Book Review: The Sand Bucket List

One of my favorite things to do is meet other self-published authors. It is an uphill climb. It's good to know there are other climbers around on similar journeys. Plus, there's something special about reading a book after you've met the author. I met a local author, Brad Fischer, at my library in July. Brad received a terminal cancer diagnosis at age 46. He captured funny stories from his past to convey to his beloved daughters the lessons he hoped they might learn from this crazy life we're given. Although the book was written with this fine-tuned lens, the lessons are such that anyone can derive meaning and insight from them. The excellent writing sucks you into these life lessons with ease.

Brad has a knack for finding hidden nuggets of wisdom amid humor. He shared the story of the prank he and his buddies played in their youth. They left a manure-filled purse on the side of the road to observe reactions. Now, he experienced similar feelings of being cheated by the cancer purse, a bag he wished he hadn't found along life's road. Another story he shared, with purpose, was about a time he and his wife went snorkeling. He accidentally allowed his wife to float away from him. This related to his cancer journey, as well. He explained how difficult it was for him to vocalize his fears or despair and that left his wife floating alone with all that emotion.

After reading his book, I feel even more kinship with him. Like Brad, a dog bit me in the butt once. And like Brad, my husband used to entertain our oldest son with a puppet show. Brad gave the Frog and Duck Show, while my husband's antics animated a Ronald McDonald puppet and a Dopey dwarf puppet. Sometimes a Woody (Toy Story) doll joined the mix. One night, a naughty Woody simpered, "Roses are red, violets are blue, poops are stinky, and so are you." We were mortified the next morning at church, when Bryce parroted Woody aloud to the girl in the pew in front of him.

I wish Brad all the best in this endeavor. His writing skills shine. He begins each chapter with a short blurb or lesson and wraps up each chapter honing in on that lesson again. Plus, he tackles even difficult subjects like religious belief with honesty and vulnerability. He struggles with the bad that sometimes comes from good people of faith. His questions are valid and voiced with sincerity. We may not share the same spiritual perspective, but we found common ground. His stories reminded me of my stories, and that is the beauty of books. We can always see something of ourselves in the stories of others.