One Thousand Gifts MP3 CD – Unabridged, April 8, 2014

I hardly ever review books, but I was really disappointed by this one. I had read rave reviews for it around the web. I got a few chapters into it and gave up. This is a written in a very bizarre style. I had a hard time finding the message (or following the general flow of her writing) in all of the imagery. The idea behind this is a good one, but unfortunately - for me - it was lost in the author's writing style.

A friend challenged me to start a list of 1,000 things I was grateful for, based on this book. I later read the book. One Thousand Gifts is chock full of such pearls of wisdom, it blows me away. I was at 550 on my list when my son took his life under the influence of marijuana edibles. Like Ann, I have six wonderful children, all from one wonderful husband. Four years later I am at almost 7,000. Ann's book has helped me to hunt for His goodness. I have found my deepest joy when I thank Him in the hardest things. I just published Grace in Grief, Navigating Loss to Wholeness. Keeping a thankful journal allowed me, in the most difficult season of my life, to see and know the Lord's goodness and intense love for me as never before, and Grace in Grief is the story of my journey. Thank you, Ann, for impacting my life for eternity.

I’m sorry to say that for years I’d consider reading this book but would read the negative reviews on her writing style and then would always decide to save my money. After yet again another recommendation for me to read this, I finally decided to go for it although I was certainly hesitant going into it.I just read the last page and would like to share for anyone else that has been on the fence, READ IT. It is the most captivating, powerful, and transformational book I have ever read. Her words and writing style are wondrously beautiful. I really have no words that could even bring justice to its beauty. This book reached my core and put language to my heart’s cry that I actually found myself crying throughout the book and I could not help myself! It draws you in to a sacredness that compels you to see your world differently.This book is a game-changer.

I may be among the minority but I could not finish reading this book. It was very hard for me to get into then continuing was just not possible. Next time I’ll make sure to read the lower star reviews as well before making a purchase. The book is slow and drawn out when getting to the point. Yet even when getting there it wasn’t always meaningful. The terms used and grim expressions were unsettling. Just not what I expected.

God has given Mrs. Voskamp an incredible talent in being able to put her thoughts down on paper so beautifully. I am not a profound or deep thinker so I was amazed that I was caught right up in the amazing insights God has given this woman. It took me a few pages to get used to her style of writing, lots of incomplete sentences, but once I caught on I was swept away by her style. The first few pages had me sobbing with the intensity of her sorrow but it quickly leveled out and became less intense. It continues on like that throughout the book, sometimes very deep and thought provoking and other times almost boring and slow. Occasionally I found myself bored as she can tend to drag out the thought process but it was definitely worth it to stick with it and finish. My mother who is a deep and sometimes melancholy thinker, easily depressed by sin and sorrow, couldn't read the book. She said it was too much like she already thinks everyday and it was too heavy. When she reads she wants something light or if it is spiritually deep, short. The chapters are definitely long so I understood what she was saying. But for me, who needed someone to help me process though deeper thoughts like why we suffer and what to do with our suffering, I found it extremely helpful, Biblical and uplifting.

I was hopeful, but finally just gave up on the book 3/4 of the way through. It really doesn't have any deep grit, or offer deep theological life applications for helping one get through tough times. I wasted much of my time reading about her romantic moments with the farmer and her running through a field at night with a camera.

Really, really hard to follow. Her writing style is very free form and confusing. Sorry!

I had high hopes for this book after hearing so many recommend it. Unfortunately after literally the first paragraph of her describing her mom’s “tearing ring of fire" during childbirth *insert gag emoji* I knew this book was not what I thought it was going to be. I read through about half of the first chapter then thumbed through the rest to see if the entire book continued on in the same way and it does. Over the top, needlessly graphic with chunks of fragmented, poetic sentences and over the top descriptions just like the above. And after reading some of the other negative reviews I’m glad I spared myself by not reading the rest of her disturbing accounts. Where’s the practical advice promised?? Seems more like therapeutic journaling by someone who has been through a lot of trauma. I'm not sure how anyone here actually read the entire thing.

I bought this book to help me as I'm learning how to cope with life after the death of my teenage daughter from the side-effects of her cancer treatment. Ann Voskamp writes in very flowery, poetic language which I have found to be something of an “acquired taste”. I prefer a more direct, down to earth style.Having said all of that, her book is very good and I’m learning a lot from her.Ann suffered many adverse experiences in life including witnessing her little sister being knocked down and killed by a truck. She has struggled emotionally, but she eventually learned the importance of giving thanks to God for the many good things that we have in our lives.This book really is about so much more than this, it’s also about finding God in the everyday moments of our daily lives. I have found this a very helpful way to look at things. I recommend visiting Ann Voskamp's website also as she has many other inspiring products. I write a more detailed review on my blog: https://victoriawhyte.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/one-thousand-gifts/

This book was a huge encouragement. I can take negative thinking or just the daily always behind, too much to do, nobody sees me, overwhelming thoughts - and turn those into a perspective of thankfulness and gratitude. And shows that it is possible. I found it has been like medicine for my soul – much needed - practised regularly – daily – makes all the difference in my relationship with others with myself and with God. Thanks Ann.

I love to read ... and my faith is the core of my being. I keep a gratitude journal and this book was recommended by a friend - to add to my gratitude journey.Her ideas are good but oh my gosh, what a confusing writing style. It's taking me ages to get through this book ..... and I'm only still reading it due to the basic concept in the book which I am passionate about.Her writing style is certainly not for me!!!I would never recommend this book!!!

Know that this is an extreme Christian book by someone very religious. I read in other reviews that it's possible to see past that, however I found that difficult as there are bible quotes on almost every page, and there is a 'as Christians we are guaranteed God's love' - that I find a bit hard to swallow as a spiritual, but not doctrinal Christian, person.The writing doesn't read easily but is poetic, at times feeling a bit contrived, which also means that it doesn't have a clear progression, but feels more like vignettes of everyday life collected in a book. It feels as if there is distance between the words and the realness of the author's life, which often is the case when authors focus more on the poetry than lived life.It is however a pleasure to read the author's search for eucharisteo (thanks-givings) and seeing her find it, in what in buddhist tradition you find by being present here-now in whatever you do.

I am only half way through this book and have to say, I am struggling to continue. The message is simple and one we often forget: to be grateful and to see beauty around us. But I just find this book too heavy with many tragedies already opening the first chapter, and her writing style is not for me. I like 'to the point' books and books I will remember. I feel with this one, many paragraphs are just going over my head. Too complicated and too many words to describe one sentence.I am sure many will enjoy her style but not for me.