The Tiffany Box: a memoir

What a nice book. Crazy --full of life!!! Raw truth at times, much kindness, enormous love and loss. Kathleen is easy to relate to. I laughed and cried but most of all felt the time was well spent reading the memoir and reflecting on the loss of my parents. Thank you Kathleen for sharing your life!

This book was way more than I expected! I haven't finished it yet, but I highly recommend it to anyone who has lost a loved one!! You become a part of the story from the first chapter.

This book was a first for me on a number of levels. I have never sobbed after reading the first two pages of a book. I rarely laugh out loud when reading, and certainly not frequently in one book, and definitely not when I remember the image days later, as was the case when reading The Tiffany Box. I don't think I have ever finished a book and then started reading it again from the beginning right afterwards. I can't remember a time I read a book and midway through ordered 11 copies to give to people that I know would love it, and more importantly, benefit from its contents. It is a spiritual, powerful, sentimental, rip-roaring funny, unique, helpful read. I say helpful because Kathleen Buckstaff captures moments of my own life in her book, giving expression to those universal experiences so difficult to verbalize. There is something so healing about her ability to do this. I am deeply appreciative of this book, because it teaches me how I can approach end-of-life situations when I am faced with them. There were countless times in this book when I was laughing and sobbing at the same time. It is rare for an author to be able to move me in this way -- evoking "a 'good' cry!" I gave the book to my mother for Mothers' Day and she said she was laughing out loud on the airplane while reading it. She, too, said she was going to order multiple copies to give to friends and family. Kathleen Buckstaff exhibits mastery of the language, brilliance of mind and wit, and authenticity of the soul. If you have an open heart, you will love this book. If you don't, your heart will surely be opened by reading it.

The Tiffany Box is a love letter written in emails by Ms. Buckstaff to her family and friends, complete with intimate correspondences detailing her mother's premature and painful death from cancer while trying to maintain her sanity as a young wife and mother. Keep reading because the laughs compete with the tears.Ms. Buckstaff is a wide-eyed and hopeful woman who has the same doubts and angst as any young woman who is juggling a career as a writer, raising her three children and communicating with her husband. Her hopes and dreams and day-to-day living detailed through emails to her friend Lisel are fraught with anxiety and uncertainty, and yet she seems to be in incredibly in love with her children, her husband and most of all her life.There is a reason for books such as The Tiffany Box. Yes, people all over the world die from cancer. Yes, people lose family members they love every day, but not everyone can write about it in such a compelling manner. It's good to know that life does go on--as trite as that often sounds. In fact, it's important to learn how to be able to go on living, laughing and loving.Your heart will soar to great heights when you come to the end of this love story.

This book had a very small amount of "emails, letters" etc. regarding Kathleen's mother's death from cancer, and a very large amount on Kathleen bringing up her three young children. I would have loved to have seen some pictures of her and her mom, to feel more connected to these people, as well as a little more on her mother and their relationship. She does go into the fact that her mother loved "stickies" to remind her of things, but that was about it. And that she liked peaches. Im sure she was a very interesting woman,- we just didnt get any info on that. I didnt find the emails, letters, etc very interesting in regards to the author raising her children, she sounded stressed out, and at times whiny. I know I am in the minority here, but this book was a disappointment from the expectations of the great reviews.

After reading this wonderful book, I emailed the author, Kathleen, and her husband, my nephew, letting them know I had spent the weekend with them as I laughed and cried pouring through this special book. Throughout life I have totally embraced the writings of Kathleen as has my family. She has a way of capturing and keeping the reader reading! The reviews above are exactly my sentiments so I shall not repeat those thoughts. I received this book from my sister who has given them out to many friends and family. This is a tale to be read and reread. Way to go!!! Love, A. Judy

Kathleen has written a beautiful, warm, funny, sad book of caring for family during her child bearing years, toddlers, and losing her mother to the ravages of uterine cancer. It is a book I will always have on my bedside table when I need a good laugh or cry. It is also a book where you feel you are part of her wonderful family and friends, and seeing her extraordinary strength at being there for her family. Heartfelt, superb, a real winner. Susan B.

Loved this book! I laughed out loud, I cried and even shared passages with my husband. For anyone who has ever been a mother and/or a daughter, this book will touch your soul and stay with you. Kathleen Buckstaff captures the spirit of motherhood, it's highs and lows, and takes you on a journey that makes you appreciate life and all it has to offer. I highly recommend this book!