"Real" by Shelley Malcom

I've always been fascinated with hands - and apparently I'm not the only one.  Shelley Malcolm has written a book about 60 real people and their real-life stories.  From veterinarians to stay-at-home moms, the tales of both the ordinary and the extraordinary are told within these pages.  Each story is inspirational in its perseverance and faith.

Showcased on every page is a stunning photograph of the hands that have lived that particular story.  Sometimes in full color, sometimes in black and white, the artwork adds an important visual element to the book.

Hands were not featured by accident, but by careful design.  Terilee Dawn Ouimette, the professional photographer who created the art for this book, stated that  “People can feel even more connected to photographs of hands than faces. There is a little bit of mystery to each one – allowing the reader to visually connect with the inspiring story.”  Author Shelley Malcom believes that "The hand is more anonymous than a face or even eyes which show identity and emotion. Also, they portray our work, our affection, our worry, scars, and even our mistakes..."

This book would make fabulous gift or coffee table book.  Full of both inspiration and art, it's a great afternoon read and yet it does not need to be read straight through.  Each story stands alone and so the book can be read in any order.

Best of all, 100% of the proceeds from this book go to charity.  You can learn more about this at the website.  There are also notecards featuring the photos from the book available for purchase.

I received a free copy of this book from the Litfuse Group in exchange for an honest review.  To read more reviews of Real, visit other blogs on this tour.

Shelley Malcolm graduated from University of Southern California with a degree in dental hygiene.  Shelley Malcolm resides in Shell Beach, California with her husband, Doug. She also has four adult children. Her interests include painting , drawing, sculpting, building, playing piano and other musical instruments, outdoor activities including hiking, ocean kayaking, running, water and snow-skiing, international travel, sewing, reading, writing and others.