I enjoy Lisa Samson's portrayal of characters who are honest searching. This has been my favorite of her novels.

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Product Description

One Last Goodbye. One Last Adventure.

Pearly Laurel is devastated by the death of her beloved husband of thirty-five years. The two had always said they couldn’t live without one another, and Pearly has no desire to even try.

Then, in the midst of her grief, Pearly finds a tattered list in Joey’s pocket, entitled, “While I Live, I Want to….” His ultimate to-do list sends her off on a mission to accomplish Joey’s last unfulfilled goals–along with a few of her own–before arranging her own death. But the people she meets along the way have something else in mind. Can their unexpected gifts, secrets long hidden in Joey’s journal, and memories from the rich life they shared convince Pearly that, despite her pain and grief, life is still worth living?

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #722484 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-21
• Released on: 2003-10-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781578565979
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Samson is one of the best novelists in the inspirational market (Women's Intuition; Songbird), and she excels in her ability to portray authentic characters in this most recent foray into fiction. Pearly Laurel, 55, and her husband, Joey, have been soul mates for their 35 years of marriage. She's never shared his rock-solid faith and finds that life is unbearable when he unexpectedly dies. Determined to commit suicide by a rather improbable method, Pearly discovers Joey's last "wish list," which details seven things he wanted to do (including getting a tattoo and climbing a pyramid). She adds her own four items to his list and sets out to accomplish them all. Soon, she's involved with other people, including a young teen who needs her help. "Why in the world would God use me when I don't really know if I want all that much to do with Him?" asks Pearly. Lighter moments are provided by Pearly's neighbor Maida, who is addicted to a sexy daytime soap and provides updates on the exploits of the characters. Using first-person narrative, Samson knows how to show without telling, and although her word choices are occasionally a little over the top ("his bamboo arms"; a character named Shrubby Cinquefoil), most descriptions are delightfully fresh. The satisfaction of the novel comes not in the fulfillment of the wish list, but in Pearly's unforced journey toward faith and healing. This is a fine example of the strides being made in evangelical Christian fiction, which other CBA novelists would do well to emulate.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
?With a style and voice that?s uniquely her own, Lisa Samson has created an unforgettable heroine in Pearly. I couldn?t put the book down until I reached the end, then I was sorry it was over. This book is the living end. Don?t miss it!?
?Robin Lee Hatcher, best-selling author of Firstborn and Beyond the Shadows

?Lisa?s wit, humor, and insight never fail to amaze me. This book is no exception. Pearly is one of those quirky, lovable characters that touches your heart and changes the way you look at ?everyday? things like life and death and love.?
?Melody Carlson, author of Finding Alice and Looking for Cassandra Jane

?If you think fiction isn?t true, meet Pearly. In The Living End, Lisa Samson gifts us with raucous but oh-so-real responses to the questions that plague us all if we?re awake. Where is meaning? What is love? Who gets hurt most when we challenge authority? What is a life well-lived? Lisa?s characters stick to your ribs with names like Peta and Cheeta and Pearly Everlasting, who is everlasting and who, like Scarlett O?Hara, will live forever in my mind. Running beside Pearly as she races to finish her to-do list will leave you breathless, then inspire you with everlasting hope. Samson spins this story out with intensity and joy, compelling us to discover if Pearly will end her life before she truly finds it.?
?Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of A Name of Her Own

?This story is a pilgrimage from grief to faith. Samson respects those deep processes of the soul, and her characters step into life, one day at a time.?
?Vinita Hampton Wright, author of The Winter Seeking
-- Review

Review
“With a style and voice that’s uniquely her own, Lisa Samson has created an unforgettable heroine in Pearly. I couldn’t put the book down until I reached the end, then I was sorry it was over. This book is the living end. Don’t miss it!”
–Robin Lee Hatcher, best-selling author of Firstborn and Beyond the Shadows

“Lisa’s wit, humor, and insight never fail to amaze me. This book is no exception. Pearly is one of those quirky, lovable characters that touches your heart and changes the way you look at ‘everyday’ things like life and death and love.”
–Melody Carlson, author of Finding Alice and Looking for Cassandra Jane

“If you think fiction isn’t true, meet Pearly. In The Living End, Lisa Samson gifts us with raucous but oh-so-real responses to the questions that plague us all if we’re awake. Where is meaning? What is love? Who gets hurt most when we challenge authority? What is a life well-lived? Lisa’s characters stick to your ribs with names like Peta and Cheeta and Pearly Everlasting, who is everlasting and who, like Scarlett O’Hara, will live forever in my mind. Running beside Pearly as she races to finish her to-do list will leave you breathless, then inspire you with everlasting hope. Samson spins this story out with intensity and joy, compelling us to discover if Pearly will end her life before she truly finds it.”
–Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of A Name of Her Own

“This story is a pilgrimage from grief to faith. Samson respects those deep processes of the soul, and her characters step into life, one day at a time.”
–Vinita Hampton Wright, author of The Winter Seeking

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Customer Reviews

Fantastic Read!
What a breath of fresh air for the CBA market! I stayed up late to finish The Living End last night and it was time well spent. Quirky, yet real-life characters (reminiscent of Anne Tyler) inhabit and leave their mark on Pearl's crumbling world. And no trite or easy answers here as Pearl struggles to find meaning and purpose in a broken world.

Samson's command of language is enviable - sometimes fierce, sometimes tender, but always exquisite. A great book, and if you're smart...you'll read it.

Also recommended: Anything by Richard Russo, Anne Tyler, Tom Wolfe, Brad Whittington, Leif Enger

Another great book by Lisa Samson
The book was about a women whose husband/soulmate dies unexpectantly after a stroke. She is quite devastated and doesn't know how to move on. She decides to fulfill her husband's "to-do" list and then end her life. But she meets so interesting people along her quest to fulfill her husband's to-do list, people who help her to find her faith in God and to make her realize that her life is worth living after all.

I love books by Lisa Samson. Her sense of humor and unique voice comes through so good. I love her flawed, yet lovable characters. I love the names Pearly, Cheeta, and Peta.

The author did a really good job in showing how much pain Pearly was in when she lost her husband. It was clear that she loved her husband very much.

Pearly comes up with a unique way to commit suicide. I won't go into the details as I don't want to spoil the book for you, but things are resolved beautifully at the end and Pearly decides that life is worth living and that she has so many people who love her. I loved how all the things happened at the end of the book where Pearly's life is spared at the last minute and how God really makes things happen for a reason and that He really is in control

Lisa Samson has a subtle way of presenting God's truth without sounding preachy and without making you feel like she is shoving the Bible down your throat.

I highly recommend this book.

Marvelous
Lisa Samson continues to amaze with her ability to surprise and move us through real, flawed yet somehow dignified and hopeful characters. This is my favorite of her books so far, and I can't wait for the next!