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Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected--A Memoir
Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected--A Memoir
Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected--A Memoir
Audiobook6 hours

Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected--A Memoir

Written by Kelle Hampton

Narrated by Kelle Hampton

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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About this audiobook

There is us. Our Family. We will hold our precious gift and know that we are lucky . . .

From the outside looking in, Kelle Hampton had the perfect life: a beautiful two-year-old daughter, a loving husband, and a thriving photography career. When she learned she was pregnant with their second child, they were ecstatic. But when their new daughter was placed in her arms in the delivery room, Kelle knew instantly that something was wrong. Nella looked different than her sister, Lainey, had at birth. As her friends and family celebrated, a terrified Kelle was certain that Nella had Down syndrome—a fear her pediatrician soon confirmed. Yet gradually Kelle embraced the realization that she had been chosen to experience an extraordinary and special gift.

With lyrical prose and gorgeous photography, Bloom takes readers on a wondrous journey through Nella's first year of life—a gripping, hilarious, and intensely poignant trip of transformation in which a mother learns that perfection comes in all different shapes.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperAudio
Release dateJul 16, 2013
ISBN9780062300294
Author

Kelle Hampton

Writer and photographer Kelle Hampton chronicles the simple joys of motherhood and daily life on her popular blog, Enjoying the Small Things. An advocate for individuals with Down syndrome, she has been honored by both the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC), receiving the NDSC National Media Award in 2010. Kelle lives in Naples, Florida, with her husband, Brett; their two daughters, Lainey and Nella; and her stepsons, Austyn and Brandyn.

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Reviews for Bloom

Rating: 3.5845071042253522 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

71 ratings24 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed this book. I regularly read her blog, so I was already a fan of her writing style. She writes, at time very flowery, but from the heart. Telling how the birth of her daughter born with DS was unexpected and made her change her way of thinking and living. Would recommend this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Exciting.Suspenseful.Creepy.Sci-fi.Good for Tweens.Cliffhanger.Have to read sequel.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Imagine an invasive plant with black vines strong enough to lift a human, sap acidic enough to melt the rubber of the soles of sneakers, and a gaping hungry pit-like maw similar to a gargantuan Venus fly trap on steroids. That pretty much describes the nightmarish organism that blooms shortly after a rainfall that starts the book. But the plants aren’t the only thing that’s blooming. Three children, Seth, Petra and Anaya - who up to now thought they were perfectly normal - are also blossoming into some pretty amazing abilities which might just be what’s needed to go head to head with this invasive flora. I thoroughly enjoyed this sci-fi story and I think Bloom, book 1 of a trilogy, will be a hit with young middle grade readers as well.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The book ends with a cliffhanger that sets up book two. The story follows Anaya, Petra, Seth as they realize they aren't impacted like all other people by the toxic rain and subsequent appearance of black grass and other hazardous plants. The three form a bond as they work together to save the planet, find a way to kill the plants, and embrace the changes happening to their cryptogenic bodies.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Blogger and photographer, Kelle Hampton takes us on a trip through the first year of the life of her daughter Nella, who was born with Down syndrome. Kelle didn’t know what to expect, but soon discovers that her daughter was more than a gift. She writes with such raw emotion, that it doesn’t take long for this reader to have tears in his eyes. The photographs are a nice addition to this sensitive and unforgettable memoir.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is sitting face down right now because after you read it you will get chills looking at the cover. It’s that good. Plus when the locations are well known to you, the story feels so real. The only problem with a book this good is waiting for the next one.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Evergreen Bk Award nominee... well written sci-fi thriller, NW setting, focused on three teens as they experience an "invasion" of odd black plants that suddenly become predatory...and begin to take over. Unlike others who react to the pollen, etc -they seem to be completely immune, & even strengthened as the plot unfolds. Part of the unfolding mystery is how Petra, Anaya, and Seth are not only thriving - they try to help others survive, finding a strong bond between them, and emerging "powers". Total cliffhanger at the ending...part one of the invasion is solved, but another level begins! Hatch & Thrive are the other two in this series. Heartily recommend for middle-high schoolers.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    After reading a review of this book on Jessica's blog, I started reading Kelle's blog from the beginning. I loved her happy attitude, how she put a positive spin on everything, making magic out of everyday life, and how completely she loved her firstborn daughter. The book helped fill in a lot of gaps that the blog didn't cover - like Kelle's childhood, her experiences as a teacher, and how she met her husband. After awhile, though, her optimistic demeanor started to wear on me. I appreciate her honesty in saying she didn't want her second daughter to have Down syndrome, didn't think she would love her, wanted to run away, etc. I'm sure those are common reactions, and it takes a lot to 'fess up to them, especially knowing they'll be in print (and on the Internet) forever. At the same time, from my limited experience of volunteering with mentally handicapped adults, I thought "How can you feel this is the end of the world?" Nella was healthy and beautiful, what more could you want? I know I wasn't in Kelle's place, and I know she has since grown to love her life, but it was hard to get past that initial feeling, especially with how quickly she bounced back into her perkiness. I appreciate that life is beautiful and should be treated as such, but it's ok to have bad days and 'fess up to those, too.

    I still found the book interesting, and am glad I started reading Kelle's blog. The book itself is gorgeous - slightly larger than standard hardcovers, with glossy pages and photographs Kelle herself took scattered throughout. It feels more like looking through a family album than reading a memoir.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was looking forward to reading this highly praised book. However, I was very disappointed. I loved the pictures of the 2 cute girls, but I didn't realize that it was a poor self-pitying story about "woe is me".I can understand that the author had the shock of a life-time when she found out at her daughter's birth that the baby had DS, but except for a short part about the baby's jaundice and then the need for glasses it was only about the mom's feelings.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Such a beautiful and touching story is what Im left with after having read this very special memoir. From the first chapter reading through the Hampton's delivery and the discovery of a downs syndrome baby to the ups and downs of Nella's first year, I sat riveted to every page and every lovely picture as the story unfolded. Not only just a testament of a woman's soul searching and growth as a mother, and Nella, the child who came with unexpected qualities, but also a unique scrapbook documenting precious moments of family time from talented photographers. The pictures that Kelle Hampton shared made me feel like I knew them somehow, everything about the tone of the book felt personal and for the mood this book desires it played out most exquisite.As a reviewer I can tell fellow readers that it was written excellent, the pages flew by and the flow of the book made for smooth reading. Even for those who normally cringe at memoirs or have no idea which one to read, Bloom would be a perfect place to start. The book in one word was moving, as a mother it resonated with me powerfully, and while I can't share in the same emotions of raising a special needs child, I did relate to the soul searching and the questions Hampton had processing her role to the kids, her husband and life in general. To my pleasant surprise this book was actually based off Hamptons real time blog, and the daily updates she shares about Nella and life in general. I never knew of Nella's story previously, and after reading this book I will for sure keep up with them and check in from time to time.Bloom was a beautiful book, and Nella is a beautiful little soul. With her lyrical almost tear worthy words on every page, Kelle inspired me to look deeper into my heart and never take for granted these precious years I have with my own children. To take many pictures, laugh and worry less about the negative things in the world.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I don't read nonfiction very much, so wasn't sure I would like Bloom. The mother's story is compelling and as a reader I cared about her family and her kids. The book helps people understand how she lived with the initial disappointment of having a Down syndrome child and how that changed to something precious for her. The inclusion of photos also makes her story more powerful.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Kelle lived a charmed existence, marrying the man of her dreams, having a beautiful baby girl, expecting her second child, surrounded by warm loving family and friends, starting a blog about the joys of being a wife and mother.Then she had her second child and knew something was not right. It did not take long for the doctors to tell her that the baby girl had Down syndrome.It did take a while for Kelle to face and accept this, and it took the help of the warm loving family and friends for her to do so. And that is what this book is all about.I'll be frank: Kelle is part of a generation who has grown up to expect life is a series of pages in a lacy scrapbook, so going on and on about facing an event that brings challenges into life might not sit well with those readers who have lived through difficulties like fighting in a war or growing up in poverty in Africa. Kelle's story, first told in her blog to a huge audience, obviously has resonance. I found the book genuinely compelling, told with love, with beautiful photos, taken with love.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was absolutely delighted to receive this breathtakingly beautiful book from Librarything. Every photograph was wonderful and if Kelle took most of these, she really could have quite a career as a photographer. I wish I had such a wonderful keepsake of my own children when they were tiny! For the first 1/4 of the book, I was enamored and enthralled with Kelle's story. However, after Nella was born and Kelle went on to grieve, and grieve, and grieve for almost the entire book, I really stopped connecting with her altogether. It was emotional and touching in the beginning, but going on and on about how each of her 28 friends dropped everything in their lives to spend their time with her after the birth was somewhat noxious.... really, it is hard to imagine being that sad over having a healthy child, even if she did have Down's Syndrome, particularly with so many loving people surrounding you. And few people that I have ever met would have such a huge support system. It was hard to read about how her grief went on and how sentimental she was about every aspect of her unhappiness. She seemed to dwell in remembering her misery, even to return to the hospital room one year later to commemorate it. After a while, I just couldn't relate to her anymore. I couldn't get over how she seemed like the absolutely perfect affluent mom (who has every single detail of her life planned) and her daughter didn't fit into her plans and she was embarrased about it. While Kelle grew over the course of the story, I just couldn't relate to her feelings. There were definately some wonderful moments to the story, and I spent a significant portion of this book crying and sniffling, but I became restless that the story became all about Kelle's grief and less about Nella and her life and development. If Kelle could have cut off the grieving about 1/3 of the way through and spent the rest talking about her children (like when she caught Lainey in the crib with Nella), I think I would have enjoyed it more. That was probably my favorite moment in the whole book and it was too brief! In all, I would give it a 10 for beauty and the photos and a 4 for the story.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I stumbled across Nella's birth story on day on the web. I didn't start following the blog but the story really stuck with me. It did so for a few reasons. First it was a moving story. Second I know how a medical diagnosis can rock your world, though in my case it was MY diagnosis. Third, I remembered the feelings I had when G had an increased possibility of having DS. I was really excited when I heard Kelle Hampton was going to have a book coming out. I even pre-ordered it!Bloom was delivered on it's release date and I delved right in! Unfortunately I found myself not connecting with the book, with the story, but almost annoyed. I guess I should start with the book itself. It is bigger and heavier than a normal hardcover. It seems like it is trying to double as a photography book and there are a lot of pictures in it. I found the layout of the pictures to be odd. they would just randomly be on the side of a page, then the bottom, then on both. It was distracting and I didn't find that more than 50%, if that, helped to really supplement the story. I know why they were included but they just didn't work for me. As far as the story goes Kelle just felt over the top to me. I couldn't relate to her. I found myself getting frustrated with her. Her writing was over descriptive and felt very self-indulgent. With all of the above said I don't think that is my place to judge her story. I can comment on the layout of the book and the actual writing, but in the end the story belongs to her. It is her life, her daughter, her grief, and her hope, not mine. I admire her openness, the courage that it must have taken to write and share some of the things in this book. I love where she ended up in the end. Kelle might have taken the long way around but she ended in a good place. Acceptance and love for Nella, and the rest of her family, an understanding of what might be ahead of them, and the willingness to deal with those problems as they come up while living and loving life one day at a time. Oh, and Nella is simply adorable!!If you are interested in this book, read it, digest it, and feel for yourself. Just because it didn't turn out to be for me doesn't mean that it won't be just what you need. I wish Kelle, Nella, and the rest of the Hampton family all the best as they continue their journey!
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Hmmm...I was torn about how I would review this book. To be honest, if I hadn't received it through Early Reviewers it is likely I would never have finished it. But, I'm glad I did as the book improved over time. The author is a popular blogger who shot to popularity with her blog about her beautiful little girl who was born with Down syndrome. The first half of the book paints a picture of a woman who is one of those mothers who plans every detail of her baby's birth, down to the gift bags for the nurses, plastic champagne cups for an after-birth toast, a birth song to be playing right at the moment of birth, etc. Not that there is something wrong with that, but it plays in stark contrast when her baby is born "different" - in essence ruining her rosy vision. That's a hard pill to swallow for anyone who has children or family who are in some way disadvantaged. Yes, there may be moments of grief, but wow does she really drag it out! Be forewarned that there is an inordinate amount of navel gazing in the first half of the book and she does act as if this is the worst possible diagnosis ever and it plays out as a gut-wrenching traumatic experience. Yes, there is trauma here, but she converses with friends who lost their babies at a young age, would that not be worse?. As the story progresses, the author (and protagonist) becomes slightly less grating as she comes to terms with her daughter's birth and diagnoses. I would not recommend this to families coming to terms with a new DS diagnosis, as there is little about the baby in here, it is mostly about the mother's deep traumatic reaction.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    The actual physical attributes of this book are stunning. The dust jacket is beautiful and when you remove it, the actual hardcover of the book it also gorgeous. From the beginning to the end the book is filled with wonderful photographs of Kelle and her family, many of them taken by her. The pages are high quality and glossy. Okay, the story... Anyone who picks up the book will know the gist of Kelle's story- Young mother of one has second baby and she is born with Down's Syndrome. I had a really hard time getting through this book, Kelle drones on and on and, well you get it about the disappointment that Nella's disability is. She knows and believes that it will end up being a 'blessing" but her incessant whining over the situation borders on ridiculous. She has a very "new age" point of view, talking of her power to heal and her view of God. It was so disappointing to read after being so excited at the physical beauty of the book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    First I will say that I read Kelle Hampton's blog so I was already somewhat familiar with her story. This is a beautiful book. Kelle's memoir centers around the birth of her second daughter. Nella was born with Down Syndrome and it was not diagnosed prior to her birth. Kelle writes so beautifully about the revelation that her daughter was born with Down's Syndrome and the her unexpected journey with breathtaking honesty, humor and thoughtfulness. As a mother of two young children myself, I find her determination to make memories and recognize the beauty that is around her each and every day so inspiring. She reveals quite a bit about her life in the memoir and it has not been a storybook life - but she has worked hard to make it beautiful and spend her time really emphasizing the good. This book is a fast read - it has stunning pictures in it. After finishing it I can honestly say I really love the way Kelle Hampton approaches life and looks at the world.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was not expecting to receive a finished copy of this book when I won it from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers. But I'm very glad I did - this book is gorgeous. The packaging is lovely, with beautiful full color photos throughout. This tells the story of Kelle Hampton (a popular blogger, apparently, though I'd never heard of her personally), whose life is changed when her second daughter is born with Down Syndrome. I assume that some of what is contained within this book Hampton had already shared on her blog, but, like I said, I'm not familiar with it, so I don't know. I wanted to read this book simply because the story sounded interesting and it certainly was. Hampton is blatantly honest in her descriptions of her emotions and actions after her daughter was born (they had not received a diagnosis of DS prior to the birth). At times, I got a little frustrated with just how upset Hampton was - it felt like she thought this diagnosis was basically the worst possible thing when I can think of far worse things (as a matter of fact, she speaks of some friends who had their babies die shortly after birth, something I would consider worse than this diagnosis). I understand the pain of dealing with something, especially unexpected, that is going to radically alter the life you imagined, but I guess I saw it as, of all the things that could have happened, this is maybe not the most terrible. But then, I've never been in this situation, so who's to say I wouldn't react the same way? The bluntness of this book is its strongest point - I cried a number of times and laughed out loud a few. The photos are a very welcome addition to the story - they add another layer of information, plus they are quiet nice to look at. All in all, this was a moving story that I imagine will appeal greatly to families going through similar experiences.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Prior to receiving Bloom, most of my early reviewer books have been soft cover, or they were small hard cover books.  I was quite surprised to pull a rather large hard-covered book out of the package.  And then when I opened it, I saw the most amazing photos. Because I have a strong interest in special education and children with special needs and I very much like reading memoirs, I was looking forward to reading this book.  I must say it is an engaging book, but not what I expected.  There was so little about the baby (Nella), so little about events and activities of her first year, that I was disappointed.  It is all about her mom's feelings, almost "gauzy," in presentation. I wanted more about what happened, not so much about how she felt about everything. Nevertheless, it kept me reading, always hoping I would find out a bit more.  And a minor annoyance was no captions for the photos, although it was generally obvious what was being pictured.  Overall, I am rating it well for good writing and those amazing photos.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I had strong feelings about this book. I work with families with young children with Down Syndrome. I actually asked more of my staff to read the book so that we could discuss as a group. I agree that the photographs are beautiful. I found myself getting tired of hearing the author mourn the disruption of her perfect life. I felt that I often could not relate to the things she was distraught with. I wished there was a little more about her daughter, more pictures and descriptions and a few less pictures of the author. (I thought she was the photographer?)All that being said, by the end, I felt I had been on a journey with her and I understood what she had learned. I am sharing the book with co-workers but would not recommend it to families coming to terms with a new diagnosis of Down Syndrome.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was happy to recieve an advance copy of this book to review for a few reasons, first, I think that Down Syndrome is something we should all know a little more about and second because after becoming a mother I I tend to like these kinds of memoirs. As others have said, this is a tear jerker. As a mother of twins who had to be in the NICU for 10 weeks, I was really able to relate to having to grive for your expected experience. You have expectations, plans, visions of how its going to be when you have your child. Then real life jumps in, kicks you in the stomach, and says grow up and deal with your new life. My experience was quite different, but anyone who birth experience goes a little haywire goes through quite a bit of trauma. It's easy to say that the author of the story was too emotional, but until it's your life being turned upside down and one more thing being piled on your already shattered nerves, it's hard to judge Kelle. I found the book to be full of hope and most importantly love. It casued me to question what my own response would have been and who would have made up my own safty net if my world fell down. There were times when it felt like story was too uplifting and a bit contrived where everythign just always works out. I think you always expect a few bumps in the road. Perhaps, this woman is truely blessed with the worlds most wonderful set of friends,family, and strangers to help her though. Personally, I would really have liked to find out a little more about Nella. She is hardly in the book at all, I would have liked to have learned a bit about the therapy she went through and what she was like as a one year old. I know this is Kelle's story, but it felt a bit empty to me without more information about Nella and her milestones. If your birth experience was not run of the mill, I think you will enjoy the story and will understand some of the crazy feelings you get when all of your dreams go sideways. I'm not sure someone who hasn't been touched with the unexpected would be as captivated by the story though. As it was, I could relate to much of the story and enjoyed it with many tears.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I am a fan of memoirs, particularly memoirs about parenthood, so I was excited to read this book. First, I have to point out that the book is visually stunning. The author includes photographs of her family throughout the book and either she or someone she knows is an accomplished photographer. The pictures included are just remarkable and really enhanced the story, in my opinion. The story itself is tragic and heartbreaking at times, but is ultimately a happy one. The bulk of the story is centered around the author and her emotional response to her daughter's diagnosis and how she came to terms with it. So if you are looking for a book that delves into the medical/clinical aspects of Down Syndrome, or even her daughter's response to the various therapies, you won't find that here. The only reason I rated this 4 stars instead of 5 was because I think the book was often too emotional and even sappy at times. For example, she refers to her arms as her "loving embrace," she and her friends often find deeper meaning in song lyrics, and she cries at the drop of a hat. I can empathize with how difficult her situation must be, but sometimes even relatively minor news, such as her daughter needing to wear glasses, would send her into hysterics. During those parts of the story, it was tough not to write her off as a bit histrionic. Overall; however, the book is recommended, particularly if you are a parent with a child who has a similar diagnosis.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What a beautiful book and story. The photos are breathtaking and a story on their own. Kelle Hampton did a great job sharing her true feelings and experiences during her daughter’s first year of life. I loved everything about this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What words could I possibly find to give justice to this book? This book had me at hello, or should I say once I removed the outer jacket/sleeve and saw the beautiful hard cover. I am a picture fanatic and this lovely story of a mom and her family includes some beautiful ones! I have one warning... if you do not like to cry in public, read this at home! I carry a book with me every place I go, it helps all of the wait time we have throughout the day and every time I would read just a bit of this book, I found myself acting like a leaky faucet. It was quite an emotional roller coaster through sadness and happiness, but it was all so full of LOVE. Sometimes life doesn't give you what is expected and hoped for; sometimes you get something better. A young mother's journey through life with a new baby, who is just a little special, but really more "alike". A beautiful book for a gift and one that you must have for your own bookcase. Simply put, I love this book.