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There are currently 39 member reviews
for Rise
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Ariel F. (Madison, WI)
Thinking big and overcoming obstacles!
Many of us think big and want things but few overcome the obstacles to obtain them. I received this memoir and immediately became absorbed in it. I finished it in one night. I was completely taken by the author and her children's desire to put behind a life of abuse and move forward. A family with no construction skills, develops a house concept and then builds it. The mom and kids worked together to build their own special house and move into despite obstacles.
Excellent book for book club discussion.
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Marion C. (Litchfield, NH)
How a House Built a Family
RISE by Cara Brookins is a captivating read about how Cara is determined to protect herself and her four children from relentless scary attacks her ex-husband plays on them. No longer will she live in fear. After a spur of the moment vacation with her children, she discusses her fears and concerns for their safety and listens to their concerns. They had a wonderful time off the grid designing their new home and became a family for the first time. Cara said they were going to build the home stick by stick with everyone helping. Cara proved to the banker that she could complete all the conditions on a construction loan timely and under budget. The children found new pride where hard work can lead to other opportunities. Cara is proud and passionate about her new skills. I hope more books will come from the wonderful writer she is. RISE is a genuinely uplifting story.
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Lauren T. (Orlando, FL)
Rise by Cara Brookins
Is it possible to build a house on your own, with only two teenagers, a preteen and a toddler to help? Ask Cara Brookins. She and her children spent nine months doing just that. Cara got herself out of an abusive relationship (or two) and decided to help her family survive and thrive by creating something of their own. Alternating chapters tell about the abusive relationship and how she dealt with it, followed by chapters in which the reader learns about the process of building a house from the ground up. The book is often disturbing, but more often uplifting and inspiring. It is an amazing story that centers around Ms. Brookins' strength and love for her children, and her desire to help them get beyond the past and move into the future as healthy adults.
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Cam G. (Murrells Inlet, SC)
Inkwell Manor
Cara Bookins has written an inspiring and heartening memoir. Who would ever think a single mother (who left an abusive marriage) along with her four young children, would ever think of building their new home together, all 3000 plus square feet of it! That they succeeded in achieving this goal is simply awesome.
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Mary C. (Lewisville, TX)
Rebuilding a family
I was not sure that "Rise" was the story for me, because of the history of domestic abuse. Rebuilding the life of a family after experiencing domestic abuse and mental illness from a spouse is an overwhelming order. However, this was a story about overcoming and rebuilding. This was one of the most spellbinding books I have read for a long time. It is truly a triumph over fear, as Cara Brookins and her four children planned and built a new life. The fascination of her inspiration in planning and building a house with her children by studying YouTube videos, and learning about it as they went is truly amazing. She shared both the story of the heartbreak of where they had been and the inspiring story of what they achieved. If the story had not been true life, I would not have believed it could be done. What courage and determination was shown to her children that will last them throughout their lives. She will be their hero forever. What a heartrending story it is, told in a lovingly way by an inspiring author.
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Rosemary C. (Austin, TX)
A Rewarding Read
An excellent writer has penned an intimate, compelling story of her and her children overcoming traumatic domestic abuse by, incredibly, building a house from the ground up. Who knew that details of construction could be so riveting? Brookins makes them fascinating as she sets out the family's "rising from the ashes" story and the redemption that follows. This is a wonderful book and I truly appreciate the author and her wonderful family. It is very inspiring!
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Erin J. (Milwaukie, OR)
Fascinating book--wish it were longer
Cara Brookins' tale of rebuilding her family by building a house from scratch with her children was inspiring and riveting. She told the tale in alternating Rise/Fall chapters, and I could only read it in the daytime thanks to her vivid portrayal of the domestic violence they lived with for so many years. I am amazed by their strength and resilience after surviving not one but two terrifying husbands.
Since I read an ARC, I hope some minor issues with timeline confusion and a repeated sentence on the last page will have been caught and corrected by the time the book goes to print in January. Mostly I wish the book had been a bit longer so Ms. Brookins could have explained more about things like how she escaped her second abusive husband and how the many problems caused by stoned electricians were able to be fixed.
I think book groups would enjoy discussing this memoir.
