5 STAR REVIEWS FOR AUTHOR SANDI SMITH
Sitting at the Table with God by Sandi Smith is not a warm and fuzzy read, but nevertheless, it is a good read. Dealing with a heavy topic – death – Smith handles it in a way that feels honest. The main character, Marianne, finds herself a sudden widow at seventy. After being married for fifty years, the loss of her husband is overwhelming. For anyone who has ever lost someone you’ve loved, you will recognize many of the feelings Marianne has, as well as how she is going through the various stages of grief. Some may find it comforting to read about a character who is going through something so difficult in such a real way. For example, Marianne becomes increasingly depressed and angry – and who can blame her? But, the book is not simply about her grief; it is also about hope. Marianne continues setting the table for two, but over time, this becomes a place where she meets God. Her faith and some divine intervention help her to move forward.
This book will have children smiling from ear to ear. Sandi clearly has a gift for portraying differences among people in a positive light, and will have kids stopping and thinking twice about whether they want to judge people based on how they look. This book was overall adorable.
Having lost loved ones I can relate to the need to hang on. Find any way to keep our loved ones close without seeming crazy & losing faith. A nice story line. An easy read. I was anxious to see where God was fitting in at the kitchen table. I am sure my friends will enjoy this book at the beach or just before bed. Looking forward to reading other books by Sandi Smith.
Amazingly touching! There have been so many occasions throughout life where someone of love and value has been taken from us by death, and all of the emotions that flood over us are just overwhelming. Even more than that. I can think most recently of the death of my stepfather, and what it has done to my mother. Even though there was a long period of illness where it became clear that we would lose him, there is just no way to describe the feeling that day actually comes. There is so much to see in this book with the connection with God or faith, the forgiveness that is needed for the loss of a loved one. The ability to move on.
A word of warning-keep your kids away from Sharpies or colored pens after they read this book! They'll be so captivated by the lively spirit of Hannah that they'll be drawing the dots on themselves shortly after you set this book down if you're not careful! ...
Excellent book, my granddaughter really enjoyed the book....
If you have children, you need to read this book with your family! Sandi does a remarkable job of proving a smile is worth a thousand words. While reading of an adventurous young girl, Hannah, your children will also learn a lesson in accepting everyone as they are. This might just become one of your family's bedtime favorites. ...
Definitely something that I'd recommend to my friends with children! This book was great for multiple reasons, including that it definitely will bring a smile to the faces of anybody who reads it, regardless of age. Following Hannah through her adventures as she brings happiness to the world around her in the form of polka dots and smiles will keep any reader hooked until the very last page. ...
Normally stories like this aren't my cup of tea and I did find some parts a bit too slow-paced, but the writing is good and Marianne's reaction to being widowed at 70 is realistic. That's an age when most couples might be just starting to settle into retirement age together and now she has to deal with the anger and pain of losing her husband. There may even be a little bit of delayed "empty nest syndrome," as her grown child has moved out long ago and her grandchild is an adult with an entirely separate life. But we get to see her start to pull through it and even start making amends with people who were previously intent on making her life miserable. Some senior citizens might recognize themselves in Marianne and some adults with still-living senior citizen parents might relate to this story about overcoming grief as a recently widowed senior citizen. Would I read this again? Maybe, maybe not. But you might like it if you look for realistic plots and relatable characters in your books.
The gentle mix of wit and humor in this children's book will keep parents chuckling and kids entertained for multiple reads. Sandi Smith has a great talent when it comes to writing about the hilarious daily life of a little spider who will enchant your children and keep them from wanting to squish the next spider that comes into their rooms. Smith has created an adorable little sneaker-wearing spider that's sure to ensnare your heart in his web....
I truly enjoyed reading this book. It is filled with so many different emotions. Sandi really takes the reader along with Marianne on her personal journey through a life of love, sadness and hope. My own mother became a widow at the age of 62. Reading this book from a daughter's perspective, I was able to relate some of the struggles that Marianne went through to those of my own mother. Although Marianne suffers a great deal of pain in this book, it's also a very heart warming story about forgiving others and ourselves, moving on from the past and looking ahead to our future. I highly recommend this book and feel that anyone who reads it will love it.
I like the brave subject of this book - coping (or better, struggling to cope) with the death of a loved person with whom you’ve shared a lifetime. Marianne feels like she has died internally on the same day her husband Andrew died in the real sense of the way. Now she has to face thousands of feelings she was not ready to face during her life, as well as the injustice of the painful death of a loved one who leaves this world before you do. Not many authors like to engage in writing about the end of life, so well done to Sandi Smith for breaking the monotony with a difficult topic. This is not a fun book, but it’s a book that needed to be told because almost everyone goes through some sort of similar experience during their lifetime. For some people, a book provides unique condolences, one a human cannot perhaps give in the same way because people have a limited capacity to cope with difficult subjects and carrying other people’s pain. Marianne also has to deal with her depression, that gets only stronger with the loss of her best support, and face insurmountable anger and sadness as she leaves through flashbacks of her past and her imminent end. The fight with the despair, self-blame and forgiveness gets easier by setting a table for Andrew that turns into setting a table for God and having divine support on her way to dying. My grandparents’ had a very similar story to this and this is why it reminded me of how I have no freaking idea of what it means to lose someone you’ve known for so long.