Book Review of "Through the Storm" by Lynne Spears

Book Review: "Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World" by Lynne Spears and Lorilee Craker. (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008. 206 pages).

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for this review.

This books is the story of Lynne Spears (mother of Britney, Jamie Lynn & Bryan) and is written to tell the rest of the story behind the lives of her celebrity family. It is not intended to be a parenting book. However, the reason I read the book was to try and learn some lessons of what happened and how to attempt to avoid the traps that led to such heartache (though Lynne points out that there were also many treasured times).

There are lessons to be learned about life and choices and parenting. For example, Lynne warns of the danger of alcoholism and how one beer at a cookout led her husband into a slow slide into alcoholism (p. 48). The reader will also see the results of other decisions as they are played out.

The book reveals the heart of a mother who loves her children and wants them to succeed. She wanted to help her children achieve their dreams, yet got sucked into the whirlpool of celebrity. This presents a challenge to parents to stop and ask and honestly answer the question, "where are we headed with our family?" This would make for a good discussion between parents from time to time to ask, "If we keep heading in this direction, where are we going to end up?"

The admonition to parents to savor the time with children is well emphasized. Life moves so fast and to often parents keep thinking that the next phase will be easier, or more enjoyable. Reading through this book reminds us all that our times with our children are moving fast as well.

Lynne explains what happened with Britney's meltdown and how an individual named Sam Lutfi was involved. You will need to read the book to understand what was behind the troubled soul that the media and paparazzi delighted in pursuing.

I read the book looking for insight into helping parents protect their children from disaster. Here are a two observations, there are more (gleaned from Regrets, page 189ff).

1) The need for daily exposure to God's Word and a committed relationship to a local church that teaches and encourages from Scripture (p. 189). This apparently was not a consistent part of life in the growing celebrity years. I believe there are many parents making the same mistake as they dash here and there for every sporting event, or pageant, or performance, or whatever as they try to help their child/ren reach for their dreams. Too often the things of God are made optional with disastrous result. A Biblical precept worth remembering, "what does it profit (a boy, girl, man, or woman) if he gains the whole world and loses his (or her) soul" (Mark 8:36)

2) Be the parent (p. 191). Parents often can be intimidated to feel that they are inadequate because they are not the "professionals." If a parent feels that something is not right, they need to intervene. This is true in the realm of education, sports, health, medicine, etc.

The book is an easy read and moves quickly. There are jumps back and forth in chronology, so the reader must stay awake. It is not a "tell-all" book, and in fact, is very gracious to those who have hurt the family deeply. It is a story of God's grace and redemption in progress through life, a story of which we all need to be reminded.