JasonKoivu

Within seconds I was tearing up.

Let's make sure we're clear right off the bat. I'm Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers is not strictly about Mr. Rogers, but rather about how Rogers helped Tim Madigan through rough times, specifically Madigan's marriage, coming to grips with his relationship with his father, and his brother's life-threatening illness.

And to further clear up matters, I want you to know that I think this book is awesome. Yeah, it made me weepy throughout and yeah, it wasn't the Mr. Rogers biography I expected when I picked it up, but the moment I started reading none of that mattered.

I'm definitely not saying that everyone who reads this is going to have the same visceral experience as me, not if you weren't raised on Rogers' show as I was. That man could soothe with his words better than a soothesayer! (*rimshot*) And some of you may not appreciate all the god talk in this book. But hey, I'm an atheist and I managed to get past it. I think it helps if, every time the topic is broached, you transpose their Christian ideals to your own form of spirituality, even if that means nothing more than a belief in yourself. You do believe in yourself, don't you? You should, because you're a very special person. And if you do believe in yourself, well, that's faith!


*** EXCITING UPDATE!!! ***

A friend informed me that a friend of hers is writing the script for the film version of this book! I looked it up on IMDB and they seem to have the crew in order, but no cast yet. I wonder who will play Mr. Rogers.