Halfway to Each Other: A Book Review and Giveaway Post

The winner of last week’s The Red Queen Giveaway is #20:

LOVE Philippa Gregory! just finished "The White Queen" - excellent.

Posted by: Fannie | August 24, 2010 at 03:17 PM

I must say that karma is a wonderful thing. Fannie has had a very rough summer, she was in need of a lift, and this week she won another blog book giveaway!

This is a book I’ve been waiting to review for quite a while now. Since May as a matter of fact—the book has just been released, but I was given a proof copy. I hope it’s okay that I give that copy away—because I really want one of you to have a chance to read it.

The email offering me the chance to review the book, Halfway to Each Other, by Susan Pohlman, called it an “inspirational family memoir.” For some reason, I didn’t connect “inspiration” with “Christian.” It also didn’t click that something published by a company called Guidepost might be connected to religion. Slow on the uptake who?! So, when I realized—in the first paragraph—that religion was going to be a BIG part of this book, I was a bit taken aback.

If you’ve read me for long, you may realize that I’m a bit of a heathen. If you didn’t know, now you do.

This book is incredible. I loved it. I learned from it. I was inspired by it. I have to give the author, Susan Pohlman, kudos for being able to include her religious views—which are a vitally important part of her family’s journey and her story—in a way that did not turn me off at all.

Rather, I felt invited in.

Invited to share the journey of a woman and family with a lot of similarities to mine—and likely to yours.

The Pohlman family was busy, overscheduled, running in different directions and growing apart; money and material possessions had insinuated themselves as possibly the highest priority of their life.

Her family’s situation had become drastic enough—and she had resources enough to (though not without sacrifice)—that she and her husband decided they would reconnect as a couple and as a family by uprooting their comfortable American lives for a year in Italy.

This book is their story.

You should read it.

Tell what your family would do with a year to devote to each other—I’ll pick a winner from the comments next Monday.

Amusing aside: I was talking to my friend Terri on the phone and she was so excited to tell me about this fantastic book—since it JUST came out she knew I hadn’t read it. She was dismayed to find out that I had a proof copy several months ago.

She’s definitely one up on me with this though—one of the women in her book group was college roommates with the author’s sister, so they got to have the author at their book group via Skype. How cool is that?!

Comments

[Little Miss Sunshine State]

I would take my husband and the two grown-up kids and travel around the world.
My son has studied KungFu for 17 years and I would love to take him to China. I want the kids to see all the things my husband and I loved in London. I want to go to Austria.

[jenrantsraves]

My husband and I would write/illustrate a children's book together finally. We would travel, and cross things off our bucket list. We would visit friends and family that live out of state. But, the truth is, we spend a lot of time together(as much as we can) now. That book sounds great! I'm putting it on my list.

[Slow Panic]

I can't imagine what we would do with an entire year! Travel for sure. Spend lots of time at the beach.

Figure out a way to take three dogs and a cat with us too!

[Jen on the Edge]

We've actually discussed this and tried to figure out if we can do any part of this plan:

Rent a flat in London for a few months to really soak up British life.

Then, move on to travel through Europe.

After that, head to Asia and then the South Pacific. We'd spend a large amount of time in Australia, followed by New Zealand.

Then, eventually, back to the U.S.

I think we could totally fill a year with world travels and still like each other at the end.

[Carol Wong]

I would love to travel for an entire year. I would see my son in Shanghai and meet my brother-in-law in Taiwan,look up my friends in a support group in the U.K. and uncover my roots in England, the Czech Republic, see the birds in rain forest in Costa Rica.
So many places that I would love to see.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

[kcinnova]

Having read your review, I really want to read this book!

Hmmm... well, my husband plans to retire next summer, so that is almost like taking a year to focus on our family. We will be downsizing financially.

Given my druthers and plenty of money, I would travel!

[Bramble]

My husband would have liked to sail around the world but I am a nester so maybe a year in another country (Italy, France?) being immersed in the culture for me. Unlimited travel would be nice too. Shaggy Haired Boy yearns for it and has plans to spend next summer travelling after graduation with "the dudes".

[ms_teacher]

If I had the money and means to do so, it would be wonderful to apply & be accepted into a teaching program in another country. There are many opportunities like this out there, however, they usually do not pay very well. I would want to have my husband and the youngest with me as I think this would give us the opportunity to explore a different culture and share in the experience.

[suburbancorrespondent]

I want it! Me! Me!

I would rent an RV and tool all over this country and Canada with the family. The kids would remember it for the rest of their lives (if the close quarters didn't kill us first).

[Julie]

Travel the US with some beach/sun time thrown in for "vacation"

[Fannie]

My cup runneth over - thanks!

[green girl in wisconsin]

How cool! Congrats to Fannie! And I'm like you with my "inspiration" books--I don't want to get whacked over the head, but the gentle and forthright inclusion of faith in a story can be a wonderful thing.

[busy bee suz]

I would love to take a year and travel the world. No cell phones, no laptops, just us.

ps. Your a heathen? I had no idea...

[busy bee suz]

I meant: You're a heathen???
My bad. :)

[Susan Pohlman]

Jenn, aka my new heathen friend :)

Thank you for taking the time to read Halfway to Each Other and sharing your heartfelt review. It is no small thing to help a brand new author share her story. I appreciate it so much~

I enthusiastically encourage all of those who have commented to consider a year with their family abroad. Such wonders await!

Susan

[Alison]

Hi Jen!

I like the sound of this book and I have been looking around for some decent fiction, since I spend so much time reading psych material.

You've sold me - I think I have to get it!

Nice blog BTW - I remember you from the Women's Colony!

Cheers,
Alison

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I ordered the book this morning off you guys with the added quilt kit!!!I will be busy wont I especially when the other son said he wants one too.Oh dear!!!The joys of it all.Look forward to starting it.Take care.

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