And It Was Beautiful: Celebrating Life in the Midst of the Long Good-Bye by Kara Tippets

★★★★★ published by David C Cook (advance copy supplied by the publisher)

Kara Tippets had Stage 4 cancer and died of it. That's something you have to know when you start her journal. Or the final good-bye will be too much to bear.

Kara's account of her struggle during treatment and her journey of hope and relinquishment is told with raw attention to detail. There's no pretty-fying how hard the diagnosis and the process are.

But the spiritual mindfulness of Kara's journey, her family's love and company, and her courage and care for others shine through.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer or know someone who has, this book may be for you. It shines a light on the inner life that accompanies the disease - and gives spiritual counsel as part of Kara's journey to good-bye. You may cry - sometimes you may laugh - but you will never forget this new friend who bares her soul so we can understand why life is worth living. When she leaves us in the end, we have to admit that ... it was beautiful.