Letters to Sam: A Grandfather’s Lessons on Love, Loss, and the Gifts of Life/ Daniel Gottlieb

Here’s a book recommendation by one of the sgLEAD members, Soo Chin:

I’m quite selective about buying books, mainly becos’ I get easy access to good literature as I work in a public library. But there are times that I realise that there are books not only I want to read now, but I’m pretty sure that I’d still want to read again & again in the future. And this gem by Daniel Gottlieb is one of them.

You see, the author has a 6 year old grandson, Sam. The author was candid to speak of how he wept when Sam was diagnosed with autism at his toddler years. His daughter had suffered a difficult childhood & had to cope with his disability (the author was wheelchair-bound some 25 years ago). And now, she has to care for an autistic child for the rest of her life.

It probably may not make it to the bestseller list, but I still enjoy this book simply becos’ it’s there isn’t any bit of self-pity nor regret that is quite common in most literature on disadvantaged folks. The author lives by the hope that one day his beloved Sam may get to fully understand the contents of the letters. There is this understated charm about book, you probably have to read it yourself to experience it.