Customer Reviews

Through the Eye of the Storm: A Book Dedicated to Rebuilding What Katrina Washed Away

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the most remarkable accounts of one person's struggle to heal a broken world that I've ever read. An Air Force Academy graduate, the author has confronted man-made battlefields, notably in Iraq during OIF-I, where she accompanied the invasion force on the road to Baghdad. But nothing prepared her for Nature's wrath from Hurricane Katrina. In responding to the needs of those hit hardest by that disaster, she found a human community worth connecting to. While this was the experience of many who went South after the storm, few are able to write as evocatively and eloquently about the experience as Ms. Espinoza. The result is a beautifully told story of disaster, faith, recovery and healing, an account unabashedly rooted in the finest traditions of Judeo-Christianity. A must read.

I just finished Cholene Espinoza's book and in addition to the beatiful writing style and the engaging story contained in the book, I found it to be an incredibly thought-provoking and fascinating journey through one woman's life. Ms. Espinoza's struggles with herself were quite familiar to me as I expect they will be to many people. However, I was truly impressed with the way that she chose to act upon those struggles to make life better for those around her. The kindness and fervor with which she tackled the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was absolutely inspiring and I hope that many people read the book and feel compelled to do their part to help the people of Mississippi. I highly recommend this book for not only an amazing story but for the kind of inspiration that seems to be missing in so many parts of the world today.

Any mom out there who was watching the coverage of Katrina on tv, wishing they could do more, here is your chance. Not all of us have the guts that Cholene and Ellen did to rent a truck, fill it with goods and drive down to the middle of a disaster zone. But we can all thank God they did. And we can all open our wallets and buy this book. Besides the fact that it is a great read, all the profits go to build a community center for the children hit the hardest in the gulf. Surely, you all can swing less than $15 for this. This is a call to action! Order it now and do your part to rebuild hope for these kids. Even though it still is not enough. It is the least we can do. You will read just how horrific it was for the people in the gulf. And how quickly we have forgotten. So tonight when you cozy up in your bed with your laptop think of all the children still living in shelters, homeless, and they will be that way for a very long time coming. Together we can at least give them a place they can go visit to play some ball, use the computer, and socialize in a clean, decent environment. Have a heart. Hit that order button.

We all have seen the news - we saw the unbelievable destruction that Mother Nature bestowed upon the Gulf. We saw the raw emotion - and sometimes lack of - on the the faces of the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who called the Gulf home. Many of us jumped in to help - mostly by writing a check, or sending donations. And, some of us did nothing. For those of us who stood back not knowing what to do, here's our chance.

Cholene Espinoza - Pilot, Air Force Academy graduate, Reporter, and ultimately, Humanitarian - chronicles her unbelievable mission to the Gulf Coast in the book "Through the Eye of the Storm". Cholene was able to round up supplies and manpower to head ultimately to Delisle, Mississippi to see what could be done. The mission that Cholene was on may have started out to help others, but she comes to realize that she is ultimately the one being helped. Cholene discusses in her book the inward battles that she faces regarding her faith and her country. Ultimately, Cholene's spirit and soul are renewed by the strength in the people that she meets along the way.

So, now you must be wondering where we come in - after such an amazing mission, how in the world can we help? You may be saying to yourself "I don't have the strength that Cholene demonstrated" or "I have nothing to give". Well, it is so simple. Buy the book. Save the money you would have spent on a couple Latte's this week. Pack your lunch for 2 days. ALL, and I mean ALL proceeds are going to help build and support a community center that is going to be built in Harrison County, Mississippi. There are 5 acres of land that will be developed to help the children in the area get their GED, job training, and other skills that they so desperately need to help get them through not only the rebuilding of their community, but real life skills that they may otherwise not get. The community needs this center. The children need a safe place to go that gives them the room to grow and be nurtured.

I read the "Storm" in one sitting. Everyone needs to read this book to remember what one person can do and the incredible human spirit that rebuilds a town and oneself. If you need inspiration that one can rebuild oneself, meet challenges, find a better life, question one's preconceptions - this is the book for you! If you have given up all hope, this book will give hope back to you - for yourself, for the world. I can't recommend it more.

In the days immediately following the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina two women decide they cannot sit by and wait for others to help those devastated by the storm. A few days later they left their home in New York for Memphis where they rented a van, loaded it with supplies and took off for Mississippi where they planned to distribute their desperately needed cargo.

This could be an ordinary story about two women (or men) who deliver a truck load of supplies to those left after any disaster. But these are not two ordinary women, and this is not an ordinary story. The author, Cholene Espinosa, a former U-2 spy plane pilot now a United Airlines pilot, had been scheduled to fly on September 11, 2001 on United flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco for her next assignment. United 93 we will recall is the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania as passengers fought its hijackers. Fortunately, Cholene's assignment and flight had been rescheduled. Ellen Ratner, Cholene's partner, is a regular commentator on Fox News and a White House correspondent.

The reader will be held captive while learning why Cholene and Ellen chose DeLisle, Mississippi as their destination, reading about the remarkable people in this small Mississippi town and the difficulties to be encountered in what one would think would be a simple and easy mission. This is a story of courage not only of the people in DeLisle but also of Cholene and Ellen in meeting the challenges they faced. The author bravely shares intimate events in her and Ellen's lives that prepared, and indeed, compelled them to undertake this mission. The reader will be drawn into the lives of the people in DeLisle and the future they are struggling to make for themselves and their children.

This is a gripping story that will bring the reader into the lives of hurricane survivors and those giving of their lives to help the victims recover. This is a book that will unite you with the people of DeLisle and the two exceptional women who could not sit by and let others do the job they felt compelled to undertake.

I can't tell you how touched I am by Cholene Espinoza's inspirational story about rebuilding what Katrina washed away. Her clarity, honesty, and sincerity are compelling, humbling and vivid. While I was reading this amazing story, I felt I was on the site myself and that I personally got to know the people she writes about; I could feel their suffering and their hope. Ms. Espinoza gives the readers a wonderful gift by opening our eyes, our hearts, our pocketbooks, and our tool chests to get in there and give whatever help we can, wherever the need exists. I admire her strength to spread this necessary message; it will help so many people. Thank you, Cholene, for your courage to share your experience with us.

This is a well written, easy to read book about rebuilding a lesser known area in Mississippi that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Cholene and her partner worked tirelessly and in less than average conditions to help the people restore what was taken from them. They did not only focus on the present, but set up a foundation to keep the neighborhood funded for the future.

I bought this book to gain some anecdotal insights into Katrina for a presentation I had to give. Needless to say it was nearly worthless for that purpose. If you are interested in a book with great anecdotal stories and full of historical facts, go with "The Great Deluge" by historian Douglas Brinkley.

To be fair, the storyline was pleasant. However, it was shallow and poorly written. A very easy read but also boring.

I just read the book "Through the Storm" by Lynne Spears. It tells the story of a family that knew better than what happened but got caught up in all the fame as her daughter. Like all of us she only wanted her daughter to succeed.

Britney went from the small plays, singing and dancing to the big time. The book reads slowly and unless you are very interested in the Spears because of who they are I am not sure you will be all that excited about reading the book.

The good part of the book shows the side of a family that was hurting and how that probably affected so many other things that happened. A dad who had an alcohol problem, a regular family that didn't know how to deal with all that surrounded them-fame, money, success and most of all what might have been a way too shallow spiritual life.

The best thing that I find in the book is when Lynne tells what she should have done better: The family should have worked harder at building faith in the children-church attendance was regular when they were in town but Bible reading and devotions would have helped.

According to the story the family did indeed miss the stability and anchor of faith though all through the book Lynne shares the story and mentions her faith.

The other regret that she had was not trusting her gut in regards to things that happened-she could often sense that things weren't right but trusted professionals that ended up causing many of the heart aches

I do think after reading the book that there is much more to the story that what we get from the papers, TV news, and especially those that follow the media.

After raising children and having grandchildren it does help someone to hear from the mother and know how she hurt! We can all learn from Lynne to build stronger spiritual lives, be more careful about outside influences, and trust our gut about taking care of the family.Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World