Review: All There Is: Love Stories from Storycorps ~ by David Isay

Review by Shellie for: All There Is: Love Stories from Storycorps ~ by David Isay

Do you want to read about real love? This is it, a special and endearing non fiction book which contains snippets of “real” lover’s conversations. A slim little book, it transcends gender, religion, and more… It will make you smile, giggle and shed bittersweet tears.

All There Is is a heart warming and heart breaking true story collection, containing transcriptions of many short conversations about couples’ love for each other – each typically two-three pages long. The conversations are with one another, or with friends or family members. Each person shares how they met, and perhaps lost, the most significant romantic partners of their lives.

For over a decade David Isay and Storycorps have made it a point to record stories for archival and historical purposes. He has two previous books and all are from audio format transcribed into books. Here is a bit about their mission quoted from All There Is:

Storycorps’ mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. With a relentless focus on recording the stories of people who are often excluded from the historical record, Storycorps captures lives that would otherwise be lost to history and reminds the nation that every story matters and every voice counts. (pp. 155)

I just love stuff like this, and as it’s partially funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting which gives the book its particular flavor - one which is wonderful and grounding. I read stories about partners with Alzheimer's, AIDs, a variety of religious backgrounds, mixed races, and same genders. Each of the stories attest to the ideal that love transcends so much.

It is a book to pick up when one has just a few moments since each story will only take minutes to read. I recommend it for anyone needing a boost in remembering that true love does exist. It’s sweet, sometimes silly, and often heartbreaking. I adored this book even though I am not a big romance fan. It’s a 4.5 star in my opinion with its profusion of little colored hearts on the cover. Guaranteed to make even the most cynical reader cry. It did me.

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176 pages; Penguin Press; February 2012.

Author Bio:  Dave Isay is the founder of StoryCorps and the recipient of numerous broadcasting honors, including five Peabody Awards and a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. He is the author/editor of numerous books that grew out of his public radio documentary work, including two StoryCorps books: Listening Is an Act of Love (2007) and Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps (2010)—both New York Times bestsellers.

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This review is part of a book tour hosted by TLC Book Tours. For more information on this book link to our host’s page for All There Is via the badge to the left.

For other reviews, below are several blogs linked up for this tour. Clicking on them will lead you to their reviews:

Tuesday, January 31st: Amused By Books

Wednesday, February 1st: A Bookish Way of Life

Thursday, February 2nd: Amusing Review

Friday, February 3rd: Book Hooked Blog

The “’love season” is descending quickly upon us. Better get those cards, flowers and chocolates ready, or not as the case may be. Only seven days left.

Thanks for reading.