The Twelve Gifts in Marriage [Hardcover]

Charlene Costanzo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 14, 2004

An inspirational, illustrated gift book offering a message of love and commitment for couples in all stages of matrimony.

Anyone who's ever said ⇠do⟫nows that a successful marriage is not founded on love alone. It takes commitment, hard work, and patience to make the marriage work. Charlene Costanzo's latest book, The Twelve Gifts in Marriage, reminds us all what marriage is about and offers inspirational advice that couples of all ages will cherish.

Like Charlene's first two books, Marriage opens with a parable: An elderly couple warns a young bride and groom that their life together won't always be blissful or easy, but that their love will grow deeper with time if they remember to practice twelve innate gifts栭ong them strength, faith, and compassion. The book then illustrates the twelve gifts with powerful and poignant hand–tinted photographs that offer an immediate, sensory connection to readers.

Like Charlene's first two successful books, The Twelve Gifts in Marriage brings a hopeful, inspirational message to its readers, from newlyweds to couples celebrating their Golden Anniversary.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charlene Gorda Costanzo is an award-winning author, workshop facilitator, wife, mother of two adult daughters, and grandmother of twins. She holds a BA in Philosophy from St. Bonaventure University and an MA in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.

Originally from New Jersey, she has resided in New York, Texas, Arizona, and Florida. During a one-year book tour to launch The Twelve Gifts of Birth, Charlene and her husband enjoyed living in an RV in forty-eight of the fifty states.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (December 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060742526
• ISBN-13: 978-0060742522
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charlene Gorda Costanzo is an award-winning author, workshop facilitator, wife, mother of two adult daughters, and grandmother of twins. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Bonaventure University and an M.A. in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.

Originally from New Jersey, she has resided in New York, Texas, Arizona, and Florida. During a one-year book tour to launch The Twelve Gifts of Birth, Charlene and her husband enjoyed living in an RV in 48 of the 50 states.
The Twelve Gifts series of fables began in 1987 when Charlene wrote The Twelve Gifts of Birth as a life message for her own, then teenage daughters. Twelve years later she published the book and discussed its message in schools, shelters, prisons, churches, and hospitals throughout the United States.

The Twelve Gifts for Healing was written while Charlene was in treatment for advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2001. "Cancer led me to examine my convictions and look at these life gifts more deeply. Truly, they helped me heal," she says.

The Twelve Gifts in Marriage comes from the ups and downs, ebbs and flows, and hurts and healings that are a part of every long-term marriage.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Affirming and Hopeful, November 30, 2004

By 

Linda (Tucson) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Twelve Gifts in Marriage (Hardcover)

I was fortunate to get a preview of this new book, and was touched by the pictures of the couples chosen by the author to accompany each gift. One picture brought a laugh, another a long sigh, and yet another a few tears. Each picture evoked a personal story, written in the years my husband and I have been together. Some stories made me thankful for the gifts my husband and I have faithfully used in our marriage, and others made me thankful that we both have gifts yet to be realized.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Twelve Gifts in Marriage by Charlene Costanzo, December 3, 2004

By 

Diana W. Baysinger - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Twelve Gifts in Marriage (Hardcover)

Life is ordinary, it has its ebb and flow. Loving makes it extraordinary. This book holds the simple secrets of sustaining life-long loving. The story reminds couples to use twelve inherent gifts to keep their love alive through the course of their marriage. As a therapist, I keep this book in the waiting room to share with waiting clients. I use it as an assignment for couples to read helping them find their way back to each other. I gift it to newlyweds so they can remember the daily practice of magical acts that will nurture real love.

Diana W. Baysinger, LMFT
Marriage and Family Therapist
Private Practice- Tempe, Az.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MARRIAGE ... A TRULY HOLY UNION, December 2, 2004

By 

Edward Valvano (MARCO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Twelve Gifts in Marriage (Hardcover)

A WOW',the story,the pictures, and especially the ending with the couples comments. My eyes were not only reading but tearing as I reviewed the 41 yrs. my "Bride", and I have spent together.The bonds of marriage are so important,in ups and downs,through the years and this book does it all.Should be mandatory reading for ALL couples of any age especially those about to embark into the life of marriage.MAY THIS BOOK STAY IN CIRCULATION FOR YEARS TO COME.........Ed Valvano