Elizabeth Smart follows up her #1 New York Times bestseller (October 2013), My Story–about being held in captivity as a teenager, and how she managed to survive–with a powerful and inspiring book about what it takes to overcome trauma, find the strength to move on, and reclaim one’s life. Author. Activist. Victim–no more. In her fearless memoir, My Story–the basis of the Lifetime Original … Story–the basis of the Lifetime Original movie I Am Elizabeth Smart–Elizabeth detailed, for the first time, the horror behind the headlines of her abduction by religious fanatic Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee. Since then, she’s married, become a mother, and travelled the world as the president of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, sharing her story with the intent of helping others along the way.
Over and over, Elizabeth is asked the same question: How do you find the hope to go on? In this book, Elizabeth returns to the horrific experiences she endured, and the hard-won lessons she learned, to provide answers. She also calls upon others who have dealt with adversity–victims of violence, disease, war, and loss–to explore the pathways toward hope. Through conversations with such well-known voices as Anne Romney, Diane von Furstenburg, and Mandy Patinkin to spiritual leaders Archbishop John C. Wester and Elder Richard Hinckley to her own parents, Elizabeth uncovers an even greater sense of solace and understanding. Where There’s Hope is the result of Elizabeth’s mission: It is both an up-close-and-personal glimpse into her healing process and a heartfelt how-to guide for readers to make peace with the past and embrace the future.
From the book:
“I was not willing to accept that my fate was to live unhappily ever after. Everything–my family, my home, my chance to go to school–had been given back to me, and I didn’t want to miss a second chance of living my own life.” –Elizabeth Smart
“There are two types of survivors: the ones who did not die, and the ones who live. There will be those who will always remember and be the victim, and ones who just won’t. You have to go on, you have to learn, and you have to heal.” –Diane von Furstenberg
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I had the good fortune of meeting Elizabeth Smart after a public-speaking engagement. We all know her story, right? But her latest book focuses on hope. And don’t we all need hope! She highlights her own views on the topic and, just as importantly, the views of other people who have endured intense challenges. This collection of their insights and advice is powerful and thought-provoking. One warning, though. Like watching any vintage Disney animated film (like Bambi), there has to be dark for there to be light…bad for there to be good. You know what I mean? So, while the discussions about hope will warm your heart, the candid discussion about their “challenges” may break your it.
Although this is an important story, it’s told in such a simplistic way, it seemed like it should be read by a young adult, which I’m not.
It’s been several years since I read Elizabeth’s first book but I think I like this one better than her first. She still shares elements of her story, but in this she also interviews several other people to get their perspectives on life, hope, and happily ever after. I gained a lot of insights and took note of several quotes that I found particularly moving and inspiring, both from Elizabeth and those she interviewed.
Note: the nature of some of the stories from those she interviews, and that of her own story, is gruesome, disturbing, and sometimes graphic. Incest, rape, kidnapping, attempted murder, human trafficking, a baby falling out of a second-story window, are all parts of the various stories. I’m aware that the nature of these tragedies and devastations can be overwhelming to some. I found I was able to read with no qualms, but it’s something to be aware of before picking up this book.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Read by the author. Sometimes I think when authors read their own books but they aren’t actors or used to doing voice-over, they overemphasize the slowness of speech for an audiobook and it’s painfully obvious they aren’t normal readers. The last two books I listened to that were read by the authors were both that way, this one included. It makes for tedious listening. Elizabeth is very passionate about her work and sharing these stories, which is obvious in the words she chooses to use in her narrative, but sometimes the slowness of her speech while she read detracted from that passion. Still s good book, but I think I’d have preferred to read the physical book and I wouldn’t seek out anything else she’s done voice-over for.! I listened at 1.75x speed.
Flat, a rehash of what was reported in papers and on news. Maybe cathartic for the author (for whom we cannot help sympathize) but not so much for me.
Elizabeth Smart’s case was a major news story. Only 14 years old and kidnapped at knifepoint from her bed, she was enslaved, raped, and tortured for nine months before her near-miraculous rescue and return to her familly. How can anyone live a healthy, normal life after that?
“…every day, we make choices,” she writes. “And when we’re faced with struggles, we have a choice to make: Either we surrender to our problems and give up, or we decide to keep moving forward no matter what.” Hope helped Elizabeth move forward. She has written this book to help others find that hope, to help others move forward no matter what.
In multiple ways, she teaches the message: What we go through does not define who we are. And she is careful to point out that, although few of us experience a trauma such as hers, we all have our own trials and our own burdens to carry. She tells her story, and the stories of a number of others who’ve survived unspeakable humiliation and violence, to emphasize that “where there’s hope,” there is life and the possibility of a happy, fulfilling future.
The stories vary in their depth and intensity as she and those she interviews describe not only the horror of their experiences, but the blame-the-victim microaggressions visited on them by those whom they hoped would offer support when their initial ordeals had ended. For everyone who has been through something, and for all of us who know people who’ve been through an earthly hell, this book is a must-read, a tribute to the survivor in each of us.
Moving account of her kidnapping and life in bondage.
I read her first book, I’m not sure what I was expecting from this one. There were some good parts in it and good insights. I enjoyed reading her few flashback stories to the miracles she had while in captivity.
Why the two stars?
It seemed like she only had thirty pages of material. The rest was short interviews of other people and her day leading up to the interview (who babysat her daughter, what she bought when she went grocery shopping, etc.). It seemed very dragged out to be repeating the same basic message over and over. It was a good message, just could have been typed into a booklet. Very simple and without deep emotions.
Hope is a good thing to have in this time. She is a good writer without being preachy.
Move forward there help out there for all kinds of victims don’t give up yes trust God I know some don’t more and more are standing up now coming out speaking up not holding back as 2018 but some I think have gone way over board in couple of cases that just my opinion. Minority of abuse cases need to stop and hold unaccountable for their actions like Elizabeth and girls hold for 10 yrs house of horrors I could go on