Gift from the Sea

Gift from the Sea

by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Genre: Inspirational

Synopsis:  In this inimitable, beloved classic-graceful, lucid and lyrical-Anne Morrow Lindbergh shares her meditations on young and age; love and marriage; peace, solitude and contentment as she set them down during a brief vacation by the sea.   Drawing inspiration from the shells on the shore, Lindbergh's musings on the shape of a woman's life bring new understanding to both men and women at any stage of life.  A mother of five, an acclaimed writer and a pioneering aviator, Lindbergh casts an  unsentimental eye on trappings of modernity that threaten to overwhelm us; the time-saving gadgets that complicate rather than simplify, the multiple commitments that take us from our families.  And by recording her thoughts during a brief escape from everyday demands, she helps readers find a space for contemplation and creativity within their own lives.

From the book jaceket

Review: To be honest, I was not mentally ready to read this book.  I was unaware of how thought provoking this book was and how dedicated you had to be to read this book.  While this book is very short, it is not a fast read.  You have to have no distractions to absorb all that you can from this book.  Lindbergh really does have great insights and uses beautiful metaphors to help us understand what she is talking about with life, womanhood, marriage and more.  But you have to be ready to take something away from this book.  You have to be open to change. And you also have to be focused and dedicated to deciphering her metaphors-many parts of the book are not easily understood.  You must put thought into this book.  As stated in the forward by Lindbergh's daughter, she reads this book at least once a year.  I could understand that because I think you would take away different advice in different stages of life.  It is a good reminder of simplifying your life, which is much easier said than done, and of living in the now.  Perhaps had I known the type of book it was before reading and found a time where I could dedicate to giving this book my all, I would have gotten more out of it and liked it better.

Rating:  3 1/2 stars (but this most likely will change when I am open to reading the book again)