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Don’t Let Me Go

April 18, 2009 by Lisa

Maybe it’s the subtitle, “What My Daughter Taught Me About the Journey Every Parent Must Make,” but I kind of thought David W. Pierce’s book Don’t Let Me Go was a parenting book, sort of an extended metaphor of mountain climbing and the difficulties of being a dad. I mean, I knew by virtue of the back cover that it was about “an ice axe, well-worn running shoes, and two hearts woven together forever” yet I was still surprised to find not worn out clichés of the mountainous challenges we as parents face but instead a heartwarming and sometimes hilarious tale of a dad trying to keep up with a daughter bent on growing up at breakneck speed.

Pierce is a true storyteller and this his memoir of “True Adventures of Climbing Mountains, Running Marathons, and Becoming a Dad” is an honest look at himself as both a dad and a son, his relationship with daughter Chera prompting recollections of his own growing up years. Pierce writes with a great deal of wit and humble self deprecation. Sometimes I laughed out loud at his foibles and other times felt my heart pierced by his honest vulnerability.

There is a great deal of wisdom in Pierce’s story and yes, it is in fact drawn from the mountain metaphor. Consider:

And just what did we learn from all this mountain climbing stuff? We learned about perspective…we learned where to live life. Chera taught me that it’s not always about making it to the summit—it’s about going. The summit is small, usually, and you’re only there for a moment. But the journey… We visit the summits, but we live in the valleys. That’s where we train. That’s where we prepare. That’s where we grow strong.

The bond between father and daughter, parent and child, is at once profound and beautiful. In Don’t Let Me Go Pierce writes with genuine emotion and deep affection for his daughter. It is not merely an account of mountains and backpacks—though it is certainly that, and fascinating. Nor is it, as I surmised, a book of parenting techniques and methods. It is rather a beautiful and heartfelt celebration of the wonder (and heartache) of raising a child in order to, finally, let her go.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes….



To enter the 2009 Mothers Day Giveaway of Don’t Let Me Go, leave a comment below.

  • All Mother’s Day Giveaways are open to U.S. shipping addresses only.
  • The giveaway will close on April 30, and the winner will be announced on May 1.
  • For information on how to enter the grand prize to win a copy of each book in the Mother’s Day Giveaway worth over $225, see the instructions on the main post.
  • Check out the list of all Mother’s Day giveaways. Enter to win each book by leaving a comment on that post.

Filed Under: Lisa, Memoir

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Comments

  1. Serena says

    April 22, 2009 at 5:02 am

    Sounds like a good book…maybe one I could convince my husband to read, since we have two girls! 😉

  2. Michele says

    April 22, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    Wow! This sounds like a great story – one that could possibly leave me in tears (I already feel like my own daughter is growing up so fast!) Your review has hooked me.

  3. Vicky Boackle says

    April 22, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    i would like to read this.

  4. Tiffany says

    April 22, 2009 at 8:38 pm

    This sounds really good. Please enter me. Thanks!
    tiffanyak1986(at)hotmail(dot)com

  5. KarenPr says

    April 23, 2009 at 12:07 pm

    Sounds like an awesome prize, thank you for entering me.

  6. Molly Capel says

    April 23, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    Would love to read this book.

  7. Jason Nickolay says

    April 23, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    Looks like a good book. Thanks for the chance

    [email protected]

  8. Carole says

    April 23, 2009 at 5:22 pm

    Please enter me! Thank You!

  9. michele anne says

    April 24, 2009 at 5:46 am

    looks like a good read. hope to win it.

  10. Jo says

    April 24, 2009 at 4:00 pm

    The journey of parenthood it a very emotional one; letting go is never easy.
    [email protected]

  11. jan koontz says

    April 25, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    love it, love it, love it

  12. Karen Gonyea says

    April 25, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    Love it 🙂

  13. Jessica says

    April 25, 2009 at 6:35 pm

    this looks so good! I hope I win

  14. Sue W. says

    April 25, 2009 at 7:37 pm

    This really sounds like a wonderful story. I hope I have the chance to win it.

  15. Rita M says

    April 25, 2009 at 7:43 pm

    This sounds like a winner… count me in!

  16. Mariah says

    April 26, 2009 at 9:45 am

    This sounds like a good book!

    Mariah
    penguinqueen(at)hotmail(dot)com

  17. Angela says

    April 26, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    This sounds like an interesting book!

  18. Jennifer Hedden says

    April 26, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    enter me

  19. Susan Smith says

    April 26, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    Looks like a good book

  20. gahome2mom says

    April 26, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    This book sounds powerful. Thanks.

  21. Kim says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:23 am

    I’d love this one!

  22. sandra says

    April 27, 2009 at 11:52 am

    please enter me

  23. Kathy Scott says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    Looking for some good summer reading.

  24. Andria says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:41 pm

    I would love a chance to win. Thank you.

  25. Kristinia aka Loving Heart Mommy says

    April 28, 2009 at 2:34 am

    This sounds like a good book that my hubby would enjoy!

  26. LivingforGod says

    April 28, 2009 at 5:42 am

    It would be a wonderful Father’s Day gift for my husband :).

  27. Marie says

    April 28, 2009 at 1:37 pm

    This sounds like a great read for my husband and I!

  28. Penney Douglas says

    April 28, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    This sounds really good!

  29. Marianna says

    April 28, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    Thanks for the chance to win!

  30. Gabriel J. says

    April 28, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    Great book, great contest!

  31. Jacqueline O. says

    April 28, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    Sounds like a great book!!! Hope I win one.

  32. Krystal says

    April 29, 2009 at 12:46 am

    I know I would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance!

  33. christopher h says

    April 29, 2009 at 1:44 am

    would love to read this

  34. Lisa Taylor says

    April 29, 2009 at 11:17 am

    Would love the chance to read this

  35. veronica sandberg says

    April 29, 2009 at 12:50 pm

    want to win this

  36. Amy Bradshaw says

    April 29, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    Looks wonderful, would love to win a copy!

    Amy
    [email protected]

  37. shawna says

    April 29, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    Would love to read this.

  38. Joyce Jacobs says

    April 29, 2009 at 4:08 pm

    Please enter me, I’d love to win this. Books, books, books!

  39. Mya Brooks says

    April 29, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    This sounds awesome!

  40. Belinda Shaw says

    April 29, 2009 at 5:02 pm

    I’d really like to read this wonderful book!

  41. Ed Nemmers says

    April 29, 2009 at 7:35 pm

    Happy Spring!

  42. Renee G says

    April 29, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    Would like to read this.

    [email protected]

  43. Rebecca says

    April 29, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    I’m a fan of anything that may help me on my parenting journey.

  44. Becky says

    April 30, 2009 at 9:53 am

    I would love to read this…of course I read everything I get my hands on..caught myself reading the cereal box this morning..

  45. Cheryl F. (The Lucky Ladybug) says

    April 30, 2009 at 11:58 am

    I’d love to read this 🙂 *Thanks* for the giveaway!

  46. Lily Kwan says

    April 30, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

  47. mindy says

    April 30, 2009 at 3:15 pm

    sounds great thanks for the giveaway

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