Book Review & Giveaway: "Jantsen's Gift" by Pam Cope (Ends 11/24)
I know I am one lucky woman. I have a wonderful husband, two healthy boys, and a roof over my head, oh and money to pay the bills. It is really easy to take it all for granted and forget about those that don’t have as much or anything at all. Sometimes it takes a tragedy for us to realize that there is something else out there meant for us and to really appreciate what we have.
Jantsen’s Gift is a memoir from Pam Cope about how her and her family’s lives changed when her 15 year old son, Jantsen, died of a undiagnosed heart condition. Not knowing how to recover and go on, Pam decides to accept an invitation to travel to Vietnam to visit an orphanage. Now Pam had never been out of the country before and her typical days revolved chauffeuring her children around. So Pam really was like most of us, I know I would never think of visiting Vietnam.
Pam and her husband, Randy, fall in love with a Vietnamese child and decide to adopt him. From then on, they adopt a Vietnamese girl and decide that they need to do as much as they can do help. Pam decided to shift her grief into something productive and try to help other children who need help. Pam has rescued over 200 kids and has since started “Touch A Life” which is an organization dedicated to helping at-risk children all over the world.
I cried during this book when I read about the conditions and experiences children from other countries have suffered through. I applaud Pam though for her strength and motivation to make a difference when she would probably love to curl up and cry for her own loss. Even though this book was sad and at times depressing, it is a powerful memoir and really showed that anyone can make a difference. I mean Pam was just a mom from Missouri and she has helped so many children already.
Also, whether you are part of a book group or just looking to dive deeper into this book, you can check out this great list of questions to consider at the Jantsen's Gift Reading Group Guide.
I would love to win this book for myself because I love true stories centered around Vietnam.
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I'd keep this book for myself. It sounds very touching and inspirational.
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I'd keep it for me. looks like an awesome story.
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I would like to win this book for myself because i love to read memoirs and it sounds like an inspiring book
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this book would be for me. it is becuz i am on a new threshold in my life and i feel i could gain a lot of wisdom from it.
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I would want this book for myself but would also want my girls to read it and a dear friend who shares her love of books with me.
This book would be for me!
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I'd love to win this book for myself. I love Memoirs, and all reading genre's really. Thanks for the giveaway!
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This book would be for myself, and after reading your review of it, it certainly tugged at my heart, and wish I had it here right now to read!
I would love to win this! Please enter me into the giveaway, thanks!!!!!
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I love to read and this book looks really interesting. True stories are always great to read.
I would love to win this book for my mother. We have also experienced a different kind of loss of a child in our family- I think this would be something she would really be able to get into.
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I would love to read this book for myself and then share with my mother. At the school that I work in, we have two students who were orphans in Russia. They were treated fairly well, but did not have the things we have. Their father once told a story about how they brought fresh fruit to share with all the orphans. The children were so excited, they NEVER got fresh fruit. I would love to read this story to gain just a small glimpse about what these children go through. Thank you for the chance!
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I entered the Latch On giveaway.
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This book would be for me. It sounds very sweet and touching.
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I'd give this to my brother. Every year at Christmas he and I and our mom used to exchange books similar to this one--non-fiction, inspiring books about real people who rose up and did great things or met incredible challenges. I've been trying to continue that tradition, and this book fits.
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I would read this book then pass it along to our local library because then EVERYONE in the area would be able to read that
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I would love to read this book myself but i'd pass it on to my mom or sister after I was done. I love reading books about children in general and sad but happy books, like this one sounds like! my email is littleheathen9109 at yahoo dot com
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This book would be for me to read and then pass on to my daughter and granddaughters. Our hearts need to be opened, our love shared and I so admire this family. We can learn a lot from them.
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I'd like to read it as it is true & we live in MO; actually I'd have my son read it to me as I can't read for ling periods of time & he would love it too! Thx so much!!
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This book would be for myself. I love to read and be taken away by a good story. I don't do it near enough.
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I'd get the book for myself, I love true stories.
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I would read this book myself and then pass it on to my sisters. I've known a couple of families who have adopted from Korea and Russia and they have adorable families.
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I want to win this book for myself. It has always been my dream to adopt a child but as I grow older I know my chances get further and further away. Still, I would love to read this book and share the story with that family. Thanks for the opportunity.
11-16 tweet http://twitter.com/someluckydog/status/5785866321
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I would like to read the book myself first, and then pass it around among the members of my Compassionate Friends group -- a support group for bereaved parents.
11-18 tweet http://twitter.com/someluckydog/status/5848811923
it would be for me because i heard so many wonderful things about it minsthins at optonline dot net
sounds very interesting
11-19 tweet http://twitter.com/someluckydog/status/5878534312
I think my Aunt would love this book
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11-20 tweet http://twitter.com/someluckydog/status/5908922409
my cousin Micky would love this book.
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Looks like a good book - and a great tribute to Pam's son...
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We posted about this at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/jantsens-gift_21.html
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11-22 tweet http://twitter.com/someluckydog/status/5953669993
My Dad passed away 2 months ago, and I would love to read this and then pass it on to my mom. It is great to see how someone else deals with their grief.
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Looks like a good book, please enter I'd like to win as a Yule gift for my cousin who very much enjoys memoirs and true history books.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
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Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
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I'd love to win this for my daughter.
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For my neighbor Yolanda!
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I would love to read this myself and then pass it on to my friends, thanks!
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This book would be for me.
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I heard about this giveaway because I follow you.
I entered the Walmart GC giveaway
I would first read this book myself and then pass it on to a friend or two, we love to share books and i really enjoy true stories about others lives
the book would be for me because I would love to read it then I would pass it on to my daughter
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I would love to read it, because I think we all need some inspiration at times, especially when we may feel a little down...or are even feeling sorry for ourselves.
I would then pass the book on, to someone else who may need it...
:o)
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11-24 tweet http://twitter.com/someluckydog/status/6018140456
I enjoy reading true life memoirs because I find them so inspirational! Thanks for the chance!
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I would be selfish and keep this for myself! I can't relate completely but I have lost a child (newborn) and know that feeling of "what do I do from here." I would love to read this inspiring story!
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This book would be for my friend.
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Initially this book would be for me. It looks like a truly inspirational story of a family walking through a crisis and I enjoy reading those kinds of books. After I finish it I would pass it along to the book club I am involved in so others could have the chance to read it. Thanks.
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