Fate was working against little Brian Mauretti. The food that was meant to
nourish him was poisoning him instead, and the doctors said the damage was
devastating and absolute. Fate had written off Brian. But fate didn't count on a
woman as determined as Brian’s grandmother, Angela DiMartino – who everyone knew
as Mama. Loving her grandson with everything she had, Mama endeavored to battle
fate. Fate had no idea what it was in for.
An emotional tale about the strength of family bonds, unconditional love,
and the perseverance to do our best with the challenging gifts we receive,
GOODNIGHT, BRIAN is an uplifting tribute to what happens when giving up is not
an option
Excerpt Enough time had passed for the shock of Brian’s condition to wear off. Joan had stumbled beyond the grieving process and had given up negotiating with God. She was now at a place called rage. Mama sat with her daughter at the kitchen table, trying to help her make sense of it all. “Maybe Brian’s a test from God?” Mama suggested.
“Why would God test a little baby who’s never done a thing wrong? Why would He test an innocent child?” Joan snapped back.
Mama shook her head. “I didn’t say God was testing Brian,” she said evenly. There was a thoughtful pause. “Maybe He’s testing everyone around Brian?”
“I don’t want to hear that!” Joan roared. “My son will never be able to enjoy the life of other people who don’t…”
Mama slapped her hand on the Formica table, stopping Joan in mid-sentence and turning her face into that of a seven-year-old girl’s. “Not another negative word, do you hear me?” she yelled back, quickly grabbing her daughter’s hands and holding them tightly. “Positive, Joan – everything must be positive! Negative calls for negative and positive brings forth positive. Brian’s already facing some unfair challenges. We have to be positive, Joan. We just have to be!”
Joan wiped her eyes. “But what if the doctor’s right, Ma?” she muttered in a tortured voice. “What
if…”
Without letting Joan’s hands go, Mama took a deep breath and started in on her own tirade. “The doctors don’t know what the hell they’re talking about! I had a grandmother who lived her whole life as a brittle diabetic, but she ate anything she wanted. She died three days before her eighty-fifth birthday. Your grandfather supposedly had cirrhosis of the liver, but lived with his bottle for forty more years until old age took him. They don’t know beans! Besides, we need to have faith in a higher source.” She pulled her crucifix away from her neck and kissed it. “You have to believe, Joan. Before any of the healing can take place, you have to believe that it will.” She nodded and lowered her tone. “Only God knows how… and that’s enough.”
Joan placed her face in her hands and began to cry. She was now completely removed from her rage and safely returned to the stage of grief. “I’m…just… so…scared,” she stuttered, sobbing.
Mama stroked her hair. “Don’t you worry, love. They say that children are raised by a village.” She nodded her gray, curly head. “I think it’s about time we had a village meeting.”
MY REVIEW:
This was such a touching story I found myself crying at times. Love is amazing. Poor Brian was given medicine that made him brain damaged. His mother only listened to what the doctors told her. His father complained that he cried all night. he wouldn't eat, or sleep or talk. His Grandmother "mama" never gave up hope, and forced him to do things for himself. Brian's father thought that she was getting too involved, but Brian responded to her in so many positive ways. This book is a true testament to not give up, and to love with all your heart. Faith also played a strong role in this book. Mama is a person of faith and she believes in God. The ending was also sad, but you will have to read that for yourself lol. All in all I would give this book a 5 out of 5, even though it was tear jerker. Be prepared with a box of tissues and to hold your kiddos a little bit tighter when you are done with this book.
About the Author:Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestseller TWELVE MONTHS and PRESSED PENNIES, THE UNEXPECTED STORM: The Gulf War Legacy, and JACOB EVANS, as well as several books under the pseudonym, Steven Herberts. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly N ews. Recently, three of Steven’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or his four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.
Visit Steven at:
http://www.StevenManchester.com
“Why would God test a little baby who’s never done a thing wrong? Why would He test an innocent child?” Joan snapped back.
Mama shook her head. “I didn’t say God was testing Brian,” she said evenly. There was a thoughtful pause. “Maybe He’s testing everyone around Brian?”
“I don’t want to hear that!” Joan roared. “My son will never be able to enjoy the life of other people who don’t…”
Mama slapped her hand on the Formica table, stopping Joan in mid-sentence and turning her face into that of a seven-year-old girl’s. “Not another negative word, do you hear me?” she yelled back, quickly grabbing her daughter’s hands and holding them tightly. “Positive, Joan – everything must be positive! Negative calls for negative and positive brings forth positive. Brian’s already facing some unfair challenges. We have to be positive, Joan. We just have to be!”
Joan wiped her eyes. “But what if the doctor’s right, Ma?” she muttered in a tortured voice. “What
if…”
Without letting Joan’s hands go, Mama took a deep breath and started in on her own tirade. “The doctors don’t know what the hell they’re talking about! I had a grandmother who lived her whole life as a brittle diabetic, but she ate anything she wanted. She died three days before her eighty-fifth birthday. Your grandfather supposedly had cirrhosis of the liver, but lived with his bottle for forty more years until old age took him. They don’t know beans! Besides, we need to have faith in a higher source.” She pulled her crucifix away from her neck and kissed it. “You have to believe, Joan. Before any of the healing can take place, you have to believe that it will.” She nodded and lowered her tone. “Only God knows how… and that’s enough.”
Joan placed her face in her hands and began to cry. She was now completely removed from her rage and safely returned to the stage of grief. “I’m…just… so…scared,” she stuttered, sobbing.
Mama stroked her hair. “Don’t you worry, love. They say that children are raised by a village.” She nodded her gray, curly head. “I think it’s about time we had a village meeting.”
MY REVIEW:
This was such a touching story I found myself crying at times. Love is amazing. Poor Brian was given medicine that made him brain damaged. His mother only listened to what the doctors told her. His father complained that he cried all night. he wouldn't eat, or sleep or talk. His Grandmother "mama" never gave up hope, and forced him to do things for himself. Brian's father thought that she was getting too involved, but Brian responded to her in so many positive ways. This book is a true testament to not give up, and to love with all your heart. Faith also played a strong role in this book. Mama is a person of faith and she believes in God. The ending was also sad, but you will have to read that for yourself lol. All in all I would give this book a 5 out of 5, even though it was tear jerker. Be prepared with a box of tissues and to hold your kiddos a little bit tighter when you are done with this book.
Thank you for sharing your emotional review. I agree with you, I also gave it a 5 star rating. After reading bot of Mr. Manchester's books, the other being TWELVE MONTHS, he is now on my "authors to read" list. Great job!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet review!
ReplyDeleteI have to be honest I read this book also and felt the sadness and was somewhat angry at the ending. I would have liked to see Brian bond with "mama" more towards the end. Also the husband left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I do not want to give the book away but he was in my opinion a bad father. Absent from much of his sons life and not even willing to see him during his vivitation of his other children. That to me is unforgivable.
ReplyDelete