assassination attempt that left six people dead and thirteen wounded. Gabby was shot in the head; doctors called her survival and#8220;miraculous.and#8221; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;As the nation grieved and sought to understand the attack, Gabby remained in private, focused on her against-all-odds recovery. Mark spent every possible moment by her side, as he also prepared for his final mission as commander of space shuttle andlt;Iandgt;Endeavourandlt;/Iandgt;. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Now, as Gabbyand#8217;s health continues to improve, the couple is sharing their remarkable untold story. Intimate, inspiring, and unforgettably moving, andlt;Iandgt;Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope andlt;/Iandgt;provides an unflinching look at the overwhelming challenges of brain injury, the painstaking process of learning to communicate again, and the responsibilities that fall to a loving spouse who wants the best possible treatment for his wife. Told in Markand#8217;s voice and from Gabbyand#8217;s heart, the book also chronicles the lives that brought these two extraordinary people togetherand#8212;their humor, their ambitions, their sense of duty, their long-distance marriage, and their desire for family. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Gabby and Mark made a pledge to tell their account as honestly as possible, and they have done so in riveting detail. Both Gabby and Mark have lived large public lives, but this book takes readers behind many closed doorsand#8212;from the flight deck of the space shuttle to the cloakrooms of Congress to the hospital wards where Gabby struggled to reclaim herself with the help of formidable medical teams and devoted family and friends. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Questions are answered with unvarnished candor. How do Gabby and Mark feel about the angry political discourse that was swirling in America at the time of the shooting, and that remains prevalent today? How do they see government living up to the highest possible ideals? And how do they understand and mourn the loss of the people who did not survive that day? andlt;Iandgt;Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope andlt;/Iandgt;is a reminder of the power of true grit, the patience needed to overcome unimaginable obstacles, and the transcendence of love. In the story of Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly, we all can see the best in ourselves. As Mark and Gabbyand#8217;s friends have said: and#8220;The two of them are America as we dream it can be.and#8221;
Review
andquot;The Magic Room has all the makings of a cozy, nostalgic wedding read. Tulle, check. Satin and organza, check. Bridezillas, drama and tears? Yes, yes, yesandhellip;.the highlight of the book is the comings and goings of bride after bride through Becker's, Zaslow also details the excitement and joy of getting married and the commitment and dedication it takes to stay married.andquot;
Review
andldquo;Interesting, rewarding and heartbreakingandrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Shows the poignancy in everyday love stories.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Forget bridezillas.andnbsp; A best-selling journalist visits a small-town wedding shop to uncover the poignant dreams of real women on the verge of commitment.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;A tenderhearted portrait of a bridal store in a small Michigan town... In a handful of their stories, Zaslow gently delineates the changing lives of women and findsandmdash;in among the mishaps, misunderstandings and tragedies that derail many relationshipsandmdash;ample evidence of the enduring power of marriage.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;The book itself andmdash; to use the manliest possible term andmdash; is lovely. As lovely as a bride.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Anyone looking for happily-ever-afters will find plenty of them here.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Zaslowandrsquo;s profile of the bridal shop, from the geopolitics of dressmaking to the effects of TV shows like Bridezillas,and#160;is almost as riveting as the bridal tales. The author plucks at the heartstrings as he relates all the yearnings of the brides-to-be and the travails they encounter on the way to the alter.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Tender and intimate.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Zaslow captures the joy, hope, love and magic.andrdquo; (Top Pick)
Review
andldquo;A compelling and sincere chronology of the experiences, tragedies, and love that led them to the shop. His narrative is sprinkled with fascinating statistical information andhellip; and insights into the lives and relationships of the four generations of Becker women who have worked at the store andhellip; A study of individual lives and dreams, this is recommended for casual readers and those with an interest in cultural and social customs concerning marriage, womenandrsquo;s roles, and parent-child relationships.andrdquo;
Review
“An extraordinary tale…of love, of unthinkable trauma, of a heroic partnership… Redefining for the world what it means to be a fighter.”—People
Review
“A gripping and inspirational memoir…”—St. Petersburg Times
Review
“A picture of a victorious human spirit.”—Publishers Weekly
Review
“Nothing but inspirational.”—Kirkus Reviews
Review
“A story of bravery and perseverance.”—Palm Beach Post
Synopsis
From one of the most admired and beloved couples in recent American history, an extraordinarily moving story of public service, risk-taking, romance—and the journey toward recovery. This book delivers hope and redemption in the face of the tragic shooting, and introduces two unforgettable heroes.
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling author of The Girls from Ames shares an intimate look at a small-town bridal shop, its multigenerational female owners, and the love between parents and daughters as they prepare for their wedding day. and#160;Thousands of women have stepped inside Beckerandrsquo;s Bridal, in Fowler, Michigan, to try on their dream dresses in the Magic Room, a special space with soft lighting, a circular pedestal, and mirrors that carry a brideandrsquo;s image into infinity. The women bring with them their most precious expectations about romance, love, fidelity, permanence, and tradition. Each bride who passes through has a story to tellandmdash;one that carried her there, to that dress, that room, that moment.
Illuminating the poignant aspects of a womanandrsquo;s journey to the altar, The Magic Room tells the stories of memorable women on the brink of commitment. Run by the same family for four generations, Beckerandrsquo;s has witnessed transformations in how America views the institution of marriage: some of the shopandrsquo;s clientele are becoming stepmothers, some are older brides, some are pregnant. Shop owner Shelley has a special affection for all the brides, hoping their journeys will be easier than hers. Jeffrey Zaslow weaves their true stories using a reporterandrsquo;s research and a fatherandrsquo;s heart.
The lessons Zaslow shares from within the Magic Room are at times joyful, at times heartbreaking, and always with insight on marriage, family, and the lessons that parentsandmdash;especially mothersandmdash;pass on to their daughters about love. Weaving together secrets, memories, and family tales, The Magic Room explores the emotional lives of women in the twenty-first century.
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling author of The Girls from Ames shares an intimate look at a small-town bridal shop, its multigenerational female owners, and the love between parents and daughters as they prepare for their wedding day.
Thousands of women have stepped inside Beckerandrsquo;s Bridal, in Fowler, Michigan, to try on their dream dresses in the Magic Room, a special space with soft lighting, a circular pedestal, and mirrors that carry a brideandrsquo;s image into infinity. The women bring with them their most precious expectations about romance, love, fidelity, permanence, and tradition. Each bride who passes through has a story to tellandmdash;one that carried her there, to that dress, that room, that moment.
Illuminating the poignant aspects of a womanandrsquo;s journey to the altar, The Magic Room tells the stories of memorable women on the brink of commitment. Run by the same family for four generations, Beckerandrsquo;s has witnessed transformations in how America views the institution of marriage: some of the shopandrsquo;s clientele are becoming stepmothers, some are older brides, some are pregnant. Shop owner Shelley has a special affection for all the brides, hoping their journeys will be easier than hers. Jeffrey Zaslow weaves their true stories using a reporterandrsquo;s research and a fatherandrsquo;s heart.
The lessons Zaslow shares from within the Magic Room are at times joyful, at times heartbreaking, and always with insight on marriage, family, and the lessons that parentsandmdash;especially mothersandmdash;pass on to their daughters about love. Weaving together secrets, memories, and family tales, The Magic Room explores the emotional lives of women in the twenty-first century.
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling author of The Girls from Ames shares an intimate look at a small-town bridal shop, its multigenerational female owners, and the love between parents and daughters as they prepare for their wedding day.
Thousands of women have stepped inside Beckerandrsquo;s Bridal, in Fowler, Michigan, to try on their dream dresses in the Magic Room, a special space with soft lighting, a circular pedestal, and mirrors that carry a brideandrsquo;s image into infinity. The women bring with them their most precious expectations about romance, love, fidelity, permanence, and tradition. Each bride who passes through has a story to tellandmdash;one that carried her there, to that dress, that room, that moment.
Illuminating the poignant aspects of a womanandrsquo;s journey to the altar, The Magic Room tells the stories of memorable women on the brink of commitment. Run by the same family for four generations, Beckerandrsquo;s has witnessed transformations in how America views the institution of marriage: some of the shopandrsquo;s clientele are becoming stepmothers, some are older brides, some are pregnant. Shop owner Shelley has a special affection for all the brides, hoping their journeys will be easier than hers. Jeffrey Zaslow weaves their true stories using a reporterandrsquo;s research and a fatherandrsquo;s heart.
The lessons Zaslow shares from within the Magic Room are at times joyful, at times heartbreaking, and always with insight on marriage, family, and the lessons that parentsandmdash;especially mothersandmdash;pass on to their daughters about love. Weaving together secrets, memories, and family tales, The Magic Room explores the emotional lives of women in the twenty-first century.
About the Author
Gabrielle Giffords has become known across the country for her resilience in the face of violence, and for her consensus-building leadership in Congress. Giffords was shot at an event in Tucson on January 8, 2011 and stepped down from Congress in January 2012. Giffords was the youngest woman ever elected to the Arizona State Senate, representing her community in the Arizona Legislature from 2000-2005, and then in Congress from 2006-2012. In Congress, Giffords became a leading champion of border security, energy independence, and the needs of military families and veterans.Mark Kelly, husband of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, is a retired astronaut and US Navy Captain. The winner of many awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Distinguished Flying Cross, Kelly was selected as an astronaut in 1996. He flew his first of four missions in 2001 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, the same space shuttle that he commanded on its final flight in May 2011. Kelly, the son of two police officers, is from West Orange, New Jersey.andlt;bandgt;Jeffrey Zaslowandlt;/bandgt; (1958-2012) was most recently the author of andlt;iandgt;The Magic Roomandlt;/iandgt;. His other books include andlt;iandgt;The Girl from Amesandlt;/iandgt; and, as coauthor of andlt;iandgt;The Last Lectureandlt;/iandgt; by Randy Pausch.