Still Waters Paperback – October 1, 2002

This wasn’t my life— but somehow these were and are, my feelings of confusion/despair/joy/desperation, love and strength. Maybe I can have the same courage.

At the end of Blackbird, Jennifer Lauk's first memoir, 12 year old Jennifer's wicked stepmother (literally) finally relinquishes custody of her and her brother Bryan and we are left to believe she is finally safe. Unfortunately it was not to be.This book opens with the police report chronicling Bryan's suicide. We know then that maybe there is no happy ever after. Jennifer is first cared for by her grandparents, slowly settling in. She soon learns it is temporary and that her brother is living with one aunt and uncle, and she is going to live with another. Peggy and Dick Duemore eventually adopt Jennifer, but she is valued more for her Social Security check and housekeeping skills than anything else. She stumbles through her life unloved and barely cared for. Upon finally going to college and freeing herself from her `family' she begins to carve out a new life for herself, eventually finding the courage to face her past and her brother's death.Again a deeply sad story and although one can sense the anger in this memoir one is also rewarded with the knowledge that Jennifer Lauck has found some measure of peace and happiness in her life. She has a wonderful writing style and voice that makes you care deeply about her.

I stumbled upon Blackbird by Jennifer Lauck at a thrift store. Her writing style is so comfortable and real. Her childhood story is unimaginable and Still Waters follows her journey through self discovery and healing as an adult. She is touchingly honest about her struggles, triggers, and victories. I am now reading Found, her third in the series, which takes you through another directional shift in her healing journey. Highly recommend

All I can say is, Wow. I picked up Lauck's first book, "Blackbird" at the library and loved it. So right after I finished it I bought Still Waters. I read it in about 2 days.A lot happens in her life. A lot happens in many of our lives. But the way Lauck sees things that go on in her life and in the world, are special. Her books opened my mind and my heart.Saying this is a memoir about a dysfunctional family does not do this book justice. Yes, her family is dysfunctional, but her attitude and experiences and how she draws these into her world view, are all woven through her book in a way that I wanted it to never end.Another thing, many sequels re-hash much of what happened in the first book. And for those of us who have read the first book, it's a bore to read about all this re-hashing. "Still Waters" does not do this. I really appreciated the fluidity with which Jennifer Lauck wrote her sequel.I look forward to more from this gifted writer.

The author really knows how to capture her audience. She did a wonderful job on sharing her life experiences. I highly recommend this book.

Blackbird was a tragic childhood journey which left me praying for a better life for Jennifer at the end. Alas, it was not meant to be. This sequel continues her abusive existense in her adult voice with poignant, painful clarity. She brings to light the reality of a child being unloved and yearning for someone to acknowlege her value in a cast of family members incapable of honesty and devotion. Her spirit is strong and this memoir has a powerful message for one and all.

The book is obviously used (purchased a used one), but is in a good condition and absolutely fine for me!As to the story itself, it is incredibly captivating, well written! If you liked the Blackbird by this author, you will love this one! Perfect continuation of the story.

I read Blackbird and was excited to read Lauck's second memoir. Even though I read Blackbird a few years ago I was able to pick up and remember the plotline enough to follow Still Waters. I moved through the book pretty quickly but I feel like the author glazed over the adult part of her life; her romances, her jobs, etc. I would have liked to read more about that. Instead, I read (well, skimmed because it was so boring) page after page about the death of her brother, Bryan and his life in a seminary. I understand that it must have been a pivitol part in her life but as far as a storyline in the memoir, it just DRAGGED. I was so happy when it was over but then only had like 2 pages of a conclusion. Overall, not so bad but the Bryan part was rough to get through.