Lisa, the Brief Life of a Writer [Hardcover]

Lisa Malia McDonough (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 412 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris Corp (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401038964
• ISBN-13: 978-1401038960
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,053,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oprah would love this one!, April 2, 2002

By 

Janis Londraville (Venice, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lisa, the Brief Life of a Writer (Paperback)

LISA, THE BRIEF LIFE OF A WRITER is a collection of poems, essays, and book reviews written by Lisa McDonough, who died at age 34 in March 2001 from Cystic Fibrosis. She had been a journalist with the PALM BEACH POST newspaper. Her poems are insightful and mature, employing a gift from the muses; her essays (many about dealing the trials she had to face) are inspirational without being sentimental. Most interesting to me are her book reviews. Oddly enough they reveal much about her character, while providing readers with a vehicle to access a wide variety of reading material.

This is a beautifully designed book, with a photo of Lisa on the cover. That same photograph sits on my own writing desk, a gift from Lisa following a visit to her home in Jupiter, Florida in 1999. Years ago, I had the honor of teaching Lisa McDonough when she was in the eighth grade, in Hawaii. Later, she helped to edit two of my own books, published by Susquehanna and Syracuse University presses. What enormous pleasure it gave me to watch my little student, now a college honors graduate, take red pen to her teacher's work. She had learned well and had become an expert teacher herself.

Lisa's brief time with us is a message that life--even with the weight of trials and tribulations--can be possible, useful, and hopeful. Her passing was a lesson in grace and bravery. Her book is not just a tribute to her but a guide to help all of us live with courage and joy.