Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board by Bethany Hamilton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I thought this was such an inspiring novel about a real girl who has been forced to learn life lessons very early on in life.
I’m going to write this up front: I only gave this book 3 stars because the writing was very simple, and the story itself was very simple. If I were rating this book based on it’s empowering message, I would give it 7 stars instead of the max of 5!!
I find it so amazing that a girl who had her arm bitten off by a shark could make such a comeback. You can tell by reading this book that Bethany Hamilton is selfless, strong, determined, and spirited. I very much admire her. I thought the book was great, not only because Bethany was able to tell her story firsthand, but the book was more like a journal, with pages here and there listing her favorite surf spots and surf language, as well as pictures. Bethany described the calm before the attack, the attack itself, and the mayhem that followed. Reading about Bethany’s comeback as a surfer was really humbling, as well. It makes you think about how many times you’ve wanted to give up (and have!) and how many times you complain about petty everyday issues.
Bethany wrote about her family, her career as a surfer in her Hawaiian home, and her spiritual life.
I think Christians especially will really love this book (or anyone with religious beliefs) because Bethany is a devout Christian, and God was her rock throughout everything. God was her anchor, and I loved reading about Bethany’s struggles, and her realizations about Christ and the things He has in store for us. Everything about the book was realistic and inspiring, and I think it is more likely for people to listen and take Bethany’s advice than to listen to anyone else, because she was able to go above and beyond even when faced with a traumatic experience like losing an arm.
P.S. The movie was great, too. It stuck to the story and was truly beautiful and inspiring. 🙂