A Table for Two: A mother and her young daughter face death together [Paperback]

Alisa Bair (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 1998

The mysteries of life and faith underlie this true story of a family losing its youngest member to cancer. As bewildering is the child’s extraordinary perception and her character, which take on shining power as her body loses strength. The book includes Kelly’s diary entries, her Christian family’s efforts to live as normally as possible, and, through it all, her mother’s persistent hope, faith, and love. Vividly written.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A Table for Two is a more than a biographical testament to the human spirit; it is also a deep source of inspiration and comfort for any parent, any family that must experience the pain of loss that is unique with the death of a beloved child. Highly recommended.-- The Midwest Book Review

From the Back Cover

"Living with a child who is expected to die is some of the sweetest and cruelest living there is. "Invisibly a barrier forms between you, and no matter how long or how tightly you hold her, or how deeply you look into her eyes, you haven’t really reached her. And so while part of you wants to quickly end this unbearably torturous interim, another part keeps longing to hold her again, to apprehend with eyes and heart for all of time, to pin her down, bring her safely to your side, keep enough of her before the looming, incomprehensible departure. "There is little solace." -Alisa Bair The mysteries of life and faith underlie this true story of a family losing its youngest member to cancer. As bewildering is the child’s extraordinary perception and her character, which take on shining power as her body loses strength. The book includes Kelly’s diary entries, her Christian family’s efforts to live as normally as possible, and, through it all, her mother’s persistent hope, faith, and love. Vividly written.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: Good Books; Presumed First Edition edition (December 31, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561482188
• ISBN-13: 978-1561482184
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,419,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > General
  • #35 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Medical

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Been through it, too., December 14, 2001

By 

"kafg" (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Table for Two: A mother and her young daughter face death together (Paperback)

After I lost my seven-year-old son Timmy to a brain tumor, I spent the first two months or so reading every book I got my hands on by other parents who had lost children. It was a type of therapy, I guess. Later, I found A Table For Two, and it has become one of my favorites because I can identify so strongly with Alisa's experience. This is a REAL book. It seems to me that these children who are destined for abbreviated lives are often specially graced with an unusually deep faith. It was true for my son and others as well as for Kelly. Thank you for writing the book, Alisa, I know how painful it was to relive the experience in order to do so. Rest assured that Kelly's memory is living on, and that her faith still speaks. I'd like to write our story too, someday.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A young girl battles life in the name of Jesus, March 21, 2000

By 

Dbennett (Hampstead, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Table for Two: A mother and her young daughter face death together (Paperback)

A very well written saga of a young girl, Kelly Bair, and her quest to carry Jesus in her heart every remaining day of her life. Kelly's parents, family and friends are carried through life with a twist of events when their daughter and friend is diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor.

The wondrous quality of this book is that readers discover there in no ending to this story of life that we lead - only a beginning. Little Kelly Bair is truly the missionary that she imagined herself to be. Her life story will bring more and more people to the Table for Two. Through Kelly, more will be able to dine with Jesus.

Recommended for the entire family. A very resourceful book for families coping with the death of a child.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful story of faith and hope amidst personal tragedy, July 21, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Montville, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Table for Two: A mother and her young daughter face death together (Paperback)

Hat's off to Lisa for sharing this personal story in such an open, eloquent and touching manner. Although I was brought to tears frequently in reading this book, it touched me deeply and strengthened my own faith in God and my appreciation for every moment here on earth. I later found the audiobook at audible.com where the author reads the book personally... a great way to experience this story directly from the author's audible words. Highly recommended reading or listening!