Laugh, Cry, Reflect: Stories From a Joyful
Heart
Amy Laundrie
About
the Book
Amy
shares:
A dear, elderly friend, Gisela Hamm, encouraged me to compile my favorite
columns into a book. Sections include anecdotes about my family, my teaching
career, and raising pet ducks.
I attended the book signing of Rose
Bingham, happened to sit next to her editor, Kira Henschel, who happened to
mention that she published memoirs. I thought, Gee, I have a memoir. I filled
out her requested 16-page marketing plan and Laugh, Cry, Reflect: Stories From
a Joyful Heart came out less than 8 months later.
Laugh, Cry, Reflect: Stories From a Joyful
Heart is a collection of short yet powerful personal stories. Some
will make you laugh—like when you find out why the author’s 12-year-old
daughter requested a home pregnancy test. Other stories may tug at your
heartstrings—like when you learn what item was placed on a beloved relative’s
casket. Many of these poignant essays will prompt you to reflect on moments
from your own life. All are offerings of hope, wonder, and joy.
About
the Author
A retired fourth-grade teacher, Amy
Laundrie began writing personal essays because of a desire share some of her
favorite stories and connect with others. Readers have called her stories
poignant, humorous, and heartfelt testimonials to a woman's life. They have
universal truths and emotions that speak to a wide reading audience. She
considers herself a goal setter and is proud of finishing a half-marathon,
surviving two wilderness backpack trips, and earning a black belt. She enjoys
playing tennis, cross country skiing, hiking with her dog Josie, and raising
pet ducks.to
Amy continues to write a weekly
column for her hometown newspaper, The
Dells Events, and work on various children's books.
Enjoy
these Reviews
June 11, 2018
These short essays each offer
insights and emotional connections from daily life events. Details are
compellingly specific while mirroring universal experiences and reminders of
our own lives, even if starkly different from those of the author.
The compiled pieces fall into
place with each other to reveal a lifetime lived well and thoughtfully.
Highly recommend this as a quick
and easy read that will draw you back to read again, because the memoir it
provides is so well named. Readers will laugh, cry, and reflect- perhaps even
attempt to write their own life experiences.
August 5, 2018
Do yourself a huge favor (we ALL
deserve one these days) and brighten and enrich your life by having this book
on your nightstand or your coffee table or in your top drawer at work (for
THOSE kind of days!). I have read this book 3 times--and my favorite chapters
and passages many more times than that. It’s rare that one finds an author
whose words and ideas on the page echo so clearly the essence of a person who
has not only a “joyful heart” but a brilliantly curious mind that is constantly
seeking to find a deeper meaning in life’s and nature’s happiest, saddest, and
most humorous events. The chapters on nature (“Spring’s Promise” - “Silent
Rock” - “Moth Lives on Tears”, e.g.), on special moments with her family and
friends (“The Magical Little Cabin in the Woods”), and on her imaginative
insights into the the history of the common in life (“A Dust Rag Rich with
History”) are my favorites. But I also find much joy and much to reflect on in
Ms. Laundrie’s wonderful stories about her children, her many happy and
event-filled years as a 5th Grade teacher, and her loving and “suits her just
right” husband, Frank. In short, get this book, treasure it, and share it.
Where else can one find lines as authentic, insightful and beautifully written
as these regarding her family’s magical little cabin in the woods: “How can
four log walls hold such power? It’s not the walls, of course, but the
foundation of a family, the mortar of wanting to share each other’s lives, the
seasoned logs of an enduring future.” I rest my case. Oh, one addition to my
case--lovely photos and paintings throughout the book (nature, family, Ms.
Laundrie enjoying nature's beauty and, in one special photo, the company of her
dog Josie).
July 7, 2018
I started reading this book one or
two short stories a night but on the third night, I just kept reading until the
end.
I found part of this memoir to be a delight. Little snippets from the author’s
life that could make you Laugh, Cry, Reflect. A set of stories about 3 runner
ducks named Huey, Duey, and Louey had me doing all three. I also enjoyed the
little peeks into the author’s life as a 4th-grade teacher. The story about her
“Magic Key” game with her grandaughters was my absolute favorite.
For very personal reasons, her Only One Life story had my tears flowing. You
see, there are been two times in my life beyond my control, that objects that
hold near and dear memories have been left behind or lost due to moves I wish
we had never had to make. That story brought back feelings about the things I
didn’t get to “weed through” myself and only learned sometime later precious
ones were no longer with me. It is times like these that yes, I know we only
have one life to live and I realize yet again how badly I have screwed this one
life up. I think I was living my life to the max like this author and God threw
a huge monkey wrench into it not once but twice. There are many days I still
search for my purpose and wish I could go back in time.
I found Ms. Laundrie’s memoir sent me on a little emotional roller coaster of
my own, but my story is not unique. Everyone has memories that make us Laugh –
Cry – Reflect. Maybe this author’s book will help you reflect on your own life.
Maybe you have a book in you that you would like to share with a precious few
or the entire world.
August 5, 2018
Do yourself a huge favor (we ALL
deserve one these days) and brighten and enrich your life by having this book
on your nightstand or your coffee table or in your top drawer at work (for
THOSE kind of days!). I have read this book 3 times--and my favorite chapters
and passages many more times than that. It’s rare that one finds an author
whose words and ideas on the page echo so clearly the essence of a person who
has not only a “joyful heart” but a brilliantly curious mind that is constantly
seeking to find a deeper meaning in life’s and nature’s happiest, saddest, and
most humorous events. The chapters on nature (“Spring’s Promise” - “Silent
Rock” - “Moth Lives on Tears”, e.g.), on special moments with her family and
friends (“The Magical Little Cabin in the Woods”), and on her imaginative
insights into the the history of the common in life (“A Dust Rag Rich with
History”) are my favorites. But I also find much joy and much to reflect on in
Ms. Laundrie’s wonderful stories about her children, her many happy and
event-filled years as a 5th Grade teacher, and her loving and “suits her just
right” husband, Frank. In short, get this book, treasure it, and share it.
Where else can one find lines as authentic, insightful and beautifully written
as these regarding her family’s magical little cabin in the woods: “How can four
log walls hold such power? It’s not the walls, of course, but the foundation of
a family, the mortar of wanting to share each other’s lives, the seasoned logs
of an enduring future.” I rest my case. Oh, one addition to my case--lovely
photos and paintings throughout the book (nature, family, Ms. Laundrie enjoying
nature's beauty and, in one special photo, the company of her dog Josie).
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