Customer Reviews

My Beautiful Broken Shell: Words of Hope to Refresh the Soul

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Carol Adams has touched the mystery and the beauty of the sea and the gathering of the treasures yielded up by the sea to the avid and ardent collector, in a unique and inspiring way, unequalled in my reading!

I turned again to the pages of "My Beautiful Broken Shell" recently, as the seashore has been much on my mind and heart the last few weeks. I will soon be paying a visit to *my* beach and beginning my annual search for the "perfect" shell.

I remembered reading her thoughts about the beauty and meaning of a broken shell she found on the beach one morning, and I was suddenly struck by the rich symbolism contained in her writing.

I *am* the broken shell she found. I *am* the one passed by in search of the perfect. However perfect I began life, such is not the way to describe what I have become!

She speaks of the shells that have been pounded on the shore and survived anyway. She speaks of their continuing beauty despite the broken, tattered edges of what remains of their former beauty.

I think she captures the essence of the "changed life" in her writing. It is easy to see oneself in Ms. Adams' words and to relate events in one's own life to the broken shells of life's beaches.

I find strength and new inspiration in reading this lovely little book with it's simple language and gorgeous illustrations over and over again. I have begun taking it with me everywhere I go.

My appreciation for the book has grown by leaps and bounds with each rereading and I find in it today the same kind of awe and wonder I have felt in the last few days following the crash of John Kennedy Jr.'s plane and the loss of his life as I find in the words of JFK's speech on September 14, 1962, about "The Sea". Classic words from two very different sources.

Thanks, Ms. Adams, for your work!!!

After losing my 12 year old son, my soul felt lost. I happened upon this beautiful book in a card store and felt drawn to it. Not only did I feel a connection of being "broken" but my son was a "special needs child" and I saw such an appreciation of seeing the beauty in everything - especially the broken. The original book has long since been given away, as was the second one I purchased. I still long to be able to just pick it up and rekindle my appreciation of where I am.

When I wanted to share this wonderful little book with the women from my church I put together a program. I found about 20 pictures of the sea that I have taken and the same number of shells ( some broken ) I presented it like the books of our chilhood. As I read the book out loud I would, on occassion, say "pass" and they would pass the picture and the shell to the person next to them. That way they were able to visit the sea and feel the book as well as hear it.
I have given many copies away. It is a great source of inspiration. My suggestion would be; share it!

I think this book is a great tool for hurting hearts. I am an R.N. and have a calling to comfort people. Sometimes it is hard to find the words but Carol so beautifully enables the reader to feel the pain and hopefully start breaking down barriers to start the healing process.I have a neighbor now disabled from M.S. have promised her I would visit and have tea. I have to admit I was apprehensive about going. I am now looking forward to our visit and sharing My beautiful Broken Shell.Thank you Carol for sharing with us so we can also share.God bless your work.

This book was given to me when my husband passed away. I read it and was comforted. However, it was not until I re-read it a year later, that I really understood it! Needless to say, i ordered several copies for my sons and friends who have lost partners. This book made me realize that it was ok to "be a broken shell".

There are few books or cards that adequately express compassion to people who have endured or are experiencing tragic loss. This small, beautiful book offers genuine words that express the honesty of heartbreak as well as the hope of healing. I received it as a gift when a loved one died suddenly, and I have purchased several for friends who are struggling with grief. This book would also be appropriate for someone who has any type of loss, such as shattered hopes or expectations.

I rediscovered this little book on a shelf recently. I took the time to sit down and read it and look at the beautiful artwork. In these very unsure times I think this little book is a must. Read as a morning vesper to start each day with the assurance that we are all broken shells, but we each have a purpose on this earth.

This publication is a priceless token for anyone who is enduring a difficult time in his/her life-- be it illness, job loss, divorce or separation, death, any type of emotional distress.

It offers words of understanding, hope and encouragement that can be applied to each individual situation.

The illustrations are treasures in themselves-- definitely a keeper.

This book is amazing for no matter where you are in life this can be a help. I have given this book to a number of people when they were experiencing a lost, some to people going through happy times and they all just absolutely loved it. I find it to be a bit of medicine to calm me down, lift me up. Highly recommed this book.

Encouragement to get through grief, remembering what we still have to live for, and recalling that grief is a part of this life. It comes, but the intensity will lessen, and we will be able to remember our lost one with love, joy and hope.