Life's That Way

By: Jim Beaver

Narrated by: Jim Beaver

Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Actor Jim Beaver (Supernatural, Deadwood, Justified) and his wife Cecily Adams (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Moogie) were at the peaks of their careers and happily raising a beautiful two-year old daughter, Madeline. Then tragedy struck, not once, but twice. What followed was laid down by Jim in a moving, poignant, and uplifting journal of the following year, a year filled with heartbreak as well as enormous gifts and invaluable lessons, not just for Jim and his family but for listeners who traveled along with him on his journey.

©2009 Jim Beaver (P)2019 Jim Beaver

worth it

I really struggled to finish this, not because of bad writing or a bad performance, as both were spectacular. It was such a devastating story. Following along in his heartbreak and path through it had me crying along with him. But also smiling, laughing at times, and sharing in his joy for his daughter. This was real. Thanks to Jim Beaver for sharing his story, it touched my heart.

I give Jim much credit for telling his experience.

I've been widowed twice and identified with many of the struggles Jim faced. 😪Bless you.

I cried, I laughed, I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you Mr. Beaver for baring your heart and soul sharing your love and loss. You transparency is heart warming and highly appreciated. Your story as well as your voice in telling your story made it so real and riveting. You held my attention like no other. My brother had a similar experience with his wife who suffer Alzheimer’s and plans to write a book about his experience as well. I intend to share your story with him. God continue to bless you and your sweet daughter in all you do!

raw and heartfelt, highly recommend

I loved this book! Jim Beaver gives such a raw honest look into his life and heart. It helped me understand and feel better about some of my own recent emotional struggles. I was a fan prior to reading, even more so now. Sadness, pain, tenderness, hope, miracles, humor, and LOVE and hearing him retell those moments himself was so powerful. Excellent.

Fantastic

While Audible needs work on where to split the tracks, this was a wonderful book to listen to. To take such personal moments in his life and to share them with complete strangers, I thank Jim Beaver.

Heartbreaking

If you're thinking of getting this book, there's something you need to think about first. Know what it is you're buying!
If you're looking for a book about the life of Jim Beaver, with maybe some fun behind-the-scenes tidbits about his life as an actor, this is not that book. (sorry to all the supernatural fans, but you'll find no mention of Jensen Ackles until the acknowledgements)

What this book does give you, is a very detailed account of the year the author corresponded daily with friends and loved ones about his wife's cancer diagnosis, her subsequent battle, and the emotional aftermath for Jim as he was forced to adjust to life and raising their young daughter without her.

Is this book worth reading? Wholeheartedly YES! But be warned, it is harrowing. I took longer reading this than I'd anticipated, as I was only able to get through it in small pieces, and even then I couldn't manage to do it with dry eyes.

But it is also beautiful in its way, and oh so very human. Jim lays it all out there: The pain, the fear, the anger and the guilt. There was a particular part where he described something I'd been struggling with myself, something no-one ever talks about, and the simple knowledge that I wasn't alone was such a relief to me that I wished I'd read this long ago.
What amazes me most is how even during the worst year of his life, he was able to write so eloquently. On the strength of this alone I will gladly read anything else he has written...
Hopefully the next time I won't need quite so many tissues though.

Mostly though, I hadn't realised I needed to read this book, but now that I have, I will be thankful for it for a long time to come.

Heart breaking and heart touching

What a beautifully written and narrated story. This is at all times both heart breaking and heart touching. Complied from emails that Jim sent to his family and friends during the time of Cecily's illness it takes the listener back to the actual time of events. I found myself wanting to join in the prayers for her recovery and being hit with a the inevitable lightning bolt seconds later when I remembered it was all too late.
I found myself crying when Jim described the confusion of little Maddie who didn't know what she wanted and was far too young to understand what was going on. Her cries of 'Maddie up' Maddie down' will break you.
How anyone carries on after the death of their loved one is always unfathomable but Jim had Maddie to care for and it was this bright little 'monkey' that kept her Daddy going. My book of the year without a doubt.

Brilliant and Heart-breaking

I didn't know much about Jim's life before this book, only that he was an actor that had started in many shows. This was an interesting insight into his life, and was funny at times and very upsetting at others, but a thoroughly enjoyable listen to the audio book. I still wonder how he had the strength to go back and not only read what he wrote all those years ago, but to record himself reading it all. I would definitely recommend listening to the audio book, or reading the book, to any that are interested in the actor's life, or to see through somebody else's eyes how grief can affect somebody.

TJ123

Jim Beaver has shown how the journey of life can be different but bring people together and create amazing network of family and friends that can pull together
How memories are important and to be treasured

Amazing

Amazingly brave and awe inspiring, Jim shares his highs and lows and manages to truly engulf you in his journey, sharing what must have been the hardest time of his life, it moved me to tears and made me laugh too in places as his wit and humour seeped in.