Splinters: The Pain, The Passion, The Point by Barbara Howell

Splinters: The Pain, The Passion, The Point is a book that details Barbara Howell’s life through the years of being a farmer to a cosmetologist and finally to a woodworker.  I may be a little biased about this book -- because my grandmother wrote it -- but it is one of those books that have you crying one minute and laughing the next.  Barbara was forced to taking over her husband’s display case business when he developed cancer.  Yet no matter how bad or good the circumstances, her message throughout the book is, “It ain’t over till its over.”

This book is divided into three sections.  The first section is a biography detailing the events leading up to Barbara taking over her husband’s business.  The middle is the stories of some of her customers ranging from kids and their pez collections to racecar drivers.  The last section is a combination of humorous stories from traveling the country selling these wooden display cases.

This book will grab you at the beginning and not let you go till the last page.  You will feel the pain as you go through hardships alongside Barbara as well as the joy and happiness when she comes through them on the other side.  When you get to the last page, you too will know that, as Barbara says, “It ain’t over till its over.”

You can buy the book here.