Title: Vision of Hope
Author: Leilani Faber
Publisher: Brilliant Books Literary
ISBN: 978-1504362887
Pages: 106
Genre: Memoir
Reviewed by: Margie Przybylski
Pacific Book Review
In Vision of Hope, author Leilani Faber describes her journey in healing from drug and alcohol abuse, serving time in prison, and coming out of it all. It is the perfect blend of a cautionary story and motivation to live with fervent passion.
Faber’s book begins at her rock bottom – her husband being badly burned in a freak meth cooking accident, and she being sent to prison. Her writing describing time in prison nods to the popular “Orange is the New Black” – her voice conveys how desperate and ashamed she was. Faber carries this shame for much of her life even after prison, however her book describes the hope and healing she finds along the way.
Anyone can benefit from reading this book, especially young people tempted with drug and alcohol use among their peers. While many young people are warned, it seems that few heed the warning about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. This book can bring hope to recovering addicts as well as those struggling with substance abuse in their own lives, either personally or through a loved one. The highlight of this book is the height of Faber’s healing journey where she is following her passion – teaching other felons like herself to better their lives. Her role as a counselor grew into a pioneer for programs which actually worked in healing those affected by the trauma of their addictions.
Though Faber’s memoir is fairly short, it is not a breezy read. I found the beginning incredibly sad and gut wrenching. Her situation terrified me and I could not imagine going through the same events. While I have a completely different life experience from Faber, the lessons she shared in her book are relatable. I found myself cheering for her when she mentioned my favorite doctor and nutrition expert, Dr. Mercola, as a resource she used for one of her classes.
The “epilogue” of this edition included a life update – Faber shared how she failed through the pandemic as well as being promoted, finding messy love, and landing in a soft spot when things felt out of control for her suddenly. Her writing is humble and relatable, she is honest and human. There is not one ounce of haughtiness that can be found in so many memoirs – while a difficult read, Vision of Hope proves itself to be an important read and can serve as an inspiration for anyone going through a hard period in their life.
