Customer Reviews

Vita's Will: Real Life Lessons About Life, Death & Moving On

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Debbie Gisonni has written a scarily honest book about the emotional struggles she suffered in losing four close family members in four short years. But ultimately, her heart-wrenching story has a triumphant spirit. She takes us inside her mind and her heart with a raw honesty rarely, if ever, seen. Like everyone else, you'll likely recognize your own guilty thoughts, "inappropriate" jokes or laughs, things you've done or said that you hate yourself for. Thus, she holds a mirror up to our humanity in all its pain, humor and wonder. Oh yeah, and glory.

And even though it's a first book, she does all this with a simple, powerful writing style that drives you through the book. And she throws in an uncannily accurate description of the culture inside a New York City Italian-American family (that is NOT mob-connected). Trust me; been there, done that. She nails it.

If you've ever struggled with emoitonal loss, or just felt overwhelmed by circumstances beyond your control, this is an important book for you. Internalizing its "Real Life Lessons" will help put you back on track.

make lemonade. An old saying but one that surely fits this book and this authors amazing spirit. Debbie Gisonni doesn't just scratch the surface of emotions as she encounters some heartbreaking setbacks. You don't read about the characters, you meet them. You can smell Vitas cooking, sense her fear, and become strengthened by her courage and Debbie's determination. I found myself in shock, as I read about Debbie's sister. I thought about how I would feel if this happened to one of my sisters. I understood Debbie's frustration with her fathers acceptance of his disease. I recalled some wonderful memories of my own favorite aunt as Debbie brought her to life on the pages.

Since I lost my mother and father by the time I was 30, I was able to relate to so much in this book. The experiences may have been different but the emotions are similar and the lessons you learn mark every fiber of your being. At the end of each chapter Debbie included her real life lesson. Some simple, others more complex. They are daily reminders of what really matter. I was relieved as I read about Debbie finding it near impossible to stay somber at her mothers service and the overwhelming need to start laughing. Thank goodness that has happened to someone else! This is where Debbie achieves her greatest accomplishment in writing this book - making the reader a part of the story. There were many days I was going about my life and I would think of Vita or Martha. I literally craved some of Vita's cooking. This book stayed with me long past the time I put it down.

I purchased additional books and gave them to friends as gifts. Everyone who read her story shared with me their insights. But what I found most interesting, was how many of my friends went one step further and shared how this story reminded them of someone in their life. That is when a book is more than pages and words. It touches the spirit.

You'll laugh, you'll cry but most of all you will be touched by this honest, insightful look at family and coping with loss.

Vita's Will was a very enjoyable read loaded with wisdom and insight. I appreciated the author's honesty in relating what her family went through and how she personally dealt with all that happened. Her honesty will help me, and other readers, deal with life's challenges and I'm grateful for that.

Everyone who has a big job and a big salary ought to read this book. Too many people spend time worrying about nothing, and it can all disappear in a moment, as Debbie eloquently writes. This book is a practical and heartfelt story about stepping off the corporate latter when reality intrudes, and getting in touch with the truly important aspects of life. It's a quick but touching book to read.

I went ... on April 13, "Good Friday" with the sole intention of purchasing "Joseph Girzone's" "Never Alone". I walked straight to the book, took it off the shelf, when my eye's caught Debbie's book "Vita's Will". With my name being Vita, I was completely taken aback! I looked at the book in my hand for a moment, rushed to pay for it, came straight home, and read it... In her book, Debbie re-lives a time in her life that would have broken most, yet she surfaced with more wisdom, humor, love, and a greater appreciation and passion for life. I too had a similar period of time with my family and felt immediatley bonded to her and her family, those that passed and those still with us. It is truly cliched to say that I laughed and cried, but I did, and I enjoyed every moment of it!!! I had never in my life laughed that hard and out loud when reading a book! It was as if it was to be part of my healing process as well, and it felt wonderful to know that we are truly not alone in life and what it brings us. Thank you Debbie, for sharing your story, inspiration, wisdom, life lessons, and your intimate life details with us... You and your book are truly gems.

This is a good one. I found myself recommending Vita's Will before I finished reading it. The Real Life Lessons at the end of each chapter, are helpful "words of wisdom" I continue to think about and/or share with others, especially loved ones going through a tough spell.