The Thirteenth Gift by CHARLENE COSTANZO is a novella. While reading it, I was reminded of Aesop's Fables. This time instead of animals there are beautiful stones. The kind of stones we see every day. Temptation makes me walk and push one of these stones along the street. Then, I like to put one in my pocket or hold it tightly in my hand until reaching home. I did wish the author had spent more time talking about the stones and linking the spiritual gifts to the stones. I thought the stones became lost along the way. No matter the story is rich in meaning for daily living.The story is about Claire. Claire is a very busy woman. She is a mother and wife. She is also a journalist. I should say a workaholic journalist. She cares deeply about the current events happening around the world especially where children are concerned. There is a story told to Claire by an older lady. It's about a kingdom with a king and queen and the birth of royal children. These children are visited by their Godmothers who bless the children with compassion, courage, joy and other gifts. The king and queen will soon learn these gifts are not just given to royalty. These gifts are also for ordinary people. The stones seem to whisper with their shine that there are free gifts available to help people like Claire and others of us trying to surmount a seemingly mountain of struggle. It is a story filled with beauty and hope for each of us. Charlene Costanzo A Little Book of WonderCharlene Costanzo writes with her hear and soul. That is in no way to say that she is not a gifted wizard of words: her style of writing finds that delicate balance of conveying tender thoughts that are available for readers of all stages of sophistication, but she also writes prose that is elegant and touches on philosophy and spiritual thinking in a manner few other authors of this genre are capable of competing! Claire is a successful journalist who travels around the globe reporting on hungry, abandoned and abused children. At the opening of the story he has traveled form Atlanta to Bratislava and in a delayed return to her home she meets an elderly Slovakian woman named Baba who has noted that Claire has gathered a shiny stone and apparently treasures it. This introduction leads to a story, a fable about an ancient kingdom ruled by a kind king and queen who have two children to whom the twelve godmothers bring gifts on naming day, The gifts are strength, beauty, courage, compassion, hope, joy, talent, imagination, reverence, wisdom, love and faith. In the course of the fable the Royal family goes on a journey, having been told that the twelve gifts should not be for only Royal children but for all people. An evil regent is left in charge of the kingdom and while the Royal family is gone, he attempts to destroy the concept of the twelve gifts availability to everyone, fortifies the castle, and the kingdom falls into darkness. It is only with the return of an enlightened family that the regent is dismissed, and a thirteenth gift is offered - wonder! And the gifts are then made available to all people, because when each person is seen for his intrinsic worth, each already possesses each of the gifts. The fourteenth gift is Peace - and with the ending of the fable Claire repairs her own fragile marriage and returns to her family, content to share the gifts she now appreciates. So the author's stones are daily reminders to connect with the unique gifts we are each born with: appreciate your won dignity and you will recognize the inherent dignity in others. It is a prelude to appreciating the wonder of the hope, beauty and joy we experience every day. Charlene Costanzo deserves a place in the circle of humanity tenders. This is an excellent and very wise book. Grady Harp
What do You think about The Thirteenth Gift (2011)?
I really enjoyed this book. Good reminder to take stock of what is important in this world.
—LibellaVibrans
A total cliche. Very predictable and corny.
—truntegirl
