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368 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2015
"I believe forgiveness is even sweeter when it’s granted with a vivid memory, when someone’s fully aware of the pain the other person has caused, yet they make a choice to forgive anyway. Isn’t that more generous than putting blinders on and pretending the grievance never happened?"While the subject of forgiveness isn't anything new in women's fiction, I thought Ms. Spielman's use of forgiveness stones in her storyline was quite unique. It seemed like a non-confrontational way to seek forgiveness while leaving an open door to communication and I enjoyed this element very much. In an online interview found HERE, Ms. Spielman shared the following inspiration for the forgiveness stone concept:
“An apology doesn't erase our blunders. It's more like a strike-through. We always know the mistake is there, just beneath the black line. And if we search for it, we can still see it. But over time, our eyes begin to look past the error, and we only see the new message, clearer this time, and more thoughtfully penned.”
"The idea of the "forgiveness stones" was a combination of a friendship bracelet circulating with some of my young students, and a movie called Pay it Forward. What if, instead of paying forward good deeds, we were paying forward apologies and forgiveness? What if each recipient of the “forgiveness bracelet” was expected to forgive, then pass a second bracelet and an apology on to someone else, and so forth? But a bracelet seemed too public for an act as private as forgiveness. Stones are ancient and accessible. I loved their symbolism of strength, their use in building bridges, but also in building walls, which is exactly what our apologies and grudges can do."In addition to the focal theme of forgiveness, Ms. Spielman also included other elements such as family secrets, parental estrangement, setting personal boundaries, being assertive, making amends, living with self-acceptance versus shame, and the importance of respect, value, and honesty in every relationship. However, I struggled with an element that Ms. Spielman incorporated involving