Ann Carbine Best

I had never heard of this book before I choose to read it. I just picked it out from Amazon as it was a kindle freebie and I like reading biographies/autobiographies. I will state that I am not religous in any way shape or form nor do I know anything about the Mormons so probably read it in a different frame of mind to some other more 'faith based' people (I hope my term of phrase does not offend anyone, I really do not mean to cause any offence I am just not religious.) Well I really marvelled at the strength of this womans character in the face of everthing she has had to overcome. The most moving part of this whole memoir for me was the final chapter and the journal entries she found. It left me feeling very sad for everyone involved as it seemed that no one really found any 'closure' (awful over used phrase I know - sorry) to the situation or their feelings. I think it is true when they say that women are the stronger sex, what this woman had to go through and the fact that she still sucessfully raised a family amongst all the termoil she must have been going through is testament to that.… (plus d'informations)

In The Mirror, a memoir of Shattered Secrets by Ann Best is the story of how Ann’s marriage to her husband Larry Best unraveled after she discovered he was gay and have been having gay relationships all throughout their married life.

Ann received the blame for the destruction of it even though she tried hard to hold the fabrics of her marriage together for her four children’s sake.

Then her two daughters are injured in an accident and one is permanently paralyzed but she never wavers from her religious beliefs. Wanting and needing the companionship of a mate she marries again only to realize she has married an alcoholic who’ll never leave drinking. A lesser person would have cried out, “Why me?” of the entire life-shattering crisis befalling her. But not Ann.

She meets all the challenges life throws at her with grace and integrity. She speaks candidly about the attraction she felt for her boss while she was still with Larry. She shares about her life’s journey with unflinching honesty. But never with self-pity.

Her writing is brilliant and just flowed magically. The dialogue is natural and does not feel stilted. After reading it to the end, I closed the book and sat thinking about it for a long while. So much pain and loss, yet despite that so courageous. Ann is an inspiration to us and affirms our belief that there is light at the end. Throughout the story her strength of character shone out.

I was joyful when Ann was happy, I was sad with her, I cried with her or for her when she wouldn't let herself cry, in total I felt Ann is such an awesome and strong person to have undergone so much and still come out stronger. I wish I could meet her in person and give her a hug.… (plus d'informations)